Intel Core i3-8100T vs Intel Core i7-3770S Comparison

The Intel Core i3-8100T and Intel Core i7-3770S present a fascinating generational clash, pitting a modern low-power quad-core from 2018 against an older high-end quad-core from 2012. The overall average benchmark scores are nearly identical — the i3-8100T posts 1500 against the i7-3770S’s 1498 — but that aggregate figure masks wildly divergent performance profiles. The data reveals a processor that wins decisively in one benchmark suite while losing consistently in another, with the victor depending entirely on the workload.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result in the head-to-head data is the Geekbench split, where the Intel Core i3-8100T absolutely dominates. In Geekbench multicore, the i3-8100T scores 3142 against the i7-3770S’s 2220, a 41.5% advantage. The single-core Geekbench gap is even more dramatic: the i3-8100T posts 1104 versus just 655 for the i7-3770S, a 68.5% lead. These are enormous margins that suggest the newer Coffee Lake architecture has a massive efficiency and instruction-per-clock advantage in this particular workload.

However, the Cinebench results tell a completely different story. Across all six Cinebench tests, the older i7-3770S wins every single one. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i7-3770S scores 529 against the i3-8100T’s 450, a 14.9% deficit for the newer chip. The single-core R15 test shows the same 14.9% gap, with 74 points for the i7-3770S versus 63 for the i3-8100T. The pattern holds in Cinebench R20: the i7-3770S leads 2205 to 1876 in multicore and 311 to 264 in single-core, both at 14.9% and 15.1% deltas respectively. Cinebench R23 continues the trend, with the i7-3770S winning multicore 5251 to 4467 and single-core 741 to 630, representing 14.9% and 15% deficits for the i3-8100T.

This creates a puzzling contradiction. The i7-3770S has 8 threads versus the i3-8100T’s 4, which explains its multicore Cinebench wins — more thread-level parallelism helps in rendering workloads. But the single-core Cinebench wins are harder to explain given the i3-8100T’s Geekbench single-core dominance. The data shows the i7-3770S has a 3.90 GHz boost clock, while the i3-8100T has no boost clock listed, meaning it likely stays at its 3.10 GHz base. That 800 MHz frequency advantage in the older chip’s boost state could be decisive in Cinebench, while the newer architecture’s superior IPC shines in Geekbench. The overall win tally goes to the i7-3770S with 6 wins against 2 for the i3-8100T, but the magnitude of the Geekbench victories heavily weights the average scores toward parity.

The Verdict

The choice between these two CPUs depends entirely on the target application, and the data is unambiguous about which chip wins where. For users running Cinebench-style rendering workloads — typically 3D animation, visual effects, or video rendering — the Intel Core i7-3770S is the clear pick. It holds a consistent 14.9% to 15.1% advantage across all three Cinebench versions, and its 8 threads provide tangible benefits for highly parallel rendering tasks. The i7-3770S’s 8 MB of shared L3 cache versus the i3-8100T’s 6 MB also helps in these memory-hungry workloads.

Conversely, for general-purpose computing, system responsiveness, and workloads that resemble Geekbench’s mixed integer and floating-point tests, the Intel Core i3-8100T is dramatically superior. Its 68.5% single-core and 41.5% multicore Geekbench leads indicate a far more efficient core design that excels at everyday tasks. The i3-8100T also consumes less power — 35W TDP versus 65W for the i7-3770S — making it the better choice for compact or energy-conscious builds.

The average benchmark scores are essentially tied, with the i3-8100T at 1500 and the i7-3770S at 1498, a 0.1% difference that puts them as near-identical rivals. Both sit at the 38th percentile of all CPUs. This means neither processor offers a meaningful overall advantage; the decision must be workload-specific. Gamers and general users should favor the i3-8100T, while content creators running rendering software should look to the i7-3770S. The i7-3770S’s 3.90 GHz boost clock gives it a frequency edge, but the i3-8100T’s modern architecture and lower power draw make it the more future-proof choice for typical desktop use.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different eras of Intel silicon. The i3-8100T is built on the Coffee Lake architecture using a 14 nm process node, while the i7-3770S uses the Ivy Bridge architecture on a 22 nm node. This process difference is significant: the 14 nm node is a major shrink from 22 nm, which typically enables higher transistor density and better power efficiency. The i7-3770S does list its transistor count at 1,400 million with a die size of 160 mm², whereas the i3-8100T does not report a transistor count but has a smaller die at 126 mm².

