Core 3 100U vs Core i5-1240U
Core 3 100U
Core i5-1240U
Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core 3 100U
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-1240U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 3 100U | Core i5-1240U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Raptor Lake-U Refresh (2024) / 10 nm) | ✨ Modern (Alder Lake-U (2022) / Intel 7 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 3 100U | Core i5-1240U |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core 3 100U and Core i5-1240U
Core 3 100U
The Core 3 100U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 8 January 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Raptor Lake-U Refresh (2024) architecture. It features 6 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 1.2 GHz, with boost up to 4.7 GHz. L3 cache: 10 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1744. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-5200, DDR4-3200, LPDDR4X-4267. Passmark benchmark score: 13,312 points. Launch price was $426.
Core i5-1240U
The Core i5-1240U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 23 February 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-U (2022) architecture. It features 10 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 1.1 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1781. Thermal design power (TDP): 9.5 MB + 12 MB. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 13,387 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Core 3 100U packs 6 cores / 8 threads, while the Core i5-1240U offers 10 cores / 12 threads — the Core i5-1240U has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.7 GHz on the Core 3 100U versus 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-1240U — a 6.6% clock advantage for the Core 3 100U (base: 1.2 GHz vs 1.1 GHz). The Core 3 100U uses the Raptor Lake-U Refresh (2024) architecture (10 nm), while the Core i5-1240U uses Alder Lake-U (2022) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Core 3 100U scores 13,312 against the Core i5-1240U's 13,387 — a 0.6% lead for the Core i5-1240U. L3 cache: 10 MB (total) on the Core 3 100U vs 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-1240U.
| Feature | Core 3 100U | Core i5-1240U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 8 | 10 / 12+67% |
| Boost Clock | 4.7 GHz+7% | 4.4 GHz |
| Base Clock | 1.2 GHz+9% | 1.1 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 10 MB (total) | 12 MB (total)+20% |
| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core) | 1.25 MB (per core) |
| Process | 10 nm | Intel 7 nm-30% |
| Architecture | Raptor Lake-U Refresh (2024) | Alder Lake-U (2022) |
| PassMark | 13,312 | 13,387 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 1,650 |
Memory & Platform
The Core 3 100U uses the FCBGA1744 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Core i5-1240U uses FCBGA1781 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core 3 100U | Core i5-1240U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1744 | FCBGA1781 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0 | PCIe 5.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | LPDDR5-5200 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 14 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Core 3 100U) / VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-1240U). The Core i5-1240U includes integrated graphics (Iris Xe Graphics 80EU), while the Core 3 100U requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-1240U targets Thin & Light Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i5-1240U rivals Ryzen 5 5600U.
| Feature | Core 3 100U | Core i5-1240U |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Iris Xe Graphics 80EU |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | — | Thin & Light Laptop |
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