CPU Comparison

# Intel Celeron G6900E vs Intel Core i7-3770T

This comparison pits Intel's modern Alder Lake-S entry-level chip against a decade-old Ivy Bridge quad-core flagship. The aggregate benchmark data places both processors at the 35th percentile of all CPUs, with average scores of 1321 for the Celeron G6900E and 1314 for the Core i7-3770T, a negligible 0.6% spread. Yet the per-test breakdown reveals a dramatic split: the Ivy Bridge chip wins six of eight head-to-head benchmarks, while the Alder Lake chip takes two decisive victories in Geekbench, including a 163.7% single-core advantage. The choice between them depends entirely on workload type and platform requirements.

The Verdict

The data paints a clear picture of two processors optimized for different priorities. The Intel Core i7-3770T wins the majority of benchmark comparisons, taking six out of eight head-to-head tests. It leads in every Cinebench iteration: R15 multicore (464 vs 366, a 21.1% advantage), R20 multicore (1936 vs 1525, 21.2%), and R23 multicore (4611 vs 3632, 21.2%). In single-core Cinebench tests, the i7-3770T similarly dominates, with R15 at 65 vs 51 (21.5%), R20 at 273 vs 215 (21.2%), and R23 at 651 vs 512 (21.4%). For users running Cinebench-class workloads, rendering, simulation, or any CPU-intensive compute relying on sustained multi-threaded execution, the i7-3770T is the clear choice from the benchmark data.

The Intel Celeron G6900E, however, wins decisively in Geekbench. Its multicore score of 2702 versus 1916 represents a 41% lead, and its single-core score of 1561 versus 592 is a staggering 163.7% higher. This suggests the Alder Lake architecture's modern instruction set and IPC improvements translate to strong performance in Geekbench's workload mix. For users prioritizing Geekbench-style general-purpose computing, the Celeron G6900E is the better pick.

The i7-3770T offers 4 cores and 8 threads versus the Celeron's 2 cores and 2 threads, explaining its Cinebench dominance. The Celeron counters with a 3.00 GHz base clock (the i7-3770T runs at 2.50 GHz base, 3.70 GHz boost), newer 10 nm process versus 22 nm, and support for DDR4 and DDR5 memory versus DDR3-only. Neither processor has a launch MSRP listed in the data.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different eras of Intel design. The Intel Celeron G6900E is built on Alder Lake architecture, codenamed Alder Lake-S, manufactured on Intel's 10 nm process node. It features 2 cores and 2 threads, with a base clock of 3.00 GHz and no boost clock listed. Its cache hierarchy includes 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 4 MB shared L3. It supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory in dual-channel configuration, with PCIe Gen 5, and integrates UHD Graphics 710. The socket is Intel Socket 1700, TDP is 46 W, and it was released on 2022-01-03.

The Intel Core i7-3770T is an Ivy Bridge part, manufactured on Intel's 22 nm process with 1,400 million transistors on a 160 mm² die. It provides 4 cores and 8 threads, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 3.70 GHz. Cache sizes are 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 8 MB shared L3, double the L3 of the Celeron. Memory support is limited to DDR3 in dual-channel configuration, and PCIe is Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The integrated graphics are Intel HD 4000. It uses Intel Socket 1155, has a TDP of 45 W, and was released on 2012-04-28. The part number is SR0PQ.

Neither processor supports ECC memory, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. The most significant architectural gaps are thread count (8 vs 2), process node (22 nm vs 10 nm), memory generation (DDR3 vs DDR4/DDR5), and PCIe generation (Gen 3 vs Gen 5). The Celeron's newer process and memory support give it a platform advantage, while the i7-3770T's extra cores and threads provide raw compute capacity.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data is starkly bifurcated. The i7-3770T wins all six Cinebench tests, with margins consistently around 21%. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i7-3770T scores 464 against the Celeron's 366, a 21.1% difference. The R15 single-core test shows 65 vs 51, a 21.5% gap. Cinebench R20 multicore repeats the pattern: 1936 vs 1525, 21.2% in favor of the i7-3770T. R20 single-core delivers 273 vs 215, again 21.2%. Cinebench R23 multicore sees 4611 vs 3632, a 21.2% lead, and R23 single-core shows 651 vs 512, a 21.4% advantage for the i7-3770T.

