Intel Core i3-14100 vs Intel Core Ultra 7 356H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data records 17 head-to-head comparisons between the Intel Core i3-14100 and the Intel Core Ultra 7 356H. The Ultra 7 356H wins all 17 tests. The margin of victory varies widely by workload, from a modest single-digit gap in single-threaded tests to a dominant multi-fold lead in encryption and prime-number processing.

The largest single delta appears in Passmark find prime numbers, where the Ultra 7 356H scores 327 against the i3-14100's 55, a difference of 83.2%. This is the most lopsided result in the entire dataset. Passmark data encryption shows the second-largest gap: 26345 versus 8838, a 66.5% difference. Passmark physics follows closely at 66.9% (2895 versus 958). Passmark floating point math sits at 65.8% (103128 versus 35266). These results indicate that the Ultra 7 356H delivers roughly three times the throughput in several compute-heavy integer and floating-point workloads.

Cinebench multicore results also favor the Ultra 7 356H substantially. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Ultra 7 356H scores 3055 versus 1292, a 57.7% advantage. Cinebench R20 multicore shows 12153 versus 5384, a 55.7% gap. Cinebench R23 multicore narrows the difference to 30.3% (18395 versus 12820), but the mobile part still leads clearly.

The single-core picture is closer. Cinebench R23 singlecore gives the Ultra 7 356H a 2040 score against 1809, an 11.3% lead. Passmark single thread shows 4072 versus 3759, a 7.7% edge. Cinebench R15 singlecore records 303 versus 182, a 39.9% advantage, and Cinebench R20 singlecore shows 1715 versus 759, a 55.7% gap. The R15 and R20 single-core deltas are larger than the R23 single-core delta, which suggests that the per-core efficiency advantage of the newer architecture is more pronounced in certain rendering workloads.

Other Passmark tests continue the pattern. Passmark multithread scores 33978 for the Ultra 7 356H versus 15095 for the i3-14100, a 55.6% lead. Passmark extended instructions records 27898 versus 11865, a 57.5% gap. Passmark random string sorting shows 40990 versus 17397, a 57.6% difference. Passmark data compression delivers 336177 versus 174115, a 48.2% edge. Passmark integer math completes the sweep at 83111 versus 45329, a 45.5% lead.

The database's average benchmark score places the i3-14100 at 18318, while the Ultra 7 356H sits at 41215. The i3-14100 ranks in the 72nd percentile of all CPUs, and the Ultra 7 356H ranks in the 87th percentile. The nearest rival data confirms the positioning: the i3-14100's closest competitors are the Intel Core 3 305 (18302, 0.1% lower), the Intel Core 5 330 (18345, 0.1% higher), the Intel Core 7 360 (18374, 0.3% higher), and the Intel Core i3-13100 (18380, 0.3% higher). The Ultra 7 356H sits alongside the AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 (41208, effectively tied), the Intel Core Ultra 7 366H (41263, 0.1% higher), the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X (41376, 0.4% higher), and the Intel Core Ultra X7 358H (40967, 0.6% lower).

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different market segments and different process nodes. The Intel Core i3-14100 is a desktop part built on Intel's 10 nm process with a die size of 163 mm². It uses the Raptor Lake architecture, specifically Raptor Lake-R, and fits the Intel Socket 1700. The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H is a mobile processor built on Intel's 3 nm process with no die size recorded. It uses the Panther Lake architecture, specifically Panther Lake-H, and fits the Intel BGA 2540 socket.

Core counts differ sharply. The i3-14100 provides 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Ultra 7 356H provides 16 cores and 16 threads. The i3-14100 relies on Hyper-Threading to reach 8 threads from 4 cores; the Ultra 7 356H has no thread multiplier and matches its thread count to its core count. The base clock of the i3-14100 is 3.50 GHz versus 1.90 GHz for the Ultra 7 356H, but both processors boost to 4.70 GHz. The i3-14100's higher base clock helps it in lightly threaded tasks, while the Ultra 7 356H's larger core count carries the multicore workloads.

Cache hierarchies also differ. The i3-14100 has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3. The Ultra 7 356H has 192 KB of L1 per core, 2.5 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3. The Ultra 7 356H's per-core L1 and L2 are roughly 2.4x and 2x larger respectively, and its L3 pool is 50% larger in absolute terms. These cache advantages contribute to the single-core performance gap.

Memory support differs as well. The i3-14100 supports DDR4 and DDR5 in a dual-channel configuration and enables ECC memory. The Ultra 7 356H supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X in a dual-channel configuration with a recorded memory bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s, but it does not support ECC memory. The i3-14100's PCIe setup provides Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes, while the Ultra 7 356H provides Gen 5 with 12 CPU lanes.

The integrated graphics differ. The i3-14100 includes UHD Graphics 730, while the Ultra 7 356H includes Intel Xe3 Graphics. The database does not record graphics benchmark scores for either part, so the comparison remains architectural.

Power envelopes differ substantially. The i3-14100 has a TDP of 60 watts, and the Ultra 7 356H has a TDP of 25 watts. The Ultra 7 356H delivers its large performance advantage at less than half the thermal design power, which reflects the efficiency gain from the 3 nm process relative to 10 nm.

