Intel Core i3-10105T vs Intel Core i7-8705G Comparison

The Intel Core i3-10105T and Intel Core i7-8705G are two processors that, despite their different market positions and generations, land at the exact same average benchmark score of 2058. Both CPUs occupy the 46th percentile among all tested processors. The i3-10105T is a 10th Gen Comet Lake desktop part, while the i7-8705G is an 8th Gen Kaby Lake mobile processor. Despite the i7’s higher tier designation, the benchmark data reveals a near-total performance stalemate, with the i3 taking six of eight head-to-head wins, though the i7 strikes back decisively in Geekbench multicore.

Where Each One Wins

The performance split between these two CPUs follows a clear pattern: the Intel Core i3-10105T dominates in all Cinebench workloads, while the Intel Core i7-8705G wins exclusively in Geekbench tests. Out of eight head-to-head benchmarks, the i3-10105T claims six victories, including every single-core and multi-core Cinebench test across R15, R20, and R23. The i3’s margins in Cinebench are consistent, ranging from 2.9% to 3.3% over the i7-8705G. This suggests the i3-10105T has a structural advantage in rendering and 3D modeling tasks that rely on sustained CPU throughput.

Conversely, the i7-8705G wins both Geekbench tests. Its Geekbench multicore score of 3968 is 8% higher than the i3’s 3649, a substantial gap that flips the overall performance picture. The Geekbench single-core advantage is much smaller, at 0.9% (1277 vs 1265). This indicates the i7-8705G responds better to the specific workload mix in Geekbench’s multicore test, which includes memory latency sensitivity and integer performance patterns. For users running Geekbench-style applications, the i7-8705G is the stronger choice, while Cinebench-oriented workloads favor the i3-10105T.

The average benchmark score of 2058 for both parts masks these divergent strengths. The i3-10105T’s wins are numerous but narrow, while the i7-8705G’s Geekbench multicore victory is a single large swing. This makes the choice between them workload-dependent rather than a case of one being universally superior.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher overall average benchmark score?

A: Both processors have identical average benchmark scores of 2058, placing them at the same 46th percentile among all CPUs. The nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 5 3400G, scores 2059, a negligible 0.1% difference.

Q: How does the Intel Core i3-10105T perform in Cinebench R23 multi-core compared to the i7-8705G?

A: The i3-10105T scores 6656 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, which is 3% higher than the i7-8705G’s 6464. This win is consistent with the i3’s other Cinebench multi-core victories, including 670 vs 651 in R15 (2.9%) and 2795 vs 2714 in R20 (3%).

Q: Is the Intel Core i7-8705G faster in any benchmark?

A: Yes. The i7-8705G wins both Geekbench tests. Its multi-core score of 3968 beats the i3-10105T’s 3649 by 8%, and its single-core score of 1277 beats the i3’s 1265 by 0.9%.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for these two processors?

A: Both the Intel Core i3-10105T and the Intel Core i7-8705G have 4 cores and 8 threads. They also share the same L1 cache of 64 KB per core and L2 cache of 256 KB per core.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core i7-8705G has a larger shared L3 cache at 8 MB, compared to the Intel Core i3-10105T’s 6 MB shared L3 cache. This difference does not translate into a performance advantage in Cinebench, where the i3 wins all tests.

Q: What are the TDP ratings for each CPU?

A: The Intel Core i3-10105T has a TDP of 35 watts, while the Intel Core i7-8705G has a TDP of 65 watts. The i3 is the lower-power part despite winning most benchmark comparisons.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench suite shows a consistent, narrow advantage for the Intel Core i3-10105T across all six tests. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i3 scores 670 against the i7’s 651, a 2.9% lead. Single-core R15 follows the same pattern: 94 vs 91, a 3.3% margin that is the largest of any Cinebench test. Moving to R20, the multi-core gap is 2795 vs 2714 (3%), and single-core is 394 vs 383 (2.9%). In R23, the multi-core score is 6656 vs 6464 (3%), with single-core at 939 vs 912 (3%). These results are remarkably stable, with the i3’s advantage hovering near 3% across every Cinebench iteration. The data suggests the i3-10105T’s newer Comet Lake architecture provides a modest but repeatable edge in rendering workloads.

