Intel Core 5 315 vs Intel Core i3-14100T Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a lopsided contest. The Intel Core 5 315 takes 15 of the 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, with the Intel Core i3-14100T managing only two wins. The margins, however, tell a more nuanced story than the raw win count.

The most striking result is in PassMark data encryption, where the Core 5 315 scores 11119 against 7881 for the i3-14100T, a 41.1% advantage. This is the largest single-test gap outside of the prime number test. The Core 5 315 also posts a 100% delta in PassMark find prime numbers, doubling the i3-14100T's score of 56 with a result of 112. Floating point math shows a 35.3% lead (42441 vs 31379), and extended instructions follow at 26.2% (13143 vs 10414). These are substantial, workload-specific advantages that point to a fundamentally different execution capability.

The Cinebench suite tells a consistent story. Across R15, R20, and R23, the Core 5 315 leads by 11.8% in both single-core and multi-core tests, with the single exception of R15 single-core at 11.5%. The scores are: R15 multi-core 1308 vs 1170, R15 single-core 184 vs 165, R20 multi-core 5452 vs 4877, R20 single-core 769 vs 688, R23 multi-core 12981 vs 11612, and R23 single-core 1832 vs 1639. The uniformity of the 11.8% delta across different rendering workloads suggests a consistent per-clock or per-thread efficiency advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

PassMark multithread shows the same 11.8% margin (15272 vs 13662), and PassMark single-thread shows a 15% lead (4021 vs 3498). Physics testing gives the Core 5 315 a 19.5% edge (1163 vs 973), while random string sorting favors it by 12.7% (17551 vs 15579).

The i3-14100T's two wins are worth examining closely. In PassMark data compression, it scores 152636 against 146143, a 4.3% advantage. In PassMark integer math, the margin is far larger: 40292 vs 31690, a 21.3% lead for the i3-14100T. These two results suggest that the i3-14100T has a specific strength in integer-heavy, compression-oriented work that the Core 5 315 cannot match despite its overall superiority. The integer math result is particularly notable because it is the second-largest delta in the entire comparison, and it goes against the overall trend.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design philosophies. The Intel Core 5 315 is built on a 3 nm process node, while the Intel Core i3-14100T uses a 10 nm node. Both are fabricated by Intel, but the process gap is significant and likely explains much of the Core 5 315's efficiency-driven benchmark leads.

The core configurations differ sharply. The Core 5 315 has 6 cores and 6 threads, a straightforward setup with no hyperthreading. The i3-14100T has 4 cores and 8 threads, relying on hyperthreading to reach its thread count. Despite having fewer physical cores, the i3-14100T's 8 threads allow it to remain competitive in some multi-threaded workloads, though the data shows it still trails in most of them.

Cache layouts are also distinct. The Core 5 315 has a 192 KB L1 cache and a 2.5 MB L2 cache, with 6 MB of shared L3. The i3-14100T has an 80 KB per-core L1 and 1.25 MB per-core L2, with 12 MB of shared L3. The i3-14100T's L3 is double the size, which may contribute to its data compression and integer math wins, where larger working sets can stay resident on-chip. The Core 5 315's smaller L3 but newer process node may explain its broader superiority.

Clock speeds are identical at the top end: both boost to 4.40 GHz. The base clocks differ, with the Core 5 315 at 1.50 GHz and the i3-14100T at 2.70 GHz. The i3-14100T's higher base clock does not translate into benchmark wins, which suggests the Core 5 315's architectural efficiency and process advantage overcome the base clock deficit.

Memory support diverges. The Core 5 315 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X with a single-channel memory bus and 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. The i3-14100T supports DDR4 and DDR5 with a dual-channel bus, though no bandwidth figure is recorded. The i3-14100T also supports ECC memory, while the Core 5 315 does not. PCIe capabilities differ: the Core 5 315 offers Gen 4 with 6 CPU lanes, while the i3-14100T offers Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes.

The market segments are different. The Core 5 315 is a mobile processor on Intel BGA 1516, while the i3-14100T is a desktop processor on Intel Socket 1700. The Core 5 315 uses Intel Xe3 Graphics (2 Xe), whereas the i3-14100T has UHD Graphics 730. The Core 5 315's TDP is 15 watts against the i3-14100T's 35 watts, a 20-watt difference that reinforces the mobile-versus-desktop positioning.

The Verdict

The data indicates a clear overall winner in the Intel Core 5 315. Its average benchmark score is 18188 against 17648 for the i3-14100T, and it holds the 72nd percentile among all CPUs versus the 71st percentile for the i3-14100T. The nearest rivals for the Core 5 315 include the AMD EPYC 9274F at 18189 (0% delta), the Intel Core i7-9700 at 18180 (0% delta), the Intel Core i7-1365U at 18177 (0.1% delta), and the AMD Ryzen 7 5700U at 18176 (0.1% delta). The i3-14100T sits near the Intel Core i3-13100F at 17653 (0% delta), the Intel Core i7-1255U at 17656 (0% delta), the AMD Ryzen 3 8300GE at 17614 (0.2% delta), and the AMD EPYC 9374F at 17693 (-0.3% delta).

