Intel Core i3-14100 vs Intel Core i7-14701TE Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark comparison between the Intel Core i3-14100 and the Intel Core i7-14701TE is dominated by the i7, which wins 15 of the 17 recorded tests. The i3 wins only 2 tests, both of which are single-threaded PassMark measurements. The most striking result is in PassMark's find prime numbers test, where the i7-14701TE scores 143 versus 55 for the i3-14100, a margin of 61.5 percent. That is the largest performance gap recorded across all tests.

The Cinebench suite shows a consistent pattern. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i7-14701TE scores 1716 against 1292 for the i3-14100, a 24.7 percent advantage. The single-core R15 test shows a similar gap: 242 versus 182, or 24.8 percent. Cinebench R20 repeats the pattern with the i7 ahead by 24.7 percent in multi-core (7154 versus 5384) and 24.9 percent in single-core (1010 versus 759). Cinebench R23 continues this trend: the i7 delivers 17035 against 12820 in multi-core (24.7 percent) and 2405 against 1809 in single-core (24.8 percent). Across all three Cinebench generations, the relative performance gap between the two processors remains remarkably stable, hovering around 24.7 to 24.9 percent.

The PassMark suite reveals where the i7-14701TE extends its lead even further. In integer math, the i7 scores 65792 versus 45329, a 31.1 percent advantage. Floating point math shows a 29.8 percent gap (50219 versus 35266). The physics test is particularly lopsided: 1860 versus 958, a 48.5 percent difference. Data compression favors the i7 by 21 percent (220520 versus 174115), while data encryption shows a 24.5 percent gap (11699 versus 8838). Extended instructions land at 17.3 percent in favor of the i7 (14354 versus 11865), and random string sorting shows a 23.6 percent edge (22760 versus 17397). The multithread PassMark score is 20042 versus 15095, a 24.7 percent advantage.

The only tests where the i3-14100 wins are the PassMark single-thread and single-thread (duplicate) tests. Here the i3 scores 3759 against 2637 for the i7, a 42.5 percent lead. This is a substantial reversal and suggests that despite the i7's higher boost clock, the i3 achieves better raw single-threaded performance in this particular benchmark. This is the only category where the i3 demonstrates superiority, and the margin is large enough to warrant attention.

Architecture Differences

Both processors share the same underlying architecture: Raptor Lake, specifically the Raptor Lake-R refresh variant, built on Intel's 10 nm process node. Both use the Intel Socket 1700 and support DDR4 and DDR5 memory in dual-channel configuration. Both also support ECC memory and provide PCIe Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes.

The core configurations differ substantially. The i3-14100 has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the i7-14701TE has 8 cores and 16 threads, exactly double. This explains the consistent multi-core performance gaps across the Cinebench tests. The cache hierarchy also diverges. L1 cache is identical at 80 KB per core, but L2 cache differs: 1.25 MB per core on the i3 versus 2 MB per core on the i7. The L3 cache shows a major difference: 12 MB shared on the i3 versus 33 MB shared on the i7. The die size reflects this: 163 mm² for the i3 versus 257 mm² for the i7.

Clock speeds tell an interesting story. The i3-14100 has a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. The i7-14701TE has a base clock of 2.10 GHz, significantly lower, but a boost clock of 5.20 GHz, higher than the i3. The i7's lower base clock likely contributes to its 45 W TDP, while the i3 sits at 60 W. This makes the i7 a lower-power part despite having more cores, a notable design choice.

The integrated graphics differ as well. The i3-14100 includes UHD Graphics 730, while the i7-14701TE includes UHD Graphics 770. Both processors are locked, with no unlocked multiplier. The i3 launched on 2024-01-07 with a launch MSRP of $134. The i7 has no recorded launch MSRP and a later release date of 2024-06-30.

Where Each One Wins

The i7-14701TE wins decisively in every multi-threaded workload recorded. Its double core count and larger cache give it advantages in Cinebench multi-core across R15, R20, and R23, with consistent 24.7 percent margins. PassMark multithread mirrors this at 24.7 percent. The physics test shows the largest multi-threaded gap at 48.5 percent, indicating that workloads with heavy physics calculations, such as simulation or certain scientific computing tasks, benefit disproportionately from the i7's architecture. Integer math and floating point math also favor the i7 by 31.1 and 29.8 percent respectively, suggesting strong performance in numerical computation.

The i7 also wins all single-threaded Cinebench tests, with margins around 24.8 percent. This is notable because the i3 wins the PassMark single-thread test by 42.5 percent. The discrepancy between Cinebench single-core and PassMark single-thread suggests these benchmarks measure different aspects of single-threaded execution. Cinebench likely benefits from the i7's higher boost clock of 5.20 GHz, while PassMark's single-thread test may favor the i3's architecture or memory characteristics.

The i3-14100 wins only in PassMark single-thread performance. This makes it a niche choice for workloads that specifically rely on that benchmark's execution pattern. However, given that the i7 wins every Cinebench single-core test, the i3's single-thread advantage appears limited to that specific PassMark metric. For general single-threaded application performance as measured by Cinebench, the i7 remains superior.

The Verdict

The data indicates a clear overall winner: the Intel Core i7-14701TE outperforms the Intel Core i3-14100 in 15 of 17 benchmark tests. The i7 leads by approximately 24.7 percent in Cinebench multi-core tests, with even larger margins in PassMark physics (48.5 percent), integer math (31.1 percent), and floating point math (29.8 percent). Its 8 cores, 16 threads, 33 MB L3 cache, and 5.20 GHz boost clock provide a substantial performance advantage across nearly all measured workloads.

The i3-14100 wins only the PassMark single-thread test, with a 42.5 percent margin. This makes it a specialized option for workloads that align with that benchmark's single-threaded execution model. However, the i7 also wins every Cinebench single-core test, so the i3's single-thread advantage is not universal.

For users prioritizing multi-threaded performance, physics computation, numerical math, or data compression, the i7-14701TE is the clear choice based on the recorded scores. Its lower 45 W TDP also suggests it achieves these results while consuming less power than the i3's 60 W. For workloads that specifically depend on PassMark single-thread performance, the i3-14100 offers a distinct advantage, but this is a narrow use case.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-14701TE has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core i3-14100 has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: What is the performance difference in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The i7-14701TE scores 17035 versus 12820 for the i3-14100, a 24.7 percent advantage for the i7.

Q: Does the i3-14100 win any benchmark?

A: Yes, the i3-14100 wins the PassMark single-thread test with a score of 3759 versus 2637 for the i7-14701TE, a 42.5 percent lead.

Q: How do the cache sizes compare?

A: The i3-14100 has 1.25 MB L2 cache per core and 12 MB shared L3 cache. The i7-14701TE has 2 MB L2 cache per core and 33 MB shared L3 cache.

Q: What are the TDP ratings for these processors?

A: The i3-14100 has a TDP of 60 W, while the i7-14701TE has a TDP of 45 W.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The i7-14701TE has a boost clock of 5.20 GHz, while the i3-14100 has a boost clock of 4.70 GHz.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i3-14100 | Intel Core i7-14701TE |

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

| Cores | 4 | 8 |

| Threads | 8 | 16 |

| Base Clock | 3.50 GHz | 2.10 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.70 GHz | 5.20 GHz |

| TDP | 60 W | 45 W |

| Die Size | 163 mm² | 257 mm² |

| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core) | 2 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 12 MB (shared) | 33 MB (shared) |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 730 | UHD Graphics 770 |

| Release Date | 2024-01-07 | 2024-06-30 |

| Launch MSRP | $134 | None recorded |

| Part Number | SRMX1 | Q49GSRNJL |