Intel Core i3-7100 vs Intel Pentium Silver J5005 Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data for the Intel Core i3-7100 and the Intel Pentium Silver J5005 shows a clear split in workload distribution. The Pentium Silver J5005 wins every recorded benchmark head-to-head contest, taking all six recorded tests across three Cinebench versions. The Core i3-7100 does not win a single one of the six head-to-head comparisons in the database. This means for pure compute tasks as measured by Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, the Pentium Silver J5005 is consistently ahead.

The Core i3-7100 still has areas where it holds a technical advantage. It is the only one of the two with a boost clock listed as null, meaning it runs at a fixed base clock of 3.90 GHz. The Pentium Silver J5005 has a base clock of 1500.00 MHz and a boost clock of 2.80 GHz. For workloads that depend on sustained single-thread frequency without boost variation, the Core i3-7100's fixed high clock could be relevant. However, the recorded benchmark data does not show any test where the Core i3-7100 pulls ahead.

The Core i3-7100 also offers more PCIe lanes, with Gen 3 and 16 lanes available, compared to the Pentium Silver J5005's Gen 2 with 6 lanes. For systems that need expansion capability, the Core i3-7100 has the edge in connectivity. The Pentium Silver J5005, by contrast, is a mobile segment part with a TDP of 10 watts, while the Core i3-7100 is a desktop part with a TDP of 51 watts. The lower power envelope of the Pentium Silver J5005 makes it suited for compact or low-power systems, though the database does not record any power efficiency benchmark.

In terms of production status, the Core i3-7100 is listed as active, while the Pentium Silver J5005 is end-of-life. This affects availability going forward, but not the recorded performance numbers.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel architecture families. The Core i3-7100 uses Kaby Lake architecture with a codename of Kaby Lake, built on a 14 nm process node. The Pentium Silver J5005 uses Goldmont Plus architecture with the Gemini Lake codename, also on a 14 nm process node. Both are made by Intel, and both support DDR4 memory with dual-channel memory bus and an identical memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s.

Core counts differ significantly. The Core i3-7100 has 2 cores and 4 threads, while the Pentium Silver J5005 has 4 cores and 4 threads. The Pentium Silver J5005 therefore has double the physical cores but no hyper-threading, while the Core i3-7100 relies on hyper-threading to reach 4 threads from 2 cores.

Cache hierarchies are structured differently. The Core i3-7100 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 3 MB of shared L3 cache. The Pentium Silver J5005 has 56 KB of L1 cache per core and 4 MB of shared L2 cache, with no L3 cache listed. The total cache capacity for the Pentium Silver J5005 is larger in L2, but the Core i3-7100 adds a dedicated L3 tier.

The Core i3-7100 uses an Intel Socket 1151, while the Pentium Silver J5005 is soldered with Intel BGA 1090. This makes the Core i3-7100 upgradeable or replaceable in a desktop socket, whereas the Pentium Silver J5005 is typically integrated onto a motherboard. The Pentium Silver J5005 has a die size of 93 mm², while the Core i3-7100 has no die size recorded.

Integrated graphics differ as well. The Core i3-7100 includes Intel HD 630, while the Pentium Silver J5005 includes UHD Graphics 605. The database does not record any graphics benchmark for either part, so the comparison is limited to specification differences.

The Pentium Silver J5005 has a launch MSRP of $161, which is recorded in the database. The Core i3-7100 has no launch MSRP listed. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head benchmark data shows a consistent pattern across all six recorded tests. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Pentium Silver J5005 scores 268 against the Core i3-7100's 232, a delta of -13.4% from the perspective of the Core i3-7100. In Cinebench R15 singlecore, the Pentium Silver J5005 scores 78.3 against 52, a delta of -33.6%. That is the largest single-test margin in the entire comparison.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the Pentium Silver J5005 scores 1117 in multicore against the Core i3-7100's 970, a delta of -13.2%. In singlecore, the Pentium Silver J5005 scores 157 against 136, a delta of -13.4%. The pattern holds in Cinebench R23. The Pentium Silver J5005 scores 2660 in multicore against 2310, a delta of -13.2%. In singlecore, the Pentium Silver J5005 scores 375 against 326, a delta of -13.1%.

The singlecore margin in Cinebench R15 stands out as unusually large compared to the other tests. The other five tests cluster tightly between -13.1% and -13.4%, while the R15 singlecore test shows a -33.6% difference. This suggests the Pentium Silver J5005 has a particular advantage in that specific test workload, possibly related to its boost clock behavior or cache layout, although the database does not provide a direct explanation.

The Core i3-7100 does have Geekbench results recorded, with a multicore score of 1501 and a singlecore score of 722. The Pentium Silver J5005 has no Geekbench results in the database, so a cross-benchmark comparison in Geekbench is not possible. The Core i3-7100's average benchmark score is 781, while the Pentium Silver J5005's average benchmark score is 776. These averages are very close, differing by only 5 points.

The nearest rivals data places the two processors in similar company. The Core i3-7100's nearest rivals include the AMD A10-5800K with an average score of 778 and a delta of 0.4%, the Intel Pentium G4520 with 778 and 0.4%, the AMD Athlon X4 760K with 777 and 0.6%, and the Intel Pentium Silver J5005 itself with 776 and 0.7%. The Pentium Silver J5005's nearest rivals include the AMD Athlon X4 760K with 777 and -0.1%, the Intel Core i3-3250T with 775 and 0.2%, the Intel Celeron G5920 with 775 and 0.2%, and the Intel Pentium G4520 with 778 and -0.2%.

