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Intel Core i3-1125G4

Intel Core i3-1125G4: A Balance of Mobility and Performance in Budget Laptops

(Relevant as of April 2025)

Introduction

The Intel Core i3-1125G4 processor, released in 2020, remains a popular choice for budget ultrabooks and mid-range laptops. Despite its age, it maintains its relevance due to a successful combination of energy efficiency, adequate performance, and affordability. In this article, we will explore who this chip is suitable for in 2025, what tasks it can handle, and which alternatives to consider.

Architecture and Process Technology: 10 nm SuperFin and 4 Cores

CPU Features

The Core i3-1125G4 belongs to the Tiger Lake generation and is manufactured using 10 nm SuperFin technology, which ensures high transistor density and improved energy efficiency. The chip features:

- 4 cores and 8 threads thanks to Hyper-Threading;

- Base frequency of 2.0 GHz, with a maximum turbo frequency of 3.7 GHz (for a single core);

- L3 cache of 8 MB.

The Willow Cove architecture underlying Tiger Lake has brought an IPC (instructions per cycle) improvement of 10-15% compared to Ice Lake (previous generation 10 nm). This is particularly noticeable in single-threaded tasks such as web browsing or document editing.

Integrated Graphics

The iGPU is the Intel UHD Graphics for the 11th generation (Xe-LP architecture):

- 48 execution units;

- Frequency up to 1.25 GHz;

- Support for 4K@60 Hz via HDMI 2.0 or DisplayPort.

The graphics handle AV1 and VP9 video decoding, which is useful for streaming. In gaming, it delivers modest results: for example, in Fortnite, you can expect 25-30 FPS on low settings at 720p resolution.

Power Consumption and TDP: 28 W for Balance

The nominal TDP of the processor is 28 W, but real power consumption depends on the workload:

- In idle mode — 3-5 W;

- During office work — 10-15 W;

- In turbo mode — up to 35 W (briefly).

These specifications make the chip suitable for thin ultrabooks with passive or compact active cooling solutions. However, in budget laptops with inefficient cooling systems, throttling may occur under prolonged loads (e.g., video rendering).

Performance: What Can the Core i3-1125G4 Handle in 2025?

Tests and Real-World Tasks

- Office Work: Running 20+ tabs in Chrome, Excel with large spreadsheets, Zoom conferences — the processor handles it smoothly without lag.

- Multimedia: Editing photos in Lightroom, editing 1080p video in DaVinci Resolve (with rendering up to 5 minutes) — feasible, but for long projects, it's better to choose Core i5 or Ryzen 5.

- Gaming: Only light titles — CS:GO (50-60 FPS on low settings), Minecraft, browser games.

Turbo Boost: How Long Does the Frequency Hold?

The maximum frequency of 3.7 GHz is achieved only at temperatures below 70°C. In most ultrabooks, turbo mode operates for 10-20 seconds under load before the frequency drops to 2.8-3.0 GHz. This is sufficient for short tasks (e.g., opening a heavy PDF).

Use Cases: Who Is This Processor Suitable For?

- Students: Working with texts, presentations, online courses.

- Office Workers: Email, Excel, corporate applications.

- Casual Users: Web browsing, Netflix streaming, messaging.

- Travelers: Compact laptops with this CPU often weigh 1.2-1.5 kg and cost from $500.

Not suitable for:

- Professional 4K video editing;

- Heavy gaming (e.g., Cyberpunk 2077);

- Machine learning or 3D modeling.

Battery Life: How Does TDP Affect Usage Time?

With a battery capacity of 50 Wh, laptops with the Core i3-1125G4 demonstrate:

- 8-10 hours for document work and moderate screen brightness;

- 5-6 hours for YouTube viewing;

- 3-4 hours in high-performance mode.

Power-saving technologies:

- Intel Dynamic Tuning 2.0: Adaptively adjusts power based on workload.

- Connected Standby: Sleep mode with background app activity (e.g., receiving email).

Tip: Disable Turbo Boost in power settings to increase battery life by 15-20% (at the cost of reduced performance).

