Core i3-9100E vs Ryzen 5 2500U
Core i3-9100E
Ryzen 5 2500U
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 i3-9100E
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 5 2500U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-9100E | Ryzen 5 2500U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($30) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($349) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake (2017−2019) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Raven Ridge (2017−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-9100E | Ryzen 5 2500U |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+1071%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($30) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($349) |
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 i3-9100E and Ryzen 5 2500U
Core i3-9100E
The Core i3-9100E is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake (2017−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 6,539 points. Launch price was $149.
Ryzen 5 2500U
The Ryzen 5 2500U is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 26 October 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Raven Ridge (2017−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FP5. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 6,494 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Core i3-9100E packs 4 cores / 4 threads, matching the Ryzen 5 2500U's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the Core i3-9100E versus 3.6 GHz on the Ryzen 5 2500U — a 2.7% clock advantage for the Core i3-9100E (base: 3.1 GHz vs 2 GHz). The Core i3-9100E uses the Coffee Lake (2017−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 5 2500U uses Raven Ridge (2017−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-9100E scores 6,539 against the Ryzen 5 2500U's 6,494 — a 0.7% lead for the Core i3-9100E. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Core i3-9100E vs 4 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 2500U.
| Feature | Core i3-9100E | Ryzen 5 2500U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3.7 GHz+3% | 3.6 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.1 GHz+55% | 2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB (total)+50% | 4 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 512 kB (per core)+100% |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Coffee Lake (2017−2019) | Raven Ridge (2017−2019) |
| PassMark | 6,539 | 6,494 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 818 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 2,310 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-9100E uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 5 2500U uses FP5 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i3-9100E | Ryzen 5 2500U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1151 | FP5 |
| 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 | — | 12 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Core i3-9100E) / AMD-V (Ryzen 5 2500U). The Ryzen 5 2500U includes integrated graphics (Radeon Vega 8), while the Core i3-9100E requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen 5 2500U targets Mainstream Laptop.
| Feature | Core i3-9100E | Ryzen 5 2500U |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Radeon Vega 8 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | AMD-V |
| Target Use | — | Mainstream Laptop |
Value Analysis
The Core i3-9100E launched at $202 MSRP, while the Ryzen 5 2500U debuted at $349.
| Feature | Core i3-9100E | Ryzen 5 2500U |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $202-42% | $349 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $30 | — |
| Release Date | 2018 | 2017 |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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