Intel Core 3 100U vs Intel Core i5-14401E Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark record splits cleanly between these two processors. The Intel Core i5-14401E wins every head-to-head benchmark recorded in the database. Across six Cinebench tests, the desktop part takes a perfect 6-0 sweep. The Intel Core 3 100U, a mobile processor, does not win a single recorded comparison in the head-to-head set.

The Core i5-14401E dominates in both single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads. The largest margin appears in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the desktop chip leads by 41.9%. The smallest gap, also 41.5%, appears in four of the six tests: Cinebench R15 multicore, R20 multicore, R20 singlecore, and R23 multicore. The consistency of the margins indicates the performance gap is not workload-specific but rather a general throughput difference.

The Core 3 100U has its own strengths in the broader database record, but not in direct comparison. Its PassMark suite shows a strong single-thread score of 3506 and a multithread score of 12522. The data compression score of 136497 and integer math score of 39580 suggest the mobile chip is capable in everyday productivity tasks. However, none of these PassMark tests appear in the head-to-head set, so they cannot be used to claim an advantage over the i5-14401E.

The percentile ranks tell a different story depending on which metric is used. The Core 3 100U sits at the 70th percentile among all CPUs in the database, while the Core i5-14401E sits at the 60th percentile. Yet the i5-14401E clearly outperforms the Core 3 100U in every direct benchmark. This discrepancy stems from the different benchmark sets each processor was measured with. The i5-14401E has only six recorded Cinebench scores, while the Core 3 100U has seventeen recorded scores including the PassMark suite.

Architecture Differences

Both processors share the Raptor Lake architecture and a 10 nm process node from Intel. The similarities end there. The Core 3 100U uses the Raptor Lake-U codename and is built for the mobile segment. The Core i5-14401E uses the Raptor Lake-R codename (Raptor Lake Refresh) and targets desktop systems.

Core counts match at 6 cores each, but thread counts differ. The Core 3 100U delivers 8 threads, while the Core i5-14401E delivers 12 threads. The desktop part carries Hyper-Threading across all six cores, giving it four additional threads for parallel workloads. This explains part of the multi-threaded performance gap.

Cache configurations differ substantially. Both allocate 80 KB of L1 per core and 1.25 MB of L2 per core. The L3 cache, however, doubles from 10 MB shared on the Core 3 100U to 20 MB shared on the Core i5-14401E. The larger shared cache gives the desktop chip more room for frequently accessed data across all cores.

Clock speeds show a mixed picture. The base clock on the Core 3 100U is 1.20 GHz, while the Core i5-14401E starts at 2.50 GHz. Both parts boost to 4.70 GHz. The higher base clock on the desktop chip means it sustains higher performance under continuous load without relying on boost behavior.

The thermal design power scales with the platform. The Core 3 100U is rated at 15 W, typical for ultraportable laptops. The Core i5-14401E is rated at 65 W, a conventional desktop power envelope. The 50 W difference in thermal budget allows the desktop chip to maintain higher clocks under sustained loads.

Socket and platform support diverge completely. The Core 3 100U uses Intel BGA 1744, a soldered mobile socket. The Core i5-14401E uses Intel Socket 1700, a desktop LGA socket. The Core 3 100U provides 8 PCIe Gen 4 lanes, while the Core i5-14401E provides 16 PCIe Gen 5 lanes. The desktop part also supports ECC memory, which the mobile chip does not.

Memory support is identical in type: both accept DDR4 and DDR5 in dual-channel configuration. The integrated graphics differ, with the Core 3 100U using UHD Graphics 64EU and the Core i5-14401E using UHD Graphics 730. The die size of the i5-14401E is recorded at 215 mm²; no die size is recorded for the Core 3 100U.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The six recorded head-to-head tests all come from the Cinebench suite. The Intel Core i5-14401E wins every one with margins between 41.5% and 41.9%.

In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i5-14401E scores 1830 against 1070 for the Core 3 100U, a 41.5% advantage. The single-core R15 result is 258 versus 150, a 41.9% lead. This single-core margin is the largest in the entire comparison, indicating the desktop chip's higher base clock and larger thermal envelope translate directly into stronger per-thread performance.

Cinebench R20 repeats the pattern. The multicore test shows 7627 for the i5-14401E against 4462 for the Core 3 100U, a 41.5% gap. The single-core test shows 1076 versus 629, also a 41.5% gap. The identical delta percentages across R15 multicore, R20 multicore, R20 singlecore, and R23 multicore suggest the two processors scale their performance proportionally across these workloads.

Cinebench R23 delivers the largest absolute score difference. The i5-14401E reaches 18161 in multicore, while the Core 3 100U reaches 10624. That is a 7537-point gap, the widest of any recorded test. The single-core R23 result is 2564 versus 1499, again a 41.5% gap.

