Intel Core i3-7100H vs Intel Core i7-2675QM Comparison

The Intel Core i7-2675QM and the Intel Core i3-7100H represent two distinct generations of mobile processors, separated by roughly five years of architectural evolution. Despite this gap, the benchmark data places them in an unusually close contest, with average scores of 1012 for the i7-2675QM and 1009 for the i3-7100H, a delta of just 0.3%. Both chips sit at the 28th percentile among all CPUs, indicating that neither offers class-leading performance in the current landscape. The data shows a clear pattern: the older quad-core i7 wins every single benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, but by surprisingly narrow margins that never exceed 6.4%.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-2675QM is the outright winner in every benchmark recorded in the head-to-head data. It takes all five tests, including both multi-core and single-core workloads. The multi-core victories are expected given its 4-core, 8-thread configuration compared to the i3-7100H's 2-core, 4-thread setup. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i7-2675QM scores 314 against 295 for the i3-7100H, a 6.4% advantage. The same margin carries through Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the i7 reaches 1309 versus 1231. The largest absolute gap appears in Cinebench R23 multi-core, with the i7-2675QM posting 3118 against the i3-7100H's 2932.

What is more notable is that the i7-2675QM also wins the single-core tests, despite the i3-7100H having a higher base clock of 2.80 GHz against 2.20 GHz. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the i7 scores 184 versus 173, a 6.4% lead. The Cinebench R23 single-core test shows 440 for the i7 against 414 for the i3. This suggests that the older Sandy Bridge architecture, when paired with a boost clock of 3.10 GHz, can still outperform a newer Kaby Lake chip with a lower clock ceiling. The i3-7100H has no boost clock listed in the data, which likely explains its disadvantage in single-threaded performance.

The i3-7100H has no benchmark wins in this comparison. However, its relevance is not zero. It matches the i7-2675QM in overall percentile ranking, and the average benchmark scores are within 0.3% of each other. For workloads that do not scale perfectly across cores, the i3-7100H's newer architecture and higher base clock could offer a more consistent experience, though the data does not provide direct evidence of this outside of the recorded tests.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two processors is substantial. The i7-2675QM uses the Sandy Bridge architecture on a 32 nm process node, while the i3-7100H uses Kaby Lake on a 14 nm node. This process shrink is significant, though the i7-2675QM compensates with more physical hardware. The i7-2675QM has 4 cores and 8 threads, whereas the i3-7100H has 2 cores and 4 threads. The transistor count reflects this difference: the i7-2675QM packs 1,160 million transistors on a 216 mm² die, while the i3-7100H's transistor count is not listed but its die size is much smaller at 126 mm².

Cache configurations also differ. Both chips have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core. The L3 cache, however, is double on the i7-2675QM: 6 MB shared versus 3 MB shared on the i3-7100H. This larger cache pool likely contributes to the i7's ability to keep more data close to the cores, which is critical for multi-threaded workloads.

Memory support shows a key generational difference. The i3-7100H explicitly supports DDR3 and DDR4 memory, while the i7-2675QM has no memory support listed. Both use dual-channel memory buses. The i3-7100H also lists PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), whereas the i7-2675QM has no PCIe information. Integrated graphics differ as well: the i7-2675QM uses Intel HD 3000, while the i3-7100H has Intel HD Graphics 630. The newer iGPU is likely more capable, though no benchmark data is provided for graphics performance.

Socket and packaging are entirely different: the i7-2675QM uses Intel BGA 1224, while the i3-7100H uses Intel BGA 1440. Power consumption favors the newer chip, with the i3-7100H rated at 35 W TDP against 45 W for the i7-2675QM. The release dates are also far apart, with the i7-2675QM launching in late 2011 and the i3-7100H in early 2017. Both are marked end-of-life, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

The Verdict

From the data, the Intel Core i7-2675QM is the clear performance choice. It wins every benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, with margins ranging from 6.3% to 6.4%. The consistency of these deltas suggests a fundamental advantage in both multi-core and single-core throughput. For users running Cinebench-style workloads, which stress rendering and compute, the i7-2675QM delivers measurably higher scores. The 4-core, 8-thread configuration with 6 MB of L3 cache provides a structural advantage that the newer i3 cannot overcome, despite its smaller process node and higher base clock.

