Intel Core i3-7100H vs Intel Core i5-2500S Comparison

Intel Core i3-7100H vs Intel Core i5-2500S is a generational clash between a 14nm mobile chip from 2017 and a 32nm desktop chip from 2011. The benchmark data reveals a decisive, if narrow, victory for the newer i3 across every single test, despite the i5-2500S possessing double the physical cores. The i3-7100H wins all five head-to-head Cinebench tests, with margins ranging from 2.2% to 2.5%, while the i5-2500S counters with a commanding lead in Geekbench multicore and singlecore tests, though those benchmarks are not part of the shared head-to-head suite.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking pattern is the uniformity of the i3-7100H's advantage. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i3 scores 295 against the i5's 288, a 2.4% delta. That margin nearly replicates itself in Cinebench R20 multicore, where 1231 versus 1204 yields a 2.2% edge. The R23 multicore test shows 2932 for the i3 and 2867 for the i5, a 2.3% gap. These are not blowouts, but they are consistent — the i3 wins every multicore workload despite having only 2 cores and 4 threads versus the i5's 4 cores and 4 threads. This suggests the i3's architectural efficiency and higher base clock of 2.80 GHz versus 2.70 GHz more than compensate for its core deficit.

Single-core performance tells a similar story. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the i3 posts 173 versus 169, a 2.4% win. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 414 versus 404, a 2.5% margin. The i5-2500S does have a boost clock of 3.70 GHz, which the i3 lacks entirely (its boost clock is null in the data), yet the i3 still manages to outpace the older chip in single-threaded workloads. This confirms the IPC improvements delivered by Kaby Lake over Sandy Bridge, as the i3's 14nm process allows for a more efficient pipeline and higher instructions-per-clock at lower power.

The i5-2500S does have a separate Geekbench result that is not in the head-to-head table. It scores 1511 multicore and 582 singlecore. The i3 has no Geekbench scores listed, so a direct comparison is impossible. However, the i5's average benchmark score of 1004, based on all its tests, is nearly identical to the i3's average of 1009. This suggests that in a broader benchmark suite, the two processors would land in the same performance tier, with the i3 holding a 0.5% advantage on average.

Where Each One Wins

The i3-7100H wins all five shared Cinebench tests, making it the clear choice for render workloads, even those that scale across cores. The fact that it beats a quad-core chip in Cinebench R20 and R23 multicore is notable — these tests are known to utilize all available threads, and the i3's two physical cores with Hyper-Threading apparently outperform the i5's four physical cores without Hyper-Threading. The i3's advantage in single-core tests also makes it the better option for lightly-threaded applications like many games or general desktop responsiveness.

The i5-2500S's only wins come from Geekbench, where its multicore score of 1511 and singlecore score of 582 are recorded. These scores are not compared head-to-head, but they indicate that in Geekbench's specific workload mix, the i5-2500S holds its own or potentially surpasses the i3. The i5 also has a higher boost clock of 3.70 GHz versus the i3's lack of a listed boost, which could give it an edge in bursty, single-threaded tasks that are not captured by the Cinebench suite. For users running legacy software optimized for older architectures, the i5's four physical cores might offer advantages in specific multi-threaded scenarios where thread scheduling is less efficient.

The i5-2500S also benefits from a much larger 6 MB shared L3 cache versus the i3's 3 MB. This could improve performance in workloads with large, reusable data sets. However, the benchmark data does not include any cache-sensitive tests, so this remains a theoretical advantage only.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i3-7100H has an average benchmark score of 1009, while the Intel Core i5-2500S scores 1004. This puts the i3 ahead by 0.5% on average.

Q: Does the i5-2500S win any head-to-head benchmarks?

A: No. The i5-2500S wins zero head-to-head tests. The i3-7100H wins all five Cinebench tests, including both multicore and single-core variants.

Q: How large is the i3-7100H's single-core advantage?

A: In Cinebench R20 single-core, the i3 scores 173 versus 169, a 2.4% lead. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the i3 scores 414 versus 404, a 2.5% lead.

