Intel Celeron G5920 vs Intel Core i3-7100 Comparison

The Verdict

The Intel Core i3-7100 is the stronger processor in every benchmark where both chips were measured. The data shows a consistent, narrow lead across all five head-to-head tests, with the i3-7100 winning each by roughly 2.3% to 2.7%. The Celeron G5920 never takes a single win in the recorded comparison. If you need the extra multithreading headroom and slightly higher clock speed, the i3-7100 is the pick. The Celeron G5920, however, is not a bad fallback: its average benchmark score of 775 sits only 6 points behind the i3-7100's 781, and both share the same 21st percentile ranking among all CPUs. The Celeron also runs on the newer Socket 1200 platform, which matters if you are building around that motherboard generation. For pure performance from the recorded data, choose the i3-7100. For platform compatibility with Socket 1200 and a slightly lower power draw per core in some workloads, the Celeron G5920 remains viable.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on Intel's 14 nm process node, but they belong to different architectural families. The i3-7100 uses Kaby Lake, while the Celeron G5920 uses Comet Lake. The i3-7100 is a Core i3 part with 2 cores and 4 threads, enabled by Hyper-Threading. The Celeron G5920 is a more basic Celeron part with 2 cores and 2 threads, lacking that extra thread count. Core clock speeds differ as well: the i3-7100 runs at 3.90 GHz, while the Celeron G5920 runs at 3.50 GHz. Neither chip has a boost clock, so those are fixed operating frequencies.

Cache configurations are not identical. The i3-7100 has 3 MB of shared L3 cache, whereas the Celeron G5920 has 2 MB of shared L3 cache. Both share the same per-core L1 and L2 cache sizes: 64 KB and 256 KB per core, respectively. The integrated graphics differ too: the i3-7100 packs Intel HD 630, while the Celeron G5920 uses UHD 610. Memory support is DDR4 for both, with dual-channel buses, but the Celeron G5920 has a slightly higher memory bandwidth at 42.7 GB/s versus 38.4 GB/s for the i3-7100. Neither supports ECC memory, and both have the same PCIe Gen 3 configuration with 16 CPU lanes. The i3-7100 uses Intel Socket 1151, while the Celeron G5920 uses Intel Socket 1200. The i3-7100 was released in January 2017, while the Celeron G5920 arrived in April 2020. Both have locked multipliers, and both are listed as Active in production status.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The i3-7100 wins all five recorded head-to-head comparisons, but the margins are close. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i3-7100 scores 232 against the Celeron's 226, a 2.7% advantage. That is the largest delta in the set. Moving to Cinebench R20 multi-core, the i3-7100 posts 970 versus 945, a 2.6% lead. Single-core in R20 shows the i3-7100 at 136 and the Celeron at 133, a 2.3% edge. Cinebench R23 multi-core repeats the pattern: 2310 for the i3-7100 against 2252 for the Celeron, another 2.6% win. Finally, Cinebench R23 single-core has the i3-7100 at 326 and the Celeron at 318, a 2.5% margin.

The story is consistent: the i3-7100 is faster in every workload tested, but the differences are small enough that real-world feel will be similar for lightly threaded tasks. The extra two threads on the i3-7100 likely explain the multi-core advantages, while the higher base clock of 3.90 GHz versus 3.50 GHz explains the single-core wins. In terms of overall average benchmark score, the i3-7100 sits at 781, while the Celeron G5920 is at 775. That is a 0.8% difference in the aggregate, confirming these are closely matched parts.

Looking at the broader competitive context, the i3-7100's nearest rivals include the AMD A10-5800K and Intel Pentium G4520, both with an average score of 778, placing them just 0.4% behind. The Celeron G5920's nearest rival is the Intel Core i3-3250T at 775, a 0% delta, meaning they are effectively tied in average performance. Both chips sit in the 21st percentile of all CPUs, so neither is a performance leader in the current market.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has more threads?

A: The Intel Core i3-7100 has 4 threads on 2 cores, while the Intel Celeron G5920 has 2 threads on 2 cores. The i3-7100 benefits from Hyper-Threading.

Q: Is the Celeron G5920 ever faster than the i3-7100?

A: No. In the five head-to-head benchmark comparisons, the i3-7100 wins all five. The Celeron G5920 records zero wins.

Q: Do both CPUs use the same motherboard socket?

A: No. The i3-7100 uses Intel Socket 1151, while the Celeron G5920 uses Intel Socket 1200. They are not socket-compatible with each other.

Q: What is the difference in L3 cache size?

A: The i3-7100 has 3 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Celeron G5920 has 2 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: Which CPU has a higher base clock speed?

A: The i3-7100 runs at 3.90 GHz, which is higher than the Celeron G5920's 3.50 GHz. Neither has a boost clock.

Q: Are their average benchmark scores close?

A: Yes. The i3-7100 averages 781, and the Celeron G5920 averages 775, a difference of just 6 points. Both rank in the 21st percentile of all CPUs.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i3-7100 wins in every benchmark category recorded. In multi-core workloads, it leads by 2.6% to 2.7% across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23. That advantage stems from its 4 threads versus the Celeron's 2 threads, which helps in lightly threaded productivity apps, background tasks, and any workload that can use more than two threads. In single-core tests, the i3-7100 also leads by 2.3% to 2.5%, thanks to its higher 3.90 GHz clock speed. If you are choosing between these two strictly on measured performance, the i3-7100 is the faster chip in every scenario the database records.

The Intel Celeron G5920 does not win any head-to-head benchmark, but it has its own practical strengths. It runs on Socket 1200, which is a newer platform and may be easier to source in current motherboard lineups. It also has a higher memory bandwidth rating at 42.7 GB/s versus 38.4 GB/s, which could matter for memory-sensitive tasks, though no benchmark in the data directly tests that. The Celeron also has a lower base clock at 3.50 GHz, which means it may run cooler under load, though the TDP is actually higher at 58 watts versus 51 watts for the i3-7100. For a basic office PC, a NAS, or a lightweight home server where multithreading is not critical, the Celeron G5920 is sufficient. But for any scenario where the recorded benchmarks matter, the i3-7100 is the clear winner.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs differ in several key specifications. The i3-7100 has 2 cores and 4 threads, while the Celeron G5920 has 2 cores and 2 threads. Base clocks are 3.90 GHz for the i3-7100 and 3.50 GHz for the Celeron G5920. TDP ratings are close but not identical: 51 watts for the i3-7100 versus 58 watts for the Celeron G5920. Sockets are different: Intel Socket 1151 for the i3-7100, Intel Socket 1200 for the Celeron G5920. Architectures also differ: Kaby Lake versus Comet Lake. The L3 cache is 3 MB on the i3-7100 and 2 MB on the Celeron G5920. Memory bandwidth is 38.4 GB/s on the i3-7100 and 42.7 GB/s on the Celeron G5920. Integrated graphics are Intel HD 630 on the i3-7100 and UHD 610 on the Celeron G5920. Release dates are January 2017 for the i3-7100 and April 2020 for the Celeron G5920. Both share the same 14 nm process node, dual-channel DDR4 memory support, no ECC support, PCIe Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes, locked multipliers, 64 KB L1 cache per core, 256 KB L2 cache per core, and Active production status.