Intel Core i5-6442EQ vs Intel Core i3-8121U

Processor comparisons   20-01-2022
   You may have difficulties with the choice of a processor, you will solve them by reading the comprehensive tests Intel Core i5-6442EQ vs Intel Core i3-8121U and decide which is better for games or normal use for machine learning, video editing, streaming, programming, rendering. Here you can find useful information from real streaming and video editing tests or several benchmarks. A step-by-step analysis of all the specifications, to make it easier to understand, is made by the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of joint testing in special testing software like PassMark, Blender, Gears 5, Furmark, MATLAB, WPrime, Handbrake, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, GeekBench 6, 5.2, VeraCrypt, 3DMark, DaVinci Resolve Studio, 7zip, AIDA64, RealBench, Blender, SuperPi, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), Prime95, PCMark 10, UserBenchmark, Dolphin Emulator.
   And how good the CPUs are in games:

Grand Theft Auto V
Overwatch
Apex Legends
World of Warcraft: Shadowlands
Rainbow Six Siege
DOOM: Eternal
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Warzone
Fortnite
Borderlands 3
Watch Dogs Legion
Red Dead Redemption 2
Assassin's Creed Valhalla
Death Stranding
Fallout 76
Valorant
Last Man Standing
Valheim
Halo Infinite
Cyberpunk 2077

After looking at the data of joint benchmarks and videos, you can already make an informed decision about which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i3-8121U or Intel Core i5-6442EQ.

Summary benchmark results

As a percentage of the maximum value based on a sample from the entire base of all processors
Processor Benchmark

Core i5-6442EQ

51%

Core i3-8121U

51%

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i5-6442EQ

51%

Core i3-8121U

51%

For the maximum in this test, the results of the most powerful processor in the site database are taken. And it is clear that this is a server processor, on which no one will play games. Because this processor costs several tens of thousands of dollars. And if it seems to you that the selected CPU has a little game result, just look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the summary table below.
List of less popular games in which processors were compared: Control, Metro Exodus, Hitman 3, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Forza Horizon 4, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, DOTA 2A, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Monster Hunter World, League of Legends (LOL), Horizon Zero Dawn, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Microsoft Flight Simulator, Battlefield V, Half-Life: Alyx, NBA 2K20, Ghostrunner.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	89.9	90.1
Valorant	102.2	102.4
Cyberpunk 2077	57.2	57.3
Apex Legends	96.1	96.2
Call of Duty Warzone	76.7	76.8
Overwatch	82.8	82.9
Red Dead Redemption 2	70.5	70.6
DOOM Eternal	51.1	51.2
Warzone	79.7	79.9
Assassin's Creed	85.9	86.0
Valheim	84.8	85.0

The numbers in this table indicate the maximum FPS that was received on the device with the corresponding processor. Depending on the configuration of the computer (RAM size and Video Card) and graphics quality settings (Ultra, Medium, Normal), the results may differ quite significantly. We recommend that you better study the results of the Cinebench, GeekBench and Passmark becnmarks.
The computers that were in the comparisons not only did they have different amounts of RAM and different video cards. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 4K, 2K or FullHD. So the game benchmark data is approximate. But all video cards met the average system requirements of games. You will get more accurate information about how powerful the processor will be in games, if you get acquainted with the benchmarks that are made with the same video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Core i5-6442EQ

73%

Core i3-8121U

200%

To make a final resolution on which processor is better, you should also consider the generation of its core. The newer the processor generation, the better its performance in games and benchmarks, as well as its energy efficiency. In this case the Core i3-8121U is more energy efficient than the Core i5-6442EQ as it consumes less power: 25W vs. 15W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, you need to know its TDP. You need to buy a cooler that has the TDP data specified in the specification was greater than the TDP of the compared processor.

Software benchmarks

Let's say you plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for video rendering or video editing, machine learning, programming, streaming, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the CPU uses all cores and threads that it has to the maximum to reach maximum performance. You will learn this data from the benchmark tables below. Before using the data from these tests, be sure to find out whether the software that you are going to use on your computer can work in multi-threaded mode. Since there are still many programs that use only one core to run, and all the advantages of multi-core mode are unused.
Cinebench 23, 20 an 15
The results of this benchmark show Single-threaded and Multi-threaded CPU performance

	Intel Core i5-6442EQ	Intel Core i3-8121U
Cinbench 15 Single-core	111	139
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	422	305
Cinbench 20 Single-core	305	340
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	985	598
Cinbench 23 Single-core	665	563
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	2538	2184

Passmark
This popular benchmark displays Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	Intel Core i5-6442EQ	Intel Core i3-8121U
Single-Core	1704	1939
Multi-Core	4505	4369

GeekBench 6, 5.2
This benchmark shows Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	Intel Core i5-6442EQ	Intel Core i3-8121U
Single-Core	550	901
Multi-Core	1907	2063

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most useful will be the the possibility of overclocking it and release date of the processor. The later the processor is released, the longer it will last you. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system later. The same benefits from the presence of overclocking. If the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce maximum FPS even in new games. It turns out that there is no longer a need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The savings are obvious!

	Intel Core i5-6442EQ	Intel Core i3-8121U
Announcement date	November 30, -0001	July 07, 2018
Type	Embedded	Laptop
Socket	FCBGA1440	Unknown
Core name	Skylake	Cannon Lake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	6	8
Turbo Frequency	2.7 MHz	3.2 MHz
Frequency	1.9 MHz	2.2 MHz
Cores	4	2
Threads	4	4
Bus rate	8 GT/s	4 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	14 nm	10 nm
Transistors count	2000 millions	1800 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	25 W	15 W
Memory type	DDR4-2133, LPDDR3-1866, DDR3L-1600	DDR4-2400, LPDDR4/x-2400
Max. Memory	64 Gb	32 Gb
Memory Frequency
Memory bandwidth	34.1 GB/s	37.5 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache
L3 cache	6 MB	4 MB
Overclocking	No	No
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number	Expansion Options

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Core i3-8121U is 13% better than Core i5-6442EQ in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i5-6442EQ has 2 more core than Core i3-8121U. Also keep in mind that high CPU frequency affects battery life through power consumption (relevant for laptops).

Result:
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i5-6442EQ is better: 10
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i3-8121U is better: 23
However, it should be realized that the summary data in the article above do not mean that taking them into account you should totally trust a simple comparison of these figures. Better to watch the video tests and read the reviews of real owners of Intel Core i5-6442EQ and Intel Core i3-8121U before making a selection which CPU to buy for gaming and which not.

Intel Core i5-6442EQ - all data

• Cinebench r15 score
• Cinebench r20 score
• Cinebench r23 score
• GeekBench 6, 5.2 score

• Intel Core i5-6442EQ specs and review.

Intel Core i3-8121U - all data

• Cinebench r15 score
• Cinebench r20 score
• Cinebench r23 score
• GeekBench 6, 5.2 score

• Intel Core i3-8121U specs and review.