Intel Core i3-8121U Benchmark, Test and specs

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The Intel Core i3-8121U was released in Q2/2018 and has 2 cores. The processor can process 4 threads simultaneously and uses a mainboard with the socket BGA 1356. In the Geekbench 5 benchmark, the Intel Core i3-8121U achieved a result of 810 points (single-core) or 1,987 points (multi-core).
Intel Core i3-8121U

At a glance

Name: Intel Core i3-8121U
Family: Intel Core i3 (205)
CPU group: Intel Core i 8000U (CL) (1)
Architecture: Cannon Lake U
Technology: 10 nm
Segment: Notebook
Generation: 8
Predecessor: --
Successor: --

CPU Cores and Base Frequency

The Intel Core i3-8121U has 2 cores. The clock frequency of the Intel Core i3-8121U is 2.20 GHz (3.20 GHz). An initial performance assessment can be made using the number of CPU cores.

CPU Cores / Threads: 2 / 4
Core architecture: normal
Cores: 2x
Hyperthreading / SMT: Yes
Overclocking: No
Frequency: 2.20 GHz
Turbo Frequency (1 Core): 3.20 GHz
Turbo Frequency (2 Cores): 2.70 GHz

Memory & PCIe

The Intel Core i3-8121U supports a maximum of 32 GB memory. Depending on the mainboard, the processor can use a maximum of 2 (Dual Channel) memory channels. This results in a maximum bandwidth of the main memory of 38.4 GB/s.

Memory type: Memory bandwidth:
LPDDR4-2400
DDR4-2400
38.2 GB/s
38.4 GB/s
Max. Memory: 32 GB
Memory channels: 2 (Dual Channel)
ECC: No
PCIe: 3.0 x 16
PCIe Bandwidth: 15.8 GB/s

Thermal Management

The Intel Core i3-8121U has a TDP of 15 W. Based on the TDP, the system manufacturer can and must adapt the cooling solution to the processor.

TDP (PL1 / PBP): 15 W
TDP (PL2): --
TDP up: --
TDP down: --
Tjunction max.: 105 °C

Technical details

Modern production reduces the waste heat of a processor and increases its efficiency. The Intel Core i3-8121U is made in 10 nm and has 4.00 MB cache.

Technology: 10 nm
Chip design: Monolithic
Socket: BGA 1356
L2-Cache: --
L3-Cache: 4.00 MB
AES-NI: Yes
Operating systems: Windows 10, Windows 11, Linux
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-x EPT, VT-d
Instruction set (ISA): x86-64 (64 bit)
ISA extensions: SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX2, AVX-512
Release date: Q2/2018
Release price: --
Part Number: --
Documents: Technical data sheet

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Benchmark results

Verified Benchmark results
The benchmark results for the Intel Core i3-8121U have been carefully checked by us. We only publish benchmark results that have been created by us or that have been submitted by a visitor and then checked by a team member. All results are based on and fullfill our benchmark guidelines.


Geekbench 6 (Single-Core)

Geekbench 6 is a partial load benchmark for modern computers, notebooks and smartphones. In the single-core test, only the fastest CPU core is measured. The test run simulates the performance in practice.
Intel Core i7-6700HQ Intel Core i7-6700HQ
4C 8T @ 3.50 GHz
1128
Intel Core i5-8250U Intel Core i5-8250U
4C 8T @ 3.40 GHz
1127
Intel Core i5-7267U Intel Core i5-7267U
2C 4T @ 3.50 GHz
1126
Intel Core i3-8121U Intel Core i3-8121U
2C 4T @ 3.20 GHz
1114
Intel Core i5-7360U Intel Core i5-7360U
2C 4T @ 3.60 GHz
1112
Intel Core i7-5700HQ Intel Core i7-5700HQ
4C 8T @ 3.50 GHz
1110
Intel Core i7-6567U Intel Core i7-6567U
2C 4T @ 3.60 GHz
1107

Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core)

