Intel Core i3-14100F vs Intel Core i7-8700 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a decisive overall victory for the Intel Core i3-14100F, which wins 16 of the 19 head-to-head comparisons. The i7-8700 manages only 3 wins, and those are concentrated in narrow specialty workloads. The i3-14100F's biggest margins come in encryption, single-thread, and physics tests, where the generational gap in architecture becomes obvious.

In Cinebench, the i3-14100F is consistently about 20% faster across all versions. In R15 multicore, it scores 1318 against the i7-8700's 1091, a 20.8% lead. R15 singlecore shows 186 vs 153, a 21.6% margin. R20 multicore repeats the pattern: 5495 vs 4548, again 20.8%. R20 singlecore is 775 vs 641, a 20.9% gap. R23 multicore sits at 13084 vs 10829, 20.8% ahead, while R23 singlecore is 1847 vs 1528, another 20.9% advantage. The consistency of that 20% delta across every Cinebench iteration suggests a fundamental per-clock efficiency advantage, not a workload-specific quirk.

Geekbench shows an even larger single-core gap. The i3-14100F posts 2105 single-core against the i7-8700's 1538, a 36.9% lead. Multicore is closer but still clear: 7598 vs 6519, a 16.6% margin. The single-core delta is nearly double the multicore delta, which points to the i3's superior boost behavior and newer core design.

PassMark results are mixed but mostly favor the i3. The standout win is data encryption: 8922 vs 4488, a massive 98.8% advantage for the i3-14100F. That is nearly double the throughput, indicating hardware acceleration or much better instruction handling. Floating point math also goes to the i3: 35370 vs 27839, a 27.1% lead. Physics testing shows a 47.1% margin, with 1077 vs 732. Find prime numbers is 74.3% ahead at 61 vs 35, a workload that rewards raw integer throughput per clock.

The i7-8700's three wins are worth examining. Data compression favors the older chip: 187009 vs 176106, a 5.8% advantage. Extended instructions also go to the i7: 12432 vs 11984, a 3.6% edge. The largest i7 win is random string sorting: 23963 vs 17596, a 26.6% margin. These are all memory-latency-sensitive or branch-heavy workloads where the i7's six physical cores and older memory subsystem behave differently. Integer math is essentially a tie: 45357 vs 44881, only 1.1% apart. Multithread overall goes to the i3 at 15420 vs 12756, a 20.9% lead, and single-thread shows 3778 vs 2629, a 43.7% margin.

Average benchmark scores reflect the overall picture. The i3-14100F has an average score of 18519, while the i7-8700 averages 18223. Both sit at the 72nd percentile among all CPUs, so they occupy similar overall performance tiers despite the i3's frequent wins. The i3's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-13420H at 18511 (0% delta) and AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 8300GE at 18505 (0.1% delta). The i7-8700's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 5 2600E at 18230 (0% delta) and Intel Core i7-9700 at 18180 (0.2% delta). The i3 edges out the i7 by roughly 1.6% in average score, but the individual benchmark deltas tell a more dramatic story.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: pick the Intel Core i3-14100F for nearly every task where raw speed matters. It wins all three Cinebench generations, both Geekbench tests, and 14 of 17 PassMark subtests. The 20% multicore advantage across Cinebench is consistent, and the 36.9% single-core gap in Geekbench is substantial. For anyone running rendering, video encoding, physics simulation, or general productivity, the i3-14100F is the stronger choice.

Pick the Intel Core i7-8700 only if your workload specifically matches its three wins. Data compression, extended instruction sets, and random string sorting are the only areas where it leads. Those are niche tasks, and the margins are smaller than the i3's wins elsewhere. The i7's 5.8% compression lead and 3.6% extended instructions edge do not compensate for the 20%+ losses everywhere else. Random string sorting is the i7's best result at 26.6%, but that is a single specialized test.

The i3-14100F also has practical advantages beyond performance. It is an active production part, while the i7-8700 is end-of-life. The i3 uses a modern socket with PCIe Gen 5 support, whereas the i7 is limited to PCIe Gen 3. The i3 supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the i7 is DDR4-only. These platform differences matter for upgrade paths. The i3 also has ECC memory support, which the i7 lacks. The i7 does include integrated graphics, which the i3 does not, but that only matters if you skip a discrete GPU.

For a new build, the i3-14100F is the obvious pick. For someone already on an older platform, the i7-8700 is not worth seeking out given its end-of-life status and lower benchmark results across most tests.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i3-14100F is significantly faster. Geekbench single-core shows 2105 vs 1538, a 36.9% lead. PassMark single-thread shows 3778 vs 2629, a 43.7% margin. Cinebench R23 single-core is 1847 vs 1528, a 20.9% advantage.

Q: Does the i7-8700 win any benchmarks?

A: Yes, it wins 3 of 19 head-to-head tests. Those are PassMark data compression (187009 vs 176106, a 5.8% lead), extended instructions (12432 vs 11984, a 3.6% edge), and random string sorting (23963 vs 17596, a 26.6% margin).

Q: How do the multicore scores compare?

A: The i3-14100F wins all multicore tests. Cinebench R23 multicore is 13084 vs 10829, a 20.8% lead. Geekbench multicore is 7598 vs 6519, a 16.6% margin. PassMark multithread is 15420 vs 12756, a 20.9% advantage.

