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

The Verdict

The recorded data positions these two processors in clearly different segments. The Intel Core i5-14490F wins every single direct benchmark comparison, 17 wins to 0, with an average benchmark score of 38149 against 18519 for the Intel Core i3-14100F. The i5-14490F sits at the 86th percentile of all CPUs in the database, while the i3-14100F sits at the 72nd percentile.

The i5-14490F is the choice for workloads that scale with core count and cache. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-13600KF with an average score of 38103 and the AMD Ryzen 7 250 at 38221, placing it in performance territory that the i3-14100F does not approach. The i3-14100F competes instead with the Intel Core i5-13420H (average score 18511) and the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 8300GE (average score 18505), a much lower performance class.

The i3-14100F remains a functional desktop processor for basic tasks, but the benchmark results show no scenario in its favor. The i5-14490F delivers roughly double the multithreaded performance in most tests, with single-thread performance also ahead, though by a smaller margin. The data supports choosing the i5-14490F for any workload where the extra cores and cache can be utilized. The i3-14100F suits builds where the lower core count is acceptable and the task list is light.

Architecture Differences

Both processors come from the same Raptor Lake family, specifically the Raptor Lake-R codename, and both use the 10 nm process node from Intel. The core architecture is identical in per-core cache layout: each core has 80 KB of L1 cache and 1.25 MB of L2 cache. The differences appear in the core count and the shared L3 cache.

The i3-14100F has 4 cores and 8 threads. The i5-14490F has 10 cores and 16 threads. That is a 6-core and 8-thread difference, which explains the large multicore performance gap. The L3 cache also differs: the i3-14100F has 12 MB shared, while the i5-14490F has 24 MB shared, double the capacity.

Die size differs as well. The i3-14100F measures 163 mm², while the i5-14490F measures 215 mm², reflecting the additional cores and cache. Both processors use the same Intel Socket 1700 and support DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration. Both have PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU. Neither has integrated graphics, as indicated by the F suffix.

Both processors have locked multipliers, so overclocking is not officially supported. The i3-14100F has a launch MSRP of $109. The i5-14490F has no recorded launch MSRP in the database. The i3-14100F supports ECC memory, while the i5-14490F does not, a distinction that may matter in specific workstation configurations.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The i5-14490F dominates the Cinebench suite. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the i5-14490F scores 23000 against 13084 for the i3-14100F, a delta of 43.1 percent in favor of the i5. The same delta appears across the entire Cinebench series: R15 multicore shows 2318 versus 1318, R20 multicore shows 9660 versus 5495, and R23 singlecore shows 3247 versus 1847. Every Cinebench test, single or multicore, shows the i5-14490F ahead by 43.1 percent.

The single-thread advantage is much smaller in PassMark. The passmark_single_thread test shows 3873 for the i5-14490F versus 3778 for the i3-14100F, a delta of only 2.5 percent. This indicates that per-core performance is similar, and the large overall differences come from the additional cores rather than a faster core design.

The multicore and workload-specific tests show the widest gaps. PassMark data compression favors the i5-14490F by 48.2 percent, with scores of 340026 versus 176106. Integer math shows 87844 versus 45357, a 48.4 percent delta. Floating point math shows 66558 versus 35370, a 46.9 percent delta. Physics simulation shows 2093 versus 1077, a 48.5 percent delta. Random string sorting shows 35608 versus 17596, a 50.6 percent delta, the largest margin in the PassMark suite.

Encryption and prime number tests also favor the i5-14490F heavily. Data encryption scores 18225 versus 8922, a 51 percent delta. Find prime numbers scores 122 versus 61, exactly double. Extended instructions score 21731 versus 11984, a 44.9 percent delta. The pattern is consistent: the i5-14490F roughly doubles the i3-14100F in threaded workloads, while staying close in single-threaded tests.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several recorded specifications. The i3-14100F has 4 cores and 8 threads; the i5-14490F has 10 cores and 16 threads. Base clock differs: 3.50 GHz for the i3-14100F versus 2.50 GHz for the i5-14490F. Boost clock also differs: 4.70 GHz versus 5.00 GHz, favoring the i5-14490F.

