Intel Core i3-4150T vs Intel Core i7-875K Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data delivers a clear split between these two processors. The Intel Core i7-875K wins the majority of the head-to-head comparisons, taking five of the seven recorded tests. However, the Intel Core i3-4150T secures two decisive victories in the Geekbench suite, and those wins are substantial enough to reshape the overall narrative.

Starting with the Cinebench tests, the i7-875K is consistently ahead. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i7-875K scores 275 against 244 for the i3-4150T, a 12.7% advantage. The R20 multicore test shows a nearly identical margin: 1146 versus 1018, a 12.6% lead. The R23 multicore result follows the same pattern, with 2729 against 2425, again a 12.5% delta. These are not marginal differences; they represent a steady, repeatable performance gap across multiple generations of the Cinebench workload.

The single-core Cinebench results are equally one-sided. In R20 single-core, the i7-875K posts 161 against 143, a 12.6% win. In R23 single-core, it scores 385 versus 342, another 12.6% margin. The fact that the i7-875K wins both multicore and single-core Cinebench tests by the same percentage suggests that its advantage is not simply about having more cores, but also about per-thread efficiency in this specific rendering workload.

Then the Geekbench results flip the script. In Geekbench multicore, the i3-4150T scores 1762, while the i7-875K manages 1696. That is a 3.7% win for the i3-4150T. This is a meaningful upset because the i7-875K has double the cores and threads, yet it loses a multicore test to a dual-core part. The Geekbench single-core test is even more dramatic. The i3-4150T scores 892, while the i7-875K scores only 499. That is a 44.1% deficit for the i7-875K, the largest delta in the entire comparison.

What does this mean in practice? The data indicates that the i7-875K dominates in Cinebench, which is a rendering and 3D modeling workload that scales well with core count. The i3-4150T dominates in Geekbench, which is a broader system benchmark that includes memory, encryption, and integer workloads where its newer architecture has a clear edge. The average benchmark score across all tests is close: the i7-875K sits at 984, and the i3-4150T at 975. The percentile rankings are also close, with the i7-875K at the 27th percentile and the i3-4150T at the 26th percentile of all CPUs in the database. The overall scores are nearly identical, but the distribution of wins is heavily skewed.

The Verdict

The data supports a straightforward conclusion: the Intel Core i7-875K is the better choice for multi-threaded rendering and compute workloads, while the Intel Core i3-4150T is the better choice for single-threaded performance and general system responsiveness as measured by Geekbench.

The i7-875K wins five benchmarks, all in the Cinebench family, with margins between 12.5% and 12.7%. That consistency is the strongest signal in the dataset. If the workload is Cinebench or something similar, the i7-875K is the clear pick. Its 8 threads give it a structural advantage that the i3-4150T cannot overcome, despite the latter's newer architecture.

The i3-4150T wins only two benchmarks, but those wins are lopsided. The 44.1% single-core Geekbench victory is a dominant statement. It indicates that for tasks that rely on a single thread, such as many legacy applications or lightly threaded games, the i3-4150T will feel significantly faster. The 3.7% multicore Geekbench win is less dramatic, but it still shows that the i3-4150T's architecture is more efficient in that specific test.

The deciding factor is which benchmark family matters more to the user. The recorded data shows that the i7-875K is a rendering specialist, while the i3-4150T is a general-purpose efficiency specialist. The i7-875K has a higher average benchmark score, but only by 9 points, which is within noise. The i3-4150T has a lower TDP of 35 watts versus 95 watts, which suggests it will be easier to cool and cheaper to run, but the benchmark scores do not directly capture that. Neither processor is a clear overall winner; the choice depends entirely on the target application.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural eras. The Intel Core i7-875K is built on the Nehalem architecture, specifically the Lynnfield codename, using a 45 nm process node. It integrates 774 million transistors on a 296 mm² die. The Intel Core i3-4150T is built on the Haswell architecture, using a 22 nm process node. It integrates 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die.

The process node difference is significant. The 22 nm node is much denser than the 45 nm node, which explains why the i3-4150T can pack nearly twice as many transistors into a smaller die. This density advantage likely contributes to the i3-4150T's superior single-thread performance in Geekbench, as the newer architecture can execute more instructions per clock.

The cache configurations also differ. The i7-875K has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The i3-4150T has the same per-core L1 and L2 cache sizes, but only 3 MB of shared L3 cache. The i7-875K's larger L3 cache is a direct result of having more cores and a physically larger die.

