CPU Comparison

Where Each One Wins

This is not a competitive matchup. The Intel Core i7-13700E wins every single benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, taking all 8 recorded tests. The Intel Core i3-8100 records zero wins. The data is unambiguous: across Cinebench R15, R20, R23, and Geekbench, the i7-13700E is faster in both single-core and multi-core workloads. There is no workload category in the provided data where the i3-8100 comes out ahead.

The i7-13700E’s dominance is most pronounced in multi-threaded rendering tasks. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i7-13700E scores 27,941 against the i3-8100’s 3,769, a delta of -86.5% from the i3-8100’s perspective. That means the i7-13700E delivers roughly seven times the multi-core rendering performance. Similar margins appear across Cinebench R15 multi-core (2,816 vs 379) and R20 multi-core (11,735 vs 1,582). For any workload that scales across cores, video rendering, 3D simulation, batch processing, the i7-13700E is in a completely different tier.

Single-core performance tells a similar story, though with a smaller gap. In Geekbench single-core, the i7-13700E scores 2,437 versus 1,214 for the i3-8100, a 50.2% advantage. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 3,944 versus 532, an 86.5% delta. The older Coffee Lake design is not competitive even in lightly threaded tasks. The i7-13700E’s boost clock of 5.10 GHz, combined with its newer architecture, simply overwhelms the i3-8100’s fixed 3.60 GHz clock.

In short: the i3-8100’s only “win” is that it belongs to a different era. For any modern workload, the i7-13700E is the clear choice based on benchmark results alone.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different generations and fundamentally different designs. The i3-8100 is a Coffee Lake part on a 14 nm process, with a die size of 126 mm². It packs 4 cores and 4 threads, no hyper-threading, and operates at a fixed 3.60 GHz base clock with no boost capability. The i7-13700E is a Raptor Lake-S part on a 10 nm process, with a larger 257 mm² die. It provides 16 cores and 24 threads, a hybrid configuration that combines performance and efficiency cores. Its base clock is listed at 1,900.00 MHz, but it boosts up to 5.10 GHz.

Cache configurations also differ substantially. The i3-8100 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3. The i7-13700E has 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 30 MB of shared L3. That is five times the L3 cache. For workloads that repeatedly access large datasets, the i7-13700E has a significant advantage.

Memory support differs as well. The i3-8100 supports only DDR4 with dual-channel memory and a bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The i7-13700E supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also dual-channel, though its memory bandwidth figure is not listed in the data. The i7-13700E also supports PCIe Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes, while the i3-8100 is limited to PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes. Both CPUs support ECC memory, and both have integrated graphics, UHD Graphics 630 for the i3-8100, UHD Graphics 770 for the i7-13700E.

The i7-13700E has an unlocked multiplier, allowing overclocking. The i3-8100 does not. The i3-8100 is marked as end-of-life production status, while the i7-13700E is active. The i3-8100 uses Socket 1151; the i7-13700E uses Socket 1700. These are not interchangeable platforms.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest win for the i7-13700E comes in Cinebench R23 multi-core: 27,941 versus 3,769, a delta of -86.5% for the i3-8100. That is the single biggest numerical gap in the dataset. Cinebench R20 multi-core follows the same pattern: 11,735 versus 1,582, again -86.5%. Cinebench R15 multi-core shows 2,816 versus 379, also -86.5%. The consistency of the -86.5% delta across all three Cinebench multi-core tests suggests a linear scaling relationship, the i7-13700E’s 16 cores and 24 threads simply outperform the i3-8100’s 4 cores and 4 threads by a near-constant factor.

Single-core Cinebench results show the same -86.5% delta. In R23 single-core, the i7-13700E scores 3,944 versus 532. In R20 single-core, it is 1,656 versus 223. In R15 single-core, 397 versus 53. The i7-13700E’s boost clock of 5.10 GHz, combined with a newer architecture and larger per-core cache, explains this consistent advantage. The i3-8100 has no boost capability, so it cannot dynamically increase its clock under load.

