Intel Core i3-9100E vs Intel Pentium Gold G7400T Comparison

The Intel Pentium Gold G7400T and the Intel Core i3-9100E are two desktop processors separated by nearly four years of release dates, with the Pentium Gold launching on 2022-01-03 and the Core i3 launching on 2018-08-31. Despite the newer architecture of the Pentium Gold, the benchmark data consistently favors the older Core i3 in every tested workload. The Core i3-9100E holds a commanding lead across all six Cinebench tests, with the Pentium Gold G7400T trailing by roughly 19% in every scenario. The Pentium Gold does offer a newer platform with PCIe Gen 5 support, but the data shows that raw processing power remains firmly in the Core i3's corner. Both processors share a 39th percentile ranking among all CPUs, yet the Core i3 achieves this with a higher average benchmark score of 1605 compared to the Pentium Gold's 1628, which is a statistical near-tie.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more physical cores?

A: The Intel Core i3-9100E has 4 physical cores, while the Intel Pentium Gold G7400T has only 2 physical cores. Both processors support 4 threads, meaning the Core i3 runs one thread per core while the Pentium Gold uses hyper-threading to reach its 4 threads.

Q: How do the two processors compare in single-core performance?

A: The Core i3-9100E wins every single-core benchmark. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 783 versus the Pentium Gold's 632, a 19.3% advantage. The same pattern holds in Cinebench R20 single-core (328 vs 265) and Cinebench R15 single-core (78 vs 63).

Q: What is the difference in average benchmark scores between the two?

A: The Pentium Gold G7400T has an average benchmark score of 1628, while the Core i3-9100E has an average of 1605. The Pentium Gold is actually slightly higher by 23 points, but its nearest rival list includes the Intel Core i3-9100T at 1620, showing the two are in a very close performance band.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: No. The Pentium Gold G7400T supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, whereas the Core i3-9100E supports only DDR4. The Core i3 does offer a specified memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, while the Pentium Gold's bandwidth is not listed in the data.

Q: Which processor has a smaller manufacturing process?

A: The Pentium Gold G7400T is built on a 10 nm process, while the Core i3-9100E uses a 14 nm process. The Pentium Gold's die size is not listed, but the Core i3 has a die size of 126 mm².

Q: Are both processors still in production?

A: No. The Pentium Gold G7400T is listed as "Active" in production status, while the Core i3-9100E is listed as "End-of-life." The Pentium Gold also has a newer release date of 2022-01-03 compared to the Core i3's 2018-08-31.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations and are built for different sockets. The Pentium Gold G7400T uses the Alder Lake architecture (specifically Alder Lake-S) and fits into Intel Socket 1700, while the Core i3-9100E uses the Coffee Lake architecture (Coffee Lake Refresh) and fits into Intel Socket 1151. The manufacturing process differs significantly: the Pentium Gold is fabricated on a 10 nm node, whereas the Core i3 uses a larger 14 nm node. The Pentium Gold's smaller process node is a key architectural advantage, but the Core i3 compensates with a larger die size of 126 mm², a figure not provided for the Pentium Gold.

The core configurations are fundamentally different. The Pentium Gold has 2 cores and 4 threads, relying on hyper-threading to double its thread count. The Core i3 has 4 cores and 4 threads, with no hyper-threading. This means the Core i3 has twice the physical core count, which heavily influences multi-threaded workloads. Cache layouts also differ: the Pentium Gold has 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, while the Core i3 has 64 KB of L1 per core and 256 KB of L2 per core. Both share 6 MB of L3 cache, but the Pentium Gold's larger per-core L2 cache suggests a different cache hierarchy design.

Memory support is another split. The Pentium Gold supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory with a dual-channel bus, while the Core i3 supports only DDR4, also dual-channel, with a specified bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. PCIe connectivity is notably different: the Pentium Gold offers Gen 5, while the Core i3 offers Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics differ as well, with the Pentium Gold featuring UHD Graphics 710 and the Core i3 featuring UHD Graphics 630. The Core i3 also supports ECC memory, a feature absent from the Pentium Gold. Power and thermal envelopes are distinct: the Pentium Gold has a TDP of 35 watts, while the Core i3 has a TDP of 65 watts.

The Verdict

The benchmark data points decisively to the Intel Core i3-9100E as the stronger performer. It wins all six head-to-head Cinebench tests, with delta percentages between -19.2% and -19.3% in favor of the Core i3. This consistent margin across both single-core and multi-core tests indicates a fundamental performance advantage, not just a workload-specific quirk. The Core i3's 4 physical cores give it a structural edge in multi-threaded tasks, but its victory in single-core tests suggests its higher boost clock of 3.70 GHz (versus the Pentium Gold's lack of a listed boost clock) also plays a role.

