Intel Core i3-1215U vs Intel Core 3 100U

Intel Core i3-1215U

The Intel Core i3-1215U 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 4 efficient cores (E-cores, Gracemont architecture). The P-cores support Hyper-Threading leading to 8 supported threads when combined with the E-cores. The clock rate ranges from 1.2 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 10 MB L3-cache. Compared to the faster i5 and i7 models, the i3 does not include vPro features.

Performance

The average 1215U in our database is in the same league as the Ryzen 3 5300U and also the Core i7-1185G7, as far as multi-thread benchmark scores are concerned. This is decent enough of a result, as of late 2022. For an entry-level CPU, that is.

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

Features

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 64 of the 96 EUs (Execution Units) operating at up to 1.1 GHz.

The CPU is rated at 15 W base power (TDP, PL1) and 55 W max. Turbo power (PL2) and the whole SoC is manufactured in a 10nm process at Intel, which is known as Intel 7.

Intel Core 3 100U

The Intel Core 3 100U is an entry-level notebook CPU based on the Raptor Lake-U Refresh series (Alder Lake architecture), which was introduced in January 2024. The CPU offers 2 performance cores (P-cores, Golden Cove architecture) and 4 of the 8 efficiency cores (E-cores, Gracemont architecture). The P-cores support hyperthreading (therefore 8 threads together) and clock from 1.2 to 4.7 GHz. The E-cores clock from 0.9 - 3.3 GHz and should offer comparable performance to old Skylake cores (e.g. i7-6300HQ). The Core 3 does not offer vPro features for management.

Performance

The performance should be slightly above the old Core i3-1315U (-200 MHz P-Core Boost).

Graphics unit

Like its predecessor, Intel integrates an Intel Xe-based graphics unit called Intel Graphics in Alder Lake / Raptor Lake. In the 1315U, 64 of the 96 EUs are probably activated.

Features

Like Tiger Lake, Raptor Lake also has WiFi 6E and Thunderbolt 4 (4x) partially integrated. The integrated memory controller supports DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200, LPDDR5-5200 and LPDDR4x-4267. The integrated Gaussian and Neural Accelerator (GNA) is now installed in version 3.0. The Quick Sync 8 media engine is the same as in Rocket Lake and supports MPEG-2, AVC, VC-1 decode, JPEG, VP8 decode, VP9, HEVC and AV1 decode. The chip only supports PCIe 4.0 (x8 for GPU and two x4 for SSDs).

Power consumption

The Intel Core 3-100U is specified with 15 watts (PL1) TDP and 55 watts (PL2) max. turbo power. The processor is manufactured using the further improved Intel 7 process (10 nm SuperFin).