Core i3-9320 vs Core i7-8557U
Core i3-9320
Core i7-8557U
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 i3-9320
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-8557U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-9320 | Core i7-8557U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($80) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake (2017−2019) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake-U (2018−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-9320 | Core i7-8557U |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($80) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 i3-9320 and Core i7-8557U
Core i3-9320
The Core i3-9320 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 23 April 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake (2017−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 62 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 7,358 points. Launch price was $149.
Core i7-8557U
The Core i7-8557U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 16 July 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-U (2018−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 1.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.5 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1528. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 7,309 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Core i3-9320 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, matching the Core i7-8557U's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i3-9320 versus 4.5 GHz on the Core i7-8557U — a 2.2% clock advantage for the Core i7-8557U (base: 3.7 GHz vs 1.7 GHz). The Core i3-9320 uses the Coffee Lake (2017−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i7-8557U uses Coffee Lake-U (2018−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-9320 scores 7,358 against the Core i7-8557U's 7,309 — a 0.7% lead for the Core i3-9320. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Core i3-9320 vs 8 MB on the Core i7-8557U.
| Feature | Core i3-9320 | Core i7-8557U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 4.4 GHz | 4.5 GHz+2% |
| Base Clock | 3.7 GHz+118% | 1.7 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB (total) | 8 MB+33% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 1 MB+300% |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Coffee Lake (2017−2019) | Coffee Lake-U (2018−2019) |
| PassMark | 7,358 | 7,309 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-9320 uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-8557U uses FCBGA1528 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i3-9320 | Core i7-8557U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1151 | FCBGA1528 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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