Intel Core i3-8100T vs Intel Core i5-5575R Comparison

The Intel Core i3-8100T and Intel Core i5-5575R are both 4-core, 4-thread desktop processors, but they represent two very different eras of Intel design. The data shows a consistent, narrow performance edge for the newer Coffee Lake chip across nearly every rendering workload, while the older Broadwell part manages a single, notable victory in Geekbench multi-core testing. Both CPUs land at the 38th percentile among all CPUs, indicating they occupy a similar, modest performance tier despite their architectural differences.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are remarkably one-sided. The Intel Core i3-8100T wins 7 of the 8 benchmark comparisons, and its victories are consistent across all three Cinebench versions. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i3-8100T scores 450 against the i5-5575R's 435, a 3.4% advantage. The single-core R15 test shows a similar 3.3% gap, with scores of 63 and 61 respectively. This pattern continues through newer rendering tests: Cinebench R20 multi-core has the i3-8100T ahead by 3.3% (1876 vs 1816), and the single-core R20 result shows a 3.1% lead (264 vs 256).

The most recent Cinebench R23 results reinforce the trend. The i3-8100T posts 4467 in multi-core versus 4324 for the i5-5575R, another 3.3% gap. In R23 single-core, the i3-8100T scores 630 against 610, again a 3.3% margin. These are consistent, repeatable differences across the Cinebench suite, suggesting the i3-8100T's higher base clock of 3.10 GHz versus the i5-5575R's 2.80 GHz provides a steady advantage in rendering workloads, even though the i5-5575R has a boost clock of 3.30 GHz.

The one exception to the i3-8100T's dominance is Geekbench multi-core. Here, the i5-5575R scores 3247, beating the i3-8100T's 3142 by 3.2%. This is a notable outlier, as it is the only test where the older chip outperforms the newer one. Interestingly, in Geekbench single-core, the order flips back: the i3-8100T wins with 1104 against 1072, a 3% margin. This split suggests the i5-5575R's architecture handles Geekbench's multi-threaded workload more efficiently, despite losing in every Cinebench multi-core test.

Looking at average scores, the i3-8100T holds a slim overall lead. Its average benchmark score is 1500, compared to 1478 for the i5-5575R, a difference of roughly 1.5%. This places the i3-8100T in close company with the Intel Core i7-3770S (1498, a 0.1% difference) and the Intel Core i5-4590S (1493, a 0.5% difference). The i5-5575R, meanwhile, sits near the Intel Core i5-7500T (1483, a 0.4% gap) and the Intel Core i7-4710HQ (1473, a 0.4% gap). Both chips are effectively peer-classed with a cluster of older i5 and i7 parts.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data paints a clear picture of workload-specific strengths. The Intel Core i3-8100T is the unequivocal winner for rendering and content creation tasks that rely on Cinebench-style performance. It dominates all six Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 tests, with margins consistently hovering around 3.1% to 3.4%. This makes it the better choice for single-threaded responsiveness and multi-threaded render jobs alike, at least within the scope of these benchmarks. Its higher 3.10 GHz base clock appears to provide a more stable performance floor compared to the i5-5575R's lower 2.80 GHz base, despite the latter's boost capability.

The Intel Core i5-5575R's sole victory is in Geekbench multi-core, where it scores 3247 versus 3142. This suggests that in broader, more diverse multi-threaded workloads—those that mix integer, floating-point, and memory operations rather than pure rendering—the Broadwell architecture retains a distinct advantage. The 3.2% margin here is almost exactly the inverse of the i3-8100T's Cinebench leads, indicating that this is not a trivial anomaly but a genuine architectural strength.

