Intel Pentium 3825U

The Intel Pentium 3825U is a mobile processor from the Broadwell-U generation, built on Intel's 14 nm process. It is an end-of-life part aimed at the entry-level laptop segment, featuring 2 cores and 4 threads with a base clock of 1900 MHz. Benchmark data places it in the 6th percentile of all CPUs, with an average score of 441, indicating that it is designed for basic computing tasks rather than demanding workloads.

How It Compares

The Pentium 3825U sits in a tightly contested performance cluster, with its nearest rivals separated by less than one percent in average score. Against the AMD Opteron 2354, the Pentium 3825U is exactly tied, with both parts achieving an identical average score of 441 and a deltaPct of 0. This is a notable result, as it shows the 3825U matches a server-oriented Opteron from an older generation, despite the Pentium's mobile and low-power design.

The Intel Core i3-530 is nearly a mirror image in performance, with the Pentium 3825U trailing by just 0.1% in average score. The i3-530 is a desktop part from the Clarkdale generation, so this close margin suggests that the 3825U's modern architecture compensates for its lower clock speed and dual-core design, delivering comparable throughput in mixed workloads.

The Intel Core i7-620LM, another mobile processor, is ahead by a slim 0.6% margin. The i7-620LM belongs to the Arrandale generation and carries a higher brand tier, yet the 3825U nearly matches it. This indicates that the Broadwell architecture's efficiency helps narrow the gap that would otherwise exist between a Pentium and a Core i7 part.

Finally, the Intel Core i3-2370M is the strongest rival, beating the 3825U by 0.9%. The i3-2370M is a Sandy Bridge-era mobile chip with a higher base clock, but the 3825U's newer process node and improved IPC keep it within striking distance. The data shows a remarkable density at this performance level, where a few points separate processors from different eras and market segments.

Power and Thermals

The Pentium 3825U carries a TDP of 15 watts, placing it in the ultra-low-power class typical of thin-and-light laptops and compact notebooks. This TDP level implies that a simple, passive cooling solution or a very small fan is sufficient to manage thermals, as the chip is designed to operate within a tight thermal envelope. The 14 nm process node is a key enabler here, allowing for reduced power leakage and heat generation compared to older, larger process nodes.

Given the 15 W TDP, the 3825U is firmly in the territory of fanless designs or devices with minimal cooling infrastructure. This is a significant advantage for battery life and chassis design, but it also means the processor is not intended for sustained high-load scenarios. The lack of a boost clock further reinforces this, as the chip runs at a fixed 1900 MHz without the ability to dynamically increase frequency, keeping power draw predictable and thermals manageable under continuous load.

Benchmark Performance

Benchmark results show a processor that is functional for basic tasks but struggles with more intensive applications. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the 3825U scores 120 points, which is a low figure reflecting its dual-core layout. The Cinebench R20 multi-core test yields 500 points, while the single-core result is 70 points, indicating a roughly 7:1 ratio between multi-threaded and single-threaded performance in that test.

The Cinebench R23 suite shows a multi-core score of 1191 and a single-core score of 168, a ratio of about 7.1:1. Geekbench results are similarly modest, with a multi-core score of 695 and a single-core score of 342, a ratio of roughly 2:1. The discrepancy between the Cinebench and Geekbench ratios suggests that the 3825U's performance scaling with threads is workload-dependent, with Cinebench leveraging the 4 threads more effectively.

Comparing to rivals, the 3825U's average score of 441 places it in a dead heat with the AMD Opteron 2354 and Intel Core i3-530, both at 441. The Intel Core i7-620LM is just 0.6% ahead, and the Intel Core i3-2370M leads by 0.9%. These deltas are negligible in real-world terms, meaning the 3825U is functionally equivalent to these older parts in overall benchmark average, despite differences in architecture and clock speed.

FAQ

Q: What is the average benchmark score of the Intel Pentium 3825U?

