CPU Comparison

The Intel Core i7-7700 and Intel Core i3-10105 are both 4-core, 8-thread desktop processors, but the benchmark data reveals a clear split: the i7-7700 dominates in CPU-synthetic workloads and multi-threaded tests, while the i3-10105 counters in several PassMark math and compression tasks. Overall, the i7-7700 wins 12 of the 19 head-to-head benchmarks, including every Cinebench and Geekbench test, with its largest margins in PassMark physics and prime number finding. The i3-10105, however, takes 7 wins, mostly in PassMark’s instruction-heavy and single-thread categories, and posts a higher average benchmark score of 12316 versus 11914. Both CPUs sit at the 67th percentile of all processors, indicating they occupy a similar performance tier, but their strengths target different workloads.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The i7-7700’s most decisive victory comes in PassMark’s find prime numbers test, where it scores 28 against the i3-10105’s 20, a 40% advantage. This is the single largest delta in the entire comparison and highlights a substantial edge in integer-heavy, latency-sensitive calculations. Similarly, in PassMark physics, the i7-7700 leads 588 to 467, a 25.9% gap, suggesting superior raw computational throughput in simulation-style tasks. The i7-7700 also wins PassMark data encryption (2974 vs 2723, +9.2%) and PassMark multithread (8635 vs 8241, +4.8%), reinforcing its strength in parallel workloads.

In Cinebench, the i7-7700 wins every iteration with consistent 4.4% to 5.1% margins. For example, Cinebench R23 multicore shows 7344 vs 7029 (+4.5%), and R23 singlecore shows 1036 vs 992 (+4.4%). Geekbench multicore is the i7-7700’s second-largest win at 4640 vs 4325 (+7.3%), while Geekbench singlecore adds a 1369 vs 1319 (+3.8%) margin. These results demonstrate that the i7-7700 holds a clear lead in both single-threaded and multi-threaded synthetic CPU benchmarks.

The i3-10105’s wins are narrower but concentrated in specific areas. Its best result is PassMark single-thread, scoring 2589 vs 2442 (+5.7%), which also appears as PassMark singlethread with the same scores. In PassMark extended instructions, the i3-10105 leads 8648 vs 8128 (+6%), and in floating point math it scores 17949 vs 16904 (+5.8%). The i3-10105 also wins PassMark data compression (128464 vs 122429, +4.7%), integer math (28577 vs 27538, +3.6%), and random string sorting (15899 vs 15509, +2.5%). Notably, the i3-10105’s PassMark data compression score of 128464 is its largest absolute numeric advantage, but the i7-7700 still wins the overall PassMark multithread test.

Architecture Differences

The two CPUs are built on the same 14 nm process node from Intel, but they come from different architectural generations. The i7-7700 uses the Kaby Lake architecture, released in early 2017, while the i3-10105 uses Comet Lake, specifically Comet Lake-R, released in March 2021. Both have 4 cores and 8 threads, with identical L1 cache of 64 KB per core and L2 cache of 256 KB per core. The shared L3 cache differs: the i7-7700 has 8 MB, while the i3-10105 has 6 MB, a 2 MB deficit for the newer part.

The base and boost clocks also favor the i3-10105. The i3-10105 runs at 3.70 GHz base and 4.40 GHz boost, while the i7-7700 runs at 3.60 GHz base and 4.20 GHz boost. Despite these higher clocks, the i3-10105 loses in most synthetic benchmarks, suggesting the i7-7700’s larger L3 cache compensates for its lower frequency. Both CPUs have a 65 W TDP, support DDR4 memory, and use dual-channel memory buses, but the i3-10105’s memory bandwidth is higher at 42.7 GB/s versus 38.4 GB/s for the i7-7700.

Socket compatibility is a major differentiator. The i7-7700 uses Intel Socket 1151, while the i3-10105 uses Intel Socket 1200. This means they are not interchangeable in motherboards. The integrated graphics also differ: the i7-7700 has HD 630, while the i3-10105 has UHD Graphics 630. Both are locked processors (multiplier not unlocked), and neither supports ECC memory. The PCIe configuration is identical: Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU.

