Intel Core i3-9100F vs Intel Core i7-7820HQ Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a clear split between the two processors depending on the benchmark suite. In Cinebench tests, the Intel Core i7-7820HQ consistently wins across all six recorded Cinebench iterations. The multicore Cinebench R15 result has the i7-7820HQ scoring 613 against the i3-9100F’s 574, a delta of -6.4 percent. The same -6.4 percent advantage appears in Cinebench R20 multicore, where the i7-7820HQ posts 2555 versus 2392, and in Cinebench R23 multicore, where it posts 6084 versus 5697. Single-core Cinebench results follow the same pattern: the i7-7820HQ leads by 7 percent in R15 (86 versus 80), by 6.4 percent in R20 (360 versus 337), and by 6.3 percent in R23 (858 versus 804).

The Geekbench suite, however, flips the outcome decisively. The Intel Core i3-9100F wins both Geekbench tests. In Geekbench multicore, the i3-9100F scores 3962 against the i7-7820HQ’s 3748, a 5.7 percent lead. In Geekbench singlecore, the gap widens to 13.4 percent, with the i3-9100F at 1378 and the i7-7820HQ at 1215. That 13.4 percent single-core advantage is the largest delta in either direction across the entire head-to-head dataset.

Overall, the i7-7820HQ wins 6 of the 8 recorded benchmarks, while the i3-9100F wins 2. Yet the magnitude of the i3-9100F’s wins in Geekbench singlecore is notably larger than the i7-7820HQ’s Cinebench margins. The Cinebench victories are all clustered near 6 to 7 percent, whereas the Geekbench singlecore win is more than double that margin. This suggests the i3-9100F has a specific strength in the workload pattern that Geekbench singlecore measures, while the i7-7820HQ has a broad but moderate advantage across all Cinebench tests.

Looking at the average benchmark scores, the i7-7820HQ sits at 1940, while the i3-9100F sits at 1903. That places the i7-7820HQ roughly 1.9 percent higher on average, though both processors land in the same 43rd percentile versus all CPUs in the database. The nearest rivals for the i3-9100F include the AMD Ryzen 3 5125C at 1902 (a 0.1 percent delta), the Intel Xeon E5-2620 v3 at 1907 (-0.2 percent), the Intel Xeon E3-1285 v4 at 1908 (-0.2 percent), and the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2400GE at 1910 (-0.4 percent). For the i7-7820HQ, the nearest rivals are the Intel Core i7-9850HL at 1941 (-0.1 percent), the Intel Xeon E3-1535M v5 at 1945 (-0.2 percent), the Intel Core i3-10300 at 1934 (0.3 percent), and the Intel Xeon E3-1230 v5 at 1947 (-0.4 percent). These deltas are all within a fraction of a percent, indicating that both CPUs sit in a very tightly packed performance band.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-7820HQ wins across every Cinebench test, both single-core and multi-core. That includes R15, R20, and R23 variants. The consistent 6.3 to 7 percent margins across all six Cinebench metrics point to a uniform advantage in rendering and multi-threaded compute tasks as represented by Cinebench’s workload. The i7-7820HQ’s 8 threads versus the i3-9100F’s 4 threads likely explain the multicore results, but the fact that it also wins single-core Cinebench tests indicates that its per-thread performance in this specific benchmark is also slightly higher. The i7-7820HQ’s 3.90 GHz boost clock is lower than the i3-9100F’s 4.20 GHz, yet the Cinebench single-core scores still favor the i7-7820HQ, suggesting architectural or thermal characteristics that favor this workload.

The Intel Core i3-9100F wins both Geekbench tests, with a particularly strong showing in single-core. The 13.4 percent Geekbench singlecore win is the standout result in the dataset. In Geekbench multicore, the i3-9100F’s 5.7 percent lead is also substantial. This indicates that Geekbench’s workload pattern rewards the i3-9100F’s higher boost clock and possibly its desktop-oriented design. The i3-9100F runs at a 65 W TDP versus the i7-7820HQ’s 45 W TDP, and the i3-9100F is a desktop socketed part while the i7-7820HQ is a mobile BGA part. Those physical differences may influence sustained clock behavior under the shorter, bursty Geekbench workloads.

For users prioritizing Cinebench-style rendering performance, the i7-7820HQ is the clear choice. For users prioritizing Geekbench scores, particularly single-core, the i3-9100F is the better option. The two processors also differ in integrated graphics: the i7-7820HQ includes Intel HD Graphics 630, while the i3-9100F has no integrated graphics at all. That means the i3-9100F requires a discrete GPU for any display output, whereas the i7-7820HQ can operate without one. The i7-7820HQ also supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory, while the i3-9100F supports only DDR4. The i3-9100F supports ECC memory, while the i7-7820HQ does not.