Geekbench results show a smaller but still decisive gap. In Geekbench multi-core, the i7-13700E scores 12,728 versus 3,458, a delta of -72.8%. In single-core, it scores 2,437 versus 1,214, a delta of -50.2%. The single-core Geekbench gap is the smallest in the dataset, but even that represents a 2x performance advantage for the i7-13700E.

There are no benchmark categories where the i3-8100 wins. The head-to-head data lists 8 tests, and the i7-13700E wins all 8. The i3-8100’s closest result is Geekbench single-core, where it trails by 50.2%. Every other test shows a gap of at least 72.8%.

The Verdict

The data supports only one conclusion: the Intel Core i7-13700E is the superior processor by every measurable benchmark metric in this comparison. It wins all 8 head-to-head tests, with multi-core advantages exceeding 86% in Cinebench workloads and single-core advantages ranging from 50.2% to 86.6%. For any user choosing between these two, the i7-13700E is the only rational pick based on performance.

The i3-8100 might still serve in legacy systems or basic tasks where its 4 cores and 3.60 GHz clock are sufficient. Its 65 W TDP matches the i7-13700E’s 65 W TDP, so power draw is not a differentiator. But its end-of-life status, older 14 nm process, smaller cache, and lack of boost clock make it a poor choice for anything beyond entry-level workloads.

The i7-13700E, by contrast, is an active product with an unlocked multiplier, PCIe Gen 5 support, DDR5 compatibility, and a 5.10 GHz boost clock. Its 16 cores and 24 threads provide massive headroom for multi-threaded applications. Its 30 MB of L3 cache and 2 MB per-core L2 cache give it a memory hierarchy that the i3-8100 cannot match.

For users who prioritize multi-core rendering, simulation, or content creation, the i7-13700E is the clear winner. For users who only need a basic desktop CPU for light office work, the i3-8100 could suffice, but the benchmark data shows it is outclassed even in single-core tasks. The verdict is decisive: choose the i7-13700E.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-13700E has 16 cores and 24 threads. The Intel Core i3-8100 has 4 cores and 4 threads.

Q: How much faster is the i7-13700E in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The i7-13700E scores 27,941 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, while the i3-8100 scores 3,769. This represents a delta of -86.5% for the i3-8100, meaning the i7-13700E is roughly 7.4 times faster in this test.

Q: Does the i3-8100 have a boost clock?

A: No. The i3-8100 has a base clock of 3.60 GHz and no boost clock listed. The i7-13700E has a base clock of 1,900.00 MHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz.

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

A: The largest gap is in Geekbench single-core, where the i7-13700E leads by 50.2% (2,437 versus 1,214). All Cinebench tests show a delta of -86.5% or -86.6%, which are larger percentage gaps.

Q: Do both CPUs support ECC memory?

A: Yes. Both the Intel Core i3-8100 and the Intel Core i7-13700E support ECC memory.

Q: Which CPU has a larger L3 cache?

A: The i7-13700E has 30 MB of shared L3 cache. The i3-8100 has 6 MB of shared L3 cache.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i3-8100 | Intel Core i7-13700E |

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

| Cores | 4 | 16 |

| Threads | 4 | 24 |

| Base Clock | 3.60 GHz | 1,900.00 MHz |

| Boost Clock | None | 5.10 GHz |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1151 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Architecture | Coffee Lake | Raptor Lake |

| Codename | Coffee Lake | Raptor Lake-S |

| Generation | Core i3 (Coffee Lake) | Core i7 (Raptor Lake) |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 10 nm |

| Die Size | 126 mm² | 257 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 80 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 256 KB (per core) | 2 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 6 MB (shared) | 30 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Dual-channel |

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

| PCIe | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 630 | UHD Graphics 770 |

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

| Release Date | 2017-10-04 | 2023-01-03 |

| Launch MSRP | $117 | Not listed |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | Yes |

| Part Number | SR3N5 | SRMG3 |