Intel Core i3-10105T vs Intel Core i7-7700T Comparison

The Intel Core i3-10105T and the Intel Core i7-7700T are both 35-watt, four-core, eight-thread desktop processors aimed at low-power builds, but they represent different eras of Intel's design. The data shows a clear generational split: the newer i3-10105T wins the majority of benchmark comparisons, while the older i7-7700T retains a single, notable victory in one workload. This comparison is less about raw capability and more about which specific application patterns you prioritize, as the two chips trade blows based on the test methodology.

Where Each One Wins

The i3-10105T is the consistent winner across the Cinebench suite, which stresses sustained multi-threaded and single-threaded rendering workloads. It takes the R15, R20, and R23 multicore tests by margins of 3.7% to 3.8%, and the equivalent single-core tests by 3.3% to 3.8%. For users running CPU-bound productivity tasks like video encoding, 3D rendering, or batch photo processing, the i3-10105T is the clear choice based on these scores.

The i7-7700T’s only win comes in Geekbench multicore, where it scores 3938 against the i3-10105T’s 3649, a 7.3% advantage. Geekbench’s multicore test includes a mix of integer, floating-point, and memory operations, which suggests the i7-7700T has an edge in more varied, mixed-workload scenarios that don’t rely solely on sustained core throughput. Its single-core Geekbench score is lower, however, so this is specifically a multicore advantage.

The i3-10105T also wins the Geekbench single-core test, scoring 1265 to the i7-7700T’s 1248, a 1.4% margin. This means the i3 has a slight lead in lightly-threaded responsiveness, while the i7’s win is concentrated entirely in the multi-threaded Geekbench portion. Overall, the i3-10105T wins 7 out of 8 head-to-head benchmarks, making it the default pick for most general-purpose workloads.

Architecture Differences

The fundamental difference is architecture generation. The i3-10105T uses Comet Lake (Comet Lake-R) on a 14 nm process, while the i7-7700T uses Kaby Lake, also on 14 nm. Both are built by Intel and share the same L1 cache (64 KB per core) and L2 cache (256 KB per core). The core count and thread count are identical at 4 cores and 8 threads, and both support DDR4 memory in dual-channel configuration.

The key architectural split is in L3 cache. The i7-7700T has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i3-10105T has only 6 MB. This 2 MB difference likely contributes to the i7’s Geekbench multicore win, as larger caches can improve performance on workloads with more reuse of data. Conversely, the i3-10105T has a higher base clock (3.00 GHz vs 2.90 GHz) and a higher boost clock (3.90 GHz vs 3.80 GHz), which explains its consistent wins in clock-sensitive single-threaded tests.

The memory bandwidth also differs: the i3-10105T supports 42.7 GB/s, while the i7-7700T is limited to 38.4 GB/s. The i3 uses Socket 1200, while the i7 uses Socket 1151, making them incompatible with the same motherboards. Integrated graphics differ as well, with the i3 featuring UHD Graphics 630 and the i7 featuring HD 630. Both are locked (multiplier unlocked: false), and neither supports ECC memory.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench results are uniformly in favor of the i3-10105T. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i3 scores 670 against the i7’s 646, a 3.7% lead. The single-core R15 test shows a similar story: 94 vs 91, a 3.3% edge. Moving to R20, the i3’s multicore score of 2795 beats the i7’s 2692 by 3.8%, and its single-core score of 394 beats 380 by 3.7%. The R23 results mirror this exactly, with the i3 hitting 6656 multicore vs 6410 (3.8% lead) and 939 single-core vs 905 (3.8% lead).

These margins are small but consistent, indicating that the i3’s higher clocks are giving it a steady advantage in Cinebench’s rendering tasks. The 3.8% multicore margin in R23 translates to roughly a 246-point difference, which is meaningful for a 35-watt part but not a dramatic performance gap.

The Geekbench results break the pattern. In Geekbench multicore, the i7-7700T scores 3938, which is 7.3% higher than the i3-10105T’s 3649. This is the largest performance delta in either direction across all tests. The i3 does win Geekbench single-core, scoring 1265 vs 1248, a 1.4% margin. The i7’s multicore win is likely due to its larger L3 cache, as the benchmark suite includes tasks that benefit from data locality.

The Verdict

The data points to the i3-10105T as the superior processor for the majority of workloads. It wins every Cinebench test, which are the most representative of sustained CPU rendering and encoding tasks, by roughly 3.7% to 3.8%. It also wins single-core Geekbench, making it the better choice for everyday responsiveness and lightly-threaded applications. Its higher base and boost clocks, combined with faster memory bandwidth (42.7 GB/s vs 38.4 GB/s), give it a broad performance advantage.

The i7-7700T is only worth picking if your specific workload aligns with Geekbench’s multicore pattern, where its 7.3% lead suggests it handles mixed, cache-sensitive tasks better. The 8 MB L3 cache is the likely differentiator. For a general-purpose low-power desktop, the i3-10105T is the safer recommendation, especially considering it wins 7 of 8 benchmarks. The i7’s single win is substantial, but it is isolated to one test suite.

The i3-10105T also benefits from being on Socket 1200, which is a newer platform, while the i7-7700T on Socket 1151 is a legacy option. Neither chip is unlocked, so overclocking is off the table for both. Choose the i3-10105T for rendering, encoding, and single-threaded speed; choose the i7-7700T only if your software exhibits the exact performance profile seen in Geekbench multicore.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i3-10105T has a boost clock of 3.90 GHz, while the Intel Core i7-7700T has a boost clock of 3.80 GHz.

Q: How much faster is the i3-10105T in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The i3-10105T scores 6656 compared to the i7-7700T’s 6410, a 3.8% lead.

Q: Does the i7-7700T win any benchmark?

A: Yes, the i7-7700T wins the Geekbench multicore test, scoring 3938 against the i3-10105T’s 3649, a 7.3% advantage.

Q: What is the difference in L3 cache size?

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

Q: Are both CPUs compatible with the same motherboard socket?

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

Q: What is the memory bandwidth of each processor?

A: The i3-10105T supports 42.7 GB/s, while the i7-7700T supports 38.4 GB/s.

Specification Differences

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

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

| Architecture | Comet Lake | Kaby Lake |

| Codename | Comet Lake-R | Kaby Lake |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 14 nm |

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

| Base Clock | 3.00 GHz | 2.90 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.90 GHz | 3.80 GHz |

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

| Socket | Intel Socket 1200 | Intel Socket 1151 |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 630 | HD 630 |

| Part Number | SRH3R | SR339 |

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