Intel Core i3-7100H vs Intel Core i7-975 Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data presents an unusually clear picture: the Intel Core i7-975 wins all five recorded head-to-head comparisons. There is no test in the database where the Intel Core i3-7100H takes the lead. The margins are narrow, but they are consistent across every workload, from single-core rendering to multi-core Cinebench runs. The i7-975 wins the multicore tests by 1.4% to 1.5% and the single-core tests by 1.2% in both recorded cases.

For the i7-975, the wins are evenly distributed across the entire benchmark suite. It does not specialize in one area; it simply edges ahead everywhere. Its largest advantage appears in Cinebench R20 multicore, where it scores 1249 against the i3-7100H's 1231, a 1.5% lead. The smallest margins are in the single-core tests, where it leads 175 to 173 in R20 single-core and 419 to 414 in R23 single-core, both 1.2% differences.

The i3-7100H has no wins to claim, but the data shows it is not a distant second. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the gap is just 4 points (299 vs 295). In R23 multicore, the gap is 42 points (2974 vs 2932). These are close results. The i3-7100H's deficit ranges from 1.2% to 1.5%, which is a narrow band. The practical interpretation is that these two processors, despite their very different architectures and release dates, deliver nearly identical compute throughput in Cinebench.

The use-case split is therefore not about one being faster in one scenario and slower in another. The i7-975 is the pick for every benchmark in the database, but only by a slim margin. The i3-7100H is competitive in all scenarios, yet it never surpasses the older part. For a user optimizing purely for Cinebench scores, the i7-975 is the correct choice across the board.

Architecture Differences

The two CPUs come from different eras and different design philosophies. The Intel Core i7-975 uses the Nehalem architecture, codenamed Bloomfield, and is built on a 45 nm process at Intel's foundry. It is a desktop part, released in mid-2009, and belongs to the Core i7 Extreme generation. Its transistor count is 731 million on a die size of 263 mm². The i3-7100H uses the Kaby Lake architecture, specifically Kaby Lake-H, on a 14 nm process. It is a mobile part released in early 2017, and its die size is 126 mm². The database does not list a transistor count for the i3-7100H.

Core counts differ sharply. The i7-975 has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the i3-7100H has 2 cores and 4 threads. Clock speeds also differ: the i7-975 has a base clock of 3.33 GHz and a boost clock of 3.60 GHz, while the i3-7100H has a base clock of 2.80 GHz and no recorded boost clock. The i7-975 has an unlocked multiplier, the i3-7100H does not.

Cache configurations reflect the core count difference. Both have 64 KB of L1 per core and 256 KB of L2 per core. The L3 cache is where they diverge: the i7-975 has 8 MB shared, while the i3-7100H has 3 MB shared. Memory support also differs. The i7-975 uses DDR3 with a triple-channel memory bus and a recorded bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s. The i3-7100H supports both DDR3 and DDR4, uses a dual-channel bus, and has no recorded bandwidth figure.

The i3-7100H includes integrated graphics: Intel HD Graphics 630. The i7-975 has no integrated graphics listed. PCIe support differs as well: the i7-975 is Gen 2, while the i3-7100H is Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only). Power and sockets are entirely different. The i7-975 has a 130 W TDP and uses Intel Socket 1366. The i3-7100H has a 35 W TDP and uses Intel BGA 1440. Both are end-of-life production parts. The i7-975 has a launch MSRP of $1059, while the i3-7100H has a launch MSRP of $225.

The architecture gap is significant: 45 nm Nehalem versus 14 nm Kaby Lake. The i3-7100H is built on a far more advanced process, which explains its dramatically lower TDP and smaller die size. Yet the i7-975 compensates with more cores, more threads, higher clocks, and triple-channel memory. The result is that the older desktop part edges out the newer mobile part in every benchmark.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data covers five Cinebench tests, and the i7-975 wins all of them. The largest margin is in Cinebench R20 multicore: the i7-975 scores 1249, the i3-7100H scores 1231, a 1.5% difference. The second largest is in R15 multicore, where the i7-975 scores 299 against 295, a 1.4% lead. The R23 multicore test shows a 1.4% margin as well: 2974 versus 2932.

The single-core tests are closer. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the i7-975 scores 175 and the i3-7100H scores 173, a 1.2% difference. In R23 single-core, the i7-975 scores 419 and the i3-7100H scores 414, also a 1.2% margin. These are the smallest deltas in the set.

