CPU
GPU
Core i3-8109U
Core i3-8121U
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. The Core i3-8109U is positioned at rank 857 and the Core i3-8121U is on rank 166, so the Core i3-8121U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-8109U
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-8121U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-8109U | Core i3-8121U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake-U (2018−2019) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake-U (2018−2019) / 10 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-8109U | Core i3-8121U |
|---|---|---|
| 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 i3-8109U and Core i3-8121U
Core i3-8109U
The Core i3-8109U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 5 April 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-U (2018−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1528. Thermal design power (TDP): 28 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 4,184 points. Launch price was $304.
Core i3-8121U
The Core i3-8121U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 5 May 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-U (2018−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1440. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 4,271 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
Both the Core i3-8109U and Core i3-8121U share an identical 2-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.6 GHz on the Core i3-8109U versus 3.2 GHz on the Core i3-8121U — a 11.8% clock advantage for the Core i3-8109U (base: 3 GHz vs 2.2 GHz). Both are built on the Coffee Lake-U (2018−2019) architecture using a 14 nm process. In PassMark, the Core i3-8109U scores 4,184 against the Core i3-8121U's 4,271 — a 2.1% lead for the Core i3-8121U. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,100 vs 1,178, a 6.8% lead for the Core i3-8121U that directly translates to higher frame rates. Both processors carry 4 MB (total) of L3 cache.
| Feature | Core i3-8109U | Core i3-8121U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.6 GHz+12% | 3.2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3 GHz+36% | 2.2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total) | 4 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm | 10 nm-29% |
| Architecture | Coffee Lake-U (2018−2019) | Coffee Lake-U (2018−2019) |
| PassMark | 4,184 | 4,271+2% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,100 | 1,178+7% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 2,250 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-8109U uses the FCBGA1528 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i3-8121U uses BGA1440 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-2400 memory speed. Both support up to 32 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes.
| Feature | Core i3-8109U | Core i3-8121U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1528 | BGA1440 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2400 | DDR4-2400 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Only the Core i3-8121U supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Both support VT-x, VT-d, EPT virtualization. The Core i3-8109U includes integrated graphics (Iris Plus Graphics 655), while the Core i3-8121U requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-8109U targets Performance Laptop, Core i3-8121U targets Productivity. Direct competitor: Core i3-8109U rivals Ryzen 3 3200U; Core i3-8121U rivals Core i3-8130U.
| Feature | Core i3-8109U | Core i3-8121U |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | Iris Plus Graphics 655 | — |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | Yes |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | Performance Laptop | Productivity |
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