Intel Core i3-14100T vs Intel Core i7-1255U Comparison

The Intel Core i7-1255U and Intel Core i3-14100T occupy nearly identical positions in the overall performance hierarchy, with average benchmark scores of 17656 and 17648, respectively. Both processors sit at the 71st percentile of all CPUs tracked, and their nearest rival lists show deltaPct values of 0.0% against each other, indicating a statistical tie in aggregate performance. Despite this parity, the individual benchmark suite reveals a clear split: the i7-1255U wins 7 tests, while the i3-14100T takes 10, with the nature of those wins pointing to fundamentally different design priorities.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest margin in the entire comparison belongs to the i7-1255U in Cinebench R15 single-core, where it scores 237.5 against the i3-14100T’s 165, a 43.9% advantage. This is a decisive, outlier-level result that suggests the mobile chip’s boost behavior is far more aggressive in this specific legacy test. The i7-1255U also dominates in PassMark integer math, scoring 48498 versus 40292, a 20.4% lead, and in data encryption, where its 9262 score beats the i3’s 7881 by 17.5%. Floating-point math goes to the i7-1255U as well, though by a narrower 3.9% margin (32618 vs 31379), and random string sorting favors it by 8.7% (16934 vs 15579).

The i3-14100T’s biggest win comes in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where it posts 11612 against the i7-1255U’s 8285, a 28.7% advantage. That is a substantial gap in a modern, heavily threaded workload. The desktop chip also leads in Cinebench R20 multi-core by 5% (4877 vs 4635) and in Cinebench R20 single-core by 4.9% (688 vs 654). In PassMark tests, the i3-14100T wins extended instructions by 21% (10414 vs 8231), find prime numbers by 28.6% (56 vs 40), physics by 18.9% (973 vs 789), data compression by 3.5% (152636 vs 147320), and multithread by 3.1% (13662 vs 13234). The Cinebench R23 single-core result is nearly a dead heat, with the i7-1255U edging out 1647 to 1639, a 0.5% difference.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from different Intel design families. The i7-1255U is built on Alder Lake, specifically the Alder Lake-U codename, and targets the mobile segment with a 15 W TDP. It uses the Intel BGA 1744 socket. The i3-14100T is a Raptor Lake part, codename Raptor Lake-R, from the Core 14th Gen series, and is a desktop processor with a 35 W TDP on Intel Socket 1700. Both are fabricated on Intel’s 10 nm process node.

Core counts diverge sharply. The i7-1255U has 10 cores and 12 threads, while the i3-14100T has only 4 cores and 8 threads. Cache configurations are identical in capacity: each core has 80 KB of L1 and 1.25 MB of L2, and both share 12 MB of L3. Clock speeds differ, with the i7-1255U listing a base of 1700 MHz and a boost of 4.70 GHz, versus the i3-14100T’s base of 2700 MHz and boost of 4.40 GHz. The die size is known only for the i3-14100T at 163 mm².

Memory support is the same on paper — both are dual-channel and support DDR4 and DDR5 — but the i3-14100T adds ECC memory support, which the i7-1255U lacks. PCIe generations differ: the i7-1255U provides Gen 4 with 20 lanes, while the i3-14100T offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes. Integrated graphics also differ, with the i7-1255U featuring Iris Xe 96EU and the i3-14100T using UHD Graphics 730. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

Where Each One Wins

The i7-1255U is the clear winner in workloads that stress integer arithmetic and data security. Its 20.4% lead in integer math and 17.5% lead in data encryption make it the stronger choice for encryption-heavy tasks like VPN processing or secure file handling. The 43.9% blowout in Cinebench R15 single-core is anomalous but real, suggesting that older single-threaded applications may run noticeably faster on the mobile chip. Floating-point math and random string sorting also favor the i7-1255U, pointing to strengths in certain computational and data-manipulation routines.

