CPU Comparison

The Verdict

The data presents a clear split decision. The Intel Core i7-6700T wins six of eight head-to-head benchmark comparisons, taking every Cinebench test with margins between 4.3% and 5%. However, the Intel Core i3-9100F strikes back decisively in Geekbench, particularly in single-core performance where it leads by 18.1%. For users prioritizing threaded rendering workloads, the i7-6700T is the stronger pick, as its Hyper-Threading advantage delivers consistent Cinebench wins across R15, R20, and R23. Conversely, the i3-9100F should be chosen for general responsiveness and lighter single-threaded tasks, given its 18.1% Geekbench single-core advantage and higher 4.20 GHz boost clock. The i7-6700T also offers integrated graphics, making it the only viable choice for systems without a discrete GPU, while the i3-9100F requires a dedicated graphics card. Both CPUs sit at the 43rd percentile among all processors, indicating near-identical overall standing, but the i7-6700T’s 0.8% higher average benchmark score (1918 vs 1903) gives it a marginal edge in aggregate performance.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU wins more benchmark comparisons?

A: The Intel Core i7-6700T wins six of eight head-to-head tests, while the Intel Core i3-9100F wins two. The i7-6700T takes all Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multicore and singlecore tests, while the i3-9100F wins both Geekbench multicore and singlecore tests.

Q: How large is the i7-6700T’s lead in Cinebench tests?

A: The i7-6700T leads by 4.4% in Cinebench R15 multicore (599 vs 574), 5% in R15 singlecore (84 vs 80), 4.3% in R20 multicore (2496 vs 2392), 4.5% in R20 singlecore (352 vs 337), 4.3% in R23 multicore (5943 vs 5697), and 4.4% in R23 singlecore (839 vs 804).

Q: Does the i3-9100F have any significant performance advantage?

A: Yes, the i3-9100F leads by 18.1% in Geekbench singlecore (1378 vs 1128) and by 1.4% in Geekbench multicore (3962 vs 3906). Its 4.20 GHz boost clock is 0.60 GHz higher than the i7-6700T’s 3.60 GHz boost, which explains the substantial single-thread gap.

Q: Do these CPUs require a discrete graphics card?

A: No for the i7-6700T, which includes HD Graphics 530 integrated graphics. Yes for the i3-9100F, which has no integrated graphics. A system built around the i3-9100F must have a separate GPU installed.

Q: What are the core and thread counts?

A: Both CPUs have 4 physical cores. The i7-6700T supports 8 threads via Hyper-Threading, while the i3-9100F has 4 threads with no Hyper-Threading. This thread advantage drives the i7-6700T’s consistent Cinebench multicore wins.

Q: How do their overall average benchmark scores compare?

A: The i7-6700T has an average benchmark score of 1918, while the i3-9100F scores 1903. The i7-6700T is 0.8% higher. Both CPUs sit at the 43rd percentile among all CPUs, and their nearest rivals show similar scores: the i7-6700T is within 0.4% of the Intel Xeon E-2314 and the i3-9100F is within 0.4% of the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2400GE.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on the same 14 nm process node and use the same Intel Socket 1151, but they represent different architectural generations. The i7-6700T is Skylake architecture, released in 2015, while the i3-9100F is Coffee Lake architecture from 2019. The most consequential architectural difference is threading support: the Skylake i7-6700T implements Hyper-Threading, enabling 8 threads from 4 cores, whereas the Coffee Lake i3-9100F lacks this feature and runs 4 threads on 4 cores. This is the primary driver behind the i7-6700T’s consistent Cinebench wins, despite its lower clock speeds.

Cache configurations also differ. The i7-6700T carries 8 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i3-9100F has 6 MB. Both have identical per-core L1 (64 KB) and L2 (256 KB) caches. The i7-6700T also supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory, while the i3-9100F supports only DDR4. Memory bandwidth favors the i3-9100F at 38.4 GB/s versus 34.1 GB/s for the i7-6700T. The i3-9100F includes ECC memory support, which the i7-6700T lacks. The i3-9100F has a stated die size of 126 mm², while no die size is listed for the i7-6700T.