In single-core Geekbench, the i3-8100T wins with 1104 against 1072, a 3% margin. This means the two chips split the Geekbench suite, with the i5-5575R taking multi-core and the i3-8100T taking single-core. For users whose primary applications resemble Geekbench's mixed workload, the i5-5575R offers a compelling multi-core advantage. For those running Cinebench or similar renderers, the i3-8100T is the clear pick. Given that the i3-8100T wins 7 of 8 tests, the overall data favors it for general use, but the i5-5575R is not without its niche.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel generations with distinct design philosophies. The Intel Core i3-8100T is built on the Coffee Lake architecture using a 14 nm process with a die size of 126 mm². It features 4 cores and 4 threads with a base clock of 3.10 GHz and no boost clock. Its cache hierarchy consists of 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. Memory support is DDR4 via a dual-channel bus, yielding a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. It also supports ECC memory, a feature typically found in server-oriented parts, and includes integrated UHD Graphics 630. The chip uses the Intel Socket 1151 and is marked as end-of-life, with a launch MSRP of $117.

The Intel Core i5-5575R is a Broadwell architecture part, also on a 14 nm process, but with a significantly larger die size of 182 mm². It has the same 4 cores and 4 threads, but a lower base clock of 2.80 GHz and a boost clock of 3.30 GHz. Its cache structure is smaller in L3: 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and only 4 MB of shared L3 cache. Memory support is DDR3 on a dual-channel bus, providing 29.9 GB/s of bandwidth, which is notably lower than the i3-8100T's 38.4 GB/s. It does not support ECC memory. Its integrated graphics is the more powerful Iris Pro Graphics 6200, and it uses the Intel BGA 1364 socket, meaning it is soldered to the board rather than socketed. It remains in active production, with a launch MSRP of $265.

The process node is identical at 14 nm, but the die size difference is substantial: the i5-5575R is 44% larger, likely due to its more advanced integrated graphics and older design. The i3-8100T compensates for its smaller cache and lack of boost clock with a higher base clock and faster DDR4 memory support. The i5-5575R's boost clock of 3.30 GHz gives it a higher peak frequency than the i3-8100T's fixed 3.10 GHz, yet it still loses in most benchmarks. This suggests the i3-8100T's memory bandwidth advantage and newer architecture provide more efficient instruction execution.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous for most users: the Intel Core i3-8100T is the superior processor for rendering and single-threaded tasks. Its 3.1% to 3.4% lead across all Cinebench tests makes it the stronger choice for anyone running video encoding, 3D rendering, or similar CPU-intensive workloads. The Geekbench multi-core loss to the i5-5575R is a caveat, but it is outweighed by the i3-8100T's wins in 7 of 8 benchmarks and its higher average score of 1500 versus 1478. Additionally, the i3-8100T offers DDR4 support with higher bandwidth (38.4 GB/s vs 29.9 GB/s) and ECC memory capability, making it more versatile for professional or reliability-focused builds.

The Intel Core i5-5575R should be considered only for specific scenarios where its Geekbench multi-core advantage is directly relevant. Its 3247 score in that test is its only meaningful win, and it comes with a lower average benchmark score and a significantly higher launch MSRP of $265 versus $117. However, its Iris Pro Graphics 6200 is likely superior for integrated-graphics gaming, and its active production status means it remains available. For a user prioritizing mixed multi-threaded workloads as measured by Geekbench, the i5-5575R has a niche, but the i3-8100T is the better all-rounder.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i3-8100T has an average benchmark score of 1500, while the Intel Core i5-5575R scores 1478.

Q: How many benchmarks does each processor win?

A: The Intel Core i3-8100T wins 7 out of 8 head-to-head benchmarks. The Intel Core i5-5575R wins 1.

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

A: The largest gap is 3.4%, seen in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where the i3-8100T scores 450 versus 435. The i5-5575R's biggest win is 3.2% in Geekbench multi-core.

Q: Do both CPUs support ECC memory?

A: No. The Intel Core i3-8100T supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i5-5575R does not.

Q: What memory types do they support?

A: The Intel Core i3-8100T supports DDR4 memory, while the Intel Core i5-5575R supports DDR3.

Q: Are both processors on the same manufacturing process?

A: Yes, both are built on a 14 nm process. However, the i3-8100T has a die size of 126 mm², while the i5-5575R has a larger die at 182 mm².