The Intel Core i3-7100H, however, is not a poor performer. Its average benchmark score of 1009 is within 0.3% of the i7-2675QM, and it shares the same 28th percentile ranking. The i3-7100H offers lower power consumption at 35 W TDP, which could be beneficial in thinner laptops or longer battery life scenarios. It also supports DDR4 memory and has a more modern integrated GPU, Intel HD Graphics 630. The launch MSRP for the i3-7100H is $225. For users who prioritize efficiency, memory compatibility, or newer platform features, the i3-7100H has qualitative merits that the benchmark scores do not capture.

The data does not support choosing the i3-7100H for raw performance. The i7-2675QM is ahead in every recorded test. The i3-7100H is only a reasonable pick if the workload is light and the system design favors its lower TDP or newer memory support. For any compute-heavy task, the i7-2675QM is the superior choice based strictly on the numbers.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-2675QM has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Intel Core i3-7100H has 2 cores and 4 threads.

Q: What is the average benchmark score difference between the two?

A: The i7-2675QM has an average benchmark score of 1012, and the i3-7100H has an average score of 1009, a difference of 0.3%.

Q: Does the i3-7100H win any benchmark in the head-to-head comparison?

A: No. The i7-2675QM wins all 5 head-to-head benchmarks, including both multi-core and single-core tests.

Q: What is the TDP of each processor?

A: The i7-2675QM has a TDP of 45 W, while the i3-7100H has a lower TDP of 35 W.

Q: Which processor supports DDR4 memory?

A: The i3-7100H explicitly lists DDR3 and DDR4 memory support. The i7-2675QM has no memory support listed in the data.

Q: How much L3 cache does each processor have?

A: The i7-2675QM has 6 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i3-7100H has 3 MB of shared L3 cache.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest margin of victory for the i7-2675QM comes in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where it scores 314 against 295, a 6.4% delta. This test is particularly revealing because it shows the quad-core i7 leveraging its additional threads effectively. The i7-2675QM also wins Cinebench R20 multi-core by 6.3%, posting 1309 versus 1231. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i7 reaches 3118, while the i3-7100H manages 2932, a 6.3% lead.

Single-core results follow the same pattern. The i7-2675QM scores 184 in Cinebench R20 single-core, against 173 for the i3-7100H, a 6.4% advantage. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the i7 posts 440 versus 414, again a 6.3% lead. The consistency of these margins, all between 6.3% and 6.4%, indicates a stable performance gap across different workload intensities. The i7-2675QM's boost clock of 3.10 GHz appears to be the decisive factor, allowing it to outpace the i3-7100H's fixed 2.80 GHz in single-threaded tasks.

The data does not include Geekbench scores for the i3-7100H, but the i7-2675QM has Geekbench multi-core and single-core scores of 1301 and 415, respectively. In the nearest rivals data, the i3-7100H is listed as a rival to the i7-2675QM with a deltaPct of 0.3%, meaning the i7 is just 0.3% ahead on average. This near-parity in average scores contrasts with the consistent wins in the head-to-head tests, suggesting that the i3-7100H might perform relatively better in unlisted workloads.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications. The i7-2675QM has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the i3-7100H has 2 cores and 4 threads. Base clocks are 2.20 GHz for the i7 and 2.80 GHz for the i3, but the i7 has a boost clock of 3.10 GHz, while the i3 has no boost clock listed. TDP differs, with the i7 at 45 W and the i3 at 35 W. The sockets are incompatible: Intel BGA 1224 for the i7 versus Intel BGA 1440 for the i3.

The process nodes are generations apart: 32 nm for the i7 versus 14 nm for the i3. The i7 has a larger die at 216 mm² and 1,160 million transistors, while the i3 has a 126 mm² die with no transistor count listed. L3 cache is 6 MB on the i7 and 3 MB on the i3. Memory support is only listed for the i3, which supports DDR3 and DDR4. The i7 has no memory support field, but both use dual-channel memory buses. PCIe support is listed only for the i3 as Gen 3 with 16 lanes. Integrated graphics are Intel HD 3000 on the i7 and Intel HD Graphics 630 on the i3. The i7 was released in October 2011, while the i3 came in January 2017. The i3 has a launch MSRP of $225; the i7 has no listed MSRP. Both are end-of-life, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.