Intel Core i3-7350K vs Intel Core i3-8100T Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head comparison between the Intel Core i3-8100T and the Intel Core i3-7350K is lopsided in one direction, yet it contains a single striking counterpoint. Across the eight benchmark tests recorded in the database, the Core i3-8100T claims seven victories, with the Core i3-7350K taking only one. The overall win count, 7 to 1, tells the story of a processor that dominates in rendering workloads but cedes ground in a specific single-core test.

In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Core i3-8100T scores 450 against the Core i3-7350K's 417, a delta of 7.9 percent. The gap narrows slightly in Cinebench R20 multicore, where the 8100T posts 1876 versus 1740, a 7.8 percent advantage. Cinebench R23 multicore shows the same pattern: 4467 for the 8100T and 4144 for the 7350K, again a 7.8 percent lead. These consistent multicore margins, hovering around 7.8 to 7.9 percent, reflect the fundamental core count difference between the two chips.

Single-core results in Cinebench follow the same trend, though with one notable anomaly. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the 8100T scores 63 against 58, an 8.6 percent win. Cinebench R20 single-core shows 264 versus 245, a 7.8 percent edge. Cinebench R23 single-core continues with 630 versus 585, a 7.7 percent advantage. The 8100T wins all three Cinebench single-core tests, but the margins are not uniform, ranging from 7.7 to 8.6 percent.

The Geekbench results break the pattern. In Geekbench multicore, the 8100T wins with 3142 against 3018, a 4.1 percent margin. However, in Geekbench single-core, the Core i3-7350K strikes back decisively. It scores 1488 versus the 8100T's 1104, a massive 25.8 percent advantage. This is the single largest delta in the entire comparison, and it flips the expected narrative. The 7350K's high base clock of 4.20 GHz appears to give it a substantial edge in this particular workload, despite its older architecture.

The average benchmark score in the database tells a similar story of overall parity. The 8100T averages 1500 across all tests, while the 7350K averages 1462. The 8100T sits at the 38th percentile of all CPUs, and the 7350K also sits at the 38th percentile. They are effectively in the same performance tier, despite their different strengths. The nearest rivals for the 8100T include the Intel Core i7-3770S at 1498 (0.1 percent behind), the Intel Core i5-4590S at 1493 (0.5 percent behind), and the AMD Opteron 6344 at 1492 (0.6 percent behind). The 7350K's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 2200GE at 1461 (0.1 percent behind) and the Intel Xeon E3-1225 v5 at 1465 (0.2 percent ahead).

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i3-8100T is the clear winner in multi-threaded workloads. Its four physical cores, running at 3.10 GHz, provide a consistent advantage across every Cinebench multicore test. The 7.8 percent lead in Cinebench R20 and R23 multicore, and the 7.9 percent lead in R15 multicore, indicate that applications which scale across cores will favor the 8100T. This makes it the better choice for video encoding, 3D rendering, and any productivity task that utilizes multiple threads.

The 8100T also wins in most single-threaded tests, but the margins are smaller. Cinebench R15 single-core shows an 8.6 percent advantage, while R20 and R23 show 7.8 and 7.7 percent respectively. These wins suggest that the 8100T's architecture, Coffee Lake, offers better instructions per clock than the older Kaby Lake design, even at a lower clock speed. The 8100T's 3.10 GHz base clock is significantly lower than the 7350K's 4.20 GHz, yet it still manages to win three of the four single-core tests. This indicates a substantial architectural efficiency improvement.

The Intel Core i3-7350K has one clear domain: Geekbench single-core. Its score of 1488 crushes the 8100T's 1104, a 25.8 percent margin. This is not a close contest; it is a rout. The 7350K's high clock speed appears to be the deciding factor in this benchmark, which likely responds well to raw frequency rather than architectural improvements. For users running legacy software that is heavily single-threaded and frequency-sensitive, the 7350K would be the stronger performer.

In Geekbench multicore, the 7350K is competitive but loses. Its 3018 score trails the 8100T's 3142 by 4.1 percent. This is a smaller gap than the Cinebench multicore margins, suggesting that Geekbench's multicore test does not scale as well with core count, or that the 7350K's higher clock speed partially compensates for its two-core deficit. The 7350K also has a TDP of 60 watts versus the 8100T's 35 watts, which reflects its higher operating frequency and the power budget required to sustain it.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different generations of Intel's Core architecture. The 8100T is built on Coffee Lake, while the 7350K uses Kaby Lake. Both are manufactured on a 14 nm process node at Intel's own foundry, so the underlying transistor geometry is identical. The difference lies in the microarchitecture improvements and feature set that Coffee Lake introduced.