The relative performance is remarkably stable. The i5-14401E outperforms the Core 3 100U by roughly 41.5% in nearly every test, with only the R15 single-core test deviating to 41.9%. This uniformity indicates the performance difference comes from fundamental architectural advantages: more threads, double the L3 cache, a higher base clock, and a much larger power budget.

For context from the nearest rival data, the Core 3 100U sits near the Intel Core i7-10850H (0.3% below), the Core i5-10600KF (0.5% below), the Core i7-1260U (1.1% below), and the AMD Ryzen 5 4600H (1.2% below) in average benchmark score. The i5-14401E sits near the Intel Xeon E5-2699A v4 (0.1% below), the Core i7-11700B (0.2% above), the Core i9-10850K (0.2% above), and the Core i5-13400T (0.8% above). These nearest-rival positions reflect the different benchmark sets used for each processor.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more threads?

A: The Intel Core i5-14401E has 12 threads, while the Intel Core 3 100U has 8 threads. Both have 6 cores.

Q: What is the largest benchmark margin between the two?

A: The largest margin is 41.9%, recorded in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the i5-14401E scores 258 against 150 for the Core 3 100U.

Q: Do both processors use the same architecture?

A: Yes, both use the Raptor Lake architecture on a 10 nm Intel process. The Core 3 100U uses the Raptor Lake-U codename, and the Core i5-14401E uses Raptor Lake-R.

Q: How does the L3 cache compare?

A: The Core 3 100U has 10 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core i5-14401E has 20 MB of shared L3 cache, exactly double.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Core i5-14401E supports ECC memory. The Intel Core 3 100U does not.

Q: What is the boost clock on each processor?

A: Both processors boost to 4.70 GHz. Their base clocks differ: 1.20 GHz for the Core 3 100U and 2.50 GHz for the Core i5-14401E.

The Verdict

The benchmark data indicates the Intel Core i5-14401E is the stronger processor in every recorded head-to-head comparison. Its 41.5% to 41.9% advantage across all six Cinebench tests leaves no ambiguity about relative compute performance. The desktop chip delivers this lead through 12 threads instead of 8, 20 MB of L3 cache instead of 10 MB, a 2.50 GHz base clock instead of 1.20 GHz, and a 65 W thermal envelope instead of 15 W.

The Intel Core 3 100U, however, is not without its place. Its 15 W TDP makes it appropriate for mobile systems where power consumption and heat dissipation are constrained. Its PassMark results, including a single-thread score of 3506 and a multithread score of 12522, indicate it handles general productivity workloads competently. Its 70th percentile rank among all CPUs reflects a broad benchmark set that includes its PassMark suite.

The Intel Core i5-14401E holds a 60th percentile rank, but this is based on only six Cinebench scores. Its average benchmark score of 5253 is far below the Core 3 100U's 16148, but that comparison is misleading because the two averages draw from different test sets. The direct head-to-head results are the reliable comparison, and they all favor the desktop chip.

The choice between these two processors comes down to platform. For a desktop system with a Socket 1700 motherboard, the i5-14401E offers clearly superior compute performance across single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads. For a mobile system using BGA 1744, the Core 3 100U provides the only option of the two, with a much lower thermal footprint and the same 4.70 GHz boost clock.

The i5-14401E also brings PCIe Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes and ECC memory support, features absent from the Core 3 100U. The Core 3 100U counters with PCIe Gen 4 at 8 lanes and a different integrated GPU. Both support DDR4 and DDR5 memory in dual-channel mode.

The data supports one clear conclusion: the Intel Core i5-14401E is the faster processor in every measured benchmark. The Intel Core 3 100U remains a reasonable mobile option where its 15 W power envelope is a requirement rather than a compromise.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core 3 100U | Intel Core i5-14401E |

|---|---|---|

| Threads | 8 | 12 |

| Base clock | 1.20 GHz | 2.50 GHz |

| Boost clock | 4.70 GHz | 4.70 GHz |

| TDP | 15 W | 65 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1744 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Codename | Raptor Lake-U | Raptor Lake-R |

| Generation | Core 3 (Raptor Lake-U) | Core i5 (Raptor Lake Refresh) |

| Process node | 10 nm | 10 nm |

| L3 cache | 10 MB shared | 20 MB shared |

| ECC memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 8 lanes | Gen 5, 16 lanes |

| Integrated graphics | UHD Graphics 64EU | UHD Graphics 730 |

| Market segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Launch date | 2024-01-07 | 2024-06-30 |

| Launch MSRP | $426 | Not recorded |

| Part number | SRMYL | Q49JSRNJS |

| Die size | Not recorded | 215 mm² |