CPU Comparison

The Intel Core i5-7500 and Intel Core i3-8100 are both 4-core, 4-thread desktop processors on the Intel Socket 1151 platform, yet benchmark results reveal they are not interchangeable. The i5-7500 dominates in rendering and productivity workloads, while the i3-8100 counters in several PassMark math and encryption tests. With the i5-7500 winning 13 of 19 head-to-head comparisons, the data paints a clear picture of two chips optimized for different tasks despite their similar core counts.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-7500 is the decisive winner in Cinebench workloads, a category that stresses sustained multi-threaded and single-threaded CPU performance. Across all six Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 tests, the i5-7500 leads by a consistent margin of roughly 36%. This is a massive advantage in 3D rendering, video encoding, and any application that relies on Cinebench-style ray tracing or OpenGL performance. The i5-7500 also takes Geekbench multicore and singlecore tests, though by a much narrower margin of 4.7% and 5.2% respectively, indicating a more general-purpose edge in everyday computing tasks.

The i3-8100, by contrast, wins the PassMark math-oriented tests. It leads in floating point math by 4.4%, integer math by 2.6%, and extended instructions by 3.3%. These results suggest the i3-8100 has a slight edge in scientific computing, financial modeling, and other workloads that are heavy on arithmetic operations rather than memory latency or branch prediction. The i3-8100 also ekes out wins in data encryption (0.6%), random string sorting (0.2%), and PassMark multithread (1%), showing that it is not entirely outclassed in every parallel workload.

The divide is stark: the i5-7500 is the renderer and general-purpose champion, while the i3-8100 is the math coprocessor that wins when the task is pure calculation. For users who run Cinebench, Blender, or similar rendering software, the i5-7500 is the only choice. For users who run scientific simulations or heavy spreadsheet calculations, the i3-8100’s PassMark wins are notable, though the margins are small.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on Intel’s 14 nm process node and use the same socket, but they belong to different architectures. The i5-7500 is Kaby Lake, while the i3-8100 is Coffee Lake. This generation gap explains many of the performance differences. Both have 4 cores and 4 threads, with identical cache hierarchies: 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 6 MB shared L3. The i3-8100 has a published die size of 126 mm², while the i5-7500 does not list a die size in the data.

Clock speeds diverge significantly. The i5-7500 has a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 3.80 GHz, while the i3-8100 has a base clock of 3.60 GHz but no boost clock listed. This means the i3-8100 runs at a fixed frequency, whereas the i5-7500 can dynamically increase its clock under load. The i5-7500’s boost capability likely contributes to its massive Cinebench lead, as it can sustain higher frequencies when thermal headroom allows.

Memory support is identical: both support DDR4 on a dual-channel bus with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth. However, the i3-8100 supports ECC memory, while the i5-7500 does not. This is a significant feature for workstation users who require error-correcting memory for data integrity. The integrated graphics differ as well: the i5-7500 has HD 630, while the i3-8100 has UHD Graphics 630. Both use the same PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The i3-8100 is marked as end-of-life, while the i5-7500 is still active in production.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The biggest wins for the i5-7500 come in Cinebench, where the deltaPct is remarkably consistent. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i5-7500 scores 517 against 379 for the i3-8100, a 36.4% lead. Single-core R15 shows 72 versus 53, a 35.8% lead. This pattern repeats in R20 (2155 vs 1582, 36.2% multicore; 304 vs 223, 36.3% singlecore) and R23 (5133 vs 3769, 36.2% multicore; 724 vs 532, 36.1% singlecore). The consistency of the ~36% delta across all Cinebench versions indicates a fundamental architectural advantage, not a benchmark-specific anomaly.

Geekbench results are closer but still favor the i5-7500. Multicore shows 3619 vs 3458, a 4.7% lead, while singlecore shows 1277 vs 1214, a 5.2% lead. These margins are more representative of real-world application performance where the i5-7500’s boost clock helps but the i3-8100’s higher base clock keeps things competitive.

The i3-8100’s wins are narrower but spread across several PassMark tests. The largest is floating point math, where it scores 13774 vs 13174, a 4.4% lead. Integer math shows 16191 vs 15768, a 2.6% lead. Extended instructions show 7212 vs 6971, a 3.3% lead. Data encryption is a near tie at 1828 vs 1817, a 0.6% edge for the i3-8100. PassMark multithread shows 6086 vs 6028, a 1% lead. Random string sorting shows 10150 vs 10134, a 0.2% edge.

The i5-7500 also wins several smaller PassMark tests: data compression by 0.3% (83250 vs 82992), prime numbers by 3.7% (28 vs 27), physics by 1.9% (471 vs 462), and single-thread by 2.3% (2253 vs 2203). The pattern is clear: the i5-7500 wins memory-sensitive and latency-sensitive tests, while the i3-8100 wins raw arithmetic throughput.

The Verdict

From the data, the Intel Core i5-7500 is the superior processor for the majority of workloads. It wins 13 of 19 head-to-head benchmarks, including every Cinebench test and every Geekbench test. The ~36% Cinebench advantage is not marginal; it is a generational leap that makes the i5-7500 the clear pick for any user running rendering, 3D modeling, or video editing software that scales with Cinebench performance. The i5-7500 also has a boost clock, which is an advantage in bursty single-threaded tasks.

The Intel Core i3-8100 is not without merit. Its wins in floating point math, integer math, and extended instructions are real, and it offers ECC memory support, which the i5-7500 lacks. For users building a low-cost workstation that requires error-correcting memory and runs calculation-heavy applications, the i3-8100 is the defensible choice. However, the margins here are small (0.2% to 4.4%), while the i5-7500’s Cinebench wins are enormous.

The i3-8100’s higher base clock of 3.60 GHz does not translate into overall superiority, likely because the i5-7500’s boost clock of 3.80 GHz provides a higher sustained frequency when needed. The i3-8100 is also listed as end-of-life, while the i5-7500 remains active, which may matter for long-term availability. The verdict is straightforward: choose the i5-7500 for general-purpose and rendering workloads, choose the i3-8100 only if ECC memory support is a requirement or if the specific PassMark math tests are the primary workload.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The Intel Core i5-7500 scores 5133 in Cinebench R23 multicore, while the Intel Core i3-8100 scores 3769. The i5-7500 leads by 36.2%.

Q: Does the Intel Core i3-8100 support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the i3-8100 supports ECC memory. The i5-7500 does not support ECC memory.

Q: What are the clock speeds of these two chips?

A: The i5-7500 has a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 3.80 GHz. The i3-8100 has a base clock of 3.60 GHz and no boost clock listed.

Q: Which CPU wins the PassMark floating point math test?

A: The Intel Core i3-8100 wins floating point math with a score of 13774, compared to 13174 for the i5-7500, a 4.4% advantage.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The i5-7500 has an average benchmark score of 8208, while the i3-8100 has an average score of 8123. The i5-7500 is 1% higher, placing both at the 64th percentile of all CPUs.

Q: Are both processors on the same socket and process node?

A: Yes, both use Intel Socket 1151 and are built on Intel’s 14 nm process node. The i5-7500 is Kaby Lake, while the i3-8100 is Coffee Lake.