Release timing also separates the parts. The i3-14100 launched on 2024-01-07 with a launch MSRP of $134. The Ultra 7 356H launched on 2026-01-04, and the database records no launch MSRP for it. Both parts remain in active production. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

The production status is active for both. The i3-14100 carries part number SRMX1, and the Ultra 7 356H carries part number SA4RGQ9EU.

The Verdict

The recorded data shows a clear performance hierarchy. The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H wins every benchmark in the head-to-head set. Its average benchmark score of 41215 is more than double the i3-14100's 18318. In percentile terms, the Ultra 7 356H sits at the 87th percentile of all CPUs, 15 points above the i3-14100's 72nd percentile.

The i3-14100's nearest rival cluster, which includes the Intel Core 3 305, Intel Core 5 330, Intel Core 7 360, and Intel Core i3-13100, all fall within 0.3% of its average score. The Ultra 7 356H's nearest rivals include desktop-class parts like the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X, which has a 0.4% higher average score, and the Intel Core Ultra 7 366H, which has a 0.1% higher average score. This places the Ultra 7 356H in a different performance class entirely.

For desktop users who need a 4-core, 8-thread platform with DDR4 or DDR5 compatibility, ECC support, and a 60-watt TDP, the i3-14100 is the only one of the two that fits a Socket 1700 desktop board. The Ultra 7 356H is a BGA mobile part, so it is not a drop-in alternative. The data does not record any desktop socket for the Ultra 7 356H.

For mobile or embedded designs, the Ultra 7 356H offers 4x the cores, 1.5x the L3 cache, a 3 nm process, and a 25-watt TDP, while producing more than double the average benchmark score. The single-core gap is smaller, but it still favors the Ultra 7 356H in every recorded test. The i3-14100's only recorded advantages are its higher base clock, its ECC support, its 16 PCIe lanes versus 12, and its earlier release date.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H has 16 cores and 16 threads. The Intel Core i3-14100 has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: How large is the multicore performance gap in the latest Cinebench test?

A: In Cinebench R23 multicore, the Ultra 7 356H scores 18395 versus 12820 for the i3-14100, a 30.3% advantage.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: Both processors boost to 4.70 GHz. The i3-14100 has a higher base clock at 3.50 GHz, while the Ultra 7 356H has a base clock of 1.90 GHz.

Q: Does either processor support ECC memory?

A: The i3-14100 supports ECC memory. The Ultra 7 356H does not.

Q: What memory types does each processor support?

A: The i3-14100 supports DDR4 and DDR5. The Ultra 7 356H supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X. Both use dual-channel memory buses.

Q: How do the processors compare in single-threaded Passmark performance?

A: The Ultra 7 356H scores 4072 in Passmark single thread, while the i3-14100 scores 3759, a 7.7% difference.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H wins every recorded benchmark, so the "wins" section is a matter of degree rather than direction.

The largest wins for the Ultra 7 356H come in workloads that scale with core count and cache. Passmark find prime numbers shows an 83.2% advantage, Passmark data encryption shows 66.5%, Passmark physics shows 66.9%, and Passmark floating point math shows 65.8%. These are the workloads where the 16-core design and the larger per-core L1 and L2 caches produce the biggest separation. Cinebench R15 multicore and R20 multicore both show 55.7% to 57.7% gaps, confirming that rendering workloads also favor the mobile part heavily.

The narrowest wins for the Ultra 7 356H are in single-threaded tests. Passmark single thread shows a 7.7% edge, and Cinebench R23 singlecore shows 11.3%. These margins are small enough that the i3-14100's higher base clock and desktop power envelope keep it competitive in lightly threaded tasks, even though it still loses every recorded single-core test.

The i3-14100 does not win any benchmark, but its profile suits specific situations. It uses the Intel Socket 1700, which is a desktop platform, and it supports ECC memory, which the Ultra 7 356H does not. It also provides 16 PCIe Gen 5 CPU lanes versus 12, which matters for systems with multiple high-bandwidth expansion cards. Its 163 mm² die on a 10 nm process and 60-watt TDP are simpler to cool in a desktop chassis, though the database records no cooler specifications.

The Ultra 7 356H suits workloads that need high throughput per watt. Its 25-watt TDP is less than half the i3-14100's 60-watt TDP, and its average benchmark score is more than double. The recorded memory bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s for the Ultra 7 356H, absent from the i3-14100's record, indicates that the LPDDR5X support provides a memory bandwidth advantage for data-heavy tasks. The Intel Xe3 Graphics in the Ultra 7 356H is a newer generation than the UHD Graphics 730, though no graphics benchmarks are recorded.

For a compact or battery-powered system, the Ultra 7 356H delivers all 17 benchmark wins at lower power. For a desktop build that requires ECC memory, a Socket 1700 board, or 16 PCIe lanes, the i3-14100 is the only one of the two that fits the platform, even though it sits behind on every measured workload. The data records no scenario where the i3-14100 leads in performance, only scenarios where its platform features and lower power draw might be secondary considerations.