Thermal design power differs slightly: 58 W for the i3-14100F and 65 W for the i5-14490F. The L3 cache doubles from 12 MB to 24 MB. Die size increases from 163 mm² to 215 mm². The i3-14100F supports ECC memory; the i5-14490F does not. The i3-14100F has a launch MSRP of $109; the i5-14490F has no recorded launch MSRP.

Release dates differ slightly: the i5-14490F was released on 2023-12-31 and the i3-14100F on 2024-01-07. Part numbers also differ: SRMX2 for the i3-14100F and SRN35 for the i5-14490F. Both share the same socket, memory support, memory bus, PCIe configuration, process node, foundry, market segment, production status, and lack of integrated graphics.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

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

Q: How much faster is the i5-14490F in single-threaded performance?

A: In the PassMark single-thread test, the i5-14490F scores 3873 versus 3778 for the i3-14100F, a 2.5 percent advantage. In Cinebench R23 singlecore, the i5-14490F scores 3247 versus 1847, a 43.1 percent advantage.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: Yes, both support DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration.

Q: Does either processor have integrated graphics?

A: No. Both processors list integrated graphics as N/A, consistent with the F suffix in their names.

Q: What is the L3 cache difference?

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

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The i5-14490F has a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The i3-14100F has a boost clock of 4.70 GHz.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data shows no direct wins for the i3-14100F in any recorded test. Every head-to-head comparison favors the i5-14490F. The closest margin is in single-threaded PassMark, where the i5-14490F leads by only 2.5 percent. This means the i3-14100F is not meaningfully better in per-core throughput.

The i5-14490F is the clear choice for multithreaded workloads. Data compression, encryption, integer math, floating point math, physics simulation, and random string sorting all show the i5-14490F ahead by roughly 45 to 51 percent. These are tasks that benefit from the 10-core, 16-thread configuration and the doubled L3 cache.

The i3-14100F can still handle light desktop workloads. Its 4 cores and 8 threads are sufficient for basic operation, and its 58 W TDP is lower than the 65 W TDP of the i5-14490F. Its average benchmark score of 18519 places it near the Intel Core i5-13420H and AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 8300GE, so it fits in the entry-level desktop segment. The i5-14490F, with an average score of 38149, sits near the Intel Core Ultra 5 245T and Intel Core i5-13600KF, a higher performance class entirely.

The single-thread results deserve attention. The i5-14490F leads by 2.5 percent in PassMark single-thread and by 43.1 percent in Cinebench R23 singlecore. The large Cinebench margin suggests the boost clock of 5.00 GHz helps sustained single-core loads, while the PassMark result shows that short single-thread bursts are nearly equivalent. For applications that depend on one core, the difference is small in one benchmark and large in another, so the data does not support a clear per-core advantage for either processor.

The i5-14490F also wins in memory-sensitive and cache-sensitive tests. Data compression and random string sorting, both heavily dependent on cache and memory bandwidth, show the largest deltas at 48.2 percent and 50.6 percent respectively. The 24 MB L3 cache likely contributes to these results. The i3-14100F, with only 12 MB of L3, trails in every cache-sensitive workload.

ECC memory support is the only recorded feature where the i3-14100F has an advantage. The i3-14100F lists ECC memory as true, while the i5-14490F lists it as false. For systems that require ECC, the i3-14100F is the only option of the two. This is a narrow use case, but it is a genuine differentiation point in the specifications.

The production status for both processors is Active, so both remain available. Both use the same socket, so a motherboard that supports one will likely support the other, assuming BIOS compatibility. The i5-14490F is the stronger processor in every benchmark category, and the i3-14100F is the lower-power, ECC-capable alternative with a recorded launch MSRP of $109.