Q: Which CPU has better memory support?

A: The i3-14100F supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the i7-8700 supports only DDR4. The i3 also supports ECC memory, which the i7 does not. The i7 lists a memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s, while the i3 does not have a recorded bandwidth figure.

Q: Are these CPUs in the same performance percentile?

A: Yes, both sit at the 72nd percentile among all CPUs. Their average benchmark scores are close: 18519 for the i3-14100F and 18223 for the i7-8700, a difference of about 1.6%.

Q: What is the biggest performance gap between the two?

A: The largest delta is in PassMark data encryption, where the i3-14100F scores 8922 vs the i7-8700's 4488, a 98.8% advantage. The second largest is PassMark single-thread at 43.7% in favor of the i3.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs differ in nearly every core specification. The i3-14100F has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the i7-8700 has 6 cores and 12 threads. Despite fewer cores, the i3 wins most multicore tests due to its newer architecture. Base clocks are 3.50 GHz for the i3 and 3.20 GHz for the i7. Boost clocks are 4.70 GHz and 4.60 GHz respectively. The i3 has a 58 W TDP, the i7 has a 65 W TDP.

Sockets differ completely: the i3 uses Intel Socket 1700, the i7 uses Intel Socket 1151. The i3's process node is 10 nm, while the i7 is on 14 nm. Die size is 163 mm² for the i3 and 154 mm² for the i7. Cache layouts differ significantly. The i3 has 80 KB L1 per core and 1.25 MB L2 per core, while the i7 has 64 KB L1 per core and 256 KB L2 per core. Both share 12 MB of L3 cache. Memory support favors the i3, which handles DDR4 and DDR5; the i7 is DDR4-only. The i3 supports ECC memory, the i7 does not. PCIe generations differ: the i3 is Gen 5 with 16 lanes, the i7 is Gen 3 with 16 lanes. The i7 includes integrated UHD Graphics 630, while the i3 has no integrated graphics. The i3 is an active product, the i7 is end-of-life. The i3's part number is SRMX2, the i7's is SR3QS. The i3's launch MSRP is $109, the i7's launch MSRP is $303.

Architecture Differences

The i3-14100F is built on Raptor Lake, specifically the Raptor Lake-R refresh, on Intel's 10 nm process. The i7-8700 uses Coffee Lake on Intel's 14 nm process. That process shrink explains much of the performance gap. The newer node allows higher clock speeds at lower power, which is why the i3 achieves a 4.70 GHz boost with a 58 W TDP while the i7 manages 4.60 GHz at 65 W. The i3's smaller process also enables more efficient instruction handling, visible in the 98.8% encryption advantage and 74.3% prime number lead.

Core count and threading favor the i7 on paper: 6 cores and 12 threads versus 4 cores and 8 threads. But the i3's per-core efficiency overcomes that deficit. Per-core L1 and L2 caches are larger on the i3, with 80 KB L1 and 1.25 MB L2 versus 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2. Both share 12 MB L3. The larger L2 on the i3 likely contributes to its strong single-thread and floating point results. The i7's three wins (compression, extended instructions, random string sorting) may stem from its extra physical cores, which help in memory-heavy or branch-predictor-intensive tasks.

The i3 supports newer platform features: DDR5 memory, PCIe Gen 5, and ECC. The i7 is limited to DDR4 and PCIe Gen 3, with no ECC. The i3 has no integrated graphics, forcing a discrete GPU, while the i7 includes UHD Graphics 630 for basic display output. The i7's architecture is from 2017, while the i3 is from 2024, explaining the feature gap. The i3's 10 nm process and Raptor Lake design represent several generations of architectural improvement over Coffee Lake.

Where Each One Wins

The i3-14100F wins in almost every category that matters for modern desktop use. Rendering and multi-threaded productivity: it leads by 20.8% across all Cinebench versions. Single-thread responsiveness: 36.9% ahead in Geekbench single-core, 43.7% ahead in PassMark single-thread. Encryption workloads: nearly double the throughput at 98.8% higher. Physics simulation: 47.1% ahead. Floating point math: 27.1% ahead. Prime number calculations: 74.3% ahead. Integer math is close but still favors the i3 at 1.1%. For gaming, the single-core and physics advantages point strongly toward the i3, though the database does not include gaming-specific tests.

The i7-8700 wins in three specific PassMark subtests. Random string sorting is its strongest area, with a 26.6% lead. That workload involves frequent memory accesses and sorting algorithms, where the i7's six physical cores may provide better parallel efficiency. Data compression is 5.8% ahead, useful for archiving or file compression tasks. Extended instructions are 3.6% ahead, which could matter for certain SIMD-heavy applications. The i7 also has integrated graphics, making it a fallback option for systems without a discrete GPU, though the i3's performance elsewhere makes that a minor consideration.

For a new system, the i3-14100F is the clear choice across the board. For an existing i7-8700 owner, the upgrade to the i3 would bring large gains in most workloads, but the i7 remains competitive in compression and sorting tasks. The i7's end-of-life status and older platform make it a poor new purchase, while the i3's active production status and modern socket offer a viable upgrade path. The data shows the i3-14100F as the superior processor in 16 of 19 benchmarks, with margins that often exceed 20%. The i7-8700's wins are narrow and niche, not enough to recommend it for general use.