Intel Core 3 100HL vs Intel Core 7 251TE Comparison

The Verdict

The recorded benchmark data presents a decisive performance hierarchy between these two Intel desktop processors. The Intel Core 7 251TE wins 15 of 17 head-to-head comparisons, while the Intel Core 3 100HL wins only 2, both in the same PassMark single-thread test. The average benchmark score for the Core 7 251TE is 41650, placing it in the 88th percentile of all CPUs in the database. The Core 3 100HL averages 23545, which lands in the 76th percentile. That 18105-point gap in average scores translates to a 77% advantage for the Core 7 251TE. The Core 3 100HL sits near processors like the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U and Intel Core i5-11500, both within 0.7% of its average score. The Core 7 251TE aligns closely with the Intel Core Ultra 7 265H (0.1% delta), Intel Core i7-14650HX (0.2% delta), and Intel Core i7-12850HX (0.3% delta). The intended use case dictates the selection: the Core 7 251TE is the clear choice for multi-threaded rendering, data compression, encryption, and floating-point workloads. The Core 3 100HL has a narrow but real edge in single-threaded PassMark testing, which may matter for lightly threaded legacy applications. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking is not a differentiator. The Core 7 251TE carries a launch MSRP of $384.

Architecture Differences

The two processors share the same socket, Intel Socket 1700, and both are built on a 10 nm process node by Intel. They also both support DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration. The similarities end there.

The Core 3 100HL uses the Raptor Lake architecture with the Raptor Lake-PS codename, while the Core 7 251TE uses the Bartlett Lake codename. The Core 3 100HL packs 8 cores and 12 threads, whereas the Core 7 251TE delivers 24 cores and 32 threads. That is a 3x difference in core count and a 2.67x difference in thread count. The Core 3 100HL has a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. The Core 7 251TE starts lower at 1.40 GHz base but boosts higher to 5.40 GHz. Both processors have a 45 W TDP. The Core 7 251TE has a die size of 215 mm², while the Core 3 100HL has no recorded die size.

Cache allocations differ substantially. Both use 80 KB of L1 cache per core. The L2 cache is 2 MB per core on the Core 3 100HL versus 1.25 MB per core on the Core 7 251TE. The shared L3 cache is 12 MB on the Core 3 100HL versus 36 MB on the Core 7 251TE, a 3x advantage for the Core 7 251TE. That larger L3 pool likely contributes to the Core 7 251TE's superior performance in cache-sensitive workloads.

Memory bandwidth is another differentiator. The Core 7 251TE records 89.6 GB/s of memory bandwidth, while the Core 3 100HL has no figure recorded. The Core 7 251TE also supports ECC memory, which the Core 3 100HL does not. PCIe connectivity differs as well: the Core 3 100HL provides Gen 4 with 8 lanes (CPU only), while the Core 7 251TE provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). That doubles the lane count and advances the generation.

Integrated graphics differ. The Core 3 100HL uses Iris Xe Graphics with 48 execution units. The Core 7 251TE uses UHD Graphics 770. The Core 7 251TE also has a recorded part number, SRQAXQ5ZG, while the Core 3 100HL lists "unknown."

Release timing matters for context. The Core 3 100HL was released on 2024-04-07, and the Core 7 251TE followed on 2025-01-12. Both are currently listed as Active in production status. The Core 3 100HL targets the desktop market segment, as does the Core 7 251TE.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a sweeping advantage for the Core 7 251TE across nearly every test. In Cinebench R15, the Core 7 251TE scores 2572 in multicore versus 1506 for the Core 3 100HL, a 41.4% lead. The single-core R15 test shows 362 versus 212, also a 41.4% lead. Cinebench R20 follows the same pattern: 10717 versus 6278 in multicore and 1512 versus 886 in single-core, both at 41.4% deltas. Cinebench R23 shows 25518 versus 14948 in multicore and 3602 versus 2110 in single-core, again 41.4% apart. The consistent 41.4% delta across all Cinebench versions indicates a uniform scaling advantage rather than workload-specific behavior.

PassMark tests show similar trends. Data compression scores 334399 for the Core 7 251TE versus 202225 for the Core 3 100HL, a 39.5% lead. Data encryption shows 22176 versus 11964, a 46% lead. Extended instructions score 16974 versus 12463, a 26.6% lead, the smallest delta in the Core 7 251TE's favor. Prime number finding records 140 versus 48, a 65.7% lead, the largest margin in any test. Floating point math delivers 85607 versus 42108, a 50.8% lead. Integer math shows 125739 versus 56308, a 55.2% lead. The multithread test scores 30022 versus 17586, a 41.4% lead. Physics simulation records 1938 versus 928, a 52.1% lead. Random string sorting scores 39643 versus 23223, a 41.4% lead.

The single exception appears in PassMark single-thread testing. The Core 3 100HL scores 3735 versus 3568 for the Core 7 251TE, a 4.7% lead. This is the only test where the Core 3 100HL wins, and it appears twice in the data (as passmark_single_thread and passmark_singlethread, both with identical scores). The wins tally reflects this: the Core 3 100HL has 2 wins, the Core 7 251TE has 15.

The 65.7% delta in prime number finding and the 55.2% delta in integer math indicate that the Core 7 251TE's core count advantage is most pronounced in integer-heavy, parallelizable workloads. The 26.6% delta in extended instructions shows the smallest gap, suggesting that SIMD or specialized instruction throughput is more evenly matched. The 46% delta in encryption highlights the Core 7 251TE's strength in cryptography-related tasks. The 50.8% delta in floating-point math positions the Core 7 251TE as substantially better for scientific or simulation workloads.