Comparison with Competitors

AMD Ryzen 5 5500U

- Pros: 6 cores/12 threads, Vega 7 graphics (about 30% faster in games).

- Cons: Higher price (laptops from $600), less optimization for Windows 11.

Apple M1

- Pros: Better battery life (up to 18 hours), high speed in "native" applications.

- Cons: Limited compatibility with Windows programs, more expensive (laptops from $800).

Intel Core i5-1135G7

- Pros: +2 MB L3 cache, frequency up to 4.2 GHz, Iris Xe graphics (80 EU).

- Cons: Laptops with this CPU cost $100-150 more.

Strengths and Weaknesses of the Core i3-1125G4

Strengths:

- Affordable laptop prices (from $450);

- Support for Thunderbolt 4 and Wi-Fi 6;

- Good single-threaded performance.

Weaknesses:

- Limited multi-threaded power;

- Weak iGPU for gaming;

- Heating under load in thin chassis.

Recommendations for Choosing a Laptop

1. Type of Device: Ultrabooks (Acer Swift 3, Lenovo IdeaPad 5) or budget models (HP 15s).

2. RAM: Minimum 8 GB, preferably 16 GB DDR4.

3. Storage: Must have SSD 512 GB (NVMe speeds up system performance).

4. Screen: IPS panel with a resolution of 1920×1080. Avoid TN screens.

5. Ports: USB-C with charging support, HDMI for projectors.

Examples of 2025 models:

- Acer Aspire 5 ($550): 16 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD, 15.6" IPS display.

- Lenovo V15 G4 ($500): 8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD, metal chassis.

Final Conclusion

The Intel Core i3-1125G4 in 2025 is a solid choice for those looking for an inexpensive laptop for study, work, and entertainment. Its key advantages include:

- Energy efficiency and portability;

- Support for modern interfaces (Thunderbolt 4, Wi-Fi 6);

- Sufficient power for daily tasks.

Who should buy it:

- Students;

- Freelancers on a budget;

- Users who do not play demanding games.

If you need graphics for gaming or rendering, consider laptops with Ryzen 5 7530U or Intel Core i5-1335U. However, be prepared to pay an additional $200-300 for the convenience.

Basic

Label Name

Intel

Platform

Mobile

Launch Date

September 2020

Model Name

The Intel processor number is just one of several factors - along with processor brand, system configurations, and system-level benchmarks - to be considered when choosing the right processor for your computing needs.

i3-1125G4

Code Name

Tiger Lake

CPU Specifications

Total Cores

Cores is a hardware term that describes the number of independent central processing units in a single computing component (die or chip).

Total Threads

Where applicable, Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology is only available on Performance-cores.

Max Turbo Frequency

Max Turbo Frequency is the maximum single-core frequency at which the processor is capable of operating using Intel® Turbo Boost Technology and, if present, Intel® Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 and Intel® Thermal Velocity Boost. Frequency is typically measured in gigahertz (GHz), or billion cycles per second.

3.70 GHz

Intel Turbo Boost Technology

Intel® Turbo Boost Technology dynamically increases the processor's frequency as needed by taking advantage of thermal and power headroom to give you a burst of speed when you need it, and increased energy efficiency when you don’t.

2.0

Intel Hyper-Threading Technology

Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology (Intel® HT Technology) delivers two processing threads per physical core. Highly threaded applications can get more work done in parallel, completing tasks sooner.

Yes

L3 Cache

8 MB

CPU Socket

The socket is the component that provides the mechanical and electrical connections between the processor and motherboard.

FCBGA1449

Technology

Lithography refers to the semiconductor technology used to manufacture an integrated circuit, and is reported in nanometer (nm), indicative of the size of features built on the semiconductor.

10 nm SuperFin

TDP

28 W

Max. Operating Temperature

Junction Temperature is the maximum temperature allowed at the processor die.

