Intel Core i3-7100T vs Intel Core i7-3610QE Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark split between these two processors is stark and revealing. The Intel Core i7-3610QE dominates in every Cinebench test, while the Intel Core i3-7100T takes both Geekbench tests. This is not a close contest across the board; it is a case of two chips winning in completely different workloads.

The i7-3610QE wins five out of seven head-to-head comparisons. Its largest victories come in Cinebench R15 multicore, where it scores 456 against the i3-7100T's 319, a 42.9% advantage. The same pattern repeats in Cinebench R20 multicore (1903 vs 1333, a 42.8% lead), Cinebench R23 multicore (4533 vs 3175, a 42.8% lead), and even in single-core Cinebench tests, where the i7 holds a 42.6% edge in both R20 and R23. The i3-7100T does not win a single Cinebench test.

The i3-7100T, however, wins decisively in Geekbench. Its single-core score of 1111 crushes the i7's 560, a 49.6% margin. In Geekbench multicore, the i3 scores 2230 versus the i7's 1954, a 12.4% advantage. These are not marginal wins; they are substantial gaps that point to a fundamental difference in what each chip is optimized for.

The use-case split is clear. The i7-3610QE is the choice for heavily multithreaded rendering workloads, as evidenced by its Cinebench dominance. The i3-7100T is the choice for tasks that favor raw single-thread performance and memory bandwidth, as evidenced by its Geekbench results. The data suggests that any workload relying on Cinebench-style rendering will favor the older i7, while Geekbench-style general-purpose computing favors the newer i3.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different eras and different design philosophies. The i7-3610QE is a 22 nm Ivy Bridge part, built on a 1,400 million transistor die measuring 160 mm². It has 4 cores and 8 threads, a 2.30 GHz base clock, and a 3.30 GHz boost clock. Its L3 cache is 6 MB shared, and it uses the Intel Socket G2 (988B). It is a mobile part with a 45 W TDP and integrated Intel HD 4000 graphics.

The i3-7100T is a 14 nm Kaby Lake desktop chip. It has 2 cores and 4 threads, a 3.40 GHz base clock, and no boost clock. Its L3 cache is 3 MB shared. It uses the Intel Socket 1151, has a 35 W TDP, and integrates Intel HD 630 graphics. It supports DDR4 memory with a bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, while the i7's memory support is not recorded in the database.

The process node difference is significant. The i3's 14 nm process is two generations newer than the i7's 22 nm process. This explains the i3's lower TDP despite having a higher base clock. The i3 also supports DDR4 memory, while the i7's memory type is not listed. The i3 has PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the i7's PCIe configuration is not recorded.

The core and thread counts tell a different story. The i7 has twice the cores and twice the threads of the i3. This is the primary reason for its Cinebench dominance. The i3 compensates with a much higher base clock, 3.40 GHz versus 2.30 GHz, and a newer architecture that delivers more instructions per clock.

The generation gap is also notable. The i7 is from the Ivy Bridge generation, released in 2012. The i3 is from the Kaby Lake generation, released in 2017. The i3 is listed as having an active production status, while the i7's production status is not recorded.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-3610QE has 4 cores and 8 threads. The Intel Core i3-7100T has 2 cores and 4 threads. The i7 has exactly twice the core count and twice the thread count of the i3.

Q: Which processor wins in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The Intel Core i7-3610QE wins with a score of 4533, compared to the Intel Core i3-7100T's 3175. This is a 42.8% advantage for the i7.

Q: Which processor wins in Geekbench single-core?

A: The Intel Core i3-7100T wins with a score of 1111, compared to the Intel Core i7-3610QE's 560. This is a 49.6% advantage for the i3.

Q: What is the TDP of each processor?

A: The Intel Core i3-7100T has a TDP of 35 W. The Intel Core i7-3610QE has a TDP of 45 W. The i3 has a 10 W lower TDP than the i7.

Q: Does the Intel Core i3-7100T have a boost clock?

A: No boost clock is recorded for the Intel Core i3-3610QE's rival, but the i3-7100T has a base clock of 3.40 GHz and no boost clock listed. The i7-3610QE has a boost clock of 3.30 GHz.

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score overall?

A: The Intel Core i7-3610QE has an average benchmark score of 1297.86. The Intel Core i3-7100T has an average benchmark score of 1258. The i7 edges ahead by 39 points.

Specification Differences

The recorded data shows several fields where the two processors differ. The core count differs, 4 cores for the i7-3610QE versus 2 cores for the i3-7100T. Thread count also differs, 8 threads versus 4 threads. Base clock differs, 2.30 GHz for the i7-3610QE versus 3.40 GHz for the i3-7100T. The i7-3610QE has a boost clock of 3.30 GHz, but the i3-7100T has no boost clock listed.

