Intel Core i3-9100T vs Intel Core i7-5700HQ Comparison

Intel Core i7-5700HQ vs Intel Core i3-9100T: a clash between a mobile-derived quad-core with Hyper-Threading and a low-power desktop quad-core without it. The benchmark data shows a clear split: the i7-5700HQ dominates in Cinebench across every version, while the i3-9100T takes Geekbench by a comfortable margin. The average benchmark scores are nearly identical, with the i7-5700HQ at 1645 and the i3-9100T at 1620, placing both in the 39th and 40th percentiles of all CPUs respectively. This is a contest where the workload determines the victor, not raw overall performance.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core i7-5700HQ wins 6 of the 8 head-to-head benchmarks, all of them being Cinebench tests. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i7-5700HQ scores 519 against the i3-9100T’s 482, a 7.7% lead. The single-core R15 test shows a 9% advantage, with scores of 73 and 67. Moving to Cinebench R20, the multicore result is 2164 versus 2010, again a 7.7% delta, while single-core shows 305 versus 283, a 7.8% lead. The R23 tests continue the trend: multicore 5154 against 4788, a 7.6% difference, and single-core 727 against 675, a 7.7% margin. In every Cinebench iteration, the i7-5700HQ holds a consistent 7.6% to 9% advantage.

The Intel Core i3-9100T strikes back in Geekbench. In Geekbench multicore, the i3-9100T scores 3443 versus the i7-5700HQ’s 3129, a 9.1% lead. The single-core Geekbench result is even wider: 1215 versus 1085, a 10.7% advantage for the i3-9100T. These are not marginal wins; the i3-9100T is decisively ahead in this specific benchmark suite. The data indicates the i3-9100T’s higher base clock of 3.10 GHz and boost of 3.70 GHz, compared to the i7-5700HQ’s 2.70 GHz and 3.50 GHz, likely contribute to its faster single-threaded response in Geekbench’s workload.

The overall picture from the recorded data is that the i7-5700HQ is the stronger Cinebench processor, while the i3-9100T is the stronger Geekbench processor. The wins are not close calls; the deltas range from 7.6% to 10.7%, indicating each chip has a clear zone of superiority. The i7-5700HQ’s 8 threads versus the i3-9100T’s 4 threads likely explain its Cinebench dominance, as that suite scales well with thread count. The i3-9100T’s superior clock speeds give it the edge in Geekbench, which appears to favor higher frequency over additional threads.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-5700HQ wins in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, both multicore and single-core. This makes it the preferred choice for rendering workloads that use Cinebench’s rendering engine, such as 3D animation and video rendering tasks. The consistent 7.6% to 9% margins across all Cinebench tests show that its Hyper-Threading technology, providing 8 threads, helps in both fully threaded and lightly threaded rendering scenarios. For users running CPU-bound rendering pipelines, the i7-5700HQ’s data shows a measurable advantage.

The Intel Core i3-9100T wins in Geekbench multicore and single-core. This suggests it is better suited for general-purpose computing tasks that mimic Geekbench’s tests, which include encryption, compression, and image processing. The 9.1% multicore and 10.7% single-core leads indicate the i3-9100T handles everyday application workloads with more agility. Its higher base and boost clocks, combined with a newer architecture, allow it to complete these tasks faster. For a system used for office work, web browsing, or light content creation that relies on Geekbench-style operations, the i3-9100T is the better performer.

The split is clean: Cinebench favors the i7-5700HQ, Geekbench favors the i3-9100T. There is no overlap where both chips win the same benchmark. The i7-5700HQ’s 6 wins are all in one suite, and the i3-9100T’s 2 wins are both in the other. This makes the choice straightforward based on the primary software a user runs. If the software is Cinebench-like, pick the i7-5700HQ; if it is Geekbench-like, pick the i3-9100T.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i7-5700HQ is based on the Broadwell architecture, specifically the Broadwell-H codename, built on a 14 nm process. Its die size is 182 mm². The Intel Core i3-9100T uses the Coffee Lake architecture, with the Coffee Lake Refresh generation, also on a 14 nm process, but with a smaller die size of 126 mm². Both chips have 4 cores, but the i7-5700HQ supports 8 threads through Hyper-Threading, while the i3-9100T has 4 threads with no such feature.

Cache configurations are identical in capacity: both have 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 6 MB shared L3. The memory support differs significantly. The i7-5700HQ uses DDR3 memory with a dual-channel bus and a memory bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s. The i3-9100T supports DDR4 memory, also dual-channel, but with a higher bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. This 8.5 GB/s difference in theoretical memory bandwidth could impact memory-sensitive workloads, though the benchmark data does not isolate this variable.

