Core i3-8121U vs Core i5-6350HQ
Core i3-8121U
Core i5-6350HQ
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 i5-6350HQ is on rank 1002, 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 i5-6350HQ
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-8121U | Core i5-6350HQ |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake-U (2018−2019) / 10 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Skylake-H (2015−2016) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-8121U | Core i5-6350HQ |
|---|---|---|
| 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 i3-8121U and Core i5-6350HQ
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 i5-6350HQ
The Core i5-6350HQ is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 24 January 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Skylake-H (2015−2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1440. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 4,255 points. Launch price was $306.
Processing Power
The Core i3-8121U packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i5-6350HQ offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Core i5-6350HQ has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the Core i3-8121U versus 3.2 GHz on the Core i5-6350HQ — identical boost frequencies (base: 2.2 GHz vs 2.3 GHz). The Core i3-8121U uses the Coffee Lake-U (2018−2019) architecture (10 nm), while the Core i5-6350HQ uses Skylake-H (2015−2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-8121U scores 4,271 against the Core i5-6350HQ's 4,255 — a 0.4% lead for the Core i3-8121U. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,178 vs 803, a 37.9% lead for the Core i3-8121U that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Core i3-8121U vs 6 MB (total) on the Core i5-6350HQ.
| Feature | Core i3-8121U | Core i5-6350HQ |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.2 GHz | 3.2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.2 GHz | 2.3 GHz+5% |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total) | 6 MB (total)+50% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 10 nm-29% | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Coffee Lake-U (2018−2019) | Skylake-H (2015−2016) |
| PassMark | 4,271 | 4,255 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,178+47% | 803 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 2,250 | — |
Memory & Platform
Both processors use the BGA1440 socket with PCIe 3.0. Both support up to DDR4-2400 memory speed. The Core i5-6350HQ supports up to 64 GB of RAM compared to 32 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: SoC (Core i3-8121U) and Skylake-H (Core i5-6350HQ).
| Feature | Core i3-8121U | Core i5-6350HQ |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1440 | BGA1440 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2400 | DDR4-2133 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | 64 GB+100% |
| 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 i5-6350HQ includes integrated graphics (Iris Pro Graphics 580), while the Core i3-8121U requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-8121U targets Productivity, Core i5-6350HQ targets High Performance Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i3-8121U rivals Core i3-8130U; Core i5-6350HQ rivals FX-9830P.
| Feature | Core i3-8121U | Core i5-6350HQ |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Iris Pro Graphics 580 |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | Yes | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | Productivity | High Performance Laptop |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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