The Pentium Gold G7400T does have advantages in platform modernity. Its 10 nm process, DDR5 support, and PCIe Gen 5 are all newer features. However, none of these translate into benchmark wins. The data shows the Pentium Gold's average benchmark score of 1628 is slightly higher than the Core i3's 1605, but this is within the noise of their nearest rival lists, where the Pentium Gold's closest rival (Intel Core i3-9100T) sits at 1620 and the Core i3's closest rival (Intel Xeon E3-1240L v5) sits at 1609. For users prioritizing raw compute performance, the Core i3-9100E is the clear choice. For users prioritizing a modern platform with lower power consumption (35W TDP vs 65W), the Pentium Gold is the only option, but they will sacrifice roughly 19% performance in every benchmark.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in almost every major specification category. The Pentium Gold G7400T has 2 cores and 4 threads, while the Core i3-9100E has 4 cores and 4 threads. The base clock is identical at 3.10 GHz for both, but the Core i3 has a boost clock of 3.70 GHz while the Pentium Gold has no listed boost clock. TDP differs significantly: 35 watts for the Pentium Gold versus 65 watts for the Core i3. The socket is different (Intel Socket 1700 vs Intel Socket 1151), as is the architecture (Alder Lake vs Coffee Lake) and process node (10 nm vs 14 nm).

Cache configurations vary substantially. The Pentium Gold has 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, while the Core i3 has 64 KB of L1 per core and 256 KB of L2 per core. Both have 6 MB of shared L3 cache. Memory support differs: the Pentium Gold supports DDR4 and DDR5, while the Core i3 supports only DDR4. The Core i3 lists a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, while the Pentium Gold's is not provided. ECC memory is supported on the Core i3 but not on the Pentium Gold. PCIe generation differs (Gen 5 vs Gen 3, 16 lanes CPU only). Integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 710 on the Pentium Gold and UHD Graphics 630 on the Core i3. The Core i3 has a listed die size of 126 mm², while the Pentium Gold's is not listed. Release dates are 2022-01-03 for the Pentium Gold and 2018-08-31 for the Core i3. Production status is Active for the Pentium Gold and End-of-life for the Core i3.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Core i3-9100E wins every benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, with a consistent margin. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Core i3 scores 559 against the Pentium Gold's 451, a delta of -19.3%. The single-core R15 test shows a similar pattern: 78 for the Core i3 versus 63 for the Pentium Gold, also -19.3%. Moving to Cinebench R20, the Core i3 scores 2330 in multicore and 328 in single-core, against the Pentium Gold's 1882 and 265, respectively. Both R20 deltas are -19.2%. In Cinebench R23, the Core i3 again leads with 5549 multicore and 783 single-core, versus the Pentium Gold's 4482 and 632. The R23 multicore delta is -19.2%, and the single-core delta is -19.3%.

These results are remarkably uniform. Whether the workload is heavily multi-threaded (R23 multicore) or purely single-threaded (R15 single-core), the Core i3 holds roughly the same 19% advantage. This suggests the Core i3's higher boost clock of 3.70 GHz is doing heavy lifting in single-threaded tasks, while its extra two physical cores drive the multi-threaded wins. The Pentium Gold's newer 10 nm process and larger per-core L2 cache (1.25 MB vs 256 KB) do not overcome the Core i3's architectural advantages in these tests. The data shows no benchmark where the Pentium Gold even comes close to matching the Core i3, with the smallest gap being 19.2%.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i3-9100E wins in every measurable performance category. For users running multi-threaded applications like video encoding, 3D rendering, or compilation, the Core i3's 4 physical cores provide a 19.2% advantage in Cinebench R23 multicore (5549 vs 4482). For single-threaded workloads like legacy software or lightly-threaded games, the Core i3's boost clock of 3.70 GHz delivers a 19.3% advantage in Cinebench R15 single-core (78 vs 63). The Core i3 also wins in every intermediate test, including Cinebench R20 (2330 vs 1882 multicore, 328 vs 265 single-core). Its ECC memory support makes it suitable for error-sensitive computing tasks, and its 38.4 GB/s memory bandwidth provides a specified throughput that the Pentium Gold lacks.

The Intel Pentium Gold G7400T wins in platform features rather than raw benchmarks. Its 10 nm process node is more advanced than the Core i3's 14 nm node, potentially offering better power efficiency per transistor. The 35-watt TDP is nearly half the Core i3's 65-watt TDP, making it more suitable for power-constrained or compact builds. The Pentium Gold supports DDR5 memory, which is a newer standard that the Core i3 cannot use, and it offers PCIe Gen 5 connectivity versus the Core i3's Gen 3. Its integrated UHD Graphics 710 is a newer generation than the Core i3's UHD Graphics 630. The Pentium Gold is also listed as Active in production, while the Core i3 is End-of-life, meaning the Pentium Gold has ongoing availability. For users who need a low-power, modern-platform processor and can accept a consistent 19% performance deficit, the Pentium Gold is the only choice. For anyone prioritizing compute performance, the Core i3-9100E wins outright.