Intel Core i3-8121U vs Google Tensor G3

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CPU comparison with benchmarks


Intel Core i3-8121U CPU1 vs CPU2 Google Tensor G3
Intel Core i3-8121U Google Tensor G3

CPU comparison

In this CPU comparison, we compare the Intel Core i3-8121U and the Google Tensor G3 and use benchmarks to check which processor is faster.

We compare the Intel Core i3-8121U 2 core processor released in Q2/2018 with the Google Tensor G3 which has 8 CPU cores and was introduced in Q3/2023.
Intel Core i3 (205) Family Google Tensor (3)
Intel Core i 8000U (CL) (1) CPU group Google Tensor G3 (1)
8 Generation 3
Cannon Lake U Architecture G3
Mobile Segment Mobile
-- Predecessor Google Tensor
-- Successor --

CPU Cores and Base Frequency

The Intel Core i3-8121U is a 2 core processor with a clock frequency of 2.20 GHz (3.20 GHz). The processor can compute 4 threads at the same time. The Google Tensor G3 clocks with 2.91 GHz, has 8 CPU cores and can calculate 8 threads in parallel.

Intel Core i3-8121U Characteristic Google Tensor G3
2 Cores 8
4 Threads 8
normal Core architecture hybrid (Prime / big.LITTLE)
Yes Hyperthreading No
No Overclocking ? No
2.20 GHz (3.20 GHz) A-Core 2.91 GHz
1x Cortex-X3
-- B-Core 2.37 GHz
4x Cortex-A715
-- C-Core 1.70 GHz
4x Cortex-A510

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

Processors with the support of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) can process many calculations, especially audio, image and video processing, much faster than classic processors. Algorithms for ML improve their performance the more data they have collected via software. ML tasks can be processed up to 10,000 times faster than with a classic processor.

Intel Core i3-8121U Characteristic Google Tensor G3
-- AI hardware Google Tensor AI
-- AI specifications Google Edge TPU

Internal Graphics

Graphics (iGPU) integrated into the processor not only enable image output without having to rely on a dedicated graphics solution, but can also efficiently accelerate video playback.

no iGPU GPU ARM Immortalis-G715 MP10
GPU frequency 0.89 GHz
-- GPU (Turbo) --
-- GPU Generation Vallhall
Technology 4 nm
Max. displays 0
-- Compute units 10
-- Shader --
No Hardware Raytracing No
No Frame Generation No
-- Max. GPU Memory --
-- DirectX Version 12

Hardware codec support

A photo or video codec that is accelerated in hardware can greatly accelerate the working speed of a processor and extend the battery life of notebooks or smartphones when playing videos.

no iGPU GPU ARM Immortalis-G715 MP10
No Codec h265 / HEVC (8 bit) Decode / Encode
No Codec h265 / HEVC (10 bit) Decode / Encode
No Codec h264 Decode / Encode
No Codec VP9 Decode / Encode
No Codec VP8 Decode / Encode
No Codec AV1 Decode / Encode
No Codec AVC Decode / Encode
No Codec VC-1 Decode / Encode
No Codec JPEG Decode / Encode

Memory & PCIe

Up to 32 GB of memory in a maximum of 2 memory channels is supported by the Intel Core i3-8121U, while the Google Tensor G3 supports a maximum of 12 GB of memory with a maximum memory bandwidth of 53.0 GB/s enabled.

Intel Core i3-8121U Characteristic Google Tensor G3
LPDDR4-2400, DDR4-2400 Memory LPDDR5-5500
32 GB Max. Memory 12 GB
2 (Dual Channel) Memory channels 2 (Dual Channel)
38.4 GB/s Max. Bandwidth 53.0 GB/s
No ECC No
-- L2 Cache --
4.00 MB L3 Cache --
3.0 PCIe version --
16 PCIe lanes --
15.8 GB/s PCIe Bandwidth --

Thermal Management

The Intel Core i3-8121U has a TDP of 15 W. The TDP of the Google Tensor G3 is 10 W. System integrators use the TDP of the processor as a guide when dimensioning the cooling solution.

Intel Core i3-8121U Characteristic Google Tensor G3
15 W TDP (PL1 / PBP) 10 W
-- TDP (PL2) --
-- TDP up --
-- TDP down --
105 °C Tjunction max. --

Technical details

The Intel Core i3-8121U has 4.00 MB cache and is manufactured in 10 nm. The cache of Google Tensor G3 is at 0.00 MB. The processor is manufactured in 4 nm.

Intel Core i3-8121U Characteristic Google Tensor G3
10 nm Technology 4 nm
Monolithic Chip design Chiplet
x86-64 (64 bit) Instruction set (ISA) Armv9-A (64 bit)
SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX2, AVX-512 ISA extensions --
BGA 1356 Socket --
VT-x, VT-x EPT, VT-d Virtualization None
Yes AES-NI No
Windows 10, Windows 11, Linux Operating systems Android
Q2/2018 Release date Q3/2023
-- Release price --
show more data show more data


Rate these processors

Here you can rate the Intel Core i3-8121U to help other visitors make their purchasing decisions. The average rating is 0 stars (0 ratings). Rate now:
Here you can rate the Google Tensor G3 to help other visitors make their purchasing decisions. The average rating is 3.5 stars (18 ratings). Rate now:


Average performance in benchmarks

⌀ Single core performance in 2 CPU benchmarks
Intel Core i3-8121U (64%)
Google Tensor G3 (100%)
⌀ Multi core performance in 2 CPU benchmarks
Intel Core i3-8121U (54%)
Google Tensor G3 (100%)

Geekbench 5, 64bit (Single-Core)

