Intel Core i3-10100 vs Intel Core i7-4910MQ Comparison

The Intel Core i3-10100 and Intel Core i7-4910MQ are both 4-core, 8-thread processors, but they come from different eras and market segments. The i3-10100 is a desktop Comet Lake part from 2020, while the i7-4910MQ is a mobile Haswell part from 2014. Benchmark results show a clear split: the i7-4910MQ wins in most Cinebench tests, while the i3-10100 takes Geekbench and one single-thread test. This analysis breaks down where each processor excels and what the recorded data implies.

Where Each One Wins

The head-to-head benchmark data records 5 wins for the i7-4910MQ and 3 wins for the i3-10100. The i7-4910MQ wins in Cinebench R15 multicore, R20 multicore, R20 singlecore, R23 multicore, and R23 singlecore. The i3-10100 wins in Geekbench multicore, Geekbench singlecore, and Cinebench R15 singlecore. This distribution is telling: the i7-4910MQ dominates the Cinebench suite, which is a rendering workload, while the i3-10100 leads in Geekbench, a more general-purpose benchmark, and in the older R15 single-thread test.

The margins also differ. The i7-4910MQ's Cinebench wins are consistently large, with the i3-10100 scoring about 51.9% lower in most of those tests. The i3-10100's wins are smaller: 33.5% higher in Geekbench multicore, 21% higher in Geekbench singlecore, and 17.3% higher in Cinebench R15 singlecore. So while the i7-4910MQ has more wins, the i3-10100's victories are not trivial, especially in Geekbench where it holds a clear edge.

Architecture Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every architectural aspect. The i3-10100 uses a 14 nm process, while the i7-4910MQ uses 22 nm. The i3-10100 is based on Comet Lake, the i7-4910MQ on Haswell. The i3-10100 has a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz, while the i7-4910MQ runs at 2.90 GHz base and 3.90 GHz boost. The i7-4910MQ has a lower TDP of 47 W versus 65 W for the i3-10100, reflecting its mobile design.

Memory support is another major difference. The i3-10100 supports DDR4 with a memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s, while the i7-4910MQ supports DDR3 with 25.6 GB/s. Both use dual-channel memory. The i3-10100 has 6 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i7-4910MQ has 8 MB. The i7-4910MQ also has recorded transistor and die size figures: 1,400 million transistors and a 177 mm² die size, while the i3-10100 does not have these figures in the database.

The integrated graphics differ as well: the i3-10100 has UHD Graphics 630, the i7-4910MQ has Intel HD 4600. The i3-10100 is a desktop part on Intel Socket 1200, while the i7-4910MQ is a mobile part on Intel Socket G3. The i3-10100 is marked as Active in production, while the i7-4910MQ is End-of-life. The i3-10100 was released in 2020, the i7-4910MQ in 2014. The i7-4910MQ has a launch MSRP of $570, which is the only price information in the database. Both processors have the same core and thread counts, same L1 and L2 cache per core, same PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, no ECC support, and are not multiplier unlocked.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest wins for the i7-4910MQ come in Cinebench. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the i7-4910MQ scores 5326 against 2564 for the i3-10100, a 51.9% lower score for the i3-10100. The same pattern appears in Cinebench R20 multicore: 2236 versus 1076, again a 51.9% delta. Cinebench R15 multicore shows 536 versus 258, also a 51.9% delta. The i7-4910MQ also wins in Cinebench R20 singlecore (315 versus 152, a 51.7% delta) and Cinebench R23 singlecore (752 versus 362, a 51.9% delta). These results indicate that the i7-4910MQ has a substantial and consistent advantage in Cinebench across both multi-core and single-core tests, with the exception of R15 singlecore.

The i3-10100's wins are concentrated in Geekbench. In Geekbench multicore, it scores 4495 versus 3368 for the i7-4910MQ, a 33.5% higher score. In Geekbench singlecore, it scores 1350 versus 1116, a 21% higher score. The i3-10100 also wins in Cinebench R15 singlecore with 88 versus 75, a 17.3% delta. These wins show that the i3-10100 is stronger in Geekbench's workload and in the older single-thread test, but the i7-4910MQ's Cinebench dominance is more pronounced in terms of percentage difference.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has higher multi-core performance in Cinebench?

A: The i7-4910MQ wins in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multicore tests. For example, in Cinebench R23 multicore, it scores 5326 versus 2564 for the i3-10100, a 51.9% higher score.

Q: Which processor wins in Geekbench?

A: The i3-10100 wins in both Geekbench multicore and singlecore. It scores 4495 versus 3368 in multicore (33.5% higher) and 1350 versus 1116 in singlecore (21% higher).

Q: How do their memory systems differ?

A: The i3-10100 supports DDR4 with a memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s, while the i7-4910MQ supports DDR3 with 25.6 GB/s. Both use dual-channel memory.

Q: What about integrated graphics?

A: The i3-10100 has UHD Graphics 630, while the i7-4910MQ has Intel HD 4600. The database does not provide benchmark scores for these iGPUs.

Q: Which processor is more power efficient?

A: The i7-4910MQ has a TDP of 47 W, while the i3-10100 has a TDP of 65 W. However, the i7 is a mobile part, so its lower TDP is expected.

Q: Are they both unlocked?

A: No, both have multiplierUnlocked set to false.

Specification Differences

| Field | Intel Core i3-10100 | Intel Core i7-4910MQ |

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

| Base Clock | 3.60 GHz | 2.90 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.30 GHz | 3.90 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 47 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1200 | Intel Socket G3 |

| Architecture | Comet Lake | Haswell |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 22 nm |

| Transistors | Not recorded | 1,400 million |

| Die Size | Not recorded | 177 mm² |

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

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR3 |

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

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

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

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

| Release Date | 2020-04-29 | 2014-01-19 |

| Launch MSRP | Not recorded | $570 |

| Part Number | SRH3N | SR1PT |

| Series | Core 10th Gen | Not recorded |

| Generation | Core i3 (Comet Lake) | Core i7 (Haswell) |

The Verdict

The data points to a clear use-case split. The i7-4910MQ is the stronger choice for Cinebench-based rendering workloads, winning all multicore Cinebench tests and also the R20 and R23 singlecore tests. Its margins are large, often around 51.9% higher scores. The i3-10100, on the other hand, leads in Geekbench and in the older Cinebench R15 singlecore test, with wins of 33.5%, 21%, and 17.3% respectively. The i7-4910MQ also offers a larger L3 cache (8 MB versus 6 MB) and a lower TDP (47 W versus 65 W), but it is an older mobile part with DDR3 memory and is end-of-life. The i3-10100 is a newer desktop part with DDR4 and higher memory bandwidth. For users prioritizing Cinebench performance, the i7-4910MQ is the clear winner. For those focused on Geekbench or general single-thread tasks, the i3-10100 holds the advantage. The i7-4910MQ's launch MSRP was $570, but that is not a factor in this analysis.