The Verdict

The data supports a straightforward verdict: pick the Intel Core i7-7820HQ if Cinebench performance is the priority, and pick the Intel Core i3-9100F if Geekbench performance is the priority. The i7-7820HQ wins 6 of 8 benchmarks and holds a higher average score (1940 versus 1903). Its Cinebench wins are consistent, ranging from 6.3 to 7 percent. The i3-9100F, however, delivers the largest single win in the entire comparison: 13.4 percent in Geekbench singlecore, plus a 5.7 percent win in Geekbench multicore.

The i3-9100F also has a higher boost clock (4.20 GHz versus 3.90 GHz) and a higher base clock (3.60 GHz versus 2.90 GHz). It supports ECC memory and has a launch MSRP of $122, compared to the i7-7820HQ’s launch MSRP of $378. The i7-7820HQ has more threads (8 versus 4), more L3 cache (8 MB shared versus 6 MB shared), and a lower TDP (45 W versus 65 W). It also includes integrated graphics, which the i3-9100F lacks entirely.

For a desktop system with a discrete GPU already in place, the i3-9100F’s Geekbench strengths and much lower launch MSRP make it an attractive option. For a mobile or compact system where integrated graphics and lower power draw matter, the i7-7820HQ is the better fit. The i7-7820HQ’s higher average benchmark score and larger number of benchmark wins give it a slight overall edge in the database, but the i3-9100F’s Geekbench dominance cannot be ignored. The choice ultimately depends on which benchmark suite aligns with the intended workload.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher single-core Geekbench score?

A: The Intel Core i3-9100F scores 1378 in Geekbench singlecore, while the Intel Core i7-7820HQ scores 1215, giving the i3-9100F a 13.4 percent lead.

Q: Which CPU wins the Cinebench R23 multicore test?

A: The Intel Core i7-7820HQ wins with a score of 6084 versus the Intel Core i3-9100F’s 5697, a delta of -6.4 percent.

Q: Do both processors have the same number of cores?

A: Yes, both have 4 cores. However, the Intel Core i7-7820HQ has 8 threads, while the Intel Core i3-9100F has 4 threads.

Q: Which CPU supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Core i3-9100F supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i7-7820HQ does not support ECC memory.

Q: Does the Intel Core i3-9100F have integrated graphics?

A: No, the Intel Core i3-9100F has no integrated graphics. The Intel Core i7-7820HQ includes Intel HD Graphics 630.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each CPU?

A: The Intel Core i3-9100F has an average benchmark score of 1903, while the Intel Core i7-7820HQ has an average benchmark score of 1940. Both are in the 43rd percentile versus all CPUs.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel architectures. The Intel Core i3-9100F is based on Coffee Lake, with a codename of Coffee Lake and a generation listed as Core i3 (Coffee Lake Refresh). The Intel Core i7-7820HQ is based on Kaby Lake, with a codename of Kaby Lake-H and a generation of Core i7 (Kaby Lake-H). Both are built on the same 14 nm process node at Intel’s foundry, and both have the same die size of 126 mm². The transistor count is not recorded for either part.

The cache hierarchy differs in L3 capacity. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core. The i3-9100F has 6 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i7-7820HQ has 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The i7-7820HQ’s larger L3 cache is consistent with its higher thread count and more complex internal design.

The i7-7820HQ includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 630), while the i3-9100F has no integrated graphics. This is a fundamental architectural difference: the i3-9100F is a desktop part that assumes a discrete GPU, while the i7-7820HQ is a mobile part designed to work in systems without one. The i7-7820HQ also supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory, while the i3-9100F supports only DDR4. The i3-9100F supports ECC memory, a feature the i7-7820HQ lacks. Both processors use the same PCIe configuration: Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only). Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specification fields. The Intel Core i3-9100F has a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz. The Intel Core i7-7820HQ has a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 3.90 GHz. The i3-9100F has a TDP of 65 W, while the i7-7820HQ has a TDP of 45 W. The i3-9100F uses the Intel Socket 1151, while the i7-7820HQ uses the Intel BGA 1440 socket. The i3-9100F is a desktop market segment part, while the i7-7820HQ is a mobile market segment part.

The i3-9100F has 4 threads, while the i7-7820HQ has 8 threads. The i3-9100F has 6 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i7-7820HQ has 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The i3-9100F supports only DDR4 memory with dual-channel memory bus and a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The i7-7820HQ supports DDR3 and DDR4 with a dual-channel memory bus, but its memory bandwidth is not recorded in the database. The i3-9100F supports ECC memory; the i7-7820HQ does not. The i3-9100F has no integrated graphics; the i7-7820HQ has Intel HD Graphics 630.

The release dates differ as well. The i3-9100F was released on 2019-04-22, while the i7-7820HQ was released on 2017-01-02. Both are end-of-life production status. The launch MSRP for the i3-9100F is $122, and for the i7-7820HQ it is $378. The part numbers are SRF6NSRF7W for the i3-9100F and SR32N for the i7-7820HQ. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier. Both use the same 14 nm process node, the same 126 mm² die size, and the same 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 cache per core. The i7-7820HQ wins 6 of 8 head-to-head benchmarks, while the i3-9100F wins 2. Both processors sit at the 43rd percentile versus all CPUs in the database.