The integrated graphics situation is a major differentiator. The i7-875K has no integrated graphics, meaning it requires a discrete GPU for any display output. The i3-4150T includes Intel HD 4400 graphics, which allows it to run a system without a separate graphics card. This is a notable feature gap, as the i3-4150T can serve as a complete entry-level desktop solution on its own.

The PCIe support also differs. The i7-875K supports PCIe Gen 2 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i3-4150T supports PCIe Gen 3. The newer PCIe standard offers higher bandwidth for add-in cards, which is relevant for modern GPUs and NVMe storage, though the benchmark data does not directly measure this.

Specification Differences

The specification sheets show clear divergences in core configuration and power. The Intel Core i7-875K has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Intel Core i3-4150T has 2 cores and 4 threads. This is the most fundamental difference, and it explains the i7-875K's dominance in multi-threaded Cinebench tests.

The base clock speeds are nearly identical. The i7-875K runs at 2.93 GHz base, while the i3-4150T runs at 2.90 GHz. The i7-875K has a boost clock of 3.60 GHz, which the i3-4150T lacks entirely, as it has no turbo capability. This boost clock gives the i7-875K a higher ceiling for single-threaded bursts, though the Geekbench single-core data shows that the i3-4150T still wins that test by a large margin, indicating its architectural efficiency overcomes the clock deficit.

The TDP ratings are starkly different. The i7-875K has a TDP of 95 watts, while the i3-4150T has a TDP of 35 watts. This is a 60-watt difference, which has implications for cooling requirements and power consumption. The i3-4150T is a low-power part, while the i7-875K is a standard desktop part.

The sockets are different. The i7-875K uses Intel Socket 1156, while the i3-4150T uses Intel Socket 1150. These are not interchangeable, so a motherboard designed for one will not accept the other. The memory support is the same, with both supporting DDR3 in a dual-channel configuration. The i7-875K has a listed memory bandwidth of 21.3 GB/s, while the i3-4150T does not have a figure in the database.

The i7-875K has an unlocked multiplier, making it overclockable, while the i3-4150T has a locked multiplier. The i7-875K also has a launch MSRP of $353, while the i3-4150T has no launch MSRP recorded. The production status differs, with the i7-875K listed as end-of-life, while the i3-4150T has no production status recorded. The release dates are also distinct: the i7-875K launched in 2010-05-29, and the i3-4150T launched in 2014-04-30.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-875K has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Intel Core i3-4150T has 2 cores and 4 threads.

Q: How do the two processors compare in Geekbench single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i3-4150T scores 892, which is 44.1% higher than the Intel Core i7-875K's score of 499.

Q: Which processor wins more benchmarks in the head-to-head comparison?

A: The Intel Core i7-875K wins 5 benchmarks, while the Intel Core i3-4150T wins 2 benchmarks.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two processors?

A: The Intel Core i7-875K has a TDP of 95 watts, while the Intel Core i3-4150T has a TDP of 35 watts.

Q: Does the Intel Core i3-4150T have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, the Intel Core i3-4150T includes Intel HD 4400 graphics, while the Intel Core i7-875K has no integrated graphics.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No, neither processor supports ECC memory.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-875K is the winner for any workload that is heavily multi-threaded and scales with core count. The Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multicore tests all show a 12.5% to 12.7% advantage over the i3-4150T. Users running 3D rendering, video encoding, or batch processing that can utilize 8 threads will see a tangible benefit from the i7-875K. Its larger 8 MB L3 cache and higher boost clock of 3.60 GHz also support this profile. The unlocked multiplier is an additional point in its favor for users who are willing to overclock, though the recorded data does not include overclocked results.

The Intel Core i3-4150T is the winner for single-threaded performance and for systems that require integrated graphics. The Geekbench single-core score of 892 versus 499 is a 44.1% lead, which is a massive gap. Any application that is poorly optimized for multiple cores, such as older games or single-threaded productivity tools, will run noticeably faster on the i3-4150T. Its PCIe Gen 3 support and integrated HD 4400 graphics make it a more complete package for a basic desktop build. The 35 watt TDP also makes it suitable for compact or low-power systems where the i7-875K's 95 watt TDP would be a disadvantage.

The Geekbench multicore result is the only test where the i3-4150T wins a multi-threaded workload, and it does so by 3.7%. This suggests that for certain mixed workloads that are not purely rendering, the i3-4150T's newer Haswell architecture can overcome its core count disadvantage. However, the Cinebench results are the more reliable indicator for sustained multi-core compute, and there the i7-875K is consistently ahead.

In summary, the i7-875K is the rendering and multi-threaded compute champion, while the i3-4150T is the single-threaded responsiveness and integrated graphics champion. The choice is workload-dependent, and the data does not support a universal recommendation.