The core counts differ substantially. The 8100T has four cores and four threads, while the 7350K has two cores and four threads. Both support four threads, but the 8100T achieves this with four physical cores, while the 7350K relies on Hyper-Threading to reach four threads from two cores. This explains the multicore performance gap: the 8100T has double the physical core count, which provides a more substantial performance boost than Hyper-Threading alone.

Cache configurations also differ. The 8100T has a 6 MB shared L3 cache, while the 7350K has a 4 MB shared L3 cache. The per-core L1 and L2 caches are identical at 64 KB and 256 KB respectively. The larger L3 cache on the 8100T provides more headroom for data-heavy workloads, though the impact varies by application. The die size for the 8100T is listed as 126 mm², while the 7350K's die size is not recorded in the database.

The integrated graphics differ between the two. The 8100T features UHD Graphics 630, while the 7350K uses Intel HD 630. Both are integrated GPU solutions, but the UHD Graphics 630 is a newer implementation tied to the Coffee Lake architecture. Memory support is identical: both support DDR4 with dual-channel memory buses and 38.4 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The 8100T supports ECC memory, while the 7350K does not. Both use the Intel Socket 1151 and provide PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU.

The 7350K has one unique feature: an unlocked multiplier. This makes it a K-series part designed for overclocking, whereas the 8100T has a locked multiplier. The 7350K's TDP of 60 watts provides thermal headroom for overclocking, though the database does not record any overclocked results. The 8100T's 35 watt TDP is notably lower, positioning it as an energy-efficient part. Their production statuses differ as well: the 8100T is end-of-life, while the 7350K remains active.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more physical cores?

A: The Intel Core i3-8100T has four physical cores and four threads. The Intel Core i3-7350K has two physical cores and four threads, using Hyper-Threading to reach the same thread count.

Q: What is the single biggest performance difference between the two?

A: In Geekbench single-core, the Core i3-7350K scores 1488 against the Core i3-8100T's 1104, a 25.8 percent advantage. This is the largest delta in any benchmark between the two processors.

Q: Does the Core i3-8100T win in all multicore tests?

A: Yes, the 8100T wins in all recorded multicore benchmarks. It leads by 7.9 percent in Cinebench R15 multicore, 7.8 percent in Cinebench R20 multicore, 7.8 percent in Cinebench R23 multicore, and 4.1 percent in Geekbench multicore.

Q: Can the Core i3-7350K be overclocked?

A: Yes, the 7350K has an unlocked multiplier, which enables overclocking. The 8100T has a locked multiplier and cannot be overclocked in the same manner.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory?

A: Both support DDR4 memory with dual-channel configurations and identical memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. However, the 8100T supports ECC memory, while the 7350K does not.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The 8100T has a TDP of 35 watts, while the 7350K has a TDP of 60 watts. The 8100T is the more power-efficient part, despite having more physical cores.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i3-8100T | Intel Core i3-7350K |

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

| Cores | 4 | 2 |

| Threads | 4 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 3.10 GHz | 4.20 GHz |

| TDP | 35 W | 60 W |

| Architecture | Coffee Lake | Kaby Lake |

| Codename | Coffee Lake | Kaby Lake |

| Generation | Core i3 (Coffee Lake) | Core i3 (Kaby Lake) |

| Process Node | 14 nm (Intel) | 14 nm (Intel) |

| Die Size | 126 mm² | Not recorded |

| L3 Cache | 6 MB (shared) | 4 MB (shared) |

| ECC Memory | Supported | Not supported |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 630 | Intel HD 630 |

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

| Release Date | 2018-04-01 | 2017-01-02 |

| Launch MSRP | $117 | Not recorded |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | Yes |

| Part Number | SR3Y8 | SR35B |

| Average Benchmark Score | 1500 | 1462 |

The two processors share several specifications: both use the Intel Socket 1151, both are built on a 14 nm process, both support DDR4 memory with dual-channel buses and 38.4 GB/s bandwidth, and both provide PCIe Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes. The per-core L1 and L2 caches are identical at 64 KB and 256 KB respectively. The key differentiators are core count, base clock, TDP, architecture generation, L3 cache size, ECC support, integrated graphics, production status, release date, and the unlocked multiplier on the 7350K.