The i7-6700T integrates HD Graphics 530, while the i3-9100F has no integrated graphics. Both CPUs are locked (multiplier not unlocked), target the desktop market, and are marked as end-of-life. The i3-9100F’s architecture is a Coffee Lake Refresh, whereas the i7-6700T is base Skylake, but both use Gen 3 PCIe with 16 lanes from the CPU.

Specification Differences

The two chips differ in nearly every headline specification. Clock speeds: the i7-6700T runs at a 2.80 GHz base and 3.60 GHz boost, while the i3-9100F runs at a 3.60 GHz base and 4.20 GHz boost, the i3-9100F is 0.80 GHz faster at base and 0.60 GHz faster at boost. Threads: 8 for the i7-6700T versus 4 for the i3-9100F. TDP: the i7-6700T draws 35 W versus 65 W for the i3-9100F. L3 cache: 8 MB for the i7-6700T versus 6 MB for the i3-9100F. Memory support: the i7-6700T supports DDR3 and DDR4, while the i3-9100F supports only DDR4. Memory bandwidth: 34.1 GB/s for the i7-6700T, 38.4 GB/s for the i3-9100F. ECC memory: supported on the i3-9100F, not on the i7-6700T. Integrated graphics: HD Graphics 530 on the i7-6700T, none on the i3-9100F. The i3-9100F has a die size of 126 mm², while the i7-6700T has no listed die size. Release dates: the i7-6700T launched in 2015, and the i3-9100F in 2019. The i7-6700T has a launch MSRP of $303; the i3-9100F has a launch MSRP of $122. Both use the same socket, process node, and PCIe configuration, and both are locked, desktop, end-of-life parts.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The i7-6700T dominates every Cinebench test, and the margins are remarkably consistent. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i7-6700T scores 599 against 574 for the i3-9100F, a 4.4% lead. Its singlecore R15 score is 84 versus 80, a 5% advantage, the largest Cinebench margin of the pair. Moving to R20, the i7-6700T posts 2496 multicore and 352 singlecore, versus 2392 and 337 for the i3-9100F, yielding 4.3% and 4.5% leads respectively. In R23, the i7-6700T scores 5943 multicore and 839 singlecore, against 5697 and 804 for the i3-9100F, again 4.3% and 4.4% ahead. These consistent 4-5% wins across all three Cinebench generations indicate that the i7-6700T’s Hyper-Threading advantage is stable regardless of the rendering workload version.

The i3-9100F’s wins are narrower in multicore but massive in single-core. In Geekbench multicore, the i3-9100F scores 3962 versus 3906, a slim 1.4% margin. The Geekbench singlecore result is a different story: the i3-9100F posts 1378 against 1128, an 18.1% blowout. This is the single largest delta in the entire comparison, and it aligns with the i3-9100F’s higher boost clock of 4.20 GHz versus 3.60 GHz. The i7-6700T’s 2.80 GHz base clock is a full 0.80 GHz lower than the i3-9100F’s 3.60 GHz base, which likely explains the significant single-thread deficit.

Looking at the aggregate picture, the i7-6700T wins six benchmarks and loses two, but the average scores tell a closer tale. The i7-6700T’s average benchmark score is 1918 versus 1903 for the i3-9100F, a 0.8% difference. Both CPUs occupy the 43rd percentile globally, and each has a nearest rival within 0.4%: the i7-6700T is 0.4% from the Intel Xeon E-2314 (1911) and 0.1% from the AMD Ryzen 3 7320U (1916), while the i3-9100F is 0.1% from the AMD Ryzen 3 5125C (1902) and 0.4% from the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2400GE (1910). In practice, the i7-6700T is the better choice for threaded rendering and multitasking, while the i3-9100F excels in single-threaded responsiveness and general desktop use, provided a discrete GPU is present. The i7-6700T’s integrated graphics and lower 35 W TDP make it uniquely suited for low-power or GPU-less builds, whereas the i3-9100F’s 65 W TDP and lack of iGPU demand a more conventional desktop configuration.