Intel Core i3-10105T vs Intel Core i3-9350KF Comparison

The Intel Core i3-9350KF and Intel Core i3-10105T are both 14nm quad-core desktop parts, but they target different corners of the market. The 9350KF is an unlocked, high-frequency Coffee Lake chip with no integrated graphics, while the 10105T is a locked, low-power Comet Lake part with Hyper-Threading and a built-in GPU. Benchmark data reveals a split decision: the 10105T dominates Cinebench workloads, while the 9350KF posts decisive wins in Geekbench, making the choice highly dependent on the specific application.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i3-9350KF has a boost clock of 4.60 GHz, which is significantly higher than the 3.90 GHz boost clock of the Intel Core i3-10105T.

Q: Does the Intel Core i3-10105T support simultaneous multithreading?

A: Yes, the Intel Core i3-10105T has 4 cores and 8 threads, whereas the Intel Core i3-9350KF has 4 cores and 4 threads.

Q: Which CPU has a larger L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core i3-9350KF features 8 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Intel Core i3-10105T has 6 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: What is the power draw difference between the two chips?

A: The Intel Core i3-9350KF has a TDP of 91 watts, while the Intel Core i3-10105T has a TDP of 35 watts, making the latter far more energy-efficient on paper.

Q: Which processor includes integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core i3-10105T includes UHD Graphics 630, whereas the Intel Core i3-9350KF does not have any integrated graphics.

Q: In Geekbench multi-core, which CPU is faster and by how much?

A: The Intel Core i3-9350KF wins Geekbench multi-core with a score of 4098, which is 12.3% higher than the Intel Core i3-10105T's score of 3649.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations within Intel's 14 nm process node. The Intel Core i3-9350KF is based on the Coffee Lake architecture, specifically from the Coffee Lake Refresh generation, and uses the Intel Socket 1151. In contrast, the Intel Core i3-10105T is a Comet Lake part, with the codename Comet Lake-R, and uses the Intel Socket 1200. This means they are not socket-compatible; a motherboard supporting one will not support the other.

The most significant microarchitectural difference is thread count. The 9350KF is a pure quad-core with 4 threads, while the 10105T leverages Hyper-Threading to provide 8 threads from its 4 cores. This allows the 10105T to process more simultaneous instruction streams, which is directly reflected in its superior multi-threaded Cinebench scores. The 9350KF compensates with much higher clock speeds: its base clock is 4.00 GHz and boost is 4.60 GHz, compared to the 10105T's 3.00 GHz base and 3.90 GHz boost.

Cache configurations also differ. The 9350KF has a larger 8 MB shared L3 cache, while the 10105T has only 6 MB. Both have identical per-core L1 (64 KB) and L2 (256 KB) caches. The 10105T includes UHD Graphics 630, making it a complete package for systems without a discrete GPU, whereas the 9350KF omits integrated graphics entirely, requiring a dedicated video card. The 9350KF supports ECC memory, while the 10105T does not, and the 10105T has a slightly higher memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s versus 38.4 GB/s for the 9350KF. Both use DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration and offer Gen 3 PCIe with 16 lanes from the CPU.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results tell a story of two distinct performance profiles. In the Cinebench suite, the Intel Core i3-10105T wins every single test, consistently beating the 9350KF by roughly 4.5%. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the 10105T scores 6656 against the 9350KF's 6352, a 4.6% advantage. The same pattern holds in Cinebench R23 single-core, where the 10105T scores 939 versus 896, again a 4.6% lead. The results are nearly identical in Cinebench R20 and R15, with the 10105T winning multi-core and single-core tests by margins of 4.5% to 4.6%. This consistent win across the Cinebench lineage suggests that the 10105T's two extra threads provide a tangible benefit in rendering workloads, even at lower clock speeds.

However, the Geekbench tests flip the script entirely. The Intel Core i3-9350KF is the clear winner here, and by substantial margins. In Geekbench single-core, the 9350KF scores 1534, which is a massive 21.3% higher than the 10105T's score of 1265. In Geekbench multi-core, the 9350KF scores 4098, beating the 10105T's 3649 by 12.3%. This is a significant divergence from the Cinebench results. The data indicates that Geekbench's workload is more sensitive to the 9350KF's higher clock speeds and larger 8 MB L3 cache, while Cinebench's rendering tasks benefit more from the 10105T's additional threads.

Looking at overall averages, the two processors are nearly neck-and-neck. The 9350KF has an average benchmark score of 2082, while the 10105T sits at 2058. Both land in the 46th percentile of all CPUs. The 9350KF's nearest rival is the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2544, which scores 2086 (a -0.2% delta), and the AMD Ryzen 7 1700X at 2094 (-0.6%). The 10105T's closest competitor is the Intel Core i7-8705G with an identical score of 2058 (0% delta). This shows that despite their internal benchmark differences, both CPUs occupy a similar tier in the overall performance hierarchy.

Specification Differences

The specification sheets show clear divergences in several key areas. The most obvious difference is in thread count: the 9350KF has 4 threads, while the 10105T has 8 threads. Clock speeds are also vastly different, with the 9350KF running at a 4.00 GHz base and 4.60 GHz boost, compared to the 10105T's 3.00 GHz base and 3.90 GHz boost. This 0.7 GHz boost clock advantage for the 9350KF is substantial.

Power consumption is another major differentiator. The 9350KF has a TDP of 91 watts, whereas the 10105T is rated at only 35 watts. This makes the 10105T a much more suitable choice for compact or thermally constrained systems. The L3 cache size differs, with the 9350KF offering 8 MB and the 10105T offering 6 MB. Memory bandwidth also varies, with the 10105T supporting 42.7 GB/s compared to the 9350KF's 38.4 GB/s.

Socket compatibility is a hard divider: the 9350KF uses Intel Socket 1151, while the 10105T uses Intel Socket 1200. The 9350KF supports ECC memory, a feature absent on the 10105T. The presence of integrated graphics is exclusive to the 10105T, which includes UHD Graphics 630, while the 9350KF has none. Finally, the production status differs, with the 9350KF marked as end-of-life and the 10105T listed as active. The release dates also differ, with the 9350KF launching in January 2019 and the 10105T in March 2021.

The Verdict

Choosing between these two CPUs depends entirely on the intended workload. For multi-threaded rendering tasks, the data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i3-10105T wins all Cinebench tests by a consistent 4.6% margin. Its 8 threads provide a clear advantage in these scenarios, and it does so while consuming only 35 watts of power compared to the 9350KF's 91 watts. The 10105T is also the more practical choice for a general-purpose build because it includes UHD Graphics 630, meaning a discrete GPU is not strictly necessary.

However, for workloads that favor raw clock speed and larger cache, the Intel Core i3-9350KF is the superior part. Its Geekbench single-core score is 21.3% higher than the 10105T, and its multi-core score is 12.3% higher. This indicates a significant advantage in applications that are not heavily threaded but benefit from high frequency. The 9350KF also supports ECC memory, which may be a deciding factor for users building a low-cost workstation with error-checking requirements.

The overall average benchmark scores are close, with the 9350KF at 2082 and the 10105T at 2058, and both sit at the 46th percentile. This suggests that for a typical mixed-use scenario, the user would barely notice a difference. The deciding factors should be the specific application, the need for integrated graphics, and the power constraints of the system. If you need a low-power, complete package with strong rendering performance, the 10105T is the data-backed choice. If you require maximum single-thread performance and have a discrete GPU, the 9350KF offers a compelling, albeit end-of-life, alternative.