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

Intel Core 3 100UL and Intel Core 7 251TE occupy different positions in the Intel desktop lineup, and the recorded data shows a clear separation in capability. The Core 7 251TE is a high-core-count processor designed for heavy parallel workloads, while the Core 3 100UL is a lower-power, six-core part aimed at efficiency. The benchmark database contains no direct head-to-head scores for these two units, but the Core 7 251TE has a full suite of recorded results, whereas the Core 3 100UL has no benchmark entries. This analysis relies on the available measurements for the Core 7 251TE and the specification data for both processors.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database does not include a direct benchmark comparison between the Intel Core 3 100UL and the Intel Core 7 251TE. For the Core 7 251TE, the recorded Cinebench results provide a strong reference point. In Cinebench R23, the Core 7 251TE scores 25518 points in multi-core and 3602 points in single-core. The multi-core result places it in the 88th percentile of all CPUs in the database, indicating it outperforms the vast majority of processors in threaded tasks. Its average benchmark score is 41650, which is nearly identical to the Intel Core Ultra 7 265H at 41621, a difference of only 0.1%. The Core 7 251TE also edges out the Intel Core i7-14650HX by 0.2% and trails the Intel Core i7-12850HX by 0.3%. The closest rival, the Intel Core i7-14700T, scores 41914, putting the Core 7 251TE 0.6% behind.

Without any recorded scores for the Core 3 100UL, the database offers no figures to compare its performance against the Core 7 251TE. The Core 3 100UL has a percentile rank of 50, which indicates it sits at the median of all CPUs, but no average score or individual test results accompany this ranking. The Core 7 251TE, by contrast, has 17 recorded benchmark entries spanning Cinebench and PassMark tests. In PassMark integer math, the Core 7 251TE scores 125739, and in floating point math it scores 85607. Its data compression score is 334399, while data encryption reaches 22176. The single-thread PassMark score is 3568, and the multithread score is 30022. These numbers confirm that the Core 7 251TE is a substantial performer in both single-threaded and multi-threaded operations, but the absence of any Core 3 100UL data prevents a direct comparison.

Architecture Differences

The two processors diverge sharply in core configuration. The Intel Core 3 100UL has 6 cores and 8 threads, while the Intel Core 7 251TE has 24 cores and 32 threads. This is a fourfold difference in core count and a 24-thread advantage for the Core 7 251TE. The Core 3 100UL uses Raptor Lake architecture with the Raptor Lake-PS codename, while the Core 7 251TE is based on the Bartlett Lake codename. Both are built on a 10 nm process node at Intel's foundry, but the Core 7 251TE has a larger die size at 215 mm², whereas the die size for the Core 3 100UL is not recorded.

Clock speeds differ notably. The Core 3 100UL has a base clock of 1.20 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz. The Core 7 251TE starts at a base clock of 1.40 GHz and boosts to 5.40 GHz. The thermal design power (TDP) is another major split: the Core 3 100UL is rated at 15 watts, while the Core 7 251TE is rated at 45 watts. Cache configurations also favor the Core 7 251TE. Both processors share an L1 cache of 80 KB per core and an L2 cache of 1.25 MB per core, but the L3 cache is 10 MB shared for the Core 3 100UL versus 36 MB shared for the Core 7 251TE. Memory support is identical in type, with both supporting DDR4 and DDR5 in dual-channel mode. The Core 7 251TE lists a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, while the Core 3 100UL has no bandwidth figure recorded.

Connectivity and graphics differ. The Core 3 100UL uses PCIe Gen 4 with 8 lanes (CPU only), while the Core 7 251TE uses PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 64EU on the Core 3 100UL and UHD Graphics 770 on the Core 7 251TE. ECC memory support is absent on the Core 3 100UL but present on the Core 7 251TE. The release dates are separated by about nine months, with the Core 3 100UL released on 2024-04-07 and the Core 7 251TE on 2025-01-12. Both processors use the Intel Socket 1700, have locked multipliers, and are marked as Active in production status.

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 100UL has 6 cores and 8 threads.

Q: What is the boost clock difference between the two?

