Intel Core i3-7100T vs Intel Core i3-8109U Comparison

The Intel Core i3-7100T and Intel Core i3-8109U are both dual-core, four-thread Kaby Lake parts, but they target different segments: the 7100T is a 35 W desktop chip on Socket 1151, while the 8109U is a 28 W mobile chip on BGA 1356. The benchmark data is unambiguous: the i3-8109U wins all seven head-to-head comparisons, with margins ranging from 6.5% to 10.6%. The average benchmark scores tell a similar story: the 7100T posts 1258 against 1235 for the 8109U, but that aggregate is skewed by the desktop part’s single-core advantage in one test; in every direct matchup, the mobile chip is faster. The verdict is clear: the 8109U is the superior performer for any workload that can use its extra L3 cache and higher boost clock, while the 7100T only makes sense if you specifically need a Socket 1151 desktop chip with a 35 W TDP.

The Verdict

The Intel Core i3-8109U is the outright winner in this comparison, taking all seven head-to-head benchmarks. Its largest margin comes in Geekbench single-core, where it scores 1188 versus 1111 for the 7100T, a 6.5% advantage. The smallest margin is in Geekbench multi-core, where the 8109U leads 2454 to 2230, a 9.1% gap. For Cinebench workloads, the 8109U consistently leads by roughly 10.4% to 10.6% across R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests, and by 10.5% in R20 single-core. The only caveat is the 7100T’s slightly higher average benchmark score (1258 vs 1235), but this is an artifact of the aggregate; the 8109U wins every direct comparison. The 7100T should only be chosen by builders who require a Socket 1151 desktop part with a 35 W TDP and who cannot accommodate the 8109U’s BGA 1356 mobile socket. For anyone comparing raw performance, the 8109U is the clear pick.

Architecture Differences

Both chips are built on Intel’s 14 nm process and share the Kaby Lake architecture, but they diverge in several key specifications. The 7100T is a desktop part with a 35 W TDP, while the 8109U is a mobile chip with a 28 W TDP. The 7100T runs at a fixed 3.40 GHz base clock with no boost capability, whereas the 8109U has a 3.00 GHz base clock that boosts up to 3.60 GHz. This boost headroom is a primary reason the 8109U wins in single-threaded tests. The 7100T features 3 MB of shared L3 cache, while the 8109U offers 4 MB, a 33% increase. Both have 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core. The 8109U also has a known die size of 123 mm², while the 7100T’s die size is not listed. Memory support is DDR4 dual-channel for the 7100T, with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth; the 8109U’s memory bus and bandwidth are not specified. The 7100T uses Intel HD 630 integrated graphics, while the 8109U steps up to Iris Pro Plus. The 7100T has a PCIe Gen 3 connection with 16 lanes (CPU only); the 8109U’s PCIe configuration is not listed. Neither chip supports ECC memory, and both are unlocked.

Where Each One Wins

The i3-8109U wins in every benchmark category included in the data set. In multi-core workloads, the 8109U is consistently ahead: Cinebench R15 shows 357 vs 319 (10.6% lead), R20 shows 1488 vs 1333 (10.4% lead), R23 shows 3544 vs 3175 (10.4% lead), and Geekbench multi-core shows 2454 vs 2230 (9.1% lead). Single-core performance follows the same pattern: the 8109U leads in R20 single-core (210 vs 188, 10.5%), R23 single-core (500 vs 448, 10.4%), and Geekbench single-core (1188 vs 1111, 6.5%). The 8109U’s boost clock of 3.60 GHz, compared to the 7100T’s fixed 3.40 GHz, directly explains the single-core advantages. The larger 4 MB L3 cache on the 8109U likely contributes to multi-core gains. The only metric where the 7100T shows any advantage is in the aggregate average benchmark score (1258 vs 1235), but this is not a head-to-head test—it is a summary of all benchmarks, and the 7100T’s single-core score in Geekbench is the only instance where it comes within 6.5% of the 8109U. There are no workloads in the data where the 7100T wins outright.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in multi-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i3-8109U wins all multi-core tests. It scores 357 vs 319 in Cinebench R15, 1488 vs 1333 in R20, 3544 vs 3175 in R23, and 2454 vs 2230 in Geekbench multi-core.

Q: How do the single-core scores compare?

A: The 8109U leads in every single-core test: 210 vs 188 in Cinebench R20, 500 vs 448 in R23, and 1188 vs 1111 in Geekbench single-core.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two?

A: The largest margin is in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where the 8109U is 10.6% ahead of the 7100T (357 vs 319).

Q: What is the smallest performance gap?

A: The smallest margin is in Geekbench single-core, where the 8109U leads by 6.5% (1188 vs 1111).

Q: Are these chips the same architecture?

A: Yes, both are built on Intel’s Kaby Lake architecture using a 14 nm process. The 7100T is Kaby Lake with a desktop Socket 1151, while the 8109U is Kaby Lake-R with a mobile BGA 1356 socket.

Q: Which chip has more cache?

A: The 8109U has 4 MB of shared L3 cache, while the 7100T has 3 MB. Both have 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The i3-8109U dominates the head-to-head results with a perfect 7-0 record. The largest wins come in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where the 8109U scores 357 against the 7100T’s 319, a 10.6% margin. This is the biggest delta in the entire comparison. Cinebench R20 multi-core shows a similar gap: 1488 vs 1333, a 10.4% advantage. The R20 single-core test is equally decisive, with the 8109U scoring 210 versus 188, again a 10.5% lead. Cinebench R23 results mirror the R20 pattern: multi-core is 3544 vs 3175 (10.4% lead), and single-core is 500 vs 448 (10.4% lead). Geekbench multi-core shows the 8109U ahead at 2454 vs 2230, a 9.1% margin, while Geekbench single-core is the closest contest at 1188 vs 1111, a 6.5% lead. Across all tests, the 8109U’s advantage ranges from 6.5% to 10.6%, with an average lead of roughly 9.7%. The 7100T never wins a single test, and its only consolation is a slightly higher aggregate average benchmark score (1258 vs 1235), which is driven by the fact that the 7100T’s Geekbench single-core score of 1111 is closer to the 8109U’s 1188 than in any other test. The data strongly favors the 8109U for any workload, with the 7100T’s only potential advantage being its desktop socket and higher base clock of 3.40 GHz, which does not translate into benchmark wins.