CPU Comparison
Intel Core i3-10110U vs Intel Core i3-1115G4 (IPU)
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i3-10110U is a 10th-generation, dual-core mobile processor designed primarily for budget-friendly laptops and Chromebooks. Launched in August 2019, it was part of the Comet Lake-U family, though it heavily mirrored the previous generation's architecture. It features 2 physical cores coupled with Hyper-Threading for 4 total threads, running at a base clock of 2.1 GHz and boosting up to 4.1 GHz. With a 25W TDP and a 72°C Tcase max, it was intended for thin-and-light chassis designs that required active but minimal cooling. The chip included only 4MB of L3 cache and relied on basic UHD integrated graphics. Notably, it supported both legacy DDR3L and newer DDR4 memory types, giving OEMs flexibility in sourcing cheaper components for entry-level laptops. It is now officially listed as End-of-Life, having been replaced by newer 11th and 12th-generation U-series parts that offer dramatically more cores and significantly better power efficiency.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Can handle a single Word document or spreadsheet, but opening multiple browser tabs alongside office apps will cause severe slowdowns.
The 2 cores are adequate for light office tasks. The IPU helps keep the system responsive during video calls, but heavy multitasking will still cause slowdowns.
Gaming
The basic UHD graphics cannot handle any modern games. Even older e-sports titles will struggle at low settings.
Identical to the non-IPU 1115G4. The Iris Xe G4 graphics are not viable for modern gaming.
Virtualization
2 cores and 4 threads are fundamentally inadequate for running virtual machines.
2 cores and 4 threads are fundamentally insufficient for any practical virtualization use.
Efficiency
While 25W is low, modern ARM chips and newer Intel chips do far more work per watt.
The IPU significantly improves efficiency during its target workload (video calls), making this chip very battery-friendly for remote workers.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No AI hardware
- No AVX-512
- Cannot handle AI tasks
- IPU 6.0 provides excellent dedicated AI for video and imaging
- General CPU AI inference is limited by 2 cores and 15W TDP
- AVX-512 instructions are present
Content Creation
Gaming
- No dedicated gaming capability
- Integrated UHD graphics are severely limited
- CPU bottlenecks even the lightest games
- 2 cores and G4 tier graphics preclude gaming
- Identical graphical limitations as the standard 1115G4
- No improvement in frame rates over the non-IPU variant
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- Very cheap on the used market
- Low 25W power draw
- Supports both DDR3L and DDR4
- 4.1 GHz boost provides okay single-task speed
- Sufficient for basic offline typing
Cons
- Only 2 cores and 4 threads
- 4MB L3 cache is very small
- End-of-Life and no longer manufactured
- UHD graphics are extremely weak
- Struggles with modern web applications
Pros
- IPU 6.0 enables smooth AI video features on a budget chip
- High 4.1 GHz boost for snappy single-task performance
- Excellent battery life during video calls due to IPU offload
- Low 15W configurable TDP
- Modern 10nm SuperFin process
Cons
- Only 2 cores and 4 threads severely bottleneck multitasking
- 6MB L3 cache is very small
- Only 4 CPU PCIe 4.0 lanes
- The IPU is useless if you don't use video conferencing
- Same price as the 4-core 1125G4 (IPU) at launch
Competitors & Alternatives
Intel Core i3-10110U
- AMD Ryzen 3 3200URival
Budget Mobile
- AMD Athlon 300URival
Budget Mobile
- Intel Pentium Gold 5405URival
Entry Mobile
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 7cRival
Budget Mobile
- MediaTek Kompanio 500Rival
Budget Mobile
- AMD Ryzen 3 5300UAlt
Offers 4 cores and 8 threads, completely solving the multitasking issues of the 10110U.
11th-gen successor with much better single-core performance and Iris Xe graphics.
Compare head-to-headA massive leap in performance and efficiency for thin-and-light laptops.
Compare head-to-head- Alt
If buying a premium laptop, the M1 offers exponentially better battery life and performance.
Compare head-to-head - Any Modern ARM ChromebookAlt
For basic web browsing, a cheap ARM Chromebook will feel faster and last longer on a charge.
Intel Core i3-1115G4 (IPU)
- AMD Ryzen 3 5300URival
Mobile
- AMD Ryzen 3 3250URival
Mobile
- Compare head-to-headApple M1Rival
Mobile
- MediaTek Kompanio 500TRival
Mobile
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 7cRival
Mobile
Same price at launch but doubles the cores to 4, vastly improving multitasking while keeping the IPU.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 5500UAlt
6 cores provide a completely different tier of usability for not much more money.
Superior CPU and GPU performance if you can stretch the budget.
Compare head-to-head12th-gen hybrid architecture offers much better background task handling.
Compare head-to-head
Our Verdict on Each
Obsolete for modern use. Its 2 cores struggle heavily with today's web applications, making it suitable only for the lightest, most basic computing tasks.
Best for: You should avoid purchasing any new laptop containing the Intel Core i3-10110U in today's market. With only 2 cores and 4 threads, this processor struggles heavily with modern web browsing habits, where having dozens of tabs open alongside streaming video or communication apps will quickly saturate its processing capability. If you are looking at the used or refurbished market, laptops with this chip should only be considered if they are exceptionally cheap (under $150) and if your usage is strictly limited to lightweight tasks like writing documents, watching offline video, or basic web surfing. For a new budget laptop, even the most basic ARM-based Chromebook or an AMD Ryzen 3 powered Windows laptop will provide a vastly superior, longer-lasting experience due to having more CPU cores and significantly better integrated graphics. Do not buy this chip for any form of multitasking.
Read the full reviewA niche 2-core processor that offloads webcam AI tasks to the IPU 6.0, but the severe core count limitation makes it a poor choice for anyone doing more than light office work and video calls.
Best for: Buying a highly discounted laptop specifically for remote work and video conferencing where battery life during calls is the top priority.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i3-10110U or Intel Core i3-1115G4 (IPU)?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i3-1115G4 (IPU) comes out ahead with a score of 4.5/10. That said, the best choice depends on your workload — check the spec and performance breakdown above for gaming, productivity and efficiency differences.
Which is faster for gaming, Intel Core i3-10110U or Intel Core i3-1115G4 (IPU)?
For gaming, the Intel Core i3-1115G4 (IPU) leads with a gaming performance score of 18/100 among Intel Core i3-10110U and Intel Core i3-1115G4 (IPU).
Which uses less power?
The Intel Core i3-1115G4 (IPU) has the lowest rated TDP. Power draw across these chips: Intel Core i3-10110U (25 W), Intel Core i3-1115G4 (IPU) (15 W).
Do Intel Core i3-10110U and Intel Core i3-1115G4 (IPU) use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Intel Core i3-10110U: BGA 1440, Intel Core i3-1115G4 (IPU): BGA 1449), so each needs a compatible motherboard.
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Intel Core i3-10110U posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i3-10110U (0). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.