Intel Core i3-7100 vs Intel Core i5-3610ME Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher base clock speed?

A: The Intel Core i3-7100 has a base clock of 3.90 GHz, while the Intel Core i5-3610ME has a base clock of 2.70 GHz. The i3-7100 does not have a boost clock, whereas the i5-3610ME can boost up to 3.30 GHz.

Q: How do the two chips compare in Cinebench R23 multi-core performance?

A: In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Intel Core i3-7100 scores 2310, while the Intel Core i5-3610ME scores 2289. The i3-7100 leads by 0.9% in this test.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each processor?

A: The Intel Core i5-3610ME has an average benchmark score of 788, while the Intel Core i3-7100 has an average score of 781. Both processors sit at the 21st percentile among all CPUs.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. Both the Intel Core i5-3610ME and the Intel Core i3-7100 have ECC memory support set to false, meaning neither supports ECC memory.

Q: Which processor has a larger process node?

A: The Intel Core i5-3610ME uses a 22 nm process node, while the Intel Core i3-7100 uses a 14 nm process node. The i3-7100 has the smaller manufacturing process.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth of the i3-7100?

A: The Intel Core i3-7100 has a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, and it supports DDR4 memory. The i5-3610ME does not have a listed memory bandwidth or memory support type in the database.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i5-3610ME is built on the Ivy Bridge architecture and belongs to the Core i5 (Ivy Bridge) generation. It uses a 22 nm process node manufactured by Intel, with a die size of 118 mm². The chip is designed for the mobile market segment and fits into the Intel Socket G2 (988B). Its integrated graphics are Intel HD 4000.

The Intel Core i3-7100 is based on the Kaby Lake architecture, part of the Core i3 (Kaby Lake) generation. It uses a smaller 14 nm process node, also manufactured by Intel, though its die size is not recorded. This is a desktop processor that fits into the Intel Socket 1151. Its integrated graphics are Intel HD 630, a newer generation than the HD 4000 found in the i5-3610ME.

Both processors share the same core and thread configuration: 2 cores and 4 threads. They also have identical cache layouts: 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 3 MB of shared L3 cache. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier, and both lack ECC memory support.

The i3-7100 supports DDR4 memory and has a dual-channel memory bus with a bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. It also features PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The i5-3610ME has a dual-channel memory bus but no specific memory support type or PCIe information recorded. The i5-3610ME was released in May 2012, while the i3-7100 was released in January 2017, a gap of roughly four and a half years.

The i3-7100 has a higher TDP at 51 watts, compared to 35 watts for the i5-3610ME. The i5-3610ME has a boost clock of 3.30 GHz, which the i3-7100 lacks entirely. The i5-3610ME part number is SR0QJ, while the i3-7100 part number is SR35C.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data covers five Cinebench tests, and the Intel Core i3-7100 wins all five. The closest margin appears in single-core tests, where the i3-7100 scores 136 versus 135 in Cinebench R20 single-core, a delta of -0.7% (the negative sign indicates the i5-3610ME trails). In Cinebench R23 single-core, the i3-7100 scores 326 against 323 for the i5-3610ME, a 0.9% lead.

In multi-core workloads, the i3-7100 maintains a consistent edge. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 232 versus 230 for the i5-3610ME, a 0.9% difference. Cinebench R20 multi-core shows 970 versus 961, again a 0.9% gap. Cinebench R23 multi-core follows the same pattern: 2310 versus 2289, a 0.9% lead.

The i5-3610ME does not win any of the five recorded head-to-head tests. The i3-7100 wins all five, with the single-core margin in R20 being the smallest at 0.7%, while the other four tests all show exactly 0.9% differences.

The average benchmark scores from the broader database tell a slightly different story. The i5-3610ME averages 788, while the i3-7100 averages 781, meaning the i5-3610ME has a higher overall average despite losing every head-to-head Cinebench test. This discrepancy likely reflects different benchmark sets included in each processor's average.

Looking at nearest rivals, the i5-3610ME matches the Intel Core i5-4210U exactly at 788 (0% delta), and sits just ahead of the AMD Opteron 3350 HE and the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650, both at 789 (-0.2% delta). The i3-7100, meanwhile, leads the AMD A10-5800K and the Intel Pentium G4520, both at 778 (0.4% delta), and the AMD Athlon X4 760K at 777 (0.6% delta).