The core configurations differ in threading only: both have 4 physical cores, but the i7-3770S supports 8 threads via Hyper-Threading, while the i3-8100T is limited to 4 threads. This explains the i7-3770S’s Cinebench multicore advantage. Cache hierarchies also differ, with the i7-3770S offering 8 MB of shared L3 cache versus 6 MB on the i3-8100T. Both share the same L1 and L2 cache structure at 64 KB per core and 256 KB per core respectively.

Memory support marks another architectural divide. The i3-8100T supports DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus and a rated bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, while the i7-3770S uses the older DDR3 standard. The i3-8100T also supports ECC memory, a feature absent on the i7-3770S. Integrated graphics differ as well: the i3-8100T ships with UHD Graphics 630, while the i7-3770S has the older Intel HD 4000. Both use the same PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, and both have locked multipliers, preventing overclocking.

The production status also differs — the i3-8100T is marked as end-of-life, while the i7-3770S does not have a listed production status. Release dates show the generational gap: the i7-3770S launched in April 2012, six years before the i3-8100T’s April 2018 release. The i3-8100T carries a launch MSRP of $117, while no MSRP is listed for the older chip.

Specification Differences

The specification table shows several key differences between the two processors. The most obvious is thread count: the i7-3770S has 8 threads versus 4 on the i3-8100T. Boost clock is another differentiator — the i7-3770S boosts to 3.90 GHz, while the i3-8100T has no boost capability listed, running only at its 3.10 GHz base clock. TDP differs substantially, with the i3-8100T at 35W and the i7-3770S at 65W.

Socket compatibility is entirely different: the i3-8100T uses Intel Socket 1151, while the i7-3770S uses the older Intel Socket 1155. Memory type differs as noted, with DDR4 versus DDR3 support. The i7-3770S does not list a memory bandwidth figure, while the i3-8100T lists 38.4 GB/s. ECC memory support is present only on the i3-8100T. The integrated graphics differ, and the process node differs (14 nm vs 22 nm). Transistor count and die size are listed only for the i7-3770S. The cache sizes differ at the L3 level, with 6 MB for the i3-8100T and 8 MB for the i7-3770S. Finally, the release dates are six years apart, and the part numbers differ: SR3Y8 for the i3-8100T and SR0PN for the i7-3770S.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i3-8100T has an average benchmark score of 1500, which is 0.1% higher than the Intel Core i7-3770S’s 1498. Both processors sit at the 38th percentile of all CPUs.

Q: Why does the i7-3770S win in Cinebench but lose in Geekbench?

A: The i7-3770S has 8 threads versus 4 on the i3-8100T, which helps in Cinebench’s rendering workloads. It also has a 3.90 GHz boost clock compared to the i3-8100T’s 3.10 GHz base clock with no boost. However, the i3-8100T’s Coffee Lake architecture delivers superior instructions-per-clock in Geekbench, leading to a 68.5% single-core advantage.

Q: What is the power consumption difference between these two CPUs?

A: The i3-8100T has a 35W TDP, while the i7-3770S has a 65W TDP. This makes the i3-8100T significantly more power-efficient, nearly halving the thermal design power of the older chip.

Q: Can I use the same motherboard for both processors?

A: No. The i3-8100T uses Intel Socket 1151, while the i7-3770S uses Intel Socket 1155. These are different physical sockets and are not interchangeable.

Q: Which CPU supports ECC memory?

A: Only the Intel Core i3-8100T supports ECC memory. The i7-3770S does not have ECC support. Additionally, the i3-8100T uses DDR4 memory while the i7-3770S uses DDR3.

Q: How many Cinebench tests does each processor win?

A: The i7-3770S wins all six Cinebench tests (R15, R20, and R23, each in both single-core and multicore). The i3-8100T wins both Geekbench tests, giving the i7-3770S a 6-2 overall win tally in head-to-head benchmarks.