CPU Comparison
Intel Core i3-9000 vs Intel Core i5-750s
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i3-9000 is an OEM-exclusive 14nm desktop processor featuring 4 cores without Hyper-Threading, a locked 3.7 GHz clock, and no integrated graphics, designed purely for budget pre-built office PCs.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Can handle single applications well due to the high 3.7 GHz clock, but multitasking is severely hindered by 4 threads.
Slower than the standard i5-750 in sustained multi-threaded workloads due to the 2.4GHz base.
Gaming
Even with a dedicated GPU, the lack of Hyper-Threading will cause severe stuttering in modern CPU-bound games.
Turbo boost helps in light gaming but the low base clock hurts in sustained loads.
Virtualization
4 threads are the absolute minimum for a host OS, leaving no room for a useful virtual machine.
Four cores help but lower clocks limit VM performance.
Efficiency
The 14nm process is power-hungry compared to modern alternatives, drawing 65W for mediocre performance.
Better efficiency than the standard i5-750 at 82W, though still poor by modern standards.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- Lacks AVX-512 and any modern AI acceleration capabilities
- No AI acceleration
- Far too slow for any ML workload
Content Creation
Gaming
- Modern games require at least 8 threads to avoid stuttering
- The fixed 3.7 GHz clock prevents the CPU from boosting during heavy gaming loads
- 2.4GHz base clock is too low for modern games
- Turbo boost to 3.2GHz helps slightly in lightly threaded scenarios
- Requires a discrete GPU for any gaming
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- High fixed 3.7 GHz clock provides consistent single-thread performance
- 65W TDP is easy to cool
- 16 PCIe 3.0 lanes are sufficient for basic add-in cards
- Uses mature, inexpensive LGA 1151 motherboard chipsets
Cons
- No Hyper-Threading limits it to 4 threads, which is unacceptable today
- No integrated graphics means a dead system if the dGPU fails
- No Turbo Boost technology
- Locked to DDR4-2666 memory speeds
- Dead-end LGA 1151 platform with no upgrade path
Pros
- Lower power consumption for small form factor builds
- Same turbo boost ceiling as standard i5-750
- Four real cores with 8MB cache
- Lower thermal output simplifies cooling
Cons
- 2.4GHz base clock was slow even in 2010
- Significant performance drop in sustained multi-threaded workloads
- No integrated graphics requires discrete GPU
- No AVX support
- Completely obsolete platform
Competitors & Alternatives
Intel Core i3-9000
- AMD Ryzen 3 2200GRival
Budget Desktop APU
- AMD Ryzen 3 1200Rival
Budget AM4
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i3-8100Rival
Better 8th-Gen i3
- Intel Pentium Gold G5600Rival
Budget 2-Core
- AMD Ryzen 5 1600Rival
Used Market King
A drop-in upgrade for LGA 1200 systems that offers HT, higher clocks, and an iGPU.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 3 3200GAlt
A budget AMD alternative with strong integrated graphics and 4 cores/4 threads.
The logical OEM upgrade with 6 cores, providing much better multitasking.
Compare head-to-head
Intel Core i5-750s
- AMD Phenom II X4 910eRival
Low-Power Quad-Core
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-750Rival
Standard Quad-Core
- AMD Athlon II X4 605eRival
Low-Power Quad-Core
- Intel Core i3-530Rival
Budget Dual-Core with iGPU
- AMD Phenom II X4 810Rival
Budget Quad-Core
If integrated graphics and low power were priorities over core count.
Compare head-to-head
Our Verdict on Each
The i3-9000 is a heavily segmented OEM chip that removed Hyper-Threading and integrated graphics. It has no place in the modern computing landscape.
Best for: The only acceptable scenario for the i3-9000 is if you inherit a pre-built office PC for free and need a basic machine to run a legacy piece of software or act as a home file server. Because it lacks an iGPU, you must ensure it has a dedicated graphics card installed, or it will not output video. Do not spend money acquiring this processor.
Read the full reviewAn interesting low-power variant that traded clock speed for efficiency, but the 2.4GHz base clock limited performance even in 2010.
Best for: Maintaining an existing SFF Lynnfield build
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i3-9000 or Intel Core i5-750s?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i5-750s comes out ahead with a score of 4/10. 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 i3-9000 or Intel Core i5-750s?
For gaming, the Intel Core i3-9000 leads with a gaming performance score of 30/100 among Intel Core i3-9000 and Intel Core i5-750s.
Which uses less power?
The Intel Core i3-9000 has the lowest rated TDP. Power draw across these chips: Intel Core i3-9000 (65 W), Intel Core i5-750s (82 W).
Do Intel Core i3-9000 and Intel Core i5-750s use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Intel Core i3-9000: LGA 1151, Intel Core i5-750s: LGA 1156), so each needs a compatible motherboard.
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Intel Core i5-750s posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i3-9000 (0), Intel Core i5-750s (6,350). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.