CPU Comparison

The Intel Core i3-13100 and Intel Core i7-8700 represent two distinct eras of desktop computing, with the newer quad-core Raptor Lake part challenging the older six-core Coffee Lake flagship. Benchmark data shows a clear generational shift: the i3-13100 wins 13 of the 17 head-to-head comparisons, while the i7-8700 secures 4 victories. Despite having fewer cores and threads, the i3-13100’s architectural advantages deliver decisive wins in most compute-heavy workloads, though the i7-8700 retains specific strengths in memory-intensive and sorting tasks.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result is in single-thread performance, where the i3-13100 leads by 31.6% in both PassMark’s single-thread and singlethread tests, scoring 3460 against the i7-8700’s 2629. This gap is consistent across Cinebench iterations: the i3-13100 posts 170 in R15 single-core (11.1% ahead of 153), 710 in R20 single-core (10.8% ahead of 641), and 1692 in R23 single-core (10.7% ahead of 1528). These margins indicate that the Raptor Lake core design offers substantially higher instructions-per-clock and boost efficiency than Coffee Lake.

Multi-core results tell a similar story, though with smaller margins. The i3-13100’s 4 cores and 8 threads outperform the i7-8700’s 6 cores and 12 threads across all Cinebench multi-core tests: 1208 vs 1091 in R15 (10.7%), 5034 vs 4548 in R20 (10.7%), and 11986 vs 10829 in R23 (10.7%). PassMark’s multithread test also favors the i3-13100, with a 7.6% lead (13726 vs 12756). Notably, the i3-13100 achieves this despite a 33% core-count disadvantage, highlighting the impact of its newer architecture and higher boost clock of 4.50 GHz versus 4.60 GHz, the i7-8700’s slight clock advantage is insufficient to overcome IPC gains.

Specialized workloads amplify the i3-13100’s lead. In PassMark data encryption, the i3-13100 scores 8049 versus 4488, a 79.3% advantage, the largest delta in the entire comparison. Floating-point math also favors the i3-13100 by 16.1% (32325 vs 27839), and physics calculations show an 18.9% lead (870 vs 732). Prime number finding is another area of dominance, with the i3-13100 scoring 52 versus 35, a 48.6% improvement.

The i7-8700’s wins are concentrated in specific memory and integer workloads. Its most significant victory is in random string sorting, where it scores 23963 versus 15925, a 33.5% advantage. Data compression also favors the i7-8700 (187009 vs 161424, a 13.7% lead), likely reflecting its 6 physical cores and larger per-core L2 cache. Integer math goes to the i7-8700 (44881 vs 41313, a 7.9% edge), as does extended instructions (12432 vs 11053, an 11.1% lead). These results suggest that while the i3-13100 excels in latency-sensitive and floating-point tasks, the i7-8700 retains an edge in throughput-oriented integer operations and string manipulation.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-thread performance?

A: The Intel Core i3-13100 leads by 31.6% in PassMark single-thread testing (3460 vs 2629) and posts consistent 10.7-11.1% advantages across all Cinebench single-core tests (R15, R20, R23).

Q: Does the i7-8700’s extra core count give it a multi-core advantage?

A: No. Despite having 6 cores and 12 threads versus the i3-13100’s 4 cores and 8 threads, the i7-8700 loses all Cinebench multi-core tests by 10.7%. The i3-13100 also wins PassMark multithread by 7.6%.

Q: Where does the i7-8700 outperform the i3-13100?

A: The i7-8700 wins in four tests: random string sorting (23963 vs 15925, a 33.5% lead), data compression (187009 vs 161424, 13.7% ahead), integer math (44881 vs 41313, 7.9% ahead), and extended instructions (12432 vs 11053, 11.1% ahead).

Q: What is the largest performance margin in the comparison?

A: The i3-13100’s 79.3% lead in PassMark data encryption (8049 vs 4488) is the biggest single delta. The second-largest is the i7-8700’s 33.5% win in random string sorting.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The i3-13100 has an average benchmark score of 18380, while the i7-8700 scores 18223. Both processors rank in the 72nd percentile against all CPUs, and their nearest rivals are similarly matched (e.g., the i3-13100’s closest rival is the Intel Core 7 360 at 18374).

Q: Which processor is better for encryption workloads?

