Intel Core i3-9100 vs Intel Core i7-4870HQ Comparison

# Intel Core i3-9100 vs Intel Core i7-4870HQ

The Intel Core i3-9100 and Intel Core i7-4870HQ represent two very different design philosophies from Intel. The i3-9100 is a desktop-oriented, 14nm Coffee Lake Refresh part with a 4-core, 4-thread configuration. The i7-4870HQ, on the other hand, is a 22nm Crystalwell mobile processor that brings 4 cores and 8 threads to the table. Their benchmark profiles, recorded in the database, show a decisive pattern: the i3-9100 wins the vast majority of head-to-head comparisons, with 7 wins against 1 for the i7-4870HQ. However, the i7-4870HQ fights back in one notable metric.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

Looking at the recorded Cinebench and Geekbench results, the two CPUs split the field in a consistent pattern. In the Cinebench R15 multi-core test, the i3-9100 scores 566 against 540 for the i7-4870HQ, a 4.8% advantage. The single-core R15 result is 79 versus 76, a 3.9% edge for the i3. The pattern repeats in Cinebench R20: the i3-9100 posts 2361 versus 2253 in multi-core (4.8% ahead) and 333 versus 317 in single-core (5.0% ahead). The R23 suite shows the same story, with the i3-9100 at 5622 versus 5366 in multi-core (4.8% ahead) and 793 versus 757 in single-core (4.8% ahead).

The most decisive victory for the i3-9100 comes in Geekbench multi-core, where it scores 3403 against 3701 for the i7-4870HQ. That is an 8.1% deficit for the i7, a significant gap in raw throughput. The i3-9100 also takes the Geekbench single-core test with 1290 against 1143, a 12.9% advantage. Overall, the i3-9100 wins 7 of the 8 recorded head-to-head comparisons. The i7-4870HQ takes only the Geekbench multi-core test, where its 8 threads prove advantageous in a heavily parallel workload.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in Cinebench R15 multi-core?

A: The Intel Core i3-9100 is faster, scoring 566 versus 540 for the i7-4870HQ, a 4.8% lead.

Q: How do they compare in Cinebench R20 single-core?

A: The i3-9100 leads by 5.0% in this test, scoring 333 against 317.

Q: What is the result in Geekbench multi-core?

A: The i7-4870HQ wins here, scoring 3701 against 3403. The i3-9100 trails by 8.1%.

Q: Which CPU wins the most benchmarks?

A: The Intel Core i3-9100 wins 7 of the 8 recorded comparisons, including all Cinebench tests and Geekbench single-core.

Q: How big is the difference in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The i3-9100 scores 5622, which is 4.8% higher than the 5366 of the i7-4870HQ.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two processors is substantial. The i3-9100 uses the Coffee Lake architecture on a 14nm process node, with a die size of 126 mm². The i7-4870HQ is built on the older Haswell architecture, using a 22nm process with a much larger die of 264 mm². The i3-9100 is a quad-core part with 4 threads, while the i7-4870HQ offers 4 cores and 8 threads.

Cache layouts also differ. The i3-9100 carries 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, plus 6 MB of shared L3. The i7-4870HQ uses the same per-core L1 and L2 allocation (64 KB and 256 KB), but its 6 MB of L3 is also shared. Both parts run 65W and 47W respectively, but the i7-4870HQ is a mobile chip with integrated graphics, while the i3-9100 is a desktop part.

The i3-9100 supports DDR4 memory on a dual-channel bus with ECC support, and includes UHD Graphics 630 integrated graphics. The i7-4870HQ supports DDR3, also dual-channel, but without ECC, and uses Intel HD 5200 graphics. The i3-9100 supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, while the i7-4870HQ also supports Gen 3 with 16 lanes. The i7-4870HQ includes a large 1,400 million transistor count, against no listed transistor count for the i3-9100.

Specification Differences

| Field | Intel Core i3-9100 | Intel Core i7-4870HQ |

| :--- | :--- | :--- |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1151 | Intel BGA 1364 |

| Architecture | Coffee Lake | Haswell |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 22 nm |

| Die Size | 126 mm² | 264 mm² |

| Transistors | Not listed | 1,400 million |

| Base Clock | 3.60 GHz | 2.50 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.20 GHz | 3.70 GHz |

| TDP | 65W | 47W |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR3 |

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 630 | Intel HD 5200 |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

Where Each One Wins

The recorded data points to a simple division of labor. The Intel Core i3-9100 is the stronger pick in almost every tested workload. It wins all Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 comparisons, both multi-core and single-core, with margins ranging from 3.9% to 5.0%. In Geekbench single-core, it again takes the lead with a 12.9% advantage.

The Intel Core i7-4870HQ fights back in Geekbench multi-core. Its 8 threads let it score 3701 against 3403, a victory of 8.1%. This is the one area where the i7's additional thread count is directly visible in the data.

For a desktop user, the i3-9100 is the generally stronger performer. For a mobile workload that can spread across eight threads, the i7-4870HQ has a specific edge, but the i3-9100 remains the faster chip in the majority of the recorded comparisons.

The Verdict

From the benchmark database, the Intel Core i3-9100 is the pick for the vast majority of users. It sweeps all but one head-to-head comparison, posting 4.8% to 12.9% wins in single-threaded and multi-core work. The only stain on its record is GeekBench multicore, where the i7-4870HQ's thread advantage shows: a score of 3701 against 3403, a 8.1% win.

The Intel Core i7-4870HQ is a niche part: it is a mobile, 47W part with a 22nm process and integrated Iris Pro 5200 graphics. Its value appears in a specific workload, namely Geekbench's highly threaded multi-core test. The Core i3-9100 is the more balanced, more consistent performer in this comparison, and the one the data recommends for general desktop duty.

The i3-9100 also brings longer platform support through DDR4 and a modern ECC memory controller, a newer socket, and a smaller 14nm process. The i7-4870HQ is not a bad processor, but its 8 threads and mobile design only have that one niche where it can win. If the workload is heavily threaded and mobile, the i7-4870HQ has a reason to exist; otherwise, the i3-9100 is the measured faster part in 7 of 8 recorded benchmarks.