Core i3-8121U vs Core i5-3340
Core i3-8121U
Core i5-3340
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 i3-8121U is positioned at rank 166 and the Core i5-3340 is on rank 720, 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 i3-8121U
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-3340
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-8121U | Core i5-3340 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake-U (2018−2019) / 10 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Legacy / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-8121U | Core i5-3340 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
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 i3-8121U and Core i5-3340
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.
Core i5-3340
The Core i5-3340 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 July 2013 (12 years ago). It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB Intel® Smart Cache. Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 77 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1333, DDR3-1600. Passmark benchmark score: 4,249 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
The Core i3-8121U packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i5-3340 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Core i5-3340 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the Core i3-8121U versus 3.3 GHz on the Core i5-3340 — a 3.1% clock advantage for the Core i5-3340 (base: 2.2 GHz vs 3.1 GHz). The Core i3-8121U is built on the Coffee Lake-U (2018−2019) architecture. In PassMark, the Core i3-8121U scores 4,271 against the Core i5-3340's 4,249 — a 0.5% lead for the Core i3-8121U. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Core i3-8121U vs 6 MB Intel® Smart Cache on the Core i5-3340.
| Feature | Core i3-8121U | Core i5-3340 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.2 GHz | 3.3 GHz+3% |
| Base Clock | 2.2 GHz | 3.1 GHz+41% |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total) | 6 MB Intel® Smart Cache+50% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | — |
| Process | 10 nm-55% | 22 nm |
| Architecture | Coffee Lake-U (2018−2019) | — |
| PassMark | 4,271 | 4,249 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,178 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 2,250 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-8121U uses the BGA1440 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i5-3340 uses LGA1155 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i3-8121U | Core i5-3340 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1440 | LGA1155 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2400 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i3-8121U) / not specified (Core i5-3340). Primary use case: Core i3-8121U targets Productivity. Direct competitor: Core i3-8121U rivals Core i3-8130U.
| Feature | Core i3-8121U | Core i5-3340 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | Yes | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | — |
| Target Use | Productivity | — |
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