Interpreting these numbers requires context from the nearest rivals. The i7-975 has an average benchmark score of 1023, and its closest rival is the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U with an average score of 1024, a 0% delta. The AMD Phenom II X6 1075T scores 1024, a -0.1% delta. The Intel Pentium Gold G5600 scores 1022, a 0.1% delta. The Intel Processor N150 scores 1025, a -0.2% delta. The i3-7100H has an average score of 1009. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Processor N100 at 1007 (0.2% delta), the Intel Core i7-2675QM at 1012 (-0.3% delta), the Intel Core i5-10210Y at 1006 (0.3% delta), and the Intel Xeon W5580 at 1012 (-0.3% delta).

Both processors sit at the 28th percentile among all CPUs in the database. Their average scores differ by only 14 points (1023 vs 1009). The head-to-head margins are small, but they are consistent across all five tests. The data shows a pattern: the i7-975 is always slightly ahead, never behind. The i3-7100H is never ahead, but it is also never far behind. The largest deficit it faces is 1.5%, which is within the noise of many real-world workloads, yet the benchmark record is unambiguous.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i7-975 has an average benchmark score of 1023, while the Intel Core i3-7100H has an average score of 1009.

Q: How many cores and threads does each processor have?

A: The Intel Core i7-975 has 4 cores and 8 threads. The Intel Core i3-7100H has 2 cores and 4 threads.

Q: Does the i3-7100H have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, the Intel Core i3-7100H includes Intel HD Graphics 630. The Intel Core i7-975 has no integrated graphics listed in the database.

Q: What memory configurations do these processors support?

A: The Intel Core i7-975 supports DDR3 with a triple-channel memory bus and a bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s. The Intel Core i3-7100H supports both DDR3 and DDR4 with a dual-channel memory bus, and its bandwidth is not recorded in the database.

Q: Which processor has the larger L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core i7-975 has 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Core i3-7100H has 3 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: Are both processors still in production?

A: No, both are listed as end-of-life production parts in the database.

Specification Differences

The specification differences between the two processors are substantial, reflecting their different release dates and market segments. The i7-975 is a desktop part with a 130 W TDP, while the i3-7100H is a mobile part with a 35 W TDP. The i7-975 uses Intel Socket 1366, the i3-7100H uses Intel BGA 1440. The i7-975 has an unlocked multiplier, the i3-7100H is locked.

Architecturally, the i7-975 is Nehalem (Bloomfield) on 45 nm, while the i3-7100H is Kaby Lake (Kaby Lake-H) on 14 nm. The i7-975 has 731 million transistors on a 263 mm² die, while the i3-7100H has no recorded transistor count on a 126 mm² die. Core counts are 4 vs 2, threads are 8 vs 4. The base clock is 3.33 GHz vs 2.80 GHz, and the i7-975 has a boost clock of 3.60 GHz while the i3-7100H has no recorded boost clock.

Cache differs: L1 and L2 are the same per core (64 KB and 256 KB), but L3 is 8 MB vs 3 MB. Memory support is DDR3 vs DDR3/DDR4. The memory bus is triple-channel vs dual-channel, and the i7-975 records 25.6 GB/s bandwidth while the i3-7100H does not. PCIe support is Gen 2 vs Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The i7-975 has no integrated graphics, the i3-7100H has Intel HD Graphics 630. Release dates are 2009-06-01 vs 2017-01-02. Launch MSRP is $1059 vs $225. Part numbers are SLBEQ vs SR32T.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear, if narrow, conclusion: the Intel Core i7-975 is the faster processor in every benchmark the database records. It wins all five head-to-head tests, with margins from 1.2% to 1.5%. Its average benchmark score is 1023, which is 14 points higher than the i3-7100H's 1009. Both sit at the 28th percentile among all CPUs, meaning they occupy the same tier of overall performance. The i7-975 is not a dramatically better part; it is consistently better by a small amount.

The i3-7100H should be chosen for scenarios where its mobile design matters. It has a 35 W TDP versus the i7-975's 130 W, making it suitable for systems where power draw and heat are constraints. It includes integrated graphics, which the i7-975 lacks, so a build without a discrete GPU is only possible with the i3-7100H. It also supports DDR4 memory and PCIe Gen 3, which are newer standards. Its launch MSRP was $225, far below the i7-975's $1059, though the database does not comment on current pricing.

The i7-975 should be chosen when raw compute throughput is the priority. It has more cores, more threads, higher clocks, a larger L3 cache, and triple-channel memory. It wins every benchmark in the head-to-head set. For users running Cinebench or similar multi-threaded workloads, the i7-975 is the safer pick. The data does not show any test where the i3-7100H catches up, let alone surpasses it.

For a desktop system where power consumption is not a concern, the i7-975 is the clear winner. For a mobile system, or a build that relies on integrated graphics, the i3-7100H is the only option among these two. The benchmark results are close enough that real-world differences may be small, but the recorded data leaves no ambiguity: the i7-975 is ahead in every measured test.