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specification fields. The i5-3610ME has a base clock of 2.70 GHz and a boost clock of 3.30 GHz, while the i3-7100 has a base clock of 3.90 GHz and no boost clock. The i5-3610ME has a TDP of 35 watts, the i3-7100 has a TDP of 51 watts.

The sockets are different: the i5-3610ME uses Intel Socket G2 (988B), while the i3-7100 uses Intel Socket 1151. The architecture differs as well: Ivy Bridge for the i5-3610ME, Kaby Lake for the i3-7100. The process node is 22 nm for the i5-3610ME and 14 nm for the i3-7100.

The i5-3610ME has a recorded die size of 118 mm², while the i3-7100 has no die size recorded. Memory support differs: the i3-7100 explicitly supports DDR4 and has a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, while the i5-3610ME has no memory support type or bandwidth listed. The i3-7100 also lists PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), a field left empty for the i5-3610ME.

Integrated graphics differ: Intel HD 4000 on the i5-3610ME versus Intel HD 630 on the i3-7100. The market segments differ: the i5-3610ME is mobile, the i3-7100 is desktop. Release dates differ: May 2012 versus January 2017. The i3-7100 has a production status of "Active," while the i5-3610ME has no recorded production status.

Cache configuration is identical: 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 3 MB shared L3. Both have 2 cores and 4 threads, dual-channel memory buses, no ECC support, and locked multipliers. Neither has a recorded launch MSRP in the database.

The Verdict

The data shows a clear but narrow performance winner. The Intel Core i3-7100 wins all five head-to-head Cinebench tests, with margins ranging from 0.7% to 0.9%. This consistency across every recorded benchmark makes the i3-7100 the stronger choice for raw compute performance in these specific tests.

However, the average benchmark scores complicate the picture. The i5-3610ME has a higher average score (788 versus 781), meaning that across a broader set of benchmarks not included in the head-to-head comparison, the older mobile chip performs slightly better. This could reflect different workload characteristics or additional benchmark types in the aggregation.

The i3-7100 has a significantly higher base clock (3.90 GHz versus 2.70 GHz) and a smaller process node (14 nm versus 22 nm), which explains its consistent wins in the single-core and multi-core Cinebench tests. The i5-3610ME compensates with a boost clock up to 3.30 GHz and a lower TDP of 35 watts versus 51 watts.

For users prioritizing the exact Cinebench workloads recorded here, the i3-7100 is the better performer, though the differences are small, all under 1%. The i5-3610ME's higher average benchmark score suggests it may hold an edge in other unrecorded workloads. Both processors sit at the 21st percentile of all CPUs, indicating similar overall standing in the database.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i3-7100 wins in every head-to-head Cinebench test recorded. Its strongest showing is in multi-core tests, where it consistently leads by 0.9% across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core variants. It also wins single-core tests, with margins of 0.7% in R20 single-core and 0.9% in R23 single-core. The i3-7100 also has the advantage of a higher base clock (3.90 GHz versus 2.70 GHz), a smaller 14 nm process node, DDR4 memory support, and PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes.

The Intel Core i5-3610ME wins in the average benchmark score comparison, posting 788 against 781 for the i3-7100. It also has a lower TDP of 35 watts versus 51 watts, making it more power-efficient on paper. The i5-3610ME has a boost clock of 3.30 GHz, which the i3-7100 lacks entirely, and it has a smaller die size of 118 mm² versus no recorded die size for the i3-7100.

For mobile applications, the i5-3610ME is the only option, as the i3-7100 is a desktop processor. The i5-3610ME fits the Intel Socket G2 (988B) and uses Intel HD 4000 graphics, while the i3-7100 uses Socket 1151 and Intel HD 630 graphics. The i3-7100 has an active production status, whereas the i5-3610ME has no recorded production status, suggesting the i3-7100 may be more readily available for new builds.

In terms of nearest rivals, the i5-3610ME ties with the Intel Core i5-4210U at 788, while the i3-7100 leads the AMD A10-5800K and Intel Pentium G4520 by 0.4%. These comparisons place both chips in the same performance tier, with the i3-7100 having a slight edge in the specific Cinebench tests and the i5-3610ME holding a marginal overall average advantage.