CPU Comparison
Intel Core i3-10110U vs Intel Core i3-8145U
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 It is now officially listed as End-of-Life, having been replaced by newer 11th and 12th-generation U-series parts that offer dramatically more cores and significantly better power efficiency.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.
Adequate for a single Word or Excel window, but modern heavy web applications will saturate the 4 threads quickly.
Gaming
The basic UHD graphics cannot handle any modern games. Even older e-sports titles will struggle at low settings.
Not capable of modern gaming. UHD 620 can only handle very old or lightweight 2D games.
Virtualization
2 cores and 4 threads are fundamentally inadequate for running virtual machines.
4 threads and 4MB cache make virtualization practically impossible for anything beyond a tiny Linux container.
Efficiency
While 25W is low, modern ARM chips and newer Intel chips do far more work per watt.
The 10nm process provided good idle battery life for 2018-era laptops, though sustained loads drain the battery quickly due to the low core count.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No AI hardware
- No AVX-512
- Cannot handle AI tasks
- No AI hardware.
- 2 cores are insufficient for any modern AI workload.
Content Creation
Gaming
- No dedicated gaming capability
- Integrated UHD graphics are severely limited
- CPU bottlenecks even the lightest games
- UHD 620 is not a gaming GPU.
- 2 cores cannot feed modern game engines.
- Playable only in legacy eSports titles at lowest settings.
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
- Hardware security fixes out of the box
- 10nm power efficiency for its era
- High 3.9 GHz single-core boost
- Configurable TDP for different chassis sizes
Cons
- Only 2 cores and 4 threads
- Very high $281 launch price for a dual-core
- Lacks LPDDR4 support
- UHD 620 graphics are obsolete
- Completely outclassed by modern ARM chips
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 i3-8145U
- AMD Ryzen 3 2200URival
Budget Mobile
- AMD Ryzen 3 3200URival
Budget Mobile
- Intel Core i3-8130URival
Previous Gen Mobile
- Intel Pentium Gold 5405URival
Entry Mobile
- Apple A12X BionicRival
Premium Tablet
A 4-core Whiskey Lake chip that provides drastically better multitasking.
Compare head-to-headThe Ice Lake successor offers better graphics and LPDDR4X support.
Compare head-to-head- Alt
For modern lightweight laptops, ARM architecture provides exponentially better performance and battery life.
Compare head-to-head - Intel N100Alt
For embedded or ultra-budget replacements, the N100 offers 4 modern cores.
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 reviewHistorically significant for being Intel's first 10nm mobile i3 with hardware security fixes, but its 2-core layout and high $281 launch price make it entirely obsolete for modern computing.
Best for: Only if repairing an existing laptop that uses this specific chip and the board is not compatible with newer generations.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i3-10110U or Intel Core i3-8145U?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i3-8145U comes out ahead with a score of 3.5/10. 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 i3-8145U?
For gaming, the Intel Core i3-10110U leads with a gaming performance score of 5/100 among Intel Core i3-10110U and Intel Core i3-8145U.
Which uses less power?
The Intel Core i3-8145U has the lowest rated TDP. Power draw across these chips: Intel Core i3-10110U (25 W), Intel Core i3-8145U (15 W).
Do Intel Core i3-10110U and Intel Core i3-8145U use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Intel Core i3-10110U: BGA 1440, Intel Core i3-8145U: BGA 1528), 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.