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

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a complete sweep for the Intel Core i5-14490F across all 17 benchmark comparisons. The Intel Core i3-14100T does not win a single test. The most dramatic gaps appear in the Cinebench suite, where the i5-14490F consistently doubles the i3-14100T's scores. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i5-14490F scores 23000 against the i3-14100T's 11612, a delta of -49.5% from the i3's perspective. Single-core results in the same test show 3247 versus 1639, again a -49.5% delta. This pattern repeats in Cinebench R15 and R20, where every test, both single and multi-core, shows the i5-14490F ahead by exactly -49.5%.

PassMark results follow a similar direction but with varying margins. The narrowest gap between the two processors appears in PassMark single-thread tests, where the i5-14490F scores 3873 and the i3-14100T scores 3498, a delta of only -9.7%. This indicates that in purely single-threaded workloads, the i5's advantage shrinks considerably compared to multi-threaded scenarios.

The widest delta in the entire dataset appears in PassMark data encryption, where the i5-14490F scores 18225 against the i3-14100T's 7881, a -56.8% difference. PassMark random string sorting shows a similar margin at -56.2%, with scores of 35608 and 15579 respectively. Data compression comes in at -55.1%, with the i5-14490F reaching 340026 versus the i3-14100T's 152636.

Other PassMark tests show the i5-14490F maintaining roughly half again the performance of the i3-14100T. Integer math scores 87844 versus 40292 (-54.1%), find prime numbers scores 122 versus 56 (-54.1%), floating point math scores 66558 versus 31379 (-52.9%), extended instructions score 21731 versus 10414 (-52.1%), multi-thread scores 28662 versus 13662 (-52.3%), and physics scores 2093 versus 973 (-53.5%).

The overall average benchmark score confirms the hierarchy: the i5-14490F averages 38149 across all recorded tests, while the i3-14100T averages 17648. The i5-14490F also sits at the 86th percentile of all CPUs in the database, compared to the i3-14100T's 71st percentile.

Where Each One Wins

The data does not provide any benchmark category where the Intel Core i3-14100T comes out ahead. Every recorded test, from Cinebench rendering workloads to PassMark encryption and compression tasks, favors the i5-14490F. The i3-14100T's closest relative performance appears in single-threaded PassMark tests, where the gap narrows to -9.7%, suggesting that lightly threaded applications represent its least unfavorable scenario.

The i5-14490F demonstrates its largest advantages in memory-intensive and cryptographic workloads. Data encryption shows the biggest delta at -56.8%, followed closely by random string sorting at -56.2%. These tests typically benefit from additional cores and larger caches, both of which the i5-14490F provides. Data compression also shows a substantial -55.1% delta, reinforcing the pattern that the i5-14490F excels in workloads that can utilize its full core count.

For the i3-14100T, the practical takeaway from the measurements is that it remains competitive only in lightly threaded tasks where the single-core gap is modest. Its PassMark single-thread score of 3498 trails the i5-14490F's 3873 by less than 10%, which is a meaningful point of reference for everyday responsiveness. However, once workloads scale across multiple threads, the i5-14490F's advantage becomes pronounced and consistent.

The Verdict

The benchmark data points to a clear performance hierarchy. The Intel Core i5-14490F outperforms the Intel Core i3-14100T in every single recorded measurement, with overall average scores more than double (38149 versus 17648). Users who run multi-threaded workloads, such as video encoding, 3D rendering, or data processing, will see the largest benefits from the i5-14490F, given that Cinebench multi-core scores show a -49.5% delta and PassMark multi-thread shows -52.3%.

Users who prioritize low power consumption and light desktop tasks may still find the i3-14100T sufficient, as its 35 TDP is half the i5-14490F's 65 TDP. The single-thread gap of -9.7% in PassMark suggests that everyday applications will feel broadly similar between the two. However, the i5-14490F also holds an advantage in single-core Cinebench tests, with scores roughly double those of the i3-14100T, so even single-threaded rendering tasks favor the larger processor.

The i5-14490F's 86th percentile ranking versus the i3-14100T's 71st percentile places them in different performance tiers within the database. The i3-14100T's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i3-13100F and AMD Ryzen 3 8300GE, with average scores within 0.2% of its own. The i5-14490F's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-13600KF and AMD Ryzen 7 250, with deltas of 0.1% and -0.2% respectively. This contextualizes both processors within their respective competitive brackets.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher multi-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i5-14490F scores 23000 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, while the Intel Core i3-14100T scores 11612, a -49.5% delta in favor of the i5-14490F.

Q: How close are the two processors in single-threaded performance?

A: In PassMark single-thread tests, the i5-14490F scores 3873 versus the i3-14100T's 3498, a gap of -9.7%. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the i5-14490F scores 3247 versus 1639, a wider -49.5% delta.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

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

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: Yes, both support DDR4 and DDR5 memory with dual-channel memory buses.

Q: Does the i3-14100T include integrated graphics?

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

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The i5-14490F has a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, while the i3-14100T has a boost clock of 4.40 GHz.

Architecture Differences

Both processors belong to Intel's Core 14th Gen series and share the Raptor Lake architecture, specifically the Raptor Lake-R codename. They are built on Intel's 10 nm process node at Intel's foundry. The die sizes differ significantly: the i3-14100T measures 163 mm², while the i5-14490F measures 215 mm².

Cache configurations differ primarily in the L3 cache. Both processors use 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core. The i3-14100T has 12 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i5-14490F has 24 MB of shared L3 cache, exactly double.

The i3-14100T includes integrated UHD Graphics 730, while the i5-14490F has no integrated graphics. Both processors support ECC memory, but this is where a notable difference appears: the i3-14100T supports ECC memory, while the i5-14490F does not.

Both processors use the Intel Socket 1700, support PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU, and are unlocked for multipliers, meaning neither can be overclocked via multiplier adjustment. Both are desktop market segment parts with Active production status.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts present the most substantial specification gap. The i3-14100T offers 4 cores and 8 threads, while the i5-14490F offers 10 cores and 16 threads.

Base clock speeds differ slightly: the i3-14100T runs at 2.70 GHz, while the i5-14490F runs at 2.50 GHz. Boost clocks show the opposite relationship: the i3-14100T boosts to 4.40 GHz, while the i5-14490F boosts to 5.00 GHz.

Thermal design power differs by 30 watts. The i3-14100T has a TDP of 35, and the i5-14490F has a TDP of 65.

The i3-14100T includes UHD Graphics 730 integrated graphics, while the i5-14490F has N/A integrated graphics. ECC memory support also differs: the i3-14100T supports ECC, the i5-14490F does not.

Release dates are close but distinct: the i3-14100T released on January 7, 2024, and the i5-14490F released on December 31, 2023. The i3-14100T has a launch MSRP of $134, while the i5-14490F has no recorded launch MSRP in the database.

Part numbers differ: the i3-14100T is SRMX0, and the i5-14490F is SRN35. Both processors share the same socket, PCIe configuration, memory support, memory bus, process node, foundry, and market segment.