Intel Core i3-14100 vs Intel Core i5-14490F Comparison

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i3-14100 and Intel Core i5-14490F both belong to Intel's Core 14th Gen lineup, share the Raptor Lake architecture, and use the Raptor Lake-R codename. Both are built on Intel's 10 nm process node and use the Intel Socket 1700. The core configurations, however, diverge sharply. The i3-14100 has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the i5-14490F has 10 cores and 16 threads. This difference in physical core count directly explains the large performance gaps observed across nearly every benchmark.

Cache hierarchies also differ. The L1 cache is identical at 80 KB per core, and L2 is also the same at 1.25 MB per core. The shared L3 cache, however, doubles from 12 MB on the i3-14100 to 24 MB on the i5-14490F. The die size reflects the larger i5 configuration, measuring 215 mm² versus 163 mm² for the i3.

Clock speeds present an interesting split. The i3-14100 has a higher base clock at 3.50 GHz, but the i5-14490F boosts to 5.00 GHz compared to the i3's 4.70 GHz. The i5 also carries a higher TDP at 65 watts versus 60 watts for the i3. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking headroom is not part of the feature set for either model.

Memory support is identical: both support DDR4 and DDR5 in dual-channel configuration. The i3-14100 supports ECC memory, while the i5-14490F does not. PCIe capability is the same, with Gen 5 and 16 lanes from the CPU. The integrated graphics situation is a notable differentiator: the i3-14100 includes UHD Graphics 730, while the i5-14490F has no integrated graphics at all, indicated as N/A in the database. The i5-14490F therefore requires a discrete graphics adapter for any display output.

The i3-14100 was released on 2024-01-07, while the i5-14490F was released on 2023-12-31. The i3-14100 has a launch MSRP of $134. The i5-14490F has no recorded launch MSRP in the database. The i3-14100 part number is SRMX1, and the i5-14490F part number is SRN35.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i5-14490F has 10 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core i3-14100 has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: How do the boost clocks compare?

A: The i5-14490F boosts to 5.00 GHz, which is higher than the i3-14100's 4.70 GHz boost. The i3-14100 has a higher base clock at 3.50 GHz versus 2.50 GHz on the i5-14490F.

Q: Does either processor include integrated graphics?

A: The i3-14100 includes UHD Graphics 730. The i5-14490F has no integrated graphics, listed as N/A in the database.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The i3-14100 supports ECC memory. The i5-14490F does not.

Q: How much L3 cache does each processor have?

A: The i3-14100 has 12 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i5-14490F has 24 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: What is the release date for each model?

A: The i3-14100 was released on 2024-01-07, and the i5-14490F was released on 2023-12-31.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data is one-sided in favor of the i5-14490F, which wins all 17 recorded head-to-head comparisons. The i3-14100 has zero wins in the database. That does not mean the i3-14100 has no application, but its strengths are defined by its lower core count and power envelope rather than by benchmark victories.

For single-threaded workloads, the gap narrows considerably. In PassMark single-thread testing, the i5-14490F scores 3873 versus 3759 for the i3-14100, a delta of only 2.9%. This is the smallest margin across the entire benchmark set. The i3-14100 is therefore much closer in lightly threaded tasks, and its higher base clock of 3.50 GHz helps keep it competitive in that space.

For multi-threaded and heavily parallel workloads, the i5-14490F dominates. The Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 23000 versus 12820 represents a 44.3% advantage. The 10-core, 16-thread configuration allows the i5-14490F to pull far ahead in rendering, encoding, and other tasks that scale with core count. The i3-14100, with 4 cores and 8 threads, is better suited to basic desktop usage, light productivity, or systems where the 60-watt TDP and integrated graphics are priorities.

The i3-14100 also offers ECC memory support, which the i5-14490F lacks. For users who require error-correcting memory in a small desktop build, the i3-14100 is the only one of the two that fits that requirement. The i3-14100 also includes UHD Graphics 730, so a discrete GPU is not mandatory for a working system. The i5-14490F has no iGPU, so a separate graphics card is required.

The Verdict

The data clearly favors the Intel Core i5-14490F for performance. It wins every benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, and its average benchmark score of 38149 places it at the 86th percentile among all CPUs in the database. The i3-14100, by contrast, has an average benchmark score of 18318 and sits at the 72nd percentile. The i5-14490F also holds its own against strong rivals: its nearest competitor, the Intel Core Ultra 5 245T, scores 38194, a delta of only 0.1% in favor of the rival, while the Intel Core i5-13600KF scores 38103, a 0.1% delta in favor of the i5-14490F.