Where Each One Wins

The i7-7700 is the clear winner for multi-threaded CPU benchmarks and physics-based tasks. Its 40% lead in find prime numbers and 25.9% lead in physics make it the better choice for workloads that stress integer arithmetic and simulation logic. It also wins all Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 tests, plus both Geekbench tests, which are standard indicators of general CPU performance. The i7-7700’s 8 MB L3 cache appears to give it an advantage in these latency-sensitive workloads despite lower clock speeds.

The i3-10105 wins in PassMark’s math and compression categories, including floating point math (+5.8%), integer math (+3.6%), data compression (+4.7%), and random string sorting (+2.5%). Its higher boost clock of 4.40 GHz likely drives these wins, as they involve sustained arithmetic operations where clock speed matters more than cache size. The i3-10105 also takes PassMark single-thread (+5.7%), indicating it is the better performer for lightly threaded applications that rely on a single core’s peak speed.

For encryption, the i7-7700 wins decisively (2974 vs 2723, +9.2%), and for extended instructions, the i3-10105 wins by 6%. This split suggests the i7-7700 is better for security-related tasks, while the i3-10105 handles SIMD-style workloads more efficiently. Overall, the i7-7700 is preferable for general-purpose compute and multi-threaded rendering, while the i3-10105 excels in specific math and single-threaded scenarios.

Specification Differences

The table below highlights only the fields where the two CPUs differ:

| Specification | Intel Core i7-7700 | Intel Core i3-10105 |

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

| Base Clock | 3.60 GHz | 3.70 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.20 GHz | 4.40 GHz |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1151 | Intel Socket 1200 |

| Architecture | Kaby Lake | Comet Lake |

| Codename | Kaby Lake | Comet Lake-R |

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

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

| Memory Bandwidth | 38.4 GB/s | 42.7 GB/s |

| Integrated Graphics | HD 630 | UHD Graphics 630 |

| Release Date | 2017-01-02 | 2021-03-15 |

| Launch MSRP | None | $122 |

| Part Number | SR338 | SRH3P |

Both CPUs share the same 14 nm process, 4 cores, 8 threads, 65 W TDP, DDR4 support, dual-channel memory bus, Gen 3 PCIe with 16 lanes, and lack ECC support. Neither has an unlocked multiplier.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core i7-7700 wins 12 of the 19 head-to-head benchmarks, while the Intel Core i3-10105 wins 7.

Q: What is the largest single benchmark margin between them?

A: The largest margin is in PassMark find prime numbers, where the i7-7700 scores 28 versus the i3-10105’s 20, a 40% difference.

Q: Does the i3-10105 have a higher clock speed?

A: Yes, the i3-10105 has a 3.70 GHz base clock and 4.40 GHz boost clock, compared to the i7-7700’s 3.60 GHz and 4.20 GHz.

Q: How do their L3 caches compare?

A: The i7-7700 has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i3-10105 has 6 MB.

Q: Are they compatible with the same motherboard socket?

A: No, the i7-7700 uses Intel Socket 1151, and the i3-10105 uses Intel Socket 1200.

Q: Which CPU has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The i3-10105 has a higher average benchmark score of 12316, compared to the i7-7700’s 11914.

The Verdict

From the data, the Intel Core i7-7700 is the superior processor for most compute-intensive tasks. It wins every Cinebench and Geekbench test, plus PassMark multithread, encryption, physics, and prime number finding. Its 40% lead in prime numbers and 25.9% lead in physics are decisive, and its 8 MB L3 cache gives it an edge in latency-sensitive workloads. Users running CPU benchmarks, rendering, or simulation workloads should favor the i7-7700.

The Intel Core i3-10105 is not without merit. It wins PassMark single-thread, extended instructions, floating point math, integer math, data compression, and random string sorting. Its higher clock speeds (3.70 GHz base, 4.40 GHz boost) and higher memory bandwidth (42.7 GB/s) make it competitive in math-heavy and single-threaded applications. The i3-10105 also has a higher average benchmark score (12316 vs 11914) and a launch MSRP of $122, but its 6 MB L3 cache and socket incompatibility with the i7-7700 are notable drawbacks.

For general-purpose desktop computing, the i7-7700 is the benchmark winner. For users prioritizing single-thread speed and specific math workloads, the i3-10105 is the data-backed choice, provided the Socket 1200 platform is acceptable. Both CPUs sit at the 67th percentile, but the i7-7700’s broader benchmark dominance makes it the stronger all-around performer.