Quick Verdict
The i3-1125G4 was an excellent mainstream mobile processor in 2021, bringing 4 cores and 8 threads to the i3 laptop tier alongside a significant iGPU upgrade, though it has since been surpassed by 12th-gen parts.
Overview
Launch
2021
Status
End-of-lifeGeneration
11th Gen (Tiger Lake)
Market
Mobile
The Intel Core i3-1125G4 is a 4-core, 8-thread mobile processor utilizing the 10nm Willow Cove architecture and Iris Xe-LP G4 graphics, offering a strong balance of efficiency and multitasking for mainstream thin-and-light laptops.
The Core i3-1125G4 features four Willow Cove cores, 8 MB of L3 cache, and configurable 12W-28W power limits. Its Iris Xe-LP G4 graphics provide a substantial boost in media and light gaming capabilities over previous Intel integrated graphics.
Specifications
Performance
Four cores handle office suites, video conferencing, and moderate multitasking with ease.
Can run a single lightweight virtual machine or Docker containers, but 8 threads limit heavy virtualization.
The Iris Xe GPU can handle e-sports titles like League of Legends and CS:GO at 1080p low, but it is not meant for modern AAA gaming.
Excellent power efficiency when paired with LPDDR4X memory, allowing for long battery life in ultrabooks.
- •Playable frame rates in older e-sports titles at 1080p low settings
- •Not suitable for modern AAA games
- •Performance varies heavily based on laptop cooling and cTDP settings
- •No dedicated NPU
- •DLBoost provides some AI inference acceleration but is largely superseded by modern standards
Architecture
10nm
Process Node
Tiger Lake-U
Codename
4C / 8T
Core Config
8 MB
L3 Cache
15 W
TDP
Architecture Overview
The i3-1125G4 utilizes the Willow Cove core design, which is a substantial architectural evolution from Sunny Cove. It features a completely redesigned cache hierarchy, with the L2 cache per core expanding to 1.25 MB. This larger L2 cache reduces the frequency at which the CPU needs to fetch data from the shared L3 cache or system RAM, significantly improving real-world performance.
CPU Design
This chip contains four active Willow Cove cores, all supporting Hyper-Threading for a total of 8 threads. It operates on the BGA 1449 package, which integrates the CPU, GPU, and memory controllers closely to reduce latency.
Memory Subsystem
It supports both standard DDR4-3200 and LPDDR4X-3733. OEMs frequently choose LPDDR4X for thin-and-light designs because its lower voltage directly translates to longer battery life.
PCIe & I/O
It provides 16 lanes of PCIe 4.0 connectivity, usually allocated entirely to a single M.2 NVMe SSD slot on the laptop motherboard.
Overclocking
Completely locked. Performance tuning is restricted to the configurable TDP settings controlled by the laptop's BIOS.
- Doubled the physical core count from 2 to 4
- Increased L3 cache from 6 MB to 8 MB
- Added LPDDR4X memory support
- Introduced Configurable TDP (12W-28W)
Key Highlights
- 4 cores and 8 threads provide solid multitasking capability
- Iris Xe-LP graphics are highly capable for integrated silicon
- Configurable TDP allows balance between battery life and performance
- Supports both DDR4 and power-efficient LPDDR4X
- PCIe 4.0 support for fast storage
- Now end-of-life and superseded by 12th-gen parts
- Single-thread performance is lower than newer Alder Lake chips
- No hybrid core architecture like subsequent generations
- 28 W PL2 is relatively low for sustained performance bursts
- Only 8 threads limit heavy professional workloads
History
The Core i3-1125G4 launched in early 2021 as part of a refreshed Tiger Lake-U lineup. While the initial September 2020 Tiger Lake launch focused heavily on premium i5 and i7 SKUs, the early 2021 wave brought the architecture down to more affordable price points. The 1125G4 was arguably the most important chip in that refresh because it normalized quad-core computing in the mainstream laptop market.
