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Intel Core i3-3110M

Intel Core i3-3110M: A Moderate Giant of the Past for Basic Tasks

Analysis of a 2012 processor in the realities of 2025

Architecture and Manufacturing Process: The Foundation of Modest Performance

The Intel Core i3-3110M, released in 2012, is based on the Ivy Bridge microarchitecture (third generation Core). This was an era of transition to the 22nm manufacturing process, which improved energy efficiency compared to its predecessors (Sandy Bridge, 32nm).

Specifications:

- 2 cores / 4 threads thanks to Hyper-Threading.

- Base clock: 2.4 GHz. Turbo mode is absent — this is a key limitation of the i3 series at the time.

- Integrated graphics: Intel HD Graphics 4000 (16 EU, 650–1000 MHz). For its era, this was a decent iGPU, capable of running games at 720p resolution on low settings.

The Ivy Bridge architecture brought support for PCIe 3.0, USB 3.0, and improved power management. However, by 2025, even budget processors (such as Intel Alder Lake-N or AMD Mendocino) offer 6–8 cores and more modern iGPUs.

Power Consumption and TDP: A Balance Between Power and Portability

The processor's TDP is 35W. For its time, this was standard for mid-range mobile CPUs. However, today, comparable performance chips (such as Intel Pentium Gold 7505) have a TDP of 15W, maintaining similar speeds in office tasks.

What this means for the user:

- Laptops with the i3-3110M required active cooling (fans), which sometimes resulted in noise under load.

- Contemporary systems with similar TDP are rare — the market has shifted toward economical solutions in the 9–15W range.

Performance: The Realities of 2025

Benchmarks in Geekbench 6 (389/775) show that the processor handles basic tasks but falls behind even budget modern CPUs:

- Intel N100 (2023): 1200/3200.

- AMD Ryzen 3 7320U (2023): 1400/4200.

Real-world scenarios:

- Office work: Google Docs, Excel, a browser with 5–10 tabs — acceptable, but lag may occur when simultaneously running Zoom.

- Multimedia: Viewing 1080p/4K videos (with hardware decoding) is possible, but streaming on Twitch or rendering in DaVinci Resolve will be extremely slow.

- Gaming: Only older games (e.g., CS:GO at 30–40 FPS in 720p) or cloud gaming through services like Xbox Cloud.

Turbo Mode: Absent — this is the main downside. Modern equivalents (like the Core i3-1215U) automatically boost their frequency to 4.4 GHz for short bursts of load.

Use Cases: Who is the i3-3110M Suitable for in 2025?

The processor is relevant only in two cases:

1. Budget devices: New laptops with this CPU are rare, but they can be found on sale for $200–250 (e.g., HP 255 G8).

2. Secondary market: Used models ($80–150) for undemanding tasks: document printing, online courses, browsing.

Who should avoid it:

- Gamers — even Intel UHD Graphics (modern iGPUs) are 2–3 times more powerful.

- Freelancers — rendering or working in Photoshop will be painfully slow.

Battery Life: How Long Will the Battery Last?

Laptops with the i3-3110M typically came with batteries of 30–40 Wh. By 2025, their capacity may decrease due to wear, but in new condition, the runtime was around 4–5 hours under moderate load.

Power-saving technologies:

- Intel SpeedStep — dynamic frequency scaling.

- C-states — shutting down unused components.

However, modern processors (such as the Apple M1) provide 15+ hours of battery life due to ARM architecture and software optimization.

Comparison with Competitors: The Battle for a Place in the Sun

1. AMD A6-4400M (2012):

- 2 cores / 2 threads, 2.7–3.2 GHz, Radeon HD 7520G.

- Stronger in GPU, but weaker in CPU. Today both processors are equally outdated.

2. Apple A14 Bionic (2020):

- 6 cores, 3.0 GHz, 5nm manufacturing process.

- Performance is 5–6 times higher with a TDP of 6W.

3. Intel Core i3-1115G4 (2020):

- 2 cores / 4 threads, 3.0–4.1 GHz, Intel UHD Graphics Xe.

- 40% faster in single-threaded tasks.

Pros and Cons: Is it Worth Considering?

Pros:

- Extremely low price for new devices ($200–250).

- Sufficient for basic tasks: Word, YouTube, Zoom.

- Repairability — replacing the SSD or RAM can extend the laptop's life.

Cons:

- No support for modern standards: Wi-Fi 6, USB-C, HDMI 2.1.

- Limited multitasking — 4GB RAM will be insufficient in 2025.

- High power consumption by 2025 standards.

Laptop Selection Recommendations

If you still decide to buy a device with the i3-3110M in 2025, pay attention to:

1. Type of device: Only budget models (e.g., Acer Aspire 3 or Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3).

2. Upgradeability: Availability of an SSD slot (not HDD!) and potential to expand RAM to 8–16 GB.

3. Screen: Minimum 1080p — 1366×768 screens are no longer acceptable.

4. Price: Don’t overpay—new laptops with Intel N100 ($300–350) offer twice the performance.

Final Conclusion: Who is the i3-3110M Suitable For?