The Core 5 315's 15 benchmark wins, including every Cinebench test and most PassMark tests, make it the stronger processor for the majority of measured workloads. Its 11.8% multi-core lead in Cinebench R23 (12981 vs 11612) and 15% single-thread lead in PassMark (4021 vs 3498) are meaningful margins. The i3-14100T's 21.3% integer math win and 4.3% data compression win are real, but they represent isolated strengths rather than an overall pattern.

The mobile-versus-desktop distinction matters. The Core 5 315's 15-watt TDP and mobile socket position it for low-power systems, while the i3-14100T's 35-watt TDP and desktop socket target conventional desktop builds. The Core 5 315 delivers superior benchmark results at lower power, which is a notable efficiency achievement. The i3-14100T counters with ECC support, dual-channel memory, and Gen 5 PCIe, features that the Core 5 315 lacks.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more head-to-head benchmarks?

A: The Intel Core 5 315 wins 15 of the 17 comparisons, while the Intel Core i3-14100T wins 2.

Q: What is the largest single benchmark margin?

A: The Intel Core 5 315 doubles the i3-14100T in PassMark find prime numbers, 112 vs 56, a 100% delta.

Q: Where does the Intel Core i3-14100T outperform the Core 5 315?

A: The i3-14100T wins in PassMark data compression (152636 vs 146143, a 4.3% lead) and PassMark integer math (40292 vs 31690, a 21.3% lead).

Q: How do the core and thread counts compare?

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

Q: What are the process nodes for each processor?

A: The Core 5 315 uses a 3 nm node, and the i3-14100T uses a 10 nm node. Both are manufactured by Intel.

Q: What memory types does each processor support?

A: The Core 5 315 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X with a single-channel bus. The i3-14100T supports DDR4 and DDR5 with a dual-channel bus.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 5 315 dominates rendering and synthetic multi-threaded workloads. Every Cinebench test (R15, R20, R23) goes to it by roughly 11.8%, covering both single-core and multi-core variants. PassMark multithread also goes to the Core 5 315 at 15272 vs 13662, an 11.8% margin. For users prioritizing Cinebench-style rendering performance, the Core 5 315 is the clear choice.

The Core 5 315 also wins in security and cryptography-adjacent workloads. PassMark data encryption shows a 41.1% lead (11119 vs 7881), and extended instructions show a 26.2% lead (13143 vs 10414). Floating point math (42441 vs 31379, 35.3%), physics (1163 vs 973, 19.5%), and random string sorting (17551 vs 15579, 12.7%) all favor the Core 5 315. Its single-thread performance is also superior, with PassMark single-thread at 4021 vs 3498, a 15% lead.

The Intel Core i3-14100T has a narrower but distinct territory. Its PassMark integer math score of 40292 beats the Core 5 315's 31690 by 21.3%, indicating a strong integer execution pipeline. Its data compression score of 152636 beats 146143 by 4.3%. Workloads dominated by integer arithmetic and compression algorithms would favor the i3-14100T despite its overall benchmark deficit.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification. The Core 5 315 has 6 cores and 6 threads, while the i3-14100T has 4 cores and 8 threads. Base clocks are 1.50 GHz for the Core 5 315 and 2.70 GHz for the i3-14100T, though both share a 4.40 GHz boost clock. TDP is 15 watts for the Core 5 315 and 35 watts for the i3-14100T.

The Core 5 315 uses a 3 nm process node and the Wildcat Lake codename, with no listed die size. The i3-14100T uses a 10 nm node with the Raptor Lake-R codename and a 163 mm² die size. Cache configurations differ: the Core 5 315 has 192 KB L1, 2.5 MB L2, and 6 MB shared L3, while the i3-14100T has 80 KB per-core L1, 1.25 MB per-core L2, and 12 MB shared L3.

Memory support splits along generation lines. The Core 5 315 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X with a single-channel bus and 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. The i3-14100T supports DDR4 and DDR5 with a dual-channel bus and no recorded bandwidth figure. ECC memory is supported by the i3-14100T only. PCIe configurations also differ: Gen 4 with 6 lanes for the Core 5 315, Gen 5 with 16 lanes for the i3-14100T.

Integrated graphics are distinct, with the Core 5 315 using Intel Xe3 Graphics (2 Xe) and the i3-14100T using UHD Graphics 730. Sockets and market segments reflect their intended platforms: Intel BGA 1516 for the mobile Core 5 315, Intel Socket 1700 for the desktop i3-14100T. The release dates differ by over two years, with the i3-14100T launching in January 2024 and the Core 5 315 in April 2026. Both are active in production and both have locked multipliers.