Both processors share the same percentile ranking of 21 versus all CPUs. This means the overall performance distribution places both parts at the same relative position, despite the Pentium Silver J5005 winning all head-to-head Cinebench tests.

The Verdict

The data points to the Intel Pentium Silver J5005 as the stronger performer in every recorded Cinebench test. Across R15, R20, and R23, in both singlecore and multicore, the Pentium Silver J5005 leads by margins between 13.1% and 33.6%. The average benchmark scores are nearly identical, with the Core i3-7100 at 781 and the Pentium Silver J5005 at 776, but the head-to-head tests consistently favor the Pentium Silver J5005.

Users who prioritize raw Cinebench compute performance should look at the Pentium Silver J5005. It delivers higher scores with half the TDP, 10 watts versus 51 watts, and double the physical core count. The Core i3-7100 remains relevant for those who need a desktop socket processor with PCIe Gen 3 and 16 lanes, or who require an active production status part. The Pentium Silver J5005 is end-of-life and uses a BGA socket, so it is not suitable for systems where the CPU needs to be replaced independently.

The Core i3-7100's fixed 3.90 GHz base clock without a boost clock could appeal to workloads that favor stable frequency behavior, but the recorded benchmarks do not show any test where that translates into a win. The Pentium Silver J5005's boost clock of 2.80 GHz, combined with its four cores, appears to deliver better results across the board.

For a mobile or low-power system, the Pentium Silver J5005 is the clear choice based on the data. For a desktop system with expansion needs and socket flexibility, the Core i3-7100 has structural advantages, but the performance data does not favor it. The verdict from the database is straightforward: the Pentium Silver J5005 wins every measured compute test, and the Core i3-7100 wins no measured compute test.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Pentium Silver J5005 has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the Intel Core i3-7100 has 2 cores and 4 threads.

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i3-7100 has an average benchmark score of 781, while the Intel Pentium Silver J5005 has an average benchmark score of 776.

Q: Does the Pentium Silver J5005 win any benchmark tests?

A: Yes, the Pentium Silver J5005 wins all six recorded head-to-head Cinebench tests, covering R15, R20, and R23 in both singlecore and multicore.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The Intel Core i3-7100 has a TDP of 51 watts, while the Intel Pentium Silver J5005 has a TDP of 10 watts.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: Neither processor supports ECC memory. Both list ECC memory as false.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth for both processors?

A: Both processors have the same memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, and both support DDR4 with a dual-channel memory bus.

Q: Are both processors built on the same process node?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core i3-7100 and the Intel Pentium Silver J5005 are built on a 14 nm process node by Intel.

Specification Differences

• Cores: The Core i3-7100 has 2 cores, the Pentium Silver J5005 has 4 cores.
• Threads: The Core i3-7100 has 4 threads, the Pentium Silver J5005 has 4 threads.
• Base Clock: The Core i3-7100 has a base clock of 3.90 GHz, the Pentium Silver J5005 has a base clock of 1500.00 MHz.
• Boost Clock: The Core i3-7100 has no boost clock listed, the Pentium Silver J5005 has a boost clock of 2.80 GHz.
• TDP: The Core i3-7100 has a TDP of 51 watts, the Pentium Silver J5005 has a TDP of 10 watts.
• Socket: The Core i3-7100 uses Intel Socket 1151, the Pentium Silver J5005 uses Intel BGA 1090.
• Architecture: The Core i3-7100 uses Kaby Lake, the Pentium Silver J5005 uses Goldmont Plus.
• Codename: The Core i3-7100 has the codename Kaby Lake, the Pentium Silver J5005 has the codename Gemini Lake.
• Generation: The Core i3-7100 is from Core i3 (Kaby Lake), the Pentium Silver J5005 is from Pentium (Goldmont Plus).
• Die Size: The Core i3-7100 has no die size recorded, the Pentium Silver J5005 has a die size of 93 mm².
• L1 Cache: The Core i3-7100 has 64 KB per core, the Pentium Silver J5005 has 56 KB per core.
• L2 Cache: The Core i3-7100 has 256 KB per core, the Pentium Silver J5005 has 4 MB shared.
• L3 Cache: The Core i3-7100 has 3 MB shared, the Pentium Silver J5005 has no L3 cache listed.
• PCIe: The Core i3-7100 has Gen 3 with 16 lanes, the Pentium Silver J5005 has Gen 2 with 6 lanes.
• Integrated Graphics: The Core i3-7100 has Intel HD 630, the Pentium Silver J5005 has UHD Graphics 605.
• Market Segment: The Core i3-7100 is Desktop, the Pentium Silver J5005 is Mobile.
• Production Status: The Core i3-7100 is Active, the Pentium Silver J5005 is End-of-life.
• Release Date: The Core i3-7100 was released on 2017-01-02, the Pentium Silver J5005 was released on 2017-12-10.
• Launch MSRP: The Core i3-7100 has no launch MSRP listed, the Pentium Silver J5005 has a launch MSRP of $161.
• Part Number: The Core i3-7100 is SR35C, the Pentium Silver J5005 is SR3S3.