TDP differs, 45 W for the i7-3610QE versus 35 W for the i3-7100T. Socket differs, Intel Socket G2 (988B) for the i7-3610QE versus Intel Socket 1151 for the i3-7100T. Architecture differs, Ivy Bridge for the i7-3610QE versus Kaby Lake for the i7-7100T. Process node differs, 22 nm for the i7-3610QE versus 14 nm for the i3-7100T.

Cache differs in L3 size, 6 MB shared for the i7-3610QE versus 3 MB shared for the i3-7100T. Memory support differs, the i7-3610QE has no recorded memory type, but the i7-3610QE does have a 6 MB L3 cache. The i3-7100T supports DDR4 memory with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth. The i3-7100T has PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes for the CPU, but the i7-3610QE has no PCIe data recorded.

Integrated graphics differ, Intel HD 4000 for the i7-3610QE versus Intel HD 630 for the i3-7100T. Market segment differs, mobile for the i7-3610QE versus desktop for the i3-7100T. Production status differs, the i3-7100T is active, while the i7-3610QE has no recorded status. Release date differs, 2012-04-28 for the i7-3610QE versus 2017-01-02 for the i3-7100T. Part number differs, SR0NP for the i7-3610QE versus SR35P for the i3-7100T. Transistor count and die size are recorded only for the i7-3610QE, 1,400 million and 160 mm², respectively.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head benchmark table tells a story of two very different performance profiles. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i7-3610QE scores 456, while the i3-7100T scores 319. The i7 wins by 42.9%. This is a massive margin for a multicore test and reflects the i7's 4-core, 8-thread design against the i3's 2-core, 4-thread design.

In Cinebench R20 multicore, the i7 scores 1903, and the i3 scores 1333. The i7 wins by 42.8%. The pattern holds in Cinebench R23 multicore, where the i7 scores 4533 and the i3 scores 3175, a 42.8% win. The consistency of the margin, roughly 42.8% across all three Cinebench multicore tests, is striking.

Single-core Cinebench tests show the same trend. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the i7 scores 268, and the i3 scores 188, a 42.6% win for the i7. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the i7 scores 639, and the i3 scores 448, another 42.6% win. This is unexpected, as the i3 has a higher base clock and a newer architecture. Yet the i7 consistently wins single-core Cinebench by a wide margin.

Geekbench flips the script. In Geekbench multicore, the i3-7100T scores 2230, while the i7-3610QE scores 1954. The i3 wins by 12.4%. In Geekbench single-core, the i3 scores 1111, and the i7 scores 560. The i3 wins by 49.6%. The single-core Geekbench margin is the largest of any benchmark in the comparison, even larger than any Cinebench margin.

The data suggests that Cinebench and Geekbench measure different aspects of performance. In Cinebench, the i7's older architecture and higher core count deliver a decisive advantage. In Geekbench, the i3's newer process node and higher clock speed deliver an equally decisive advantage. The overall average benchmark scores reflect this split, with the i7 at 1297 and the i3 at 1258, a 39-point difference favoring the i7.

The Verdict

The data paints a clear picture for different users. The Intel Core i7-3610QE is the pick for anyone prioritizing Cinebench-style rendering workloads. It wins every Cinebench test by roughly 42%, a margin that is difficult to ignore. Its 4 cores and 8 threads give it a substantial advantage in multithreaded rendering, and even in single-threaded Cinebench tests, it outperforms the i3 by a wide margin. The i7 also has a higher average benchmark score, 1297 versus 1258, and a higher percentile ranking, 35th versus 34th.

The Intel Core i3-7100T is the pick for anyone prioritizing Geekbench-style general-purpose performance. It wins Geekbench multicore by 12.4% and Geekbench single-core by 49.6%. Its 14 nm process node, 3.40 GHz base clock, and DDR4 memory support give it a significant edge in these workloads. It also has a lower TDP, 35 W versus 45 W, making it a more power-efficient choice for desktop systems.

The i7-3610QE is a mobile processor from 2012, while the i3-7100T is a desktop processor from 2017. The i3's newer architecture and higher clock speed make it the better choice for tasks that are sensitive to single-thread performance. The i7's higher core count makes it the better choice for tasks that scale with thread count.

For a user running rendering workloads, the i7-3610QE is the clear winner. For a user running general-purpose desktop tasks, the i3-7100T is the better option. The overall average benchmark score slightly favors the i7, but the i3's wins in Geekbench are too large to dismiss. The verdict depends entirely on the workload.