CPU Comparison

The Intel Core i3-9100E and Intel Core i7-1060G7 occupy nearly the same position in the overall performance distribution, with the desktop part landing at the 39th percentile and the mobile part also at the 39th percentile. Their average benchmark scores sit remarkably close: the i3-9100E averages 1605 points, while the i7-1060G7 averages 1591 points, a delta of just 0.9%. What makes this matchup compelling is that these two processors achieve parity through entirely different design philosophies, one is a power-hungry desktop chip, the other an ultra-low-power mobile part. The data shows a consistent, if narrow, advantage for the i3-9100E across every single Cinebench test, but the margins are so slim that they invite questions about where each chip actually excels beyond raw rendering scores.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results paint a picture of near-total parity, with the i3-9100E winning all six head-to-head comparisons by a hair. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the desktop chip scores 559 against the i7-1060G7’s 554, a 0.9% lead. The single-core R15 test is a dead heat: both chips score exactly 78 points, with a delta of 0%. This tie is notable because it suggests that despite the i7-1060G7’s higher boost clock of 3.80 GHz versus the i3-9100E’s 3.70 GHz, the architectural differences cancel out at the single-thread level in this older workload.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the pattern repeats. The i3-9100E posts 2330 points in multi-core versus 2310 for the i7-1060G7, again a 0.9% difference. Single-core R20 sees the i3-9100E at 328 and the i7-1060G7 at 325, maintaining that same 0.9% edge. The most recent Cinebench R23 results continue the trend: 5549 versus 5500 in multi-core, and 783 versus 776 in single-core, with the i3-9100E ahead by 0.9% in both cases.

The uniformity of these margins is striking. Every multi-core and single-core test in R20 and R23 shows exactly a 0.9% delta, which points to a consistent clock-for-clock or instruction-level advantage for the Coffee Lake architecture rather than any workload-specific strength. The i7-1060G7 has two additional threads, 8 total versus the i3-9100E’s 4, yet it still loses in multi-core tests. This suggests that the i3-9100E’s higher base clock of 3.10 GHz versus the i7-1060G7’s 1000.00 MHz (1.00 GHz) base clock provides a massive sustained-throughput advantage that hyper-threading cannot overcome. The i7-1060G7’s boost clock of 3.80 GHz is higher, but the data implies it cannot sustain that frequency under all-core loads, likely due to its 9 W TDP constraint.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from different architectural generations and manufacturing nodes. The i3-9100E is built on Coffee Lake, a 14 nm process, with a die size of 126 mm². The i7-1060G7 uses Ice Lake, specifically the Sunny Cove-Y microarchitecture, on a 10 nm process with a slightly smaller die at 123 mm². Both are manufactured by Intel, but the node shrink gives the i7-1060G7 a density advantage that allows for more cache and features within a similar physical footprint.

Cache configurations differ meaningfully. The i3-9100E has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, while the i7-1060G7 has 80 KB per core. L2 cache is identical at 256 KB per core. The shared L3 cache favors the i7-1060G7 with 8 MB versus the i3-9100E’s 6 MB. This 2 MB additional L3 cache could help the mobile chip in latency-sensitive workloads, though the benchmark data does not show a clear win for it in Cinebench.

Thread counts diverge: the i3-9100E is a 4-core, 4-thread part, while the i7-1060G7 is 4-core, 8-thread with hyper-threading. The i7-1060G7 also has a quad-channel memory bus, whereas the i3-9100E uses dual-channel. Interestingly, the i3-9100E has a stated memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, while the i7-1060G7’s bandwidth is listed as null in the data, suggesting the quad-channel interface may not translate to a higher measured figure in this context. The i3-9100E supports ECC memory; the i7-1060G7 does not.

Integrated graphics differ as well: the i3-9100E pairs with UHD Graphics 630, while the i7-1060G7 uses Iris Plus. The i7-1060G7’s mobile segment means it is soldered to a BGA 1440 socket, whereas the i3-9100E uses the desktop LGA 1151 socket. Production status also splits them: the i3-9100E is end-of-life, while the i7-1060G7 remains active.

FAQ

Q: Why does the i3-9100E win all multi-core tests despite having fewer threads?

A: The i3-9100E has a base clock of 3.10 GHz compared to the i7-1060G7’s 1000.00 MHz base clock. The desktop chip’s much higher sustained frequency, enabled by its 65 W TDP, allows it to outperform the mobile part’s 8 threads with just 4 threads. The i7-1060G7’s 9 W TDP likely limits how long it can hold its 3.80 GHz boost under load.

Q: Is there any test where the i7-1060G7 wins?

A: No. The head-to-head data shows the i3-9100E winning 6 benchmarks and the i7-1060G7 winning 0. The closest result is the Cinebench R15 single-core test, where both score exactly 78 points, resulting in a 0% delta and a nominal win for the i3-9100E.

Q: How does the i7-1060G7 compare to its own nearest rivals?