100°C

Instruction Set

The instruction set is a hard program stored inside the CPU that guides and optimizes CPU operations. With these instruction sets, the CPU can run more efficiently. There are many manufacturers that design CPUs, which results in different instruction sets, such as the 8086 instruction set for the Intel camp and the RISC instruction set for the ARM camp. x86, ARM v8, and MIPS are all codes for instruction sets. Instruction sets can be extended; for example, x86 added 64-bit support to create x86-64. Manufacturers developing CPUs that are compatible with a certain instruction set need authorization from the instruction set patent holder. A typical example is Intel authorizing AMD, enabling the latter to develop CPUs compatible with the x86 instruction set.

64-bit

Microprocessor PCIe Revision

Gen 4

Memory Specifications

Memory Type

Intel® processors come in four different types: Single Channel, Dual Channel, Triple Channel, and Flex Mode. Maximum supported memory speed may be lower when populating multiple DIMMs per channel on products that support multiple memory channels.

DDR4-3200 | LPDDR4x-3733

Max Memory Size

Max memory size refers to the maximum memory capacity supported by the processor.

64 GB

Memory Channels

The number of memory channels refers to the bandwidth operation for real world application.

Bus Speed

4 GT/s

ECC Memory Supported

ECC Memory Supported indicates processor support for Error-Correcting Code memory. ECC memory is a type of system memory that can detect and correct common kinds of internal data corruption. Note that ECC memory support requires both processor and chipset support.

GPU Specifications

Integrated Graphics Model

An integrated GPU refers to the graphics core that is integrated into the CPU processor. Leveraging the processor's powerful computational capabilities and intelligent power efficiency management, it delivers outstanding graphics performance and a smooth application experience at a lower power consumption.

Intel® UHD Graphics for 11th Gen Intel® Processors

Graphics Frequency

Graphics max dynamic frequency refers to the maximum opportunistic graphics render clock frequency (in MHz) that can be supported using Intel® HD Graphics with Dynamic Frequency feature.

1.25 GHz

DirectX Support

DirectX* Support indicates support for a specific version of Microsoft’s collection of APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) for handling multimedia compute tasks.

12.1

Execution Units

The Execution Unit is the foundational building block of Intel’s graphics architecture. Execution Units are compute processors optimized for simultaneous Multi-Threading for high throughput compute power.

Max Resolution (HDMI)

Max Resolution (HDMI) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor via the HDMI interface (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your system.

4096x2304@60Hz

Max Resolution (DP)

Max Resolution (DP) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor via the DP interface (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your system.

7680x4320@60Hz

Max Resolution (eDP - Integrated Flat Panel)

Max Resolution (Integrated Flat Panel) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor for a device with an integrated flat panel (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your device.

4096x2304@60Hz

Number of Displays Supported

Graphics Output

Graphics Output defines the interfaces available to communicate with display devices.

eDP 1.4b | MIPI-DSI 2.0 | DP 1.4 | HDMI 2.0b

Miscellaneous

Intel Deep Learning Boost (Intel DL Boost) on CPU

A new set of embedded processor technologies designed to accelerate AI deep learning use cases. It extends Intel AVX-512 with a new Vector Neural Network Instruction (VNNI) that significantly increases deep learning inference performance over previous generations.

Yes

Intel Virtualization Technology (VT-x)

Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x) allows one hardware platform to function as multiple “virtual” platforms. It offers improved manageability by limiting downtime and maintaining productivity by isolating computing activities into separate partitions.

Yes

Intel Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)

Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d) continues from the existing support for IA-32 (VT-x) and Itanium® processor (VT-i) virtualization adding new support for I/O-device virtualization. Intel VT-d can help end users improve security and reliability of the systems and also improve performance of I/O devices in virtualized environments.

Yes

Intel Standard Manageability (ISM)

Intel® Standard Manageability is the manageability solution for Intel vPro® Essentials platforms and is a subset of Intel® AMT with out-of-band management over Ethernet and Wi-Fi, but no KVM or new life cycle management features.

Intel® SSE4.1 | Intel® SSE4.2 | Intel® AVX2 | Intel® AVX-512

Cache

CPU Cache is an area of fast memory located on the processor. Intel® Smart Cache refers to the architecture that allows all cores to dynamically share access to the last level cache.

