Intel Core 3 100U vs Intel Core i5-11400H Comparison

The Intel Core i5-11400H and the Intel Core 3 100U are both six-core mobile processors, but they serve entirely different performance mandates. The benchmark data shows a clear split: the i5-11400H dominates multi-threaded and heavy compute workloads, winning 13 of the 17 head-to-head comparisons, while the Core 3 100U counters with superior single-threaded agility and wins in specific physics and prime-number tests. The i5-11400H is the undisputed compute workhorse, while the Core 3 100U is the efficiency-focused alternative with a notable per-core advantage in certain tasks. This analysis breaks down exactly where each chip wins, the architectural reasons behind the split, and which user should prioritize which processor based strictly on the measured data.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-11400H establishes its dominance in every multi-threaded and data-intensive benchmark category. Its most significant victories come in extended instruction processing, where it scores 12,971 versus the Core 3 100U's 7,894, a commanding 64.3% advantage. Similarly, in random string sorting, the i5-11400H leads with 22,512 points against 15,191, a 48.2% margin. Integer math performance also heavily favors the i5-11400H, scoring 53,286 versus 39,580, which translates to a 34.6% lead. The i5-11400H also wins in data compression (190,855 vs. 136,497, up 39.8%), multithread performance (15,346 vs. 12,522, up 22.6%), and floating-point math (32,060 vs. 28,322, up 13.2%). Across the entire Cinebench suite, the i5-11400H maintains a consistent 21% lead in both single-core and multi-core tests, scoring 12,859 vs. 10,624 in Cinebench R23 multi-core.

The Intel Core 3 100U wins four benchmarks, but they are strategically important. Its most notable victory is in single-thread performance, where it scores 3,506 versus the i5-11400H's 2,975, a 15.1% advantage in the Passmark single-thread test. It also wins the Passmark physics test with 876 points versus 678, a 22.6% margin, and the find prime numbers test with 52 versus 47, a 9.6% edge. These wins suggest the Core 3 100U has a more efficient per-core architecture that excels in latency-sensitive, single-threaded workloads, even though it lacks the raw multi-threaded throughput of the older H-series chip.

Architecture Differences

The performance split is rooted in fundamentally different architectural designs. The Intel Core i5-11400H uses the Tiger Lake-H architecture on a 10 nm process node, featuring a larger 190 mm² die. It has 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 2.20 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz. Its cache configuration includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and a shared 12 MB L3 cache. The chip runs at a 35 W TDP and supports DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration, delivering 51.2 GB/s of memory bandwidth. It also offers PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU.

The Intel Core 3 100U, by contrast, is built on the newer Raptor Lake-U architecture, also on a 10 nm process. It has the same 6 cores and 80 KB L1 per core, but only 8 threads, indicating a hybrid core arrangement where not all cores support simultaneous multithreading. Its base clock is significantly lower at 1.20 GHz, but the boost clock is higher at 4.70 GHz. The L2 cache is identical at 1.25 MB per core, but the shared L3 cache is smaller at 10 MB. The Core 3 100U operates at a much lower 15 W TDP, supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, and has a reduced PCIe Gen 4 allocation of only 8 lanes. The integrated graphics also differ, with the Core 3 100U featuring UHD Graphics 64EU versus the standard UHD Graphics on the i5-11400H.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous for users prioritizing raw compute throughput: the Intel Core i5-11400H is the superior processor. Its 21.1% lead in Cinebench R15 multi-core (1,296 vs. 1,070) and 21% lead in R23 multi-core (12,859 vs. 10,624) establish it as the clear choice for rendering, compiling, and any workload that scales across threads. The 64.3% advantage in extended instructions and 34.6% lead in integer math further cement its position as the compute specialist. Users running heavy multithreaded applications should choose the i5-11400H without hesitation.

The Intel Core 3 100U, however, wins in scenarios where single-threaded response and efficiency matter more than brute force. Its 15.1% lead in Passmark single-thread score (3,506 vs. 2,975) and 22.6% advantage in physics simulation (876 vs. 678) indicate better per-core execution for interactive or lightly threaded tasks. The 15 W TDP also suggests significantly lower power consumption, making it a better fit for thin-and-light laptops where battery life takes precedence over sustained multi-core performance. The Core 3 100U is the pick for users who prioritize snappy single-threaded responsiveness and portability over multi-core workload throughput.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: The Intel Core i5-11400H is decisively faster. It wins Cinebench R23 multi-core with 12,859 points versus 10,624 for the Core 3 100U, a 21% advantage. It also leads in Passmark multithread with 15,346 versus 12,522, a 22.6% margin.

