Intel® Core™ i3-8121U

The Intel Core i3-8121U is a laptop processor with 2 cores and 4 threads (10 nm process). It launched in May 2018. Clocks run from 2.2 GHz base to 3.2 GHz boost. A 4-MB L3 cache backs the cores (2.3 MB per core). It supports DDR4 memory. The chip drops into the FCBGA1528 socket and exposes PCIe 3.0 (16 lanes). Rated TDP is 15 W. Notable platform capabilities: Extended Page Tables (EPT).

The Intel Core i3-8121U scores 1,897 in single-core performance and 4,287 in multi-core performance (PassMark CPU Mark ratings). From those two ratings Feex computes 2,852 for overall performance, 5,442 for productivity performance, 5,772 for creator performance, 3,992 for engineering performance and 6,763 for gaming performance. Its multi-core throughput works out to 2,144 per core, 1,072 per thread and 286 per watt. Its computed efficiency index is 736. Its performance index is 35, so its overall performance is 65% below the Intel Core i5-12400 (index 100). Each bar shows the score as a share of a reference ceiling, which is the larger of the 99th-percentile score across the Feex CPU database and a fixed baseline.

Scores for individual PassMark CPU Mark test categories. Higher is better. These are measured test scores, not computed from the single-core and multi-core ratings.

In the individual workload tests the Intel Core i3-8121U scores 13,909 in integer math, 6,679 in floating-point math, 47,506 in compression, 2,113 in cryptography, 331 in physics simulation, 3,696 in vector SIMD, 15 in the prime sieve and 6,000 in sorting. Higher is better. Compared with the Intel Core i5-12400, it is 76% below in integer math, 85% below in floating-point math, 79% below in compression, 82% below in cryptography, 70% below in physics simulation, 76% below in vector SIMD, 78% below in the prime sieve and 74% below in sorting. Each bar shows the score as a share of that workload's reference ceiling, the larger of the 99th-percentile score across CPUs with a recorded value and a fixed baseline.

The Intel Core i3-8121U has 2 physical cores and runs 4 logical threads. It does not use a hybrid performance and efficiency core layout. It runs 2 threads per core. It runs at a base clock of 2.20 GHz and boosts up to 3.20 GHz.

The Intel Core i3-8121U is a laptop processor, belongs to the Intel Core i3 family and is manufactured on a 10 nm process. It launched in May 2018.

The Intel Core i3-8121U has 128 KB of L1 cache, 512 KB of L2 cache and 4 MB of L3 cache. That adds up to about 4.6 MB of cache, or 2.31 MB per core. Each core has 256 KB of private L2 cache.

The Intel Core i3-8121U has a 3-level cache hierarchy: L1 at 128 KB, L2 at 512 KB and L3 at 4 MB. L3 is the largest level and makes up about 86% of the cache listed here.

The Intel Core i3-8121U supports DDR4 memory, uses 2 memory channels, runs memory at up to 2,400 MT/s and delivers up to 38.4 GB/s of memory bandwidth. It does not support DDR5 and LPDDR memory.

The Intel Core i3-8121U uses the FCBGA1528 socket, supports PCI Express 3.0 and provides up to 16 PCIe lanes.

The Intel Core i3-8121U has a rated TDP of 15 W.

Instruction sets, security, virtualization, AI acceleration and OS readiness. Features are listed as supported, explicitly not supported, or not recorded; a feature that is not recorded is not the same as unsupported.

Feex has recorded 55% of the specifications it tracks for the Intel Core i3-8121U. Values Feex does not hold are shown as "Not recorded" rather than estimated.

Not recorded: Core Configuration: Efficiency Cores, All-Core Boost and Unlocked Multiplier. Architecture & Generation: Codename, ISA Family and Market Status. Cache: L4 Cache. Memory Support: ECC Memory. Graphics: Integrated Graphics, Graphics Model, Graphics Base Clock, Graphics Max Clock, Execution Units, Display Outputs and Max Video Memory. Platform & Compatibility: Package and Package Size. Power & Thermals: Base Power, Maximum Turbo Power, Configurable TDP (Min), Configurable TDP (Max), Max Junction Temperature and Tcase. Physical & Manufacturing: Transistor Count, Die Size, Die Count, Foundry and Launch Price. Naming & Aliases: SKU, Model Number, Processor Number and Part Number.

Processors that use the same FCBGA1528 socket as the Intel Core i3-8121U and have the closest multi-core scores in the Feex database include Intel Core i3-8109U, Intel Core i3-8140U, Intel Core i3-8145UE, Intel Core i3-10110U and Intel Core i3-8145U.