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Intel Core i3-8140U

Intel Core i3-8140U: Review and Practical Recommendations for 2025

Introduction

The Intel Core i3-8140U is a mobile processor introduced in 2018, but it is still found in budget laptops in 2025. Despite its age, it remains relevant for basic tasks due to its energy efficiency and low device cost. In this article, we will explore who would benefit from this CPU, how it handles modern workloads, and what to consider when purchasing.

1. Architecture and Manufacturing Process

Coffee Lake Code and 14nm Process

The Core i3-8140U is built on the Coffee Lake architecture (8th generation Intel) using a 14nm manufacturing process. It is a dual-core processor with Hyper-Threading support, resulting in 4 threads. Its base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with a maximum Turbo Boost frequency of 3.9 GHz.

Integrated Graphics

The Intel UHD Graphics 620 is an integrated GPU with a base frequency of 300 MHz and dynamic boost up to 1.0 GHz. It supports 4K video (via HDMI/DisplayPort), but is limited for gaming.

Architecture Features

- Supports DDR4-2400 / LPDDR3-2136 RAM.

- L3 Cache: 4 MB.

- Technologies: Intel Quick Sync Video (encoding acceleration), Virtualization.

Comparison with Previous Generations

Compared to the i3-7130U (Kaby Lake), performance has improved by approximately 15% due to core optimization and Turbo frequency increases.

2. Power Consumption and TDP

15W TDP: What Does It Mean?

The 15W Thermal Design Power (TDP) indicates low heat generation, allowing the processor to be used in thin ultrabooks without active cooling. However, under load (e.g., rendering), power consumption can reach 25W, necessitating good thermal management.

Energy-Saving Technologies

- Intel SpeedStep: Dynamically adjusts frequency and voltage.

- Turbo Boost 2.0: Short-term boost to 3.9 GHz to accelerate tasks.

- C-States: Disables unused cores during idle periods.

3. Performance in Real Tasks

Office Work

- Examples: Word, Excel, browser with 10-15 tabs, Zoom.

- Results: Smooth operation, but heavy Excel sheets and video in Chrome might cause slight delays.

Multimedia

- Video: 4K@60 FPS without issues (hardware decoding via Quick Sync).

- Editing: Rendering a 1080p video in Adobe Premiere Rush will take 2-3 times longer compared to an i5-1135G7.

Gaming

- CS:GO: 720p, low settings — 40-50 FPS.

- Fortnite: 720p, minimum settings — 25-30 FPS.

- Indie Games: Hollow Knight, Stardew Valley — 60 FPS.

Turbo Boost: How It Works

Under load on 1-2 cores, the frequency can rise to 3.9 GHz, but this lasts no longer than 28 seconds. In multithreaded tasks (e.g., archiving), Turbo Boost is rarely activated as TDP limits power.

4. Usage Scenarios

Who Is This Processor For?

- Students: Text editing, online courses, Netflix.

- Office Workers: Email, documentation, video conferencing.

- Casual Users: Social media, YouTube, online banking.

Who Should Avoid It?

- Gamers: A discrete GPU is necessary.

- Designers/Editors: Poor multithreaded performance.

- Programmers: Code compilation on the i3-8140U will be sluggish.

5. Battery Life

Impact of TDP on Runtime

In laptops with a 40-50 Wh battery (e.g., Lenovo IdeaPad 3), battery life is approximately:

- 6-8 hours: Web surfing, office tasks.

- 4-5 hours: Watching 1080p video.

Energy-Saving Technologies

- Windows Power Management: "Battery Saver" mode reduces CPU frequency.

- Adaptive Brightness: Automatic adjustment of the screen brightness.

Tip: Choose models with low-brightness IPS screens (250 nits) — they consume less power.

6. Comparison with Competitors

AMD Ryzen 3 3300U

- Pros: 4 cores/4 threads, Vega 6 GPU (30% faster than UHD 620).

- Cons: Higher TDP (25W), shorter battery life.

- Example Laptop: HP 14-dk0000 (price in 2025: $350-400).

Apple M1 (in base MacBook Air)

- Pros: 3-4 times higher performance, 18 hours of battery life.

- Cons: Price starting from $999, limited compatibility with Windows.

Intel Core i3-1115G4 (11th generation)

- Pros: 10nm process, higher IPC, Wi-Fi 6 support.

- Cons: Laptops with this CPU cost $150-200 more.

7. Pros and Cons of Core i3-8140U

Strengths

- Low device prices ($300-450 in 2025).

