Ryzen 5 2500U vs Core i3-9100E
Ryzen 5 2500U
Core i3-9100E
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. The Ryzen 5 2500U is positioned at rank #106 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Balanced cost-benefit for your build. 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 Ryzen 5 2500U
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-9100E
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Ryzen 5 2500U | Core i3-9100E |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($349) | ✅ More affordable ($30) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Raven Ridge (2017−2019) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake (2017−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Ryzen 5 2500U | Core i3-9100E |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+1071%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($349) | ✅ More affordable ($30) |
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 Ryzen 5 2500U and Core i3-9100E
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.
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.
Processing Power
The Ryzen 5 2500U packs 4 cores / 8 threads, matching the Core i3-9100E's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.6 GHz on the Ryzen 5 2500U versus 3.7 GHz on the Core i3-9100E — a 2.7% clock advantage for the Core i3-9100E (base: 2 GHz vs 3.1 GHz). The Ryzen 5 2500U uses the Raven Ridge (2017−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i3-9100E uses Coffee Lake (2017−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 2500U scores 6,494 against the Core i3-9100E's 6,539 — a 0.7% lead for the Core i3-9100E. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 2500U vs 6 MB (total) on the Core i3-9100E.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 2500U | Core i3-9100E |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.6 GHz | 3.7 GHz+3% |
| Base Clock | 2 GHz | 3.1 GHz+55% |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total) | 6 MB (total)+50% |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core)+100% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Raven Ridge (2017−2019) | Coffee Lake (2017−2019) |
| PassMark | 6,494 | 6,539 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 818 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 2,310 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Ryzen 5 2500U uses the FP5 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i3-9100E uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 2500U | Core i3-9100E |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FP5 | LGA1151 |
| 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: AMD-V (Ryzen 5 2500U) / not specified (Core i3-9100E). 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 | Ryzen 5 2500U | Core i3-9100E |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | Radeon Vega 8 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | — |
| Target Use | Mainstream Laptop | — |
Value Analysis
The Ryzen 5 2500U launched at $349 MSRP, while the Core i3-9100E debuted at $202.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 2500U | Core i3-9100E |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $349 | $202-42% |
| Avg Price (30d) | — | $30 |
| Release Date | 2017 | 2018 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Ryzen 5 2500U and Core i3-9100E