A: The average benchmark score is 441, which places it in the 6th percentile of all CPUs.

Q: How does the Pentium 3825U compare to the Intel Core i3-530?

A: The Pentium 3825U trails the Core i3-530 by 0.1% in average score, with the i3-530 achieving 441 and the 3825U also at 441.

Q: What is the difference in multi-core performance between the 3825U and the AMD Opteron 2354?

A: There is no difference; both processors have an average score of 441, resulting in a deltaPct of 0.

Q: Does the Pentium 3825U support ECC memory?

A: No, ECC memory is not supported by this processor.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth of the Pentium 3825U?

A: The processor supports dual-channel DDR3 memory with a maximum bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s.

Q: How many PCIe lanes does the CPU provide?

A: The CPU provides 12 PCIe Gen 2 lanes.

Single-Thread vs Multi-Thread Behavior

The Pentium 3825U exhibits a pronounced difference between single-threaded and multi-threaded performance, but the magnitude of that difference varies by benchmark. In Cinebench R20, the single-core score of 70 is just 14% of the multi-core score of 500, showing that the chip scales well across its 4 threads in this render workload. The Cinebench R23 results tell a similar story, with a single-core score of 168 representing about 14% of the multi-core score of 1191.

Geekbench, however, tells a different tale. The single-core score of 342 is nearly half of the multi-core score of 695, indicating that this benchmark is less sensitive to thread count or that the 2-core/4-thread configuration is not fully utilized. This split suggests that for lightly threaded tasks like web browsing or office documents, the 3825U's per-core performance is the limiting factor, while for multi-threaded tasks like video encoding or 3D rendering, the 4 threads provide a substantial boost.

The fixed base clock of 1900 MHz means there is no turbo headroom to improve single-thread performance on demand. This makes the 3825U predictable but also means it cannot adapt to short bursts of intensive single-threaded work, which is a common pattern in modern operating systems and applications. Users should expect consistent but modest performance across the board.

Platform and Compatibility

The Pentium 3825U uses the Intel BGA 1168 socket, which is a soldered, non-upgradeable platform. It is built on the Broadwell architecture, specifically the Broadwell-U codename, and is manufactured on Intel's 14 nm process. The processor supports dual-channel DDR3 memory with a bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s, and it does not support ECC memory.

For expansion, the CPU provides 12 PCIe Gen 2 lanes, which is a modest allocation suitable for a few peripherals but not for high-bandwidth discrete graphics or multiple NVMe drives. The integrated graphics are labeled as Intel HD, providing basic display output capabilities without the need for a separate GPU.

The socket and platform are designed for mobile systems, meaning the upgrade path is essentially nonexistent. Users cannot swap the processor, as it is permanently attached to the motherboard. This makes the 3825U a closed system, where the entire laptop or mini-PC must be replaced to improve performance. The production status is end-of-life, so new units are no longer manufactured, and availability is limited to existing inventory or used markets.

Who Should Consider It

The Pentium 3825U is suited for users whose primary tasks are light and single-threaded, such as document editing, email, and web browsing. Its Geekbench single-core score of 342 is low but adequate for such workloads, and the modest power draw of 15 W makes it ideal for fanless or ultra-portable designs where battery life is prioritized over performance.

For gaming, the 3825U is not a viable option. The integrated Intel HD graphics and the lack of a boost clock mean that even casual games will struggle, and the 6th percentile ranking indicates that it is far below the performance needed for modern titles. Users seeking any gaming capability should look elsewhere.

Content creation is also a poor fit, as the Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 1191 is insufficient for rendering, video editing, or complex photo manipulation. However, for office productivity and basic media consumption, the 3825U is adequate, provided the user has realistic expectations. The 0.9% delta against the Intel Core i3-2370M shows that the 3825U is comparable to older mainstream parts, so it can handle the same types of tasks that those CPUs handled a decade ago, but nothing more demanding.