The Geekbench results invert the picture completely. The Celeron G6900E scores 2702 in Geekbench multicore versus 1916 for the i7-3770T, a 41% lead. In Geekbench single-core, the Celeron scores 1561 versus 592, a 163.7% advantage that is by far the largest margin in any test. This single result dwarfs the consistent 21% Cinebench margins, suggesting the Celeron's architectural efficiency shines in Geekbench's diverse workload suite while the i7-3770T's extra threads dominate the Cinebench render loop.

Notably, the Celeron's average benchmark score of 1321 is nearly identical to the i7-3770T's 1314, reflecting a 0.6% difference. The nearest rivals list confirms the parity: the Celeron G6900T matches the G6900E at 1321, the Core i5-4570R sits at 1318, and the Core i5-2500K at 1329. For the i7-3770T, the AMD Athlon Gold 7220U scores 1311, the i5-4570R 1318, and the Celeron G6900T 1321. Both chips occupy the same performance envelope on average, but achieve it through very different strengths.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-3770T has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Intel Celeron G6900E has 2 cores and 2 threads.

Q: What is the single largest benchmark margin between them?

A: The Geekbench single-core test shows the Celeron G6900E scoring 1561 versus 592 for the i7-3770T, a 163.7% advantage for the Celeron.

Q: Does the Celeron G6900E win any multicore benchmark?

A: Yes, the Celeron G6900E wins Geekbench multicore with 2702 versus 1916 for the i7-3770T, a 41% lead.

Q: What memory types does each processor support?

A: The Celeron G6900E supports DDR4 and DDR5, while the i7-3770T supports DDR3 only. Both use dual-channel memory buses.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Celeron G6900E has an average benchmark score of 1321, and the i7-3770T scores 1314, a difference of 0.6% in favor of the Celeron.

Q: Which processor was released more recently?

A: The Celeron G6900E was released on 2022-01-03, while the i7-3770T was released on 2012-04-28.

Q: What are their respective process nodes?

A: The Celeron G6900E uses Intel's 10 nm process, while the i7-3770T uses Intel's 22 nm process.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-3770T is the winner for Cinebench-based workloads. Its six victories in the R15, R20, and R23 suites, both single-core and multicore, are consistent at roughly 21% margins. The combination of 4 cores, 8 threads, and 8 MB of L3 cache provides a clear advantage in render-style tasks that scale with thread count. Its 3.70 GHz boost clock helps single-core Cinebench performance, where it beats the Celeron's fixed 3.00 GHz by 21.4% in R23 single-core. Users running CPU rendering, video encoding, or any threaded compute application that resembles Cinebench's workload will find the i7-3770T substantially faster.

The Intel Celeron G6900E wins in Geekbench, both single-core and multicore. The 163.7% single-core lead is remarkable, indicating that the Alder Lake architecture's 10 nm process and modern IPC deliver far superior per-clock performance in Geekbench's test suite. Its 41% multicore advantage in Geekbench, despite having only 2 cores versus 4, suggests that the Celeron's efficiency cores and advanced instruction handling outweigh the i7-3770T's thread count advantage in this particular benchmark. For general-purpose computing, web browsing, office applications, and other Geekbench-style tasks, the Celeron G6900E is the superior performer.

Platform considerations also differentiate the two. The Celeron G6900E supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory and PCIe Gen 5, making it compatible with modern motherboards and memory technologies. The i7-3770T is limited to DDR3 and PCIe Gen 3, restricting it to older platforms. The Celeron's 46 W TDP is only 1 W higher than the i7-3770T's 45 W, so power consumption is nearly identical despite the architectural gap.

The aggregate data suggests a tie: both sit at the 35th percentile of all CPUs, with average scores within 0.6% of each other. The nearest rivals for each chip, the Celeron G6900T at 1321 and the AMD Athlon Gold 7220U at 1311, reinforce that these processors occupy the same performance class. The decision rests on workload: Cinebench-heavy users choose the i7-3770T; Geekbench-heavy users choose the Celeron G6900E. The i7-3770T wins more benchmarks, but the Celeron's wins are by far larger margins, particularly the 163.7% single-core Geekbench result that indicates a fundamentally more efficient architecture.