Geekbench 5 is a cross plattform benchmark that heavily uses the systems memory. A fast memory will push the result a lot. The single-core test only uses one CPU core, the amount of cores or hyperthreading ability doesn't count.
Intel Core i3-8121U Intel Core i3-8121U
2C 4T @ 3.20 GHz
810 (64%)
Google Tensor G3 Google Tensor G3
8C 8T @ 2.91 GHz
1267 (100%)

Geekbench 5, 64bit (Multi-Core)

Geekbench 5 is a cross plattform benchmark that heavily uses the systems memory. A fast memory will push the result a lot. The multi-core test involves all CPU cores and taks a big advantage of hyperthreading.
Intel Core i3-8121U Intel Core i3-8121U
2C 4T @ 2.70 GHz
1987 (55%)
Google Tensor G3 Google Tensor G3
8C 8T @ 2.91 GHz
3631 (100%)

Geekbench 6 (Single-Core)

Geekbench 6 is a benchmark for modern computers, notebooks and smartphones. What is new is an optimized utilization of newer CPU architectures, e.g. based on the big.LITTLE concept and combining CPU cores of different sizes. The single-core benchmark only evaluates the performance of the fastest CPU core, the number of CPU cores in a processor is irrelevant here.
Intel Core i3-8121U Intel Core i3-8121U
2C 4T @ 3.20 GHz
1114 (63%)
Google Tensor G3 Google Tensor G3
8C 8T @ 2.91 GHz
1759 (100%)

Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core)

Geekbench 6 is a benchmark for modern computers, notebooks and smartphones. What is new is an optimized utilization of newer CPU architectures, e.g. based on the big.LITTLE concept and combining CPU cores of different sizes. The multi-core benchmark evaluates the performance of all of the processor's CPU cores. Virtual thread improvements such as AMD SMT or Intel's Hyper-Threading have a positive impact on the benchmark result.
Intel Core i3-8121U Intel Core i3-8121U
2C 4T @ 2.70 GHz
2414 (53%)
Google Tensor G3 Google Tensor G3
8C 8T @ 2.91 GHz
4533 (100%)

iGPU - FP32 Performance (Single-precision GFLOPS)

The theoretical computing performance of the internal graphics unit of the processor with simple accuracy (32 bit) in GFLOPS. GFLOPS indicates how many billion floating point operations the iGPU can perform per second.
Intel Core i3-8121U Intel Core i3-8121U
@ 0.00 GHz
0 (0%)
Google Tensor G3 Google Tensor G3
ARM Immortalis-G715 MP10 @ 0.89 GHz
1 (100%)

AnTuTu 10 Benchmark

The AnTuTu 10 benchmark is one of the best-known benchmarks for mobile processors, which is now available in version 10. There is a version for Android-based smartphones and tablets, as well as a version for Apple mobile devices, i.e. iPhones and iPads.

The Antutu 10 benchmark has 3 phases. In the first phase, the device's RAM is tested, in phase 2 the graphics are tested and in the final phase the entire device is pushed to its performance limits by rendering 3D graphics.

Antutu 10 is therefore ideal for comparing the performance of different devices.
Intel Core i3-8121U Intel Core i3-8121U
2C 4T @ 2.20 GHz
0 (0%)
Google Tensor G3 Google Tensor G3
8C 8T @ 2.91 GHz
1106280 (100%)

AnTuTu 9 Benchmark

The AnTuTu 9 benchmark is very well suited to measuring the performance of a smartphone. AnTuTu 9 is quite heavy on 3D graphics and can now also use the "Metal" graphics interface. In AnTuTu, memory and UX (user experience) are also tested by simulating browser and app usage. AnTuTu version 9 can compare any ARM CPU running on Android or iOS. Devices may not be directly comparable when benchmarked on different operating systems.

In the AnTuTu 9 benchmark, the single-core performance of a processor is only slightly weighted. The rating is made up of the multi-core performance of the processor, the speed of the working memory, and the performance of the internal graphics.
Intel Core i3-8121U Intel Core i3-8121U
2C 4T @ 2.20 GHz
0 (0%)
Google Tensor G3 Google Tensor G3
8C 8T @ 2.91 GHz
894587 (100%)

Estimated results for PassMark CPU Mark

Some of the CPUs listed below have been benchmarked by CPU-monkey. However the majority of CPUs have not been tested and the results have been estimated by a CPU-monkey’s secret proprietary formula. As such they do not accurately reflect the actual Passmark CPU mark values and are not endorsed by PassMark Software Pty Ltd.
Intel Core i3-8121U Intel Core i3-8121U
2C 4T @ 2.70 GHz
4395 (100%)
Google Tensor G3 Google Tensor G3
8C 8T @ 2.91 GHz
0 (0%)

Cinebench R15 (Single-Core)

Cinebench R15 is the successor of Cinebench 11.5 and is also based on the Cinema 4 Suite. Cinema 4 is a worldwide used software to create 3D forms. The single-core test only uses one CPU core, the amount of cores or hyperthreading ability doesn't count.
Intel Core i3-8121U Intel Core i3-8121U
2C 4T @ 3.20 GHz
139 (100%)
Google Tensor G3 Google Tensor G3
8C 8T @ 2.91 GHz
0 (0%)

Cinebench R15 (Multi-Core)

Cinebench R15 is the successor of Cinebench 11.5 and is also based on the Cinema 4 Suite. Cinema 4 is a worldwide used software to create 3D forms. The multi-core test involves all CPU cores and taks a big advantage of hyperthreading.
Intel Core i3-8121U Intel Core i3-8121U
2C 4T @ 2.70 GHz
305 (100%)
Google Tensor G3 Google Tensor G3
8C 8T @ 2.91 GHz
0 (0%)

Devices using this processor

Intel Core i3-8121U Google Tensor G3
Unknown Google Pixel 8
Google Pixel 8 Pro

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