Intel Core i3-7100H vs Intel Core i7-5600U Comparison

The Intel Core i3-7100H and the Intel Core i7-5600U are both dual-core, four-thread mobile processors from Intel, but they target very different corners of the laptop market. The data shows a clear, consistent performance hierarchy: the i3-7100H wins all five head-to-head Cinebench comparisons, with margins ranging from 15.3% to 15.7%. Its average benchmark score of 1009 places it in the 28th percentile of all CPUs, while the i7-5600U’s average of 1005 lands at the 27th percentile. Despite the i7 branding on the older chip, the newer Kaby Lake-H i3 is decisively faster in every measured workload, making the choice straightforward for anyone prioritizing raw compute over the i7’s superior power efficiency.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i3-7100H is the faster processor in every single test recorded. It leads by 15.7% in Cinebench R15 multi-core (295 vs. 255), by 15.6% in R20 multi-core (1231 vs. 1065), and by 15.3% in R20 single-core (173 vs. 150). The i3-7100H also extends that lead to 15.6% in both Cinebench R23 multi-core (2932 vs. 2537) and single-core (414 vs. 358). With a 5-0 win record in head-to-head benchmarks, the i3-7100H is the correct pick for any workload where CPU throughput matters — rendering, compiling, or any multi-threaded productivity task.

The i7-5600U, however, is not without purpose. Its 15 W TDP versus the i3-7100H’s 35 W TDP indicates a fundamentally different design goal: ultra-portable, fanless or lightly-cooled laptops where battery life and heat dissipation trump outright performance. The i7-5600U also carries a 3.20 GHz boost clock, a feature the i3-7100H lacks entirely (its base clock is 2.80 GHz with no boost listed). For users who prioritize a thin-and-light chassis over compute speed, the i7-5600U remains viable, but the data shows it is slower in every benchmark. The choice is simple: pick the i3-7100H for performance, or the i7-5600U for its dramatically lower power draw and integrated boost capability.

Where Each One Wins

The i3-7100H wins every single benchmark category in the head-to-head comparison. Its largest margin is in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where it scores 295 against the i7-5600U’s 255, a 15.7% advantage. The single-core results tell the same story: R20 single-core shows the i3-7100H at 173 versus 150, a 15.3% lead, which is the smallest gap between the two — but still a solid win. The multi-core R20 and R23 tests both show identical 15.6% margins, with scores of 1231 vs. 1065 and 2932 vs. 2537 respectively. The i3-7100H’s dominance is remarkably consistent, suggesting an architectural and clock-speed advantage that scales evenly across all Cinebench workloads.

The i7-5600U’s only advantages are found outside the benchmark scoreboard. It has a 4 MB shared L3 cache versus the i3-7100H’s 3 MB, and it supports a higher memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s (the i3-7100H has no listed memory bandwidth figure). The i7-5600U also features a boost clock of 3.20 GHz, which the i3-7100H lacks. For users running memory-bandwidth-sensitive tasks or workloads that benefit from dynamic clock scaling, the i7-5600U has a theoretical edge, but the Cinebench results — which stress both cache and clock behavior — show the i3-7100H still wins decisively. The i7-5600U’s 15 W TDP is its real victory: it consumes less than half the power of the i3-7100H, making it the only choice for fanless designs or extreme portability.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations and process nodes, though both use a 14 nm fabrication process from Intel. The i3-7100H is built on Kaby Lake-H, a mobile-oriented variant of the Kaby Lake architecture, while the i7-5600U is based on Broadwell-U, the ultra-low-power variant of the Broadwell generation. This generational gap explains much of the performance difference: Kaby Lake is a refined version of the Skylake microarchitecture, whereas Broadwell was the first 14 nm Intel design, introduced earlier and optimized for lower clocks and power efficiency.

The die sizes and transistor counts reflect their different design philosophies. The i3-7100H has a die size of 126 mm², while the i7-5600U is significantly smaller at 82 mm², with 1,300 million transistors. The smaller die and lower transistor count of the i7-5600U align with its 15 W TDP, whereas the i3-7100H’s larger die and 35 W TDP allow for higher sustained clocks. Cache configurations also differ: both have 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, but the i3-7100H has 3 MB of shared L3, while the i7-5600U has 4 MB. Connectivity differs as well — the i3-7100H supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, while the i7-5600U is limited to PCIe Gen 2 with 12 lanes. The i3-7100H also supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory, whereas the i7-5600U is DDR3-only.

