CPU Comparison

The Intel Core i7-4790T and Intel Core i3-10100 represent two distinct eras of Intel’s desktop lineup, yet they occupy the same performance percentile. Both processors offer 4 cores and 8 threads, but their architectural heritage and platform requirements create a fascinating split in benchmark results. The i7-4790T, a Haswell-era part from 2014, dominates in Cinebench workloads, while the i3-10100, a Comet Lake part from 2020, counters in Geekbench tests. The data shows a clear generational trade-off: the older i7 maintains a massive lead in render-style multi-threaded tasks, whereas the newer i3 wins in memory-sensitive and single-thread synthetic benchmarks.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The difference is negligible. The Intel Core i7-4790T has an average benchmark score of 1755, while the Intel Core i3-10100 scores 1742, a margin of just 0.7%. Both CPUs sit at the 41st percentile of all CPUs.

Q: How significant is the i7-4790T's lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The i7-4790T scores 5378 versus the i3-10100's 2564, a delta of 109.8%. This means the i7 delivers more than double the multi-core performance in that specific render test.

Q: Does the i3-10100 win any benchmark categories?

A: Yes, it wins three of the eight head-to-head tests: Geekbench multi-core (4495 vs 3520, a 21.7% gap), Geekbench single-core (1350 vs 1193, an 11.6% gap), and Cinebench R15 single-core (88 vs 76, a 13.6% gap).

Q: What memory technologies do these processors support?

A: The i7-4790T supports DDR3 memory with a dual-channel bus and 25.6 GB/s bandwidth. The i3-10100 supports DDR4 with a dual-channel bus and 42.7 GB/s bandwidth, which is 67% higher.

Q: Are both processors unlocked for overclocking?

A: No. The multiplier is locked on both the i7-4790T and the i3-10100.

Q: How do their production statuses differ?

A: The i7-4790T is marked as end-of-life, while the i3-10100 is marked as active. The i7 was released in April 2014, and the i3 in April 2020.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data splits cleanly along workload types. The Intel Core i7-4790T is the clear winner for multi-threaded rendering tasks, particularly in the Cinebench suite. Its victories in R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests are decisive, with deltas ranging from 109.7% to 109.9%. This suggests that the i7’s larger 8 MB shared L3 cache and higher memory latency tolerance provide a substantial advantage in sustained compute-heavy workloads. The i3-10100, by contrast, cannot match this throughput despite its higher clock speeds.

The Intel Core i3-10100 wins in Geekbench and single-core Cinebench R15. Its Geekbench multi-core score of 4495 is 21.7% higher than the i7’s 3520, and its single-core score of 1350 beats the i7’s 1193 by 11.6%. These wins likely stem from the newer Comet Lake architecture’s improved instruction handling and the faster DDR4 memory interface, which boosts memory-bound synthetic tests. The i3 also edges out the i7 in Cinebench R15 single-core, scoring 88 versus 76, a 13.6% advantage.

For users prioritizing render performance or CPU-bound video encoding, the i7-4790T is the stronger choice based on the Cinebench results. For users running general productivity, web browsing, or applications that favor the Geekbench workload pattern, the i3-10100 offers better responsiveness. The data shows no middle ground: each processor dominates its respective benchmark family almost completely.

Architecture Differences

The two CPUs come from different architectural generations and foundry nodes. The i7-4790T uses the Haswell architecture on Intel’s 22 nm process, with 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die. The i3-10100 uses the Comet Lake architecture on Intel’s 14 nm process, though its transistor count and die size are not listed in the data.

Cache hierarchies differ notably. Both share the same per-core L1 (64 KB) and L2 (256 KB) allocations, but the shared L3 cache is larger on the i7: 8 MB versus 6 MB on the i3. This 2 MB difference likely contributes to the i7’s multi-threaded advantage, as more shared cache reduces memory stalls during concurrent execution.

Memory support is another key architectural split. The i7-4790T pairs with DDR3 memory, while the i3-10100 uses DDR4. The i3’s memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s is 67% higher than the i7’s 25.6 GB/s, which explains part of the Geekbench gap. Both processors use PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, but the sockets differ: the i7 uses Intel Socket 1150, while the i3 uses Intel Socket 1200.

Integrated graphics also differ. The i7-4790T includes Intel HD 4600, while the i3-10100 features UHD Graphics 630. Neither processor supports ECC memory, and both have locked multipliers.

Specification Differences

The following table highlights only the fields where the two processors differ, based on the provided data:

| Specification | Intel Core i7-4790T | Intel Core i3-10100 |

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

| Base Clock | 2.70 GHz | 3.60 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.90 GHz | 4.30 GHz |

| TDP | 45 W | 65 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1150 | Intel Socket 1200 |

| Architecture / Codename | Haswell | Comet Lake |

| Process Node | 22 nm | 14 nm |

| L3 Cache | 8 MB (shared) | 6 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR3 | DDR4 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 25.6 GB/s | 42.7 GB/s |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 4600 | UHD Graphics 630 |

| Production Status | End-of-life | Active |

| Release Date | 2014-04-30 | 2020-04-29 |

| Part Number | SR1QS | SRH3N |

The i3-10100 has higher base and boost clocks by 0.90 GHz and 0.40 GHz, respectively. It also consumes 20 W more TDP. The i7-4790T compensates with a larger L3 cache and a smaller process node.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data reveals a stark pattern: the i7-4790T wins five tests, while the i3-10100 wins three. However, the margin of victory tells the real story.

The i7-4790T’s wins are overwhelming in the Cinebench suite. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i7 scores 541 against the i3’s 258, a delta of 109.7%. The R20 multi-core test shows a similar result: 2258 vs 1076, a 109.9% advantage. R23 multi-core continues the trend with 5378 vs 2564, a 109.8% gap. Even in R20 single-core, the i7 wins with 318 vs 152, a 109.2% delta, and R23 single-core shows 759 vs 362, a 109.7% delta. These results are almost identical in percentage terms, suggesting the i7’s architecture delivers a consistent ~110% performance boost across all Cinebench versions, regardless of thread count.

The i3-10100’s wins are more modest but still significant. In Geekbench multi-core, it scores 4495 versus the i7’s 3520, a 21.7% advantage. Geekbench single-core shows 1350 vs 1193, an 11.6% lead. The i3 also wins Cinebench R15 single-core with 88 vs 76, a 13.6% margin. Notably, the i3 does not win any Cinebench R20 or R23 tests, including single-core, where the i7 maintains its lead.

The pattern suggests the i7-4790T excels in workloads that scale with cache size and sustained multi-thread execution, while the i3-10100 benefits from higher clock speeds and faster memory in shorter-duration or memory-latency-sensitive tasks. The Geekbench multi-core result for the i3 is particularly striking, as it outperforms the i7 despite the i7’s dominance in Cinebench multi-core. This indicates that benchmark methodology heavily influences the outcome, with Cinebench favoring the i7’s larger L3 cache and Geekbench favoring the i3’s newer memory controller.

In terms of nearest rivals, the i7-4790T sits within 0.4% of the Intel Xeon E3-1241 v3, Intel Core i5-5675C, AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 3200GE, and Intel Xeon E-2224. The i3-10100 is within 0.2% of the AMD Ryzen 3 4300U, Intel Core i5-6600, Intel Core i3-1315UE, and Intel Core i7-980X. Both CPUs are statistically tied with their respective rival groups, reinforcing that they belong to the same performance tier despite their different strengths.