A: The i7-1060G7’s average score of 1591 places it 0.3% ahead of the Intel Core i3-8300T (1586), 0.8% behind the Intel Core i3-9100E (1605), 1.1% behind the Intel Xeon E3-1240L v5 (1609), and 1.2% behind the Intel Core i7-10610U (1611). It sits right in the middle of that pack.

Q: What does the 39th percentile ranking mean for these chips?

A: Both processors land at the 39th percentile among all CPUs in the database. This means they outperform roughly 39% of tested processors, placing them in the lower-middle tier. Their average scores differ by only 14 points (1605 versus 1591), confirming they are effectively equivalent in overall performance.

Q: Does the i7-1060G7’s larger L3 cache provide any measurable benefit?

A: The i7-1060G7 has 8 MB of shared L3 cache versus the i3-9100E’s 6 MB, but the benchmark results do not show a workload where this advantage translates into a win. In Cinebench tests, the i3-9100E consistently edges ahead, suggesting that cache size alone does not overcome the clock speed deficit.

Q: Which chip has better memory support?

A: The i7-1060G7 has a quad-channel memory bus, while the i3-9100E uses dual-channel. However, the i3-9100E has a listed memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, whereas the i7-1060G7’s bandwidth is not specified in the data. The i3-9100E also supports ECC memory, which the i7-1060G7 lacks.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every fundamental specification category. Clock speeds show the largest gap: the i3-9100E runs at a 3.10 GHz base and 3.70 GHz boost, while the i7-1060G7 has a 1000.00 MHz base and 3.80 GHz boost. TDP is a stark contrast, 65 W for the i3-9100E versus 9 W for the i7-1060G7. The i3-9100E uses Intel Socket 1151, the i7-1060G7 uses Intel BGA 1440.

Architecturally, the i3-9100E is Coffee Lake on 14 nm with a 126 mm² die, while the i7-1060G7 is Ice Lake (Sunny Cove-Y) on 10 nm with a 123 mm² die. Core counts match at 4, but threads differ: 4 for the i3-9100E, 8 for the i7-1060G7. L1 cache is 64 KB per core on the i3-9100E versus 80 KB per core on the i7-1060G7, while L3 is 6 MB versus 8 MB. L2 cache is identical at 256 KB per core.

Memory channels differ (dual versus quad), and ECC support is present only on the i3-9100E. PCIe configuration also varies: the i3-9100E lists Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i7-1060G7 simply lists Gen 3 without lane specifics. Integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 630 on the desktop part and Iris Plus on the mobile part. Release dates are about 11 months apart, and the i3-9100E has a launch MSRP of $122, while the i7-1060G7 has no listed MSRP.

The Verdict

The data supports a straightforward conclusion: the Intel Core i3-9100E is the faster processor in every measured benchmark, but only by a razor-thin 0.9% margin in most tests and 0% in one. For users who need maximum rendering performance, the i3-9100E is the pick, especially given its ECC memory support and 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes for desktop expansion. The i7-1060G7, however, offers the same level of performance at a fraction of the power draw, with its 9 W TDP versus 65 W. That makes it the only rational choice for fanless or ultra-portable designs, where the i3-9100E’s socketed form factor and power requirements would be disqualifying.

The i3-9100E’s end-of-life status is a concern for new designs, while the i7-1060G7 remains active. But for raw compute, the i3-9100E’s higher base clock is the deciding factor. The two chips are so close in average score that the 39th percentile ranking for both is almost a rounding error, yet the i3-9100E wins every single head-to-head. That consistency, even at tiny margins, makes it the benchmark champion.

Where Each One Wins

The i3-9100E wins in every scenario where sustained CPU throughput matters. Its 3.10 GHz base clock ensures that even under full load, all four cores run at a high frequency. The 65 W TDP allows for robust cooling solutions, whether a stock cooler or a capable air cooler, enabling the chip to maintain performance indefinitely. Its 38.4 GB/s memory bandwidth and ECC support make it suitable for entry-level workstation tasks where data integrity is critical. The 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes provide direct connectivity for discrete GPUs or NVMe storage, which the i7-1060G7’s unspecified lane count cannot guarantee.

The i7-1060G7 wins in scenarios where power efficiency is paramount. Its 9 W TDP is a fraction of the i3-9100E’s 65 W, enabling passive cooling in thin-and-light laptops. The 8 threads provide better multitasking headroom in bursty, short-duration workloads, even if sustained all-core loads cause thermal throttling. The Iris Plus graphics are a step up from UHD Graphics 630, making the i7-1060G7 better suited for light gaming or media tasks without a discrete GPU. Its 8 MB L3 cache and 80 KB L1 per core may also benefit certain cache-sensitive applications, though the Cinebench data does not demonstrate this. For a mobile device that needs occasional desktop-class compute, the i7-1060G7 is the clear winner, but for a desktop that never sleeps, the i3-9100E’s consistent 0.9% lead across all tests makes it the benchmark king.