Integrated graphics are another point of divergence. The i3-7100H pairs with Intel HD Graphics 630, while the i7-5600U uses Intel HD 5500. Both are integrated solutions with no discrete GPU performance data provided, but the newer HD 630 architecture is generally associated with better media capabilities. The i3-7100H also uses a newer socket (Intel BGA 1440 vs. Intel BGA 1168) and was released in 2017, roughly two years after the i7-5600U’s 2015 debut. Both are end-of-life products, but the i3-7100H benefits from being a later design with architectural improvements.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: The Intel Core i3-7100H is faster in every multi-core test. It scores 295 vs. 255 in Cinebench R15 (15.7% ahead), 1231 vs. 1065 in R20 (15.6% ahead), and 2932 vs. 2537 in R23 (15.6% ahead).

Q: Does the i7-5600U have any performance advantage at all?

A: No. The head-to-head benchmark data shows the i3-7100H winning all five tests. The i7-5600U’s advantages are non-performance: a 15 W TDP versus 35 W, a 3.20 GHz boost clock, and 4 MB of L3 cache versus 3 MB.

Q: Why does the i7-5600U have a higher model number if it’s slower?

A: The i7-5600U is an older Broadwell-U part designed for ultra-low-power (15 W) systems, while the i3-7100H is a newer Kaby Lake-H part with a higher 35 W TDP. The i7 branding reflects its launch MSRP of $393, compared to $225 for the i3-7100H, but the benchmark scores favor the i3-7100H across the board.

Q: Which processor is better for a laptop with no active cooling?

A: The i7-5600U, due to its 15 W TDP, is the only viable choice for fanless designs. The i3-7100H’s 35 W TDP suggests it requires more substantial cooling, making it unsuitable for passively cooled ultra-thin laptops.

Q: Are both processors compatible with the same memory?

A: No. The i3-7100H supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory, while the i7-5600U supports only DDR3. Both use dual-channel memory buses, but the i7-5600U has a listed bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s, while the i3-7100H has no bandwidth figure provided.

Q: How do these chips compare to their nearest rivals?

A: The i3-7100H’s average score of 1009 is nearly identical to the Intel Processor N100 (1007, 0.2% faster) and Intel Core i5-10210Y (1006, 0.3% slower). The i7-5600U’s average of 1005 matches the Intel Core i7-2630QM (1005, 0% delta) and is 0.1% behind the AMD FX-9830P (1006).

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most decisive result is in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where the i3-7100H achieves 295 points against the i7-5600U’s 255. That 40-point gap translates to a 15.7% advantage, the largest margin in any test. This benchmark is particularly telling because it stresses the entire processor — both cores and all four threads — under sustained load, and the i3-7100H’s higher TDP and newer architecture clearly pay off. The i7-5600U’s boost clock of 3.20 GHz, which should help in short bursts, was not enough to close the gap, suggesting that the i3-7100H’s 2.80 GHz base clock sustains better under full load.

In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the i3-7100H scores 1231 versus 1065, a 166-point difference and a 15.6% lead. This test is more demanding than R15, and the margin stays essentially flat, indicating that the i3-7100H’s advantage is architectural and not workload-specific. The single-core R20 test shows a smaller absolute gap — 173 vs. 150 — but still a 15.3% lead for the i3-7100H. This is notable because single-core performance is often where older high-clock chips can compete, yet the i7-5600U’s 3.20 GHz boost could not overcome the i3-7100H’s newer core design.

The Cinebench R23 results mirror R20 almost exactly. Multi-core shows 2932 for the i3-7100H and 2537 for the i7-5600U, a 395-point difference and 15.6% lead. Single-core R23 shows 414 vs. 358, a 56-point gap and 15.6% lead. The consistency across R15, R20, and R23 — all showing roughly 15.3-15.7% deltas — is remarkable. It suggests that the performance difference between these two chips is not marginal or test-specific, but a fundamental property of their design. The i3-7100H wins all five head-to-head tests, and its average benchmark score of 1009 versus 1005 for the i7-5600U confirms that the i3-7100H is the superior processor in this comparison, despite the i7’s premium positioning.