The single-thread PassMark result, where the Core 3 100HL leads by 4.7%, suggests that its higher base clock (2.10 GHz versus 1.40 GHz) provides an advantage in lightly threaded scenarios where boost clocks are not consistently sustained. The Core 7 251TE's 5.40 GHz boost clock is higher, but the recorded single-thread score of 3568 falls short of the Core 3 100HL's 3735. This could reflect thermal or power constraints given the same 45 W TDP with 24 cores. The Core 7 251TE must distribute its power budget across three times the core count, which may limit sustained single-core boost behavior.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core 7 251TE has 24 cores and 32 threads. The Intel Core 3 100HL has 8 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Which processor wins in single-threaded performance?

A: The Intel Core 3 100HL wins the PassMark single-thread test with a score of 3735 versus 3568 for the Intel Core 7 251TE, a 4.7% lead. This is the only benchmark category where the Core 3 100HL outperforms the Core 7 251TE.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two processors?

A: The largest gap is in PassMark find prime numbers, where the Intel Core 7 251TE scores 140 versus 48 for the Intel Core 3 100HL, a 65.7% lead. The second largest is in integer math at 55.2%.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: Yes, both support DDR4 and DDR5 in a dual-channel configuration. The Intel Core 7 251TE additionally supports ECC memory and has a recorded memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, while the Intel Core 3 100HL has no bandwidth figure and no ECC support.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Intel Core 7 251TE has an average benchmark score of 41650, placing it in the 88th percentile of all CPUs. The Intel Core 3 100HL averages 23545, placing it in the 76th percentile. The Core 7 251TE's average is 77% higher.

Q: What is the difference in L3 cache size?

A: The Intel Core 7 251TE has 36 MB of shared L3 cache, three times the 12 MB on the Intel Core 3 100HL. L1 cache is identical at 80 KB per core, while L2 differs: 2 MB per core on the Core 3 100HL versus 1.25 MB per core on the Core 7 251TE.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 7 251TE is the dominant performer in every multi-threaded workload recorded. The Cinebench suite, covering R15, R20, and R23, shows a consistent 41.4% lead across both multicore and single-core variants. That consistency suggests the Core 7 251TE scales linearly with its additional cores and threads across rendering workloads. The PassMark multithread test confirms this with another 41.4% delta. Data compression, which benefits from parallel execution and large caches, shows a 39.5% lead. The 36 MB L3 cache on the Core 7 251TE likely supports this result. Encryption workloads show a 46% lead, indicating strong performance for secure data handling. Floating-point math delivers a 50.8% lead, positioning the Core 7 251TE for simulation, scientific computing, and any FP-heavy code. Physics simulation shows a 52.1% lead, which may interest users running physics-based applications or game engine simulations. Integer math shows a 55.2% lead, making the Core 7 251TE the choice for general-purpose integer workloads like compilation, data processing, and office-style multitasking. Prime number finding shows a 65.7% lead, the largest margin, which indicates exceptional performance in algorithms that are highly parallel and integer-bound. Random string sorting posts a 41.4% lead. Extended instructions show the smallest advantage at 26.6%, but the Core 7 251TE still wins that test.

The Intel Core 3 100HL wins only the PassMark single-thread test, with a 4.7% lead over the Core 7 251TE. This is the sole area where the Core 3 100HL is preferable. Its higher base clock of 2.10 GHz versus 1.40 GHz likely contributes to this result. The Core 3 100HL also has a smaller core count, which may allow each core to sustain higher clocks under the same 45 W TDP. For legacy single-threaded applications, database queries that are not parallelized, or older software that does not utilize many cores, the Core 3 100HL offers slightly better responsiveness. The 2 MB per core L2 cache on the Core 3 100HL, which is larger than the 1.25 MB per core on the Core 7 251TE, may also support single-thread performance by keeping more working data closer to the core.

The Core 7 251TE's PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes versus the Core 3 100HL's PCIe Gen 4 with 8 lanes gives the former more expansion bandwidth for discrete GPUs or NVMe storage. The ECC memory support on the Core 7 251TE adds reliability for error-sensitive workloads such as long-running servers or data integrity applications. The Core 3 100HL lacks ECC support. The Core 7 251TE's integrated UHD Graphics 770 versus the Iris Xe Graphics 48EU on the Core 3 100HL may also matter for systems without a discrete GPU, though the benchmark data does not include graphics tests.

For a system builder prioritizing raw throughput, the Core 7 251TE wins decisively. For a user running mostly single-threaded applications, the Core 3 100HL provides a small but measurable edge. The Core 3 100HL also has lower core and thread counts, which may simplify power management in thermally constrained chassis, though both share the same 45 W TDP. The Core 7 251TE's release date of 2025-01-12 makes it a newer design than the Core 3 100HL's 2024-04-07 release. The Core 7 251TE also has a larger die size at 215 mm², while the Core 3 100HL has no recorded die size. The Core 7 251TE's part number is SRQAXQ5ZG, whereas the Core 3 100HL lists "unknown." Both processors are locked, meaning no multiplier adjustment is available. The Core 7 251TE's launch MSRP is $384, and the Core 3 100HL has no launch MSRP recorded.