The practical Geekbench 6 multi-core benchmark tests the system's performance under partial load. The processor's maximum power consumption is far from being used up.
Intel Core i5-7360U Intel Core i5-7360U
2C 4T @ 3.60 GHz
2493
Intel Core i7-3720QM Intel Core i7-3720QM
4C 8T @ 2.60 GHz
2489
Intel Core i5-7267U Intel Core i5-7267U
2C 4T @ 3.50 GHz
2428
Intel Core i3-8121U Intel Core i3-8121U
2C 4T @ 2.70 GHz
2414
Intel Core i3-8140U Intel Core i3-8140U
2C 4T @ 3.10 GHz
2403
Intel Core i3-8145UE Intel Core i3-8145UE
2C 4T @ 2.20 GHz
2356
Intel Core i7-7600U Intel Core i7-7600U
2C 4T @ 3.90 GHz
2354

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 i3-9100HL Intel Core i3-9100HL
4C 4T @ 2.90 GHz
816
Intel Core i3-L13G4 Intel Core i3-L13G4
5C 5T @ 2.80 GHz
814
Intel Core i7-5750HQ Intel Core i7-5750HQ
4C 8T @ 3.40 GHz
814
Intel Core i3-8121U Intel Core i3-8121U
2C 4T @ 3.20 GHz
810
Intel Core i5-4300M Intel Core i5-4300M
2C 4T @ 3.30 GHz
808
Intel Core i7-6700HQ Intel Core i7-6700HQ
4C 8T @ 3.50 GHz
806
Intel Core i5-4308U Intel Core i5-4308U
2C 4T @ 3.30 GHz
805

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.
AMD Athlon Gold 7220C AMD Athlon Gold 7220C
2C 4T @ 3.00 GHz
2011
AMD Athlon PRO 300GE AMD Athlon PRO 300GE
2C 4T @ 3.40 GHz
2011
Intel Atom x6413E Intel Atom x6413E
4C 4T @ 2.40 GHz
1988
Intel Core i3-8121U Intel Core i3-8121U
2C 4T @ 2.70 GHz
1987
Intel Core i3-8140U Intel Core i3-8140U
2C 4T @ 3.10 GHz
1974
Intel Pentium N6415 Intel Pentium N6415
4C 4T @ 2.20 GHz
1955
Intel Pentium N6211 Intel Pentium N6211
4C 4T @ 2.20 GHz
1955

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.
AMD Athlon 220GE AMD Athlon 220GE
2C 4T @ 3.40 GHz
4426
Intel Core i3-1115GRE Intel Core i3-1115GRE
2C 4T @ 3.90 GHz
4421
Intel Core i7-2820QM Intel Core i7-2820QM
4C 8T @ 2.30 GHz
4406
Intel Core i3-8121U Intel Core i3-8121U
2C 4T @ 2.70 GHz
4395
Intel Core i7-2760QM Intel Core i7-2760QM
4C 8T @ 2.40 GHz
4369
AMD A8-7650K AMD A8-7650K
4C 4T @ 3.80 GHz
4340
AMD A10-7700K AMD A10-7700K
4C 4T @ 3.80 GHz
4321

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 i5-6267U Intel Core i5-6267U
2C 4T @ 3.30 GHz
140
Intel Core i5-6440EQ Intel Core i5-6440EQ
4C 4T @ 3.40 GHz
140
Intel Core i7-5750HQ Intel Core i7-5750HQ
4C 8T @ 3.40 GHz
140
Intel Core i3-8121U Intel Core i3-8121U
2C 4T @ 3.20 GHz
139
Intel Core i7-5557U Intel Core i7-5557U
2C 4T @ 3.40 GHz
139
Intel Core i7-4850HQ Intel Core i7-4850HQ
4C 8T @ 3.50 GHz
139
AMD Ryzen 3 3250U AMD Ryzen 3 3250U
2C 4T @ 3.50 GHz
138

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 i7-5500U Intel Core i7-5500U
2C 4T @ 2.90 GHz
307
Intel Core i7-5550U Intel Core i7-5550U
2C 4T @ 2.90 GHz
307
Intel Core i3-7167U Intel Core i3-7167U
2C 4T @ 2.80 GHz
306
Intel Core i3-8121U Intel Core i3-8121U
2C 4T @ 2.70 GHz
305
Intel Pentium Silver J5005 Intel Pentium Silver J5005
4C 4T @ 2.70 GHz
302
Intel Core i7-6500U Intel Core i7-6500U
2C 4T @ 2.80 GHz
302
Intel Core i7-6650U Intel Core i7-6650U
2C 4T @ 2.80 GHz
300

Benchmarks





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