Intel Core i3-1110G4 vs Intel Core i5-1235U

Intel Core i3-1110G4

The Intel Core i3-1110G4 is a power-efficient dual-core SoC for laptops and Ultrabooks based on the Tiger Lake-U generation (UP4) that was launched in September 2020. It integrates two Willow Cove processor cores (4 threads thanks to HyperThreading). Each core can clock from 1.5 GHz (base speed at 7 Watt TDP setting) to 3.9 GHz (single- and dual-core boost). With 15 Watt TDP (cTDP-up) the base speed is 2.5 GHz.

Another novelty is the integrated Xe graphics card based on the completely new Gen 12 architecture. The i3 integrates the low end UHD Graphics G4 with 48 of the 96 EUs enabled and a clock speed of 400 - 1100 MHz. The GPU and CPU can together use the 6 MB of L3 cache.

Furthermore, Tiger Lake SoCs add PCIe 4 support (four lanes), AI hardware acceleration, and the partial integration of Thunderbolt 4 / USB 4 and Wi-Fi 6 in the chip.

Performance

The average 1110G4 in our database is in the same league as the Celeron N5105, as far as multi-thread benchmark scores are concerned. This is the kind of performance that entry-level chips deliver, as of late 2023.

Your mileage may vary depending on how competent the cooling solution of your system is and how high the CPU power limits are.

Power consumption

Intel Core i3-1110G4 has a default TDP (also known as the long-term Power Limit) of 7 W to 15 W, the expectation being that laptop manufacturers will go for a higher value in exchange for higher performance. This Core i3 is built with the 3rd generation 10 nm process marketed as SuperFin making for decent, as of mid-2022, energy efficiency.

Intel Core i5-1235U

The Intel Core i5-1235U is a mid-range mobile CPU for thin and light laptops based on the Alder Lake architecture. It was announced in early 2022 and offers 2 performance cores (P-cores, Golden Cove architecture) and 8 efficient cores (E-cores, Gracemont architecture). The P-cores support Hyper-Threading leading to 12 supported threads when combined with the E-cores. The clock rate ranges from 1.3 to 4.4 GHz on the performance cluster and 0.9 to 3.3 GHz on the efficient cluster. The performance of the E-cores should be similar to old Skylake cores (compare to the Core i7-6700HQ). All cores can use up to 12 MB L3 cache. Compared to the i5-1245U, the 1235U offers lower base clock speeds and only "Essentials" vPro management features. Compared to the P-series (28W) or H-series (45W), the 15W TDP may limit the sustained performance.

Performance

The average 1235U in our database is in the same league as the Ryzen 5 PRO 5650U and also, surprisingly enough, the i7-1250U and the i7-1260U, as far as multi-thread benchmark scores are concerned. This is a very respectable result, as of mid 2023.

Thanks to its decent cooling solution and a long-term CPU power limit of 27 W, the Beelink SEi12 is among the fastest systems built around the 1235U that we know of. It can be twice as fast in CPU-bound workloads as the slowest system featuring the same chip in our database, as of August 2023.

Architecture

The integrated memory controller supports various memory types up to DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200, LPDDR5-5200, and LPDDR4x-4267. The Thread Director (in hardware) can support the operating system to decide which thread to use on the performance or efficient cores for the best performance. For AI tasks, the CPU also integrates GNA 3.0 and DL Boost (via AVX2). Quick Sync in version 8 is the same as in the Rocket Lake CPUs and supports MPEG-2, AVC, VC-1 decode, JPEG, VP8 decode, VP9, HEVC, and AV1 decode in hardware. The CPU only supports PCIe 4.0 (x8 for a GPU and two x4 for SSDs).

The integrated graphics card is based on the Xe-architecture and offers 80 of the 96 EUs (Execution Units) operating at up to 1.2 GHz.

Power consumption

This ULV processor has a Base power consumption of 15 W (also known as the long-term power limit), with 55 W being its maximum Intel-recommended Turbo power consumption. Both values are too high to allow for passively cooled designs.

Core i5-1235U is manufactured on Intel's fourth-gen 10 nm process marketed as Intel 7 for decent, as of mid-2022, energy efficiency.