The i3-14100T dominates in sustained multi-core rendering and general desktop throughput. Its 28.7% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core is the most relevant modern benchmark for content creation, and it also wins the newer single-core tests (R20 and PassMark single-thread) by 4.9% and 8.7%, respectively. The desktop part is superior in extended instruction sets (21% lead), prime number calculation (28.6% lead), and physics simulations (18.9% lead). Data compression also goes to the i3-14100T, albeit by a slim 3.5% margin.

The wins are not cleanly divided by core count. Despite having 6 fewer cores, the i3-14100T wins PassMark multithread by 3.1%, but loses Cinebench R15 multi-core by 18.5% to the i7-1255U. This inconsistency across multi-threaded tests suggests that the i3-14100T’s higher base clock and newer architecture compensate for its core deficit in some workloads but not others.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i7-1255U has an average benchmark score of 17656, while the Intel Core i3-14100T scores 17648, a difference of only 8 points.

Q: What is the largest performance margin between the two?

A: The largest margin is in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the i7-1255U scores 237.5 versus the i3-14100T’s 165, a 43.9% advantage for the mobile chip.

Q: How do the core counts compare?

A: The i7-1255U has 10 cores and 12 threads, while the i3-14100T has 4 cores and 8 threads. Despite this, the i3-14100T wins the PassMark multithread test by 3.1%.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: Yes, both support DDR4 and DDR5 in dual-channel mode, but the i3-14100T also supports ECC memory, which the i7-1255U does not.

Q: Which chip has a higher boost clock?

A: The i7-1255U has a boost clock of 4.70 GHz, compared to the i3-14100T’s 4.40 GHz. The i3-14100T has the higher base clock at 2.70 GHz versus 1.70 GHz.

Q: What is the TDP difference?

A: The i7-1255U has a 15 W TDP, while the i3-14100T has a 35 W TDP, reflecting their mobile and desktop design targets.

The Verdict

The data indicates that the i3-14100T is the better choice for users prioritizing modern multi-core rendering and sustained desktop workloads. Its 28.7% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core and wins in extended instructions, physics, and data compression make it the more capable processor for video encoding, 3D rendering, and simulation tasks. The i3-14100T also wins the more current single-core tests, including PassMark single-thread by 8.7% and Cinebench R20 single-core by 4.9%, which matters for everyday responsiveness in lightly threaded applications.

The i7-1255U is the pick for scenarios where encryption performance and integer-heavy calculations are paramount. Its 20.4% lead in integer math and 17.5% lead in data encryption are significant, and the 43.9% margin in Cinebench R15 single-core suggests compatibility with legacy software that rewards that specific workload. However, its multi-core deficits in modern rendering benchmarks — trailing by 28.7% in Cinebench R23 — make it less suited for content creation.

The overall average scores are effectively identical, so the choice hinges on workload profile rather than raw capability. For a desktop system where rendering and general productivity are the focus, the i3-14100T is the data-backed winner. For a mobile platform where encryption and specific integer tasks are critical, the i7-1255U holds the advantage. The 35 W TDP of the i3-14100T versus the 15 W TDP of the i7-1255U also frames the i7-1255U as the more power-efficient option, though the i3-14100T’s desktop socket and ECC support give it an edge in workstation-oriented configurations.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-1255U | Intel Core i3-14100T |

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

| Cores | 10 | 4 |

| Threads | 12 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 1700 MHz | 2700 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.70 GHz | 4.40 GHz |

| TDP | 15 W | 35 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1744 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Architecture | Alder Lake | Raptor Lake |

| Codename | Alder Lake-U | Raptor Lake-R |

| Generation | Core i7 (Alder Lake-U) | Core i3 (Raptor Lake Refresh) |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 10 nm |

| Die Size | Not specified | 163 mm² |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 20 Lanes | Gen 5, 16 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | Iris Xe 96EU | UHD Graphics 730 |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Launch MSRP | Not specified | $134 |

| Part Number | SRLFP | SRMX0 |