The Geekbench results invert this narrative. The i7-8705G’s multi-core score of 3968 is 8% higher than the i3-10105T’s 3649. This is the single largest performance delta between the two CPUs in any test. The single-core Geekbench test is much closer, with the i7 winning 1277 to 1265, a 0.9% margin. The fact that the i7 loses all Cinebench tests but wins Geekbench multi-core by a wide margin points to different workload characteristics. Geekbench’s multi-core test likely exercises memory bandwidth and integer operations in a way that favors the i7-8705G’s configuration, while Cinebench’s floating-point-heavy rendering favors the i3.

The win count—six for the i3, two for the i7—is illuminating but not the whole story. The i7’s 8% Geekbench multicore win is a larger individual margin than any of the i3’s wins, which all fall between 2.9% and 3.3%. An aggregate view using the average benchmark score of 2058 for both parts confirms that these differences cancel out entirely, leaving the two processors at a dead heat overall.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications despite having identical core and thread counts. The Intel Core i3-10105T has a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 3.90 GHz. The Intel Core i7-8705G runs slightly faster with a base clock of 3.10 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. Despite this clock speed advantage, the i7 loses all Cinebench tests, indicating that clock speed alone does not determine performance in those workloads.

The TDP difference is substantial: the i3-10105T is rated at 35 watts, while the i7-8705G is rated at 65 watts. This makes the i3 the more power-efficient part, a notable consideration given its benchmark wins. The sockets are incompatible, with the i3 using Intel Socket 1200 and the i7 using Intel BGA 2270. This reflects their different market segments: the i3 is a desktop processor, while the i7 is a mobile processor.

Memory bandwidth also differs. The i3-10105T supports 42.7 GB/s, while the i7-8705G supports 38.4 GB/s. Both use dual-channel DDR4 memory. The PCIe configurations differ as well: the i3 offers Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i7 offers Gen 3 with 8 lanes (CPU only). The i7-8705G has a die size of 125 mm², while the i3’s die size is not listed. The i3 has a launch MSRP of $134, while the i7 has no listed launch MSRP. The i3 was released on 2021-03-15 and is active in production, while the i7 was released on 2018-01-06 and is end-of-life.

Architecture Differences

The architectural split between these CPUs is rooted in their generations and codenames. The Intel Core i3-10105T is built on Comet Lake architecture with the codename Comet Lake-R, belonging to the Core 10th Gen series. The Intel Core i7-8705G uses Kaby Lake architecture with the codename Kaby Lake G, part of the Core 7th/8th Gen family (specifically Kaby Lake-G). Both are manufactured on the same 14 nm process node by Intel, so the process technology does not explain their performance differences.

Cache configurations differ in the L3 tier. The i3-10105T has 6 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i7-8705G has 8 MB of shared L3 cache. L1 and L2 caches are identical at 64 KB per core and 256 KB per core, respectively. The larger L3 cache on the i7 does not translate into Cinebench wins, suggesting that the i3’s memory subsystem or other microarchitectural refinements compensate.

The integrated graphics differ: the i3-10105T features UHD Graphics 630, while the i7-8705G features Intel HD Graphics 630. Both lack ECC memory support and have locked multipliers. The production status also diverges, with the i3 active and the i7 end-of-life. For a buyer, the i3-10105T is a current, supported desktop part, while the i7-8705G is a legacy mobile processor. The benchmark data shows that the newer desktop i3 outperforms the older mobile i7 in most tests, despite the i7’s higher tier name and higher clock speeds. The i7’s only meaningful victory is the 8% Geekbench multi-core margin, which is significant enough to keep the overall average scores identical.