Intel Core i3-7100T vs Intel Core i5-2500 Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data presents a clear but nuanced picture. The Intel Core i5-2500 wins the majority of head-to-head tests, taking 5 of 7 benchmarks, while the Intel Core i3-7100T wins 2. In sustained multi-core rendering workloads, the older i5-2500 holds a consistent advantage of roughly 8.7% to 8.9% across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23. However, the i3-7100T delivers a decisive victory in Geekbench tests, particularly in single-core performance where it leads by 65.8%.

For users prioritizing modern application responsiveness, single-threaded workloads, and memory bandwidth, the i3-7100T is the better choice. Its Geekbench single-core score of 1111 versus 670 demonstrates a massive generational leap in per-core efficiency. Conversely, for users running heavily threaded rendering tasks that scale with physical cores, the i5-2500's four cores provide a measurable edge despite its older architecture. The i5-2500 also remains competitive in Cinebench R23 multi-core with a score of 3479 versus 3175, making it suitable for budget rendering workloads where multi-core throughput matters more than platform modernity.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent distinct eras of Intel design. The i3-7100T is built on the Kaby Lake architecture using a 14 nm process node, while the i5-2500 uses the Sandy Bridge architecture on a 32 nm node. This process difference explains the dramatic efficiency gap: the i3-7100T has a TDP of 35 watts, whereas the i5-2500 draws 95 watts.

Core configuration differs significantly. The i3-7100T offers 2 physical cores with 4 threads via Hyper-Threading, while the i5-2500 provides 4 physical cores with 4 threads and no Hyper-Threading. The i3-7100T compensates for fewer cores with a higher base clock of 3.40 GHz, while the i5-2500 runs at 3.30 GHz base but can boost up to 3.70 GHz.

Cache hierarchy also differs. Both share 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, but the i5-2500 has 6 MB of shared L3 cache, double the 3 MB found on the i3-7100T. The i5-2500 also lists 1,160 million transistors on a 216 mm² die, whereas the i3-7100T has no transistor or die size data recorded.

Platform support diverges sharply. The i3-7100T uses Intel Socket 1151 with DDR4 memory support and a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, while the i5-2500 uses Intel Socket 1155 with DDR3 support and no recorded memory bandwidth figure. Both support dual-channel memory, PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, and lack ECC support.

Integrated graphics differ as well: the i3-7100T pairs with Intel HD 630, while the i5-2500 includes Intel HD 2000. Production status also separates them, with the i3-7100T listed as Active and the i5-2500 as End-of-life.

Where Each One Wins

The i5-2500 dominates in multi-threaded rendering scenarios. Across all three Cinebench multi-core tests, it maintains a consistent lead of 8.7% to 8.9%. This pattern holds in Cinebench R15 (350 versus 319), R20 (1461 versus 1333), and R23 (3479 versus 3175). The i5-2500 also edges ahead in single-core Cinebench tests, scoring 206 versus 188 in R20 and 491 versus 448 in R23, a margin of roughly 8.7% to 8.8%.

The i3-7100T wins decisively in the Geekbench suite. Its multi-core score of 2230 surpasses the i5-2500's 1883 by 18.4%. The single-core gap is even more pronounced: 1111 versus 670, a 65.8% advantage. This suggests the i3-7100T's newer architecture delivers far superior per-thread performance, which matters for everyday applications, browser workloads, and lightly threaded software.

The use-case split is clear. Choose the i5-2500 for multi-core rendering tasks where physical core count matters, such as video encoding or 3D rendering. Choose the i3-7100T for general desktop use, office productivity, and any workload that benefits from strong single-thread performance and modern memory support. The i3-7100T's 35 watt TDP also makes it far more suitable for compact, low-power builds compared to the i5-2500's 95 watt requirement.

FAQ

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

A: The i5-2500 consistently outperforms the i3-7100T in multi-core Cinebench tests. It leads by 8.9% in R15 (350 versus 319), 8.8% in R20 (1461 versus 1333), and 8.7% in R23 (3479 versus 3175).

Q: Why does the i3-7100T win Geekbench by such a large margin?

A: The i3-7100T's modern Kaby Lake architecture delivers far superior per-core efficiency. Its Geekbench single-core score of 1111 is 65.8% higher than the i5-2500's 670, while its multi-core score of 2230 beats 1883 by 18.4%.

Q: How do their power requirements compare?

A: The i3-7100T has a TDP of 35 watts, while the i5-2500 has a TDP of 95 watts. This makes the i3-7100T significantly more energy-efficient.

Q: Which processor supports faster memory?

A: The i3-7100T supports DDR4 memory with a bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The i5-2500 uses DDR3 memory, and no bandwidth figure is recorded for it.

Q: Are both processors still in production?

A: No. The i3-7100T is listed as Active, while the i5-2500 is listed as End-of-life.

Q: Do both processors have the same number of threads?

A: Yes, both have 4 threads, but they achieve this differently. The i3-7100T has 2 cores with Hyper-Threading, while the i5-2500 has 4 physical cores without Hyper-Threading.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark suite reveals a fascinating split between two very different performance philosophies. In Cinebench tests, the i5-2500 wins every round, but the margins are remarkably consistent. The largest Cinebench gap appears in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where the i5-2500 scores 350 against the i3-7100T's 319, a delta of 8.9%. The R20 multi-core test shows 1461 versus 1333 (8.8% difference), and R23 multi-core shows 3479 versus 3175 (8.7% difference). Even in single-core Cinebench tests, the i5-2500 maintains its edge: 206 versus 188 in R20 and 491 versus 448 in R23, both around 8.7% to 8.8%.

The Geekbench results invert this picture dramatically. The i3-7100T's multi-core score of 2230 beats the i5-2500's 1883 by 18.4%, a much larger margin than any Cinebench gap. The single-core Geekbench test delivers the most lopsided result in the entire comparison: 1111 versus 670, a 65.8% advantage for the i3-7100T. This means that while the older i5-2500 can sustain a modest lead in rendering workloads, it falls far behind in tasks that favor modern instruction-level parallelism and memory latency improvements.

The pattern suggests that Cinebench's rendering engine benefits from the i5-2500's additional physical cores, while Geekbench's broader workload mix rewards the i3-7100T's architectural efficiency and faster base clock. The i3-7100T also benefits from DDR4 memory support with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth, which likely contributes to its Geekbench dominance despite having fewer cores.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i3-7100T | Intel Core i5-2500 |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 2 | 4 |

| Threads | 4 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 3.40 GHz | 3.30 GHz |

| Boost Clock | None | 3.70 GHz |

| TDP | 35 W | 95 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1151 | Intel Socket 1155 |

| Architecture | Kaby Lake | Sandy Bridge |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 32 nm |

| Transistors | Not recorded | 1,160 million |

| Die Size | Not recorded | 216 mm² |

| L3 Cache | 3 MB (shared) | 6 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR3 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 38.4 GB/s | Not recorded |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 630 | Intel HD 2000 |

| Production Status | Active | End-of-life |

| Release Date | 2017-01-02 | 2011-01-08 |

| Part Number | SR35P | SR00T |

The two processors share several features: both are desktop chips from Intel, both use dual-channel memory, both have PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, neither supports ECC memory, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. Both also have identical L1 and L2 cache sizes per core at 64 KB and 256 KB respectively. The i5-2500's larger L3 cache and additional physical cores give it an edge in cache-sensitive and multi-threaded workloads, while the i3-7100T's newer process node, lower TDP, and DDR4 support position it for efficiency and modern platform compatibility.