Intel Core i3-9100F vs Intel Core i7-1180G7 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a consistent and sweeping victory for the Intel Core i7-1180G7 across every single Cinebench test in the comparison. The Intel Core i3-9100F does not register a single win in the head-to-head results, with the i7-1180G7 taking all six benchmark comparisons. The margin of victory is remarkably uniform, hovering around 17% in every test, which points to a fundamental architectural and feature advantage rather than a workload-specific strength.

Starting with the multi-core tests, the i7-1180G7 scores 672 in Cinebench R15 multi-core against 574 for the i3-9100F, a delta of 17.1%. Moving to Cinebench R20 multi-core, the i7-1180G7 posts 2802 while the i3-9100F manages 2392, again a 17.1% gap. In the more demanding Cinebench R23 multi-core test, the i7-1180G7 reaches 6672, while the i3-9100F scores 5697, maintaining that same 17.1% advantage. These results indicate that the i7-1180G7's multi-threaded performance is consistently superior across different rendering workloads, despite the i3-9100F having a significantly higher base clock.

Single-core results tell the same story. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the i7-1180G7 scores 94 versus 80 for the i3-9100F, a 17.5% lead. Cinebench R20 single-core shows 395 for the i7-1180G7 and 337 for the i3-9100F, a 17.2% advantage. The Cinebench R23 single-core test has the i7-1180G7 at 942 and the i3-9100F at 804, another 17.2% margin. The consistency of these deltas, from 17.1% to 17.5%, suggests that the performance difference is structural and applies equally to both single-threaded and multi-threaded tasks.

The average benchmark score for the i7-1180G7 is 1930, placing it at the 43rd percentile among all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Opteron 6348 at an identical 1930 score, the Intel Core i3-10300 at 1934 with a -0.2% delta, the Intel Xeon E3-1231 v3 at 1925 with a 0.3% delta, and the Intel Core i3-10305T at 1922 with a 0.4% delta. The i3-9100F, by comparison, has an average benchmark score of 1903, also at the 43rd percentile. Its nearest rivals are the AMD Ryzen 3 5125C at 1902 with a 0.1% delta, the Intel Xeon E5-2620 v3 at 1907 with a -0.2% delta, the Intel Xeon E3-1285 v4 at 1908 with a -0.2% delta, and the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2400GE at 1910 with a -0.4% delta. While both processors sit at the same percentile, the i7-1180G7 holds a 27-point edge in average score, which is modest relative to its 17% Cinebench margins.

The i3-9100F does have additional Geekbench results in the database, scoring 3962 in multi-core and 1378 in single-core. These numbers are not part of the head-to-head comparison, but they do provide context for its overall performance profile. The i7-1180G7 lacks Geekbench entries, so a direct comparison in that suite is not possible from the recorded data.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins the most benchmarks in the head-to-head comparison?

A: The Intel Core i7-1180G7 wins all six head-to-head benchmarks, while the Intel Core i3-9100F wins zero.

Q: What is the largest margin of victory in any single test?

A: The largest delta is 17.5%, achieved by the i7-1180G7 in Cinebench R15 single-core, scoring 94 against 80 for the i3-9100F.

Q: Are the multi-core and single-core performance gaps similar?

A: Yes, the deltas are tightly clustered. Multi-core deltas are 17.1% in all three Cinebench versions (R15, R20, R23), while single-core deltas range from 17.2% to 17.5%.

Q: How do the two processors compare in terms of average benchmark score?

A: The i7-1180G7 has an average benchmark score of 1930, while the i3-9100F has an average score of 1903, a difference of 27 points.

Q: Do both processors sit at the same performance percentile?

A: Yes, both the i7-1180G7 and the i3-9100F are recorded at the 43rd percentile among all CPUs.

Q: Does the i3-9100F have any benchmark results outside the Cinebench suite?

A: Yes, the i3-9100F has Geekbench multi-core and single-core scores of 3962 and 1378, respectively. The i7-1180G7 does not have Geekbench entries in the database.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-1180G7 is the clear winner in every measured category. For users prioritizing raw rendering performance in Cinebench workloads, the i7-1180G7 delivers a consistent 17% advantage over the i3-9100F in both single-core and multi-core tests. This makes it the preferred choice for tasks that rely heavily on CPU rendering, such as 3D modeling, video encoding, and other multi-threaded content creation. Its single-core lead is equally pronounced, so even lightly threaded applications like web browsing, office productivity, and older games would see a tangible performance uplift.

The i3-9100F's only recorded advantage lies in its Geekbench scores, which are present in the database but not compared head-to-head. In Geekbench multi-core, it scores 3962, and in single-core, it scores 1378. These numbers are not directly comparable to the i7-1180G7 due to missing data for the latter, so the i3-9100F cannot be declared a winner in that suite. Within the scope of the recorded head-to-head data, the i3-9100F has no category where it outperforms the i7-1180G7.

