Intel Core i3-7100 vs Intel Core i5-4210U Comparison

The Verdict

The recorded data shows a clear overall winner in the Intel Core i3-7100, which takes 6 of 7 head-to-head benchmark wins. However, the margin of victory varies significantly by workload type. In multi-core and modern single-core tests, the i3-7100 leads by a consistent 15% margin, while the i5-4210U manages a narrow 3.2% win in Geekbench single-core.

For users prioritizing raw compute throughput, particularly in multi-threaded rendering tasks, the i3-7100 is the stronger choice based on every Cinebench result. The i5-4210U, despite being a mobile part with a lower thermal envelope, remains competitive in one specific single-threaded test but falls behind in all others. The database places both processors at the 21st percentile among all CPUs, meaning neither is a high-performance part by modern standards, but within this pairing, the i3-7100 delivers more consistent performance across the benchmark suite.

The i5-4210U suits a narrow use case: scenarios where the Geekbench single-core score is the primary metric and where the 15W thermal design power matters. The i3-7100, with its 51W TDP, is the desktop-oriented option that trades power efficiency for higher sustained performance in most tests. Users with a Socket 1151 platform and DDR4 memory support will find the i3-7100 the more future-proof choice, while those constrained to a mobile BGA 1168 platform have no option but the i5-4210U.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel generations and process nodes. The i5-4210U uses the Haswell architecture on a 22 nm process, while the i3-7100 uses Kaby Lake on a 14 nm node. This process shrink gives the i3-7100 a transistor density advantage, though the database does not list transistor counts or die sizes for the i3-7100.

Both chips have identical core and thread counts: 2 cores and 4 threads. The cache hierarchy is also identical: 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 3 MB shared L3. The key architectural difference lies in clock behavior. The i5-4210U has a base clock of 1.70 GHz and a boost clock of 2.70 GHz, allowing dynamic scaling under load. The i3-7100 has a fixed base clock of 3.90 GHz with no boost clock listed, meaning it runs at a constant higher frequency.

Memory support differs substantially. The i5-4210U supports DDR3, while the i3-7100 supports DDR4 with dual-channel capability and a listed memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The i3-7100 also features PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), whereas the i5-4210U has no PCIe information recorded. Integrated graphics differ as well: the i5-4210U carries Intel HD 4400, while the i3-7100 has Intel HD 630.

The i5-4210U is a mobile part on Intel BGA 1168, while the i3-7100 is a desktop part on Intel Socket 1151. The TDP reflects this: 15W for the mobile chip versus 51W for the desktop chip. Neither processor supports ECC memory, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. The i3-7100 is listed as Active in production status, while the i5-4210U has no production status recorded. Release dates are roughly three years apart: the i5-4210U from April 2014 and the i3-7100 from January 2017.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The i3-7100 dominates the Cinebench suite. In Cinebench R15 multicore, it scores 232 against 197 for the i5-4210U, a 15.1% advantage. The same delta appears in Cinebench R20 multicore (970 vs 824) and Cinebench R23 multicore (2310 vs 1962), both also at 15.1%. The consistency across these three render workloads suggests a stable performance gap tied to the clock frequency difference rather than a scaling effect from core count, since both have identical core and thread configurations.

Single-core Cinebench results follow the same pattern. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the i3-7100 scores 136 versus 116, a 14.7% lead. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 326 versus 277, a 15% lead. The i3-7100's 3.90 GHz fixed clock versus the i5-4210U's 2.70 GHz boost clock explains this consistent margin, though the actual delta is smaller than the raw clock ratio would suggest, implying architectural efficiency differences partially offset the frequency gap.

Geekbench results tell a different story. In Geekbench multicore, the i3-7100 leads 1501 to 1395, but the margin narrows to 7.1%. This is less than half the Cinebench gap, suggesting the Geekbench workload is less sensitive to the clock difference or that the i5-4210U's Haswell architecture handles this specific test more efficiently. In Geekbench single-core, the i5-4210U actually wins: 745 to 722, a 3.2% advantage. This is the only benchmark where the older mobile processor outperforms the newer desktop chip, and the margin is modest.

The wins tally is decisive: 6 for the i3-7100, 1 for the i5-4210U. However, the single Geekbench single-core win for the i5-4210U is noteworthy because it shows that the Haswell architecture is not universally slower than Kaby Lake at comparable conditions. The i3-7100's higher clock does not translate to a win in every single-threaded test.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has better multi-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i3-7100 wins every multi-core benchmark in the database. Its margins are 15.1% in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multicore, and 7.1% in Geekbench multicore.

Q: Is the i5-4210U faster in any test?

A: Yes. The i5-4210U wins Geekbench single-core with a score of 745 versus 722 for the i3-7100, a 3.2% advantage. This is the only benchmark where it leads.

Q: Do both processors have the same core and thread configuration?

A: Yes. Both have 2 cores and 4 threads, with identical cache layouts: 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 3 MB shared L3.

Q: What are the clock speed differences?

A: The i5-4210U has a base clock of 1.70 GHz and a boost clock of 2.70 GHz. The i3-7100 has a base clock of 3.90 GHz and no boost clock listed, meaning it operates at a fixed frequency.

Q: Which processor supports DDR4 memory?

A: The i3-7100 supports DDR4 with dual-channel memory and a bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The i5-4210U supports DDR3 only.

Q: How do their thermal design powers compare?

A: The i5-4210U has a TDP of 15W, while the i3-7100 has a TDP of 51W. This reflects their market segments: mobile versus desktop.

Where Each One Wins

The i3-7100 is the clear choice for rendering workloads. Its Cinebench R15 multicore score of 232 versus 197 represents a 15.1% advantage, and this same margin holds across R20 and R23 multicore tests. For users running 3D rendering, video encoding, or any parallel compute task that scales across threads, the i3-7100's higher sustained clock delivers consistent gains. The i3-7100 also wins all Cinebench single-core tests, making it the better option for lightly threaded applications that rely on a single core, such as older games or legacy productivity software.

The i3-7100 further distinguishes itself with platform advantages. Its DDR4 memory support with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth and PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes provide a modern foundation. The Socket 1151 platform offers upgradability, and the Active production status means it remains available. For a desktop build where performance is the priority, the i3-7100's 51W TDP is a reasonable trade-off.

The i5-4210U wins only in Geekbench single-core, where its 745 score edges out the i3-7100's 722. This makes it the better choice only if that specific benchmark is the primary workload, which is rare in practical use. Its 15W TDP and mobile BGA 1168 socket mean it is intended for laptops and compact systems where power efficiency and heat dissipation are critical. The i5-4210U also supports DDR3, which may be relevant for users repurposing older memory modules.

In practical terms, the i5-4210U's single win is too narrow to recommend it over the i3-7100 for any general-purpose computing scenario. The i3-7100 wins 6 of 7 benchmarks, and its losses are not in categories where the i5-4210U excels by a wide margin. The i5-4210U's only advantage is the 3.2% Geekbench single-core lead, which is unlikely to be perceptible in real-world applications.

The data supports a simple conclusion: the i3-7100 is the stronger performer across nearly all measured workloads. The i5-4210U remains relevant only for mobile platforms or scenarios where its low TDP is a hard requirement. For desktop users, the i3-7100 offers better performance, modern memory support, and a more current platform. The i5-4210U's Haswell architecture, while competitive in one single-threaded test, cannot overcome the frequency and generation advantages of the Kaby Lake i3-7100.