<br><br>Prior to this, buying a budget laptop often meant settling for a dual-core processor that would quickly become obsolete. By bringing four full Willow Cove cores and the capable Iris Xe-LP graphics to a $281 price point, Intel effectively killed the dual-core laptop in the Windows ecosystem. The 1125G4 became the default choice for OEMs building mid-range Chromebooks, student laptops, and enterprise fleet devices throughout 2021, securing Intel's market share against AMD's rising Ryzen 4000 mobile series.
Improvements over Previous Generation
- Doubled the physical core count from 2 to 4
- Increased L3 cache from 6 MB to 8 MB
- Added LPDDR4X memory support
- Introduced Configurable TDP (12W-28W)
Alternatives & Competitors
Should You Buy It?
Not Recommended for the right buyer
You should only consider buying a laptop with the i3-1125G4 today if it is being offered at a significant, heavily discounted clearance price. At launch, it was a fantastic chip for students and office workers, offering enough power for daily tasks and capable integrated graphics. However, as an end-of-life product, paying standard retail pricing for it is unwise. The newer 12th-generation i3-1215U offers hybrid P-cores and E-cores for similar money, providing much better performance and longevity. If you find a used 1125G4 laptop incredibly cheap, it remains a perfectly viable machine for web browsing and document editing.
Avoid if…
- You are paying full retail price for a new laptop
- You need a laptop for video editing, coding, or heavy workloads
- You want a device that will remain fast for 4+ years
Use Cases
Interesting Facts
Despite being a budget chip, it shares the exact same Willow Cove architecture as the premium i7-1185G7.
Its PL2 (turbo power) of 52 W is over three times its base 15 W TDP, allowing for brief but intense performance spikes.
The Iris Xe-LP G4 graphics architecture was developed by the same team that later created Intel's Arc discrete GPUs.
It was one of the first Intel i3 mobile processors to feature 4 physical cores, a major milestone for the tier.
The 'G4' in the name refers to the 80 Execution Unit configuration of the integrated graphics.
It supports Intel Deep Learning Boost, using AVX-512 instructions to accelerate AI inference tasks.
The BGA 1449 socket it uses was exclusive to the Tiger Lake generation.
When running at its 28 W cTDP up setting, the all-core turbo is limited to 3.3 GHz to manage thermals.
Its memory controller can achieve up to 59.7 GB/s bandwidth when using fast LPDDR4X memory.
This chip was incredibly popular in the mid-range Chromebook and education laptop segments.
People Also Ask
Is the Intel Core i3-1125G4 good for gaming?
It can handle light e-sports titles like CS:GO and League of Legends at 1080p low, but it is not built for AAA gaming.
How many cores does the i3-1125G4 have?
It has 4 physical cores and 8 threads.
What is the difference between i3-1125G4 and i5-1135G7?
The i5-1135G7 has higher clock speeds and a more powerful Iris Xe GPU, but both share the same 4-core Willow Cove architecture.
Can the i3-1125G4 run Windows 11?
Yes, it fully meets the requirements for Windows 11.
What is the TDP of the i3-1125G4?
The base TDP is 15 W, but it is configurable between 12 W and 28 W depending on the laptop.
Does the i3-1125G4 support DDR5?
No, it supports DDR4-3200 and LPDDR4X-3733.
What is the max turbo power of the 1125G4?
The PL2 max turbo power is 52 Watts.
Is the i3-1125G4 better than Ryzen 5 5500U?
The 1125G4 wins in single-core tasks, but the Ryzen 5 5500U's 6 cores make it much faster for multi-threaded workloads.
What graphics does the i3-1125G4 have?
It features Intel Iris Xe-LP Graphics with a maximum dynamic frequency of 1250 MHz.
When was the i3-1125G4 released?
March 31st, 2021.
Frequently Asked Questions
What socket does it use?
BGA 1449.
What is the base clock?
2.0 GHz.
What is the max boost clock?
3.7 GHz.
How much L3 cache does it have?
8 MB.
Does it support ECC memory?
No.
Can it be overclocked?
No.
What is the launch price?
$281.
How many PCIe lanes?
16 lanes of PCIe 4.0.
What is the TJ Max?
100°C.
Does it have AVX-512?
Yes.