- Adequate performance for everyday tasks.

- Cool operation and quiet cooling systems.

Weaknesses

- 2 cores can be a bottleneck in multithreaded scenarios.

- Outdated architecture (14nm vs. 7-10nm competitors).

- Weak graphics for modern gaming.

8. Laptop Selection Recommendations

Types of Devices

- Ultrabooks: ASUS VivoBook 15, Acer Swift 3 — weight up to 1.5 kg, screen 13-15".

- Budget Laptops: Lenovo IdeaPad 3, HP 15 — focus on battery life.

What to Look For

- RAM: Minimum 8 GB (DDR4).

- Storage: Must have SSD (256 GB or more).

- Screen: Full HD IPS — less strain on the eyes.

- Ports: USB-C with charging support — convenient for modern gadgets.

Example Models for 2025

- ASUS VivoBook 15: $379, 8 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD, 15.6" FHD screen.

- HP 15s-eq2023nr: $349, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD, Windows 11.

9. Final Conclusion

Who Should Consider the Core i3-8140U?

This processor is a choice for those who:

- Are looking for an affordable laptop ($300-450).

- Do not play demanding games.

- Use the device for study, document management, and media consumption.

Key Benefits

- Price: Most affordable models on the market.

- Portability: Thin and lightweight designs.

- Reliability: Proven architecture with low defect rates.

Alternatives for 2025

If the budget allows for $500-600, consider laptops with AMD Ryzen 5 5500U or Intel Core i5-1135G7 — they will last longer and handle more demanding tasks.

Conclusion

The Intel Core i3-8140U in 2025 is a "workhorse" for basic tasks. It won't impress with performance but will provide stability and good battery life at a minimal cost. When purchasing, pay attention to specifications (SSD and RAM), and even a budget laptop can become a reliable assistant for 3-4 years.

Basic

Label Name

Intel

Platform

Mobile

Launch Date

October 2019

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.

i3-8140U

Code Name

Coffee Lake

CPU Specifications

Total Threads

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

Basic Frequency

2.10 GHz

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.

3.90 GHz

Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 Frequency

3.90 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

CPU Socket

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

FCBGA1528

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.

14 nm

TDP

15 W

Max. Operating Temperature

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

100°C

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.

3.0

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.

1x4 | 2x2 | 1x2+2x1 and 4x1

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.

DDR4-2400 | LPDDR3-2133

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 OPI

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).

37.5 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

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 620

Graphics Base Frequency

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

300 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

Graphics Video Max Memory

32 GB

4K Support

Yes | at 60Hz

DirectX Support

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

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@24Hz

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.

4096x2304@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/DP/HDMI/DVI

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.

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

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.

4 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 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 Clear Video Technology

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 Flex Memory Access

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.

4.5

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

1078

Geekbench 6

Multi Core Score

2169

Geekbench 5

Single Core Score

782

Geekbench 5

Multi Core Score

1677

Passmark CPU

Single Core Score

2135

Passmark CPU

Multi Core Score

4227

Compared to Other CPU

Geekbench 6 Single Core

Athlon Gold 3150GE

1150 +6.7%

Xeon Gold 6150

1113 +3.2%

Core i3-8140U

1078

Core i5-4440

1031 -4.4%

Xeon D-2752TER

978 -9.3%

Geekbench 6 Multi Core

Core i7-4712HQ

2648 +22.1%

Xeon E3-1240 v2

2423 +11.7%

Core i3-8140U

2169

Pentium Gold G6605

1985 -8.5%

Xeon E5630

1838 -15.3%

Geekbench 5 Single Core

Celeron G5900

816 +4.3%

Athlon PRO 200GE

800 +2.3%

Core i3-8140U

782

Athlon PRO 300U

766 -2%

Core i3-10100Y

743 -5%

Geekbench 5 Multi Core

Celeron N5095

1951 +16.3%

Xeon E5-1607 v2

1823 +8.7%

Core i3-8140U

1677

Athlon Gold 3150U

1579 -5.8%

A10-7700K

1485 -11.4%

Passmark CPU Single Core

Xeon W-2123

2192 +2.7%

Xeon E5-2698 v4

2160 +1.2%

Core i3-8140U

2135

Xeon E5-1680 v2

2114 -1%

Core i3-4360

2086 -2.3%

Passmark CPU Multi Core

Core i7-3612QM

4653 +10.1%

Athlon 220GE

4429 +4.8%

Core i3-8140U

4227

Core i3-6300T

4003 -5.3%

Core i3-7100T

3790 -10.3%