The integrated graphics differ as well. The i7-5700HQ features Intel HD 5600, while the i3-9100T has UHD Graphics 630. The i3-9100T also supports ECC memory, a feature not available on the i7-5700HQ. Both processors use PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The i7-5700HQ uses the Intel BGA 1364 socket, indicating a soldered mobile design, while the i3-9100T uses Intel Socket 1151, a standard desktop socket. The i7-5700HQ is from the Core i7 generation, while the i3-9100T is from the Core i3 generation, reflecting their different market positions despite similar core counts.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts are the most defining difference: the i7-5700HQ has 4 cores and 8 threads, the i3-9100T has 4 cores and 4 threads. Base clock speeds are 2.70 GHz for the i7-5700HQ and 3.10 GHz for the i3-9100T, a 0.40 GHz gap. Boost clocks are 3.50 GHz and 3.70 GHz respectively, a 0.20 GHz difference. Thermal design power (TDP) is 47 W for the i7-5700HQ and 35 W for the i3-9100T, making the i3-9100T more power-efficient on paper.

Memory support differs: DDR3 for the i7-5700HQ, DDR4 for the i3-9100T. Memory bandwidth is 29.9 GB/s versus 38.4 GB/s, a 28.4% advantage for the i3-9100T. ECC memory support is present on the i3-9100T but absent on the i7-5700HQ. The sockets are incompatible: BGA 1364 versus Socket 1151. Release dates show the i7-5700HQ launched in June 2015, while the i3-9100T arrived in August 2018, a gap of over three years. The launch MSRP for the i7-5700HQ is $378; for the i3-9100T it is $122.

The i7-5700HQ has a larger die at 182 mm² compared to 126 mm² for the i3-9100T. Integrated graphics are HD 5600 versus UHD 630. Both are end-of-life products, both have locked multipliers, and both are manufactured by Intel on a 14 nm process. The part numbers are SR2BP for the i7-5700HQ and SRCZX for the i3-9100T.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-5700HQ has 8 threads, while the Intel Core i3-9100T has 4 threads. Both have 4 physical cores.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The i3-9100T supports DDR4 with a bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, while the i7-5700HQ supports DDR3 with 29.9 GB/s. The i3-9100T has a 28.4% higher theoretical bandwidth.

Q: Which CPU wins in Geekbench multicore?

A: The Intel Core i3-9100T wins Geekbench multicore with a score of 3443, compared to the i7-5700HQ’s 3129, a 9.1% advantage.

Q: Does the i3-9100T support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the i3-9100T supports ECC memory. The i7-5700HQ does not support ECC memory.

Q: What are the TDP ratings?

A: The i7-5700HQ has a TDP of 47 W, and the i3-9100T has a TDP of 35 W. The i3-9100T is rated for lower power consumption.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The i3-9100T has a higher boost clock of 3.70 GHz, compared to the i7-5700HQ’s 3.50 GHz. The i3-9100T also has a higher base clock of 3.10 GHz versus 2.70 GHz.

The Verdict

The Intel Core i7-5700HQ is the pick for Cinebench-based rendering workloads. Its 7.6% to 9% lead across all Cinebench tests, driven by its 8 threads, makes it the superior choice for 3D rendering, video encoding, and other multi-threaded creative tasks. The data shows it maintains this advantage even in single-core Cinebench tests, so it is not purely a multi-thread win. Users running software that mirrors Cinebench’s rendering engine should choose the i7-5700HQ.

The Intel Core i3-9100T is the better option for Geekbench-style general computing. Its 9.1% multicore and 10.7% single-core wins indicate faster response in everyday applications like office suites, web browsers, and photo editing. Its higher clock speeds and DDR4 memory support, with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth, make it more responsive for these tasks. The i3-9100T also has a lower TDP of 35 W, making it easier to cool in a compact desktop build.

For users prioritizing raw multi-threaded rendering performance, the i7-5700HQ’s 6 benchmark wins are decisive. For users prioritizing general application speed and lower power draw, the i3-9100T’s Geekbench performance and 35 W TDP are compelling. The average benchmark scores are close, 1645 versus 1620, but the workload-specific deltas are clear. There is no overall winner; there are two purpose-built chips, and the right one depends on the software being run. The i7-5700HQ is for rendering, the i3-9100T is for everything else.