CPU Comparison

The Intel Core i3-14100 and Intel Core 5 315 represent two fundamentally different design philosophies from Intel: a high-clock, multi-threaded desktop part against a modern, efficient mobile processor. While both CPUs land at the 72nd percentile among all CPUs tracked, their benchmark profiles reveal starkly different strengths. The i3-14100 wins 2 of the 17 head-to-head comparisons, while the Core 5 315 takes 15, yet the magnitude of those wins tells a more nuanced story than the raw count suggests.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Core 5 315 dominates the Cinebench suite with consistent, if narrow, victories. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 12981 against the i3-14100’s 12820, a 1.2% advantage. Single-core performance follows the same pattern: 1832 versus 1809 in R23 single-core (1.3% ahead), and 769 versus 759 in R20 single-core. Across all six Cinebench tests, R15, R20, and R23, both single and multi-core, the Core 5 315 wins every round, though the margins never exceed 1.3%. This suggests a small but consistent architectural efficiency advantage in rendering workloads.

The PassMark suite shows where the two chips diverge dramatically. The i3-14100’s biggest win comes in integer math, where it scores 45329 against 31690 for the Core 5 315, a 43% advantage. Data compression is another decisive win for the i3-14100: 174115 versus 146143, a 19.1% lead. These are the only two tests the i3-14100 wins, and both point to its higher sustained clock speeds and desktop-oriented design.

The Core 5 315 counters with several substantial wins. Prime number finding shows a 50.9% advantage (112 versus 55), the largest delta in either direction. Data encryption is 20.5% faster (11119 versus 8838), floating-point math is 16.9% faster (42441 versus 35266), and physics simulation is 17.6% faster (1163 versus 958). Extended instructions favor the Core 5 315 by 9.7% (13143 versus 11865). Single-thread performance in PassMark goes to the Core 5 315 at 4021 versus 3759, a 6.5% edge. The remaining tests, multi-thread, random string sorting, are near ties, with the Core 5 315 leading by 1.2% and 0.9% respectively.

Architecture Differences

The i3-14100 is built on Intel’s Raptor Lake architecture, specifically the Raptor Lake-R refresh, on a 10 nm process node. It features 4 cores and 8 threads, with a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. Its cache hierarchy is per-core: 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3. This is a desktop part with a 60 W TDP, designed for Intel Socket 1700. The i3-14100 supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory on a dual-channel bus, includes ECC memory support, and offers PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU.

The Core 5 315 uses Intel’s newer Wildcat Lake architecture on a 3 nm process node. It has 6 cores but only 6 threads, no Hyper-Threading, with a much lower base clock of 1.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. Its cache is configured differently: 192 KB of L1, 2.5 MB of L2, and just 6 MB of shared L3. This is a mobile chip with a 15 W TDP, soldered to Intel BGA 1516. Memory support is limited to DDR5 and LPDDR5X on a single-channel bus, with a stated memory bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s. ECC is not supported, and PCIe is Gen 4 with only 6 lanes. The integrated graphics differ too: the i3-14100 has UHD Graphics 730, while the Core 5 315 features Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores.

The process node difference, 10 nm versus 3 nm, explains much of the efficiency gap, while the core/thread configuration explains the workload split. The i3-14100’s 8 threads give it an advantage in parallel integer-heavy tasks, despite having fewer physical cores. The Core 5 315’s 6 physical cores, each running a single thread, appear to have higher per-core throughput in specific instruction types.

Where Each One Wins

The i3-14100 is the choice for integer-heavy, compression-focused workloads. Its 43% lead in integer math and 19.1% lead in data compression suggest it handles typical office productivity, database operations, and file archiving with notably higher throughput. The dual-channel memory support and DDR4 compatibility also make it more flexible for legacy systems. This is a desktop processor that rewards workloads with high memory bandwidth demands and multi-threaded integer operations.

The Core 5 315 excels in encryption, floating-point math, and physics simulation, areas that benefit from its newer architecture and higher per-clock instruction throughput. Its 20.5% lead in data encryption and 16.9% lead in floating-point math indicate strong performance in scientific computing, cryptography, and 3D rendering. The 50.9% lead in prime number finding is striking and suggests the Wildcat Lake core has a significantly improved integer division or algorithm-specific execution path. Single-thread performance also favors the Core 5 315 by 6.5%, making it the better choice for lightly-threaded applications.

For general multi-threaded workloads, the two are effectively tied: the Core 5 315 leads by 1.2% in PassMark multi-thread and 1.2% in Cinebench R23 multi-core. The i3-14100’s higher thread count is offset by the Core 5 315’s newer process and core design. Battery-sensitive mobile users will prefer the Core 5 315 given its 15 W TDP versus 60 W, but desktop builders needing ECC memory or PCIe Gen 5 must choose the i3-14100.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Core 5 315 scores 12981 versus 12820 for the Intel Core i3-14100, a 1.2% advantage.

Q: How large is the i3-14100’s lead in integer math?

A: The i3-14100 scores 45329 in PassMark integer math, which is 43% higher than the Core 5 315’s 31690.

Q: Does the Core 5 315 support ECC memory?

A: No. The Core 5 315 does not support ECC, while the i3-14100 does.

Q: What is the difference in process node?

A: The i3-14100 uses Intel’s 10 nm process, while the Core 5 315 uses a 3 nm process.

Q: Which processor has more threads?

A: The i3-14100 has 8 threads from 4 cores, while the Core 5 315 has 6 threads from 6 cores.

Q: What are the launch MSRPs?

A: The i3-14100 has a launch MSRP of $134, and the Core 5 315 has a launch MSRP of $340.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i3-14100 | Intel Core 5 315 |

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

| Cores | 4 | 6 |

| Threads | 8 | 6 |

| Base Clock | 3.50 GHz | 1.50 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.70 GHz | 4.40 GHz |

| TDP | 60 W | 15 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1700 | Intel BGA 1516 |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 3 nm |

| L1 Cache | 80 KB (per core) | 192 KB |

| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core) | 2.5 MB |

| L3 Cache | 12 MB (shared) | 6 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR5, LPDDR5X |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Single-channel |

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 16 Lanes | Gen 4, 6 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 730 | Intel Xe3 Graphics (2 Xe) |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Launch MSRP | $134 | $340 |