For users building a system around multi-threaded workloads, the i5-14490F is the clear choice. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 23000 is roughly 79% higher than the i3-14100's 12820. The i5-14490F also outperforms the i3-14100 in every PassMark workload, with deltas ranging from 2.9% in single-thread performance to 54.9% in prime number finding.

The i3-14100 remains relevant for users who need a compact, low-power desktop processor with integrated graphics and ECC memory support. Its 60-watt TDP, UHD Graphics 730, and ECC capability make it a viable option for basic systems, though its performance ceiling is far lower. The i5-14490F, with no iGPU and no ECC support, targets a different audience: those who already have a discrete GPU and prioritize raw computing throughput.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The i5-14490F wins all 17 recorded head-to-head benchmarks, but the margins vary widely by workload. The smallest difference is in PassMark single-thread testing, where the i5-14490F scores 3873 against the i3-14100's 3759, a delta of 2.9%. Both PassMark singlethread and single-thread results show the same scores and the same 2.9% delta, confirming consistency in that measurement.

The largest margin appears in PassMark find prime numbers, where the i5-14490F scores 122 versus 55 for the i3-14100, a delta of 54.9%. PassMark physics also shows a large gap: 2093 versus 958, a 54.2% delta. PassMark data encryption shows a 51.5% delta, with the i5-14490F scoring 18225 against 8838. PassMark random string sorting shows a 51.1% delta, with scores of 35608 and 17397 respectively.

The Cinebench suite shows a consistent 44.3% delta across all six tests. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-14490F scores 2318 versus 1292 for the i3-14100. R15 single-core shows 327 versus 182. R20 multi-core shows 9660 versus 5384, and R20 single-core shows 1363 versus 759. R23 multi-core shows 23000 versus 12820, and R23 single-core shows 3247 versus 1809. The uniformity of the 44.3% delta across all Cinebench tests indicates that the performance difference is consistent regardless of the specific Cinebench version or workload type.

PassMark extended instructions shows a 45.4% delta, with scores of 21731 and 11865. PassMark floating point math shows a 47% delta, with scores of 66558 and 35266. PassMark multithread shows a 47.3% delta, with scores of 28662 and 15095. PassMark integer math shows a 48.4% delta, with scores of 87844 and 45329. PassMark data compression shows a 48.8% delta, with scores of 340026 and 174115.

The average benchmark score comparison reinforces the same picture. The i5-14490F has an average score of 38149, while the i3-14100 has an average score of 18318. The i5-14490F's nearest rival, the Intel Core Ultra 5 245T, scores 38194, a delta of 0.1% in favor of the rival. The i3-14100's nearest rival, the Intel Core 3 305, scores 18302, a delta of 0.1% in favor of the i3-14100. The i5-14490F also sits close to the Intel Core i5-13600KF, which scores 38103, a 0.1% delta in favor of the i5-14490F, and the AMD Ryzen 7 250, which scores 38221, a 0.2% delta in favor of the AMD part.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in core count, thread count, clock speeds, TDP, die size, L3 cache, ECC support, integrated graphics, release date, launch MSRP, and part number. The i3-14100 has 4 cores and 8 threads; the i5-14490F has 10 cores and 16 threads. The i3-14100 has a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz; the i5-14490F has a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. TDP is 60 watts for the i3-14100 and 65 watts for the i5-14490F.

Die size is 163 mm² for the i3-14100 and 215 mm² for the i5-14490F. L3 cache is 12 MB shared on the i3-14100 and 24 MB shared on the i5-14490F. The i3-14100 supports ECC memory; the i5-14490F does not. The i3-14100 includes UHD Graphics 730; the i5-14490F has no integrated graphics, listed as N/A. The i3-14100 was released on 2024-01-07 with a launch MSRP of $134; the i5-14490F was released on 2023-12-31 with no recorded launch MSRP. Part numbers are SRMX1 for the i3-14100 and SRN35 for the i5-14490F.

The two processors share the same socket, Intel Socket 1700; the same architecture, Raptor Lake; the same codename, Raptor Lake-R; the same process node, 10 nm; the same manufacturer, Intel; and the same memory support, DDR4 and DDR5 in dual-channel configuration. Both have 80 KB L1 cache per core and 1.25 MB L2 cache per core. Both use PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. Both are classified as active production parts in the desktop market segment.