8 MB Intel® Smart Cache

Intel AES New Instructions

Intel® AES New Instructions (Intel® AES-NI) are a set of instructions that enable fast and secure data encryption and decryption. AES-NI are valuable for a wide range of cryptographic applications, for example: applications that perform bulk encryption/decryption, authentication, random number generation, and authenticated encryption.

Yes

Intel High Definition Audio

Yes

Intel Volume Management Device (VMD)

Intel® Volume Management Device (VMD) provides a common, robust method of hot plug and LED management for NVMe-based solid state drives.

Yes

Intel Boot Guard

Intel® Device Protection Technology with Boot Guard helps protect the system’s pre-OS environment from viruses and malicious software attacks.

Yes

Intel Clear Video HD Technology

Intel® Clear Video HD Technology, like its predecessor, Intel® Clear Video Technology, is a suite of image decode and processing technologies built into the integrated processor graphics that improve video playback, delivering cleaner, sharper images, more natural, accurate, and vivid colors, and a clear and stable video picture. Intel® Clear Video HD Technology adds video quality enhancements for richer color and more realistic skin tones.

Yes

Intel VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)

Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT), also known as Second Level Address Translation (SLAT), provides acceleration for memory intensive virtualized applications. Extended Page Tables in Intel® Virtualization Technology platforms reduces the memory and power overhead costs and increases battery life through hardware optimization of page table management.

Yes

Intel Control-Flow Enforcement Technology

CET - Intel Control-flow Enforcement Technology (CET) helps protect against the misuse of legitimate code snippets through return-oriented programming (ROP) control-flow hijacking attacks.

Yes

Intel OS Guard

Yes

OpenGL Support

OpenGL (Open Graphics Library) is a cross-language, multi-platform API (Application Programming Interface) for rendering 2D and 3D vector graphics.

4.6

OpenCL Support

OpenCL (Open Computing Language) is a multi-platform API (Application Programming Interface) for heterogeneous parallel programming.

3.0

Intel Quick Sync Video

Intel® Quick Sync Video delivers fast conversion of video for portable media players, online sharing, and video editing and authoring.

Yes

Benchmarks

Geekbench 6

Single Core Score

1426

Geekbench 6

Multi Core Score

4045

Geekbench 5

Single Core Score

1156

Geekbench 5

Multi Core Score

3634

Passmark CPU

Single Core Score

2501

Passmark CPU

Multi Core Score

9734

Compared to Other CPU

Geekbench 6 Single Core

Core i7-9850HE

1533 +7.5%

Core i7-6700K

1479 +3.7%

Core i3-1125G4

1426

Core i7-9850H

1379 -3.3%

Xeon E3-1275

1347 -5.5%

Geekbench 6 Multi Core

Xeon D-1541

4543 +12.3%

Ryzen 3 5425U

4263 +5.4%

Core i3-1125G4

4045

Xeon D-1531

3841 -5%

Xeon Silver 4108

3592 -11.2%

Geekbench 5 Single Core

Xeon E-2286M

1219 +5.4%

Xeon Gold 6312U

1187 +2.7%

Core i3-1125G4

1156

Xeon W-3265

1123 -2.9%

Xeon E-2144G

1108 -4.2%

Geekbench 5 Multi Core

Xeon E-2226G

3960 +9%

Core i3-8350K

3790 +4.3%

Core i3-1125G4

3634

Xeon Gold 6222V

3522 -3.1%

Xeon E3-1545M v5

3386 -6.8%

Passmark CPU Single Core

Core i7-9800X

2571 +2.8%

Xeon Gold 6334

2545 +1.8%

Core i3-1125G4

2501

Core i9-8950HK

2452 -2%

Xeon Gold 6242R

2424 -3.1%

Passmark CPU Multi Core

Xeon W-2225

10599 +8.9%

Core i5-9500F

10219 +5%

Core i3-1125G4

9734

Core i5-1245UE

9283 -4.6%

Core i3-1315UE

8906 -8.5%