This processor is a choice for those who:

- Are looking for a new laptop for studying or working with texts at a very low price.

- Do not plan to use the laptop for more than 1–2 years.

- Are willing to accept limitations in exchange for savings.

Key Benefits:

- Minimal investment now and immediately.

- Ease of use for undemanding tasks.

However, in 2025, even budget Chromebooks or ARM-based devices (like the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook) offer better battery life and speed for the same $250–300. The Intel Core i3-3110M remains a niche solution, relevant only in circumstances of strict economic necessity.

Basic

Label Name

Intel

Platform

Mobile

Launch Date

April 2012

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.

i3-3110M

Code Name

Ivi Bridge

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.

Basic Frequency

2.40 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.

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

CPU Socket

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

FCBGA1023 | FCPGA988

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.

22 nm

TDP

35 W

Max. Operating Temperature

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

90C (PGA); 105C (BGA)

PCI Express Version

PCI Express Revision is the supported version of the PCI Express standard. Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (or PCIe) is a high-speed serial computer expansion bus standard for attaching hardware devices to a computer. The different PCI Express versions support different data rates.

2.0

Number of PCI Express Lanes

A PCI Express (PCIe) lane consists of two differential signaling pairs, one for receiving data, one for transmitting data, and is the basic unit of the PCIe bus. Max # of PCI Express Lanes is the total number of supported lanes.

Intel 64

Intel® 64 architecture delivers 64-bit computing on server, workstation, desktop and mobile platforms when combined with supporting software.¹ Intel 64 architecture improves performance by allowing systems to address more than 4 GB of both virtual and physical memory.

Yes

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

PCI Express Configurations

PCI Express (PCIe) Configurations describe the available PCIe lane configurations that can be used to link to PCIe devices.

1x16 | 2x8 | 1x8 2x4

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.

DDR3/L/-RS 1333/1600

Max Memory Size

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

32 GB

Memory Channels

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

Bus Speed

5 GT/s

Max Memory Bandwidth

Max Memory bandwidth is the maximum rate at which data can be read from or stored into a semiconductor memory by the processor (in GB/s).

25.6 GB/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

GPU Name

Intel® HD Graphics 4000

Graphics Base Frequency

Graphics Base frequency refers to the rated/guaranteed graphics render clock frequency in MHz.

650 MHz

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.

1.00 GHz

Number of Displays Supported

Graphics Output

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

eDP/DP/HDMI/SDVO/CRT

Miscellaneous

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.

Instruction Set Extensions

Intel® AVX

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology is an advanced means of enabling high performance while meeting the power-conservation needs of mobile systems. Conventional Intel SpeedStep® Technology switches both voltage and frequency in tandem between high and low levels in response to processor load. Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology builds upon that architecture using design strategies such as Separation between Voltage and Frequency Changes, and Clock Partitioning and Recovery.

Yes

Execute Disable Bit

Execute Disable Bit is a hardware-based security feature that can reduce exposure to viruses and malicious-code attacks and prevent harmful software from executing and propagating on the server or network.

Yes

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.

3 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.

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 InTru 3D Technology

Yes

Intel Flex Memory Access

Yes

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

389

Geekbench 6

Multi Core Score

775

Geekbench 5

Single Core Score

463

Geekbench 5

Multi Core Score

1024

Passmark CPU

Single Core Score

1245

Passmark CPU

Multi Core Score

1641

Compared to Other CPU

Geekbench 6 Single Core

FX-8320

456 +17.2%

A8-6500B

421 +8.2%

Core i3-3110M

389

Xeon E5-2418L

356 -8.5%

Opteron 6278

309 -20.6%

Geekbench 6 Multi Core

Athlon X4 830

1015 +31%

PRO A6-8570E

919 +18.6%

Core i3-3110M

775

Celeron 3765U

662 -14.6%

Celeron 3965Y

558 -28%

Geekbench 5 Single Core

Xeon E5-2650 v4

495 +6.9%

Pentium G630

479 +3.5%

Core i3-3110M

463

Celeron 3865U

443 -4.3%

Xeon E7-8890 v4

421 -9.1%

Geekbench 5 Multi Core

Athlon Silver 3050U

1173 +14.6%

Core M-5Y71

1096 +7%

Core i3-3110M

1024

Pentium G2010

930 -9.2%

Celeron 4205U

852 -16.8%

Passmark CPU Single Core

A4-5300

1351 +8.5%

PRO A6-8570E

1294 +3.9%

Core i3-3110M

1245

FirePro A320

1193 -4.2%

Pentium Silver N5000

1137 -8.7%

Passmark CPU Multi Core

Core i3-3220T

1937 +18%

A6-7480

1843 +12.3%

Core i3-3110M

1641

A4 PRO-7300B

1477 -10%

Celeron 4205U

1360 -17.1%