A: The Core 7 251TE boosts to 5.40 GHz, while the Core 3 100UL boosts to 4.50 GHz. The base clocks are 1.40 GHz and 1.20 GHz respectively.

Q: How much L3 cache does each processor have?

A: The Core 7 251TE has 36 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core 3 100UL has 10 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: Yes, both support DDR4 and DDR5 in dual-channel mode. The Core 7 251TE also has a recorded memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, while the Core 3 100UL has no bandwidth figure in the database.

Q: What are the TDP ratings?

A: The Core 3 100UL is rated at 15 watts TDP. The Core 7 251TE is rated at 45 watts TDP.

Q: Does either processor support ECC memory?

A: The Core 7 251TE supports ECC memory. The Core 3 100UL does not.

Q: What PCIe versions do they use?

A: The Core 7 251TE uses PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The Core 3 100UL uses PCIe Gen 4 with 8 lanes (CPU only).

The Verdict

The data points to the Intel Core 7 251TE as the stronger processor for demanding workloads. Its 24 cores and 32 threads, combined with a 5.40 GHz boost clock and 36 MB of L3 cache, produce an average benchmark score of 41650, placing it in the 88th percentile of all CPUs. The Core 3 100UL has no recorded benchmark scores, leaving its performance unmeasured in the database. Its 6 cores and 8 threads, 4.50 GHz boost, and 10 MB L3 cache suggest a much lower ceiling for parallel tasks, and its 50th percentile rank reflects a mid-tier position rather than a high-performance one.

The Core 7 251TE also carries advantages in platform features. PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes doubles the lane count and bandwidth generation compared to the Core 3 100UL's PCIe Gen 4 with 8 lanes. ECC memory support on the Core 7 251TE makes it suitable for error-sensitive computing, which the Core 3 100UL cannot offer. The launch MSRP for the Core 7 251TE is $384. The Core 3 100UL has no launch MSRP recorded.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in every major specification category. Core count is 6 versus 24, threads are 8 versus 32. Base clock is 1.20 GHz versus 1.40 GHz. Boost clock is 4.50 GHz versus 5.40 GHz. TDP is 15 watts versus 45 watts. Architecture is Raptor Lake for the Core 3 100UL, while the Core 7 251TE lists Bartlett Lake as its codename. The process node is 10 nm for both, but the die size is 215 mm² only for the Core 7 251TE. L3 cache is 10 MB versus 36 MB. Memory bandwidth is absent for the Core 3 100UL and 89.6 GB/s for the Core 7 251TE. ECC memory is false for the Core 3 100UL and true for the Core 7 251TE. PCIe is Gen 4 with 8 lanes versus Gen 5 with 16 lanes. Integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 64EU versus UHD Graphics 770. Release dates are 2024-04-07 versus 2025-01-12. The part number for the Core 7 251TE is SRQAXQ5ZG, while the Core 3 100UL has an unknown part number.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 7 251TE wins in every measurable performance category. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 25518 and PassMark multithread score of 30022 demonstrate dominance in threaded workloads such as rendering, encoding, and scientific computation. The single-core Cinebench R23 score of 3602 and PassMark single-thread score of 3568 show strong per-thread performance as well, aided by the 5.40 GHz boost clock. The 89.6 GB/s memory bandwidth and PCIe Gen 5 support give it a platform advantage for data-intensive tasks and modern GPUs or NVMe drives. ECC memory support extends its utility to workstation and server-style applications where data integrity is critical.

The Intel Core 3 100UL has no benchmark wins in the database because no scores are recorded for it. Its advantages are limited to lower power consumption, with a 15 watt TDP versus 45 watts, and an earlier release date. The 6-core, 8-thread configuration with a 4.50 GHz boost and 10 MB L3 cache targets basic desktop use, but without benchmark data, its practical performance cannot be quantified. The Core 7 251TE is the clear choice for users who need high throughput, while the Core 3 100UL serves a niche for low-power systems where the 15 watt TDP is prioritized over performance. The Core 7 251TE also holds the only launch MSRP in the pair at $384, though no pricing comparison is possible for the Core 3 100UL.