Q: What is the i5-2500S's Geekbench multicore score?

A: The i5-2500S scores 1511 in Geekbench multicore. The i3-7100H has no Geekbench score listed in the data, so no direct comparison can be made.

Q: Which CPU has a higher base clock speed?

A: The i3-7100H has a base clock of 2.80 GHz, which is 0.10 GHz higher than the i5-2500S's 2.70 GHz base clock. However, the i5 has a boost clock of 3.70 GHz, which the i3 does not have listed.

Q: How do their average scores compare to their nearest rivals?

A: The i3-7100H (1009) is 0.2% above the Intel Processor N100 (1007) and 0.3% above the Intel Core i5-10210Y (1006). The i5-2500S (1004) is exactly tied with the Intel Core i5-4300M (1004) and 0.1% below the Intel Core i7-5600U (1005).

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every fundamental specification. The i3-7100H uses 2 cores and 4 threads, while the i5-2500S uses 4 cores and 4 threads. The i3 has a higher base clock (2.80 GHz versus 2.70 GHz), but the i5 has a boost clock of 3.70 GHz while the i3 has no boost clock listed. Power draw is significantly different: the i3's TDP is 35 watts, while the i5's is 65 watts.

The sockets are incompatible: the i3 uses Intel BGA 1440, while the i5 uses Intel Socket 1155. The i3 supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory, while the i5 only supports DDR3. Both use dual-channel memory buses and PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The i3 features Intel HD Graphics 630, while the i5 has Intel HD 2000. The i3 was released in January 2017 with a launch MSRP of $225; the i5 has no launch MSRP listed and was released in January 2011. Both are end-of-life products with locked multipliers.

Architecture Differences

The i3-7100H is built on Kaby Lake architecture using a 14 nm process node, with a die size of 126 mm². The i5-2500S uses Sandy Bridge architecture on a 32 nm process, with a die size of 216 mm² and 1,160 million transistors. The i3's cache layout is smaller per level: 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 3 MB shared L3. The i5 also has 64 KB L1 per core and 256 KB L2 per core, but doubles the L3 to 6 MB shared.

The i3 is a mobile-market segment chip (Kaby Lake-H codename), while the i5 is a desktop chip. The i3's smaller process node and lower TDP (35W versus 65W) indicate a fundamentally more efficient design. The i3's integrated GPU, HD Graphics 630, is a generation newer than the i5's HD 2000, suggesting better media capabilities, though no graphics benchmarks are provided. The i3 supports newer memory types (DDR4 in addition to DDR3), while the i5 is limited to DDR3.

The Verdict

The data points decisively toward the Intel Core i3-7100H for any task measured in the head-to-head suite. It wins every Cinebench test by a margin of 2.2% to 2.5%, making it the superior choice for rendering, video encoding, and other multi-threaded workloads that Cinebench represents. Its single-core lead is equally consistent, which also makes it the better pick for general responsiveness and games that rely on single-thread performance.

The i5-2500S, despite having twice the physical cores, cannot overcome the architectural gap. Its only recorded wins come in Geekbench, where it scores 1511 multicore and 582 singlecore, but these are not compared against the i3. Its higher boost clock of 3.70 GHz and larger 6 MB L3 cache are genuine advantages on paper, but they do not translate into wins in the Cinebench suite. The i5's higher 65W TDP also makes it a less efficient choice for sustained loads.

For a user choosing between these two, the i3-7100H is the clear winner based on benchmark results. It offers better performance per watt, a smaller die, and newer memory support. However, the i5-2500S is not obsolete — its Geekbench scores suggest it remains competitive in certain workloads, and its four physical cores might be preferable in legacy applications that do not benefit from Hyper-Threading. The i3's 28th percentile versus the i5's 27th percentile among all CPUs confirms they are in the same performance class, but the i3 is consistently at the top of that class. Choose the i3 for modern efficiency and guaranteed wins in Cinebench; choose the i5 only if you specifically need its Geekbench performance profile or require a desktop socket.