A: The i3-13100 is dramatically better, scoring 8049 in PassMark data encryption versus the i7-8700’s 4488, a 79.3% improvement that reflects its modern architecture’s dedicated instruction support.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i3-13100 is the clear choice for workloads that depend on raw single-thread speed and modern instruction efficiency. Its 31.6% lead in PassMark single-thread and 10.7-11.1% advantages across Cinebench single-core tests make it ideal for everyday responsiveness, gaming, and lightly-threaded applications. The 79.3% encryption advantage positions it strongly for security-related tasks, while the 48.6% lead in prime number finding and 16.1% edge in floating-point math suit scientific computing and financial modeling. Physics simulation also favors the i3-13100 by 18.9%, making it a better fit for game physics and engineering simulations.

The Intel Core i7-8700 remains competitive for specific memory-bandwidth-sensitive and integer-heavy tasks. Its 33.5% lead in random string sorting and 13.7% advantage in data compression indicate superior performance in database operations, log processing, and file archiving. The 11.1% edge in extended instructions benefits workloads like video encoding and cryptographic hashing that rely on SIMD throughput. The 7.9% integer math advantage supports general office productivity and compilation tasks. However, these wins are narrower than the i3-13100’s dominant victories, and the i7-8700’s overall average score (18223) trails the i3-13100 (18380).

For users with existing Socket 1151 motherboards, the i7-8700 offers an upgrade path without platform changes. But for new builds, the i3-13100’s Socket 1700 platform provides modern connectivity (PCIe Gen 5) and superior performance in most benchmarks, making it the more future-proof choice despite its lower core count.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ fundamentally in core configuration. The i3-13100 has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the i7-8700 has 6 cores and 12 threads. Base clocks are close (3.40 GHz vs 3.20 GHz), but the i7-8700 has a higher boost clock at 4.60 GHz versus 4.50 GHz. Thermal design power differs slightly: the i3-13100 is rated at 60 W, the i7-8700 at 65 W.

Memory support is a major differentiator. The i3-13100 supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the i7-8700 is limited to DDR4. Both use dual-channel memory buses, but the i7-8700 lists a memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s; the i3-13100 does not have a corresponding figure in the data. Socket compatibility is incompatible: the i3-13100 uses Intel Socket 1700, while the i7-8700 uses Intel Socket 1151.

PCIe capabilities also differ significantly. The i3-13100 offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i7-8700 provides Gen 3 with 16 lanes. Integrated graphics are updated on the i3-13100 (UHD Graphics 730) versus the i7-8700’s UHD Graphics 630. The i3-13100 has a larger die size at 163 mm² compared to 154 mm², and its cache hierarchy is different: 80 KB L1 and 1.25 MB L2 per core versus 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core on the i7-8700. Both share 12 MB of L3 cache.

The i3-13100 was released on 2023-01-03, while the i7-8700 launched on 2017-10-04. The i3-13100 remains in active production, whereas the i7-8700 is end-of-life. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

Architecture Differences

The i3-13100 is built on Intel’s Raptor Lake architecture (codename Raptor Lake-S) using a 10 nm process node, while the i7-8700 uses the older Coffee Lake architecture on a 14 nm node. This process shrink is the primary driver of the i3-13100’s performance gains, enabling higher clock efficiency and lower power consumption despite the smaller core count.

Both processors are fabricated by Intel and use monolithic die designs. The i3-13100’s larger die (163 mm² vs 154 mm²) reflects the more complex Raptor Lake layout, including redesigned core clusters and improved uncore components. The cache hierarchy differs substantially: the i3-13100 allocates 80 KB of L1 and 1.25 MB of L2 per core, whereas the i7-8700 has 64 KB L1 and only 256 KB L2 per core. This larger per-core L2 cache is a key reason for the i3-13100’s superior single-thread performance and its 31.6% lead in PassMark single-thread testing.

The i3-13100’s memory controller supports both DDR4 and DDR5, a generational advantage over the i7-8700’s DDR4-only support. This allows the newer processor to take advantage of higher-bandwidth memory if the motherboard supports it, though the dual-channel bus remains constant across both. PCIe connectivity is also a major architectural leap: Gen 5 support on the i3-13100 provides double the theoretical bandwidth of the i7-8700’s Gen 3, benefiting future GPU and NVMe storage upgrades.

Integrated graphics have been upgraded from UHD Graphics 630 (i7-8700) to UHD Graphics 730 (i3-13100), though neither is designed for serious gaming. The production status reflects their lifecycles: the i3-13100 is actively manufactured, while the i7-8700 is end-of-life, meaning the older chip offers no upgrade path for new system builders. The i3-13100’s 10 nm process also explains its 60 W TDP versus the i7-8700’s 65 W, delivering better performance per watt across most benchmarks.