For users who specifically need the i3-9100F's feature set, such as ECC memory support or its desktop Socket 1151 platform, the choice may be dictated by platform requirements rather than raw performance. However, purely on benchmark results, the i7-1180G7 wins every single comparison. The i3-9100F's higher base clock of 3.60 GHz does not translate into a performance win, as the i7-1180G7's higher boost clock of 4.60 GHz and architectural advantages dominate the actual measured scores.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every specification field in the database. The i7-1180G7 has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the i3-9100F has 4 cores and 4 threads. This hyper-threading advantage is likely a key contributor to the multi-core performance gap. Base clocks differ substantially: the i7-1180G7 runs at 1300.00 MHz, while the i3-9100F runs at 3600.00 MHz. Boost clocks are closer, with the i7-1180G7 at 4.60 GHz and the i3-9100F at 4.20 GHz. The i7-1180G7's lower base clock is offset by its much higher boost ceiling.

Thermal design power is a major differentiator. The i7-1180G7 is rated at 9 watts, while the i3-9100F is rated at 65 watts. This makes the i7-1180G7 a mobile-class chip, and the i3-9100F a desktop-class chip. Socket types reflect this: the i7-1180G7 uses Intel BGA 1598, a soldered mobile socket, while the i3-9100F uses Intel Socket 1151, a standard desktop socket. The market segments confirm this split, with the i7-1180G7 listed as Mobile and the i3-9100F as Desktop.

Memory support differs as well. The i7-1180G7 supports LPDDR4X memory with a bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s, while the i3-9100F supports DDR4 with a bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. Both use dual-channel memory buses. ECC memory support is exclusive to the i3-9100F, which is a notable feature for workstation or server use cases. PCIe capabilities also differ: the i7-1180G7 has Gen 4 with 4 lanes (CPU only), while the i3-9100F has Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The i3-9100F offers more PCIe lanes, but the i7-1180G7 offers a newer generation.

The i7-1180G7 includes integrated graphics in the form of Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 96EU, while the i3-9100F has no integrated graphics at all. This is a critical difference for systems without a discrete GPU. Launch MSRP values differ significantly: the i7-1180G7 launched at $426, and the i3-9100F launched at $122. Release dates are also different, with the i7-1180G7 released on 2021-03-30 and the i3-9100F on 2019-04-22. Both are end-of-life products with locked multipliers.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two processors is substantial. The i7-1180G7 is built on Tiger Lake architecture with the Tiger Lake-U codename, belonging to the Core i7 (Willow Cove-U) generation. The i3-9100F uses Coffee Lake architecture with the Coffee Lake codename, part of the Core i3 (Coffee Lake Refresh) generation. The process nodes differ: the i7-1180G7 uses Intel's 10 nm process, while the i3-9100F uses the older 14 nm process. Both are manufactured by Intel.

Die sizes are close but not identical: the i7-1180G7 measures 144 mm², while the i3-9100F measures 126 mm². Cache configurations are notably different. The i7-1180G7 has 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, with 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The i3-9100F has 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, with 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The i7-1180G7's larger L2 and L3 caches are significant advantages for workloads that benefit from data locality.

The i7-1180G7's integrated graphics, Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 96EU, are a major architectural feature absent from the i3-9100F. This makes the i7-1180G7 a complete system-on-chip solution for mobile devices, while the i3-9100F requires a discrete graphics card. The i7-1180G7 also supports newer PCIe Gen 4, albeit with fewer lanes, while the i3-9100F is limited to PCIe Gen 3 with more lanes. Memory architecture differs as well: LPDDR4X for the i7-1180G7 versus DDR4 for the i3-9100F, with the i3-9100F offering slightly higher peak bandwidth and ECC support.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i7-1180G7 outperforms the Intel Core i3-9100F in every recorded head-to-head test. With a 17.1% to 17.5% advantage across all Cinebench variants, the i7-1180G7 is the faster processor in both single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads. Users who prioritize raw CPU performance should choose the i7-1180G7 without hesitation.

The i7-1180G7 also offers integrated graphics, a more modern 10 nm process, larger caches, and support for PCIe Gen 4. These features make it a versatile mobile processor capable of handling graphics tasks without a discrete GPU. The i3-9100F, by contrast, offers ECC memory support, more PCIe lanes, a higher base clock, and a desktop socket with a lower launch MSRP. For users who require ECC memory or need a desktop platform with extensive PCIe connectivity, the i3-9100F has specific advantages.

Both processors sit at the 43rd percentile, but the i7-1180G7 holds a higher average benchmark score of 1930 versus 1903 for the i3-9100F. The i7-1180G7 is the clear winner in performance, while the i3-9100F remains a viable option for desktop builders with specific platform needs. The data suggests that the i7-1180G7's modern architecture and hyper-threading deliver superior results despite its much lower base clock and TDP. For any user comparing these two purely on benchmark outcomes, the i7-1180G7 is the recommended choice.