Q: Does the Intel Core 3 100U have any performance advantage?

A: Yes, in single-threaded tests. The Core 3 100U scores 3,506 in Passmark single-thread versus 2,975 for the i5-11400H, a 15.1% lead. It also wins the Passmark physics test with 876 points versus 678, a 22.6% advantage.

Q: How do their core and thread counts differ?

A: Both have 6 cores, but the i5-11400H supports 12 threads while the Core 3 100U supports only 8 threads. This thread deficit explains part of the Core 3 100U's multi-core disadvantage despite having the same core count.

Q: What are the cache differences between the two?

A: The i5-11400H has a shared 12 MB L3 cache, while the Core 3 100U has a smaller 10 MB L3 cache. Both feature identical L1 cache at 80 KB per core and L2 cache at 1.25 MB per core.

Q: Which chip has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core 3 100U has a higher boost clock of 4.70 GHz compared to the i5-11400H's 4.50 GHz. However, the i5-11400H has a much higher base clock of 2.20 GHz versus 1.20 GHz for the Core 3 100U.

Q: What is the TDP difference and what does it imply?

A: The i5-11400H has a 35 W TDP, while the Core 3 100U is rated at 15 W. This significant difference suggests the Core 3 100U is designed for more power-efficient, thermally constrained systems.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest performance gap in favor of the Intel Core i5-11400H appears in the Passmark extended instructions test, where it scores 12,971 against the Core 3 100U's 7,894, a massive 64.3% advantage. This result indicates that the i5-11400H's Tiger Lake architecture has substantially stronger SIMD and specialized instruction processing capabilities, which are critical for scientific computing and media encoding. The second-largest win for the i5-11400H is in random string sorting, with a 48.2% lead (22,512 vs. 15,191), followed by data compression at 39.8% (190,855 vs. 136,497). These tests are highly multi-threaded, and the i5-11400H's 12 threads versus 8 threads clearly pays off in throughput.

The Intel Core 3 100U's biggest win is in the Passmark physics test, where it scores 876 versus 678, a 22.6% advantage. This is notable because physics simulations often rely on single-threaded logic and cache efficiency, areas where the Core 3 100U's newer Raptor Lake architecture excels. Its 15.1% lead in Passmark single-thread (3,506 vs. 2,975) and 9.6% win in find prime numbers (52 vs. 47) round out its victories. Interestingly, the Core 3 100U wins these single-threaded tests despite having a lower base clock, which points to superior IPC (instructions per clock) from the newer microarchitecture.

In the Cinebench suite, the i5-11400H maintains a remarkably consistent 21% lead across all tests, whether single-core or multi-core. Cinebench R15 single-core shows 182 vs. 150 (21.3%), R20 single-core shows 762 vs. 629 (21.1%), and R23 single-core shows 1,815 vs. 1,499 (21.1%). This consistency suggests that the i5-11400H's advantage is not just from extra threads but also from a higher sustained clock under load. The multi-core Cinebench results follow the same pattern, with R15 at 1,296 vs. 1,070 (21.1%), R20 at 5,400 vs. 4,462 (21%), and R23 at 12,859 vs. 10,624 (21%).

Specification Differences

The two processors diverge most sharply in their memory and connectivity options. The Intel Core i5-11400H supports only DDR4 memory, while the Intel Core 3 100U supports both DDR4 and DDR5, giving the newer chip future-proofing potential. The i5-11400H compensates with a specified memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, whereas the Core 3 100U has no listed bandwidth figure. In PCIe connectivity, the i5-11400H offers Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU, while the Core 3 100U is limited to Gen 4 with only 8 lanes, a significant reduction for users needing multiple NVMe drives or discrete GPUs.

The socket and physical specifications also differ. The i5-11400H uses Intel BGA 1787, while the Core 3 100U uses Intel BGA 1744, meaning they are not interchangeable in motherboard designs. The i5-11400H has a larger die size of 190 mm², while the Core 3 100U's die size is not listed. The integrated graphics differ as well, with the Core 3 100U featuring UHD Graphics 64EU, which appears to be a more capable iGPU than the standard UHD Graphics on the i5-11400H, though no benchmark scores are provided for either. The release dates highlight the generation gap: the i5-11400H launched on 2021-05-10, while the Core 3 100U is much newer, launching on 2024-01-07. The launch MSRP for the i5-11400H is $250, while the Core 3 100U carries a launch MSRP of $426.