Intel Core i3-9100T vs Intel Core i7-6700TE Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results paint a surprisingly split picture between these two 35-watt desktop processors. Across the eight recorded tests, the Intel Core i7-6700TE claims six victories, while the Intel Core i3-9100T takes two. However, the margins and the specific tests where each wins tell a more nuanced story than the raw win count suggests.

Starting with the Cinebench suite, the i7-6700TE establishes a consistent lead across all six runs. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i7-6700TE scores 531 against the i3-9100T's 482, a 9.2% advantage. The single-core R15 test shows a similar gap: 74 versus 67, a 9.5% difference. Moving to Cinebench R20, the pattern holds, with the i7-6700TE posting 2214 multi-core and 312 single-core, compared to 2010 and 283 for the i3-9100T, again 9.2% and 9.3% deltas respectively. The newest Cinebench R23 test repeats the trend, with the i7-6700TE reaching 5273 multi-core and 744 single-core versus 4788 and 675 for the i3-9100T, representing 9.2% and 9.3% margins. The consistency of these deltas, hovering around 9% across every Cinebench iteration, indicates a stable architectural advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

Yet the Geekbench results flip the script completely. In Geekbench multi-core, the i3-9100T scores 3443 versus 3154 for the i7-6700TE, a 9.2% win for the newer chip. The single-core Geekbench test delivers an even more decisive result: 1215 for the i3-9100T against 1028 for the i7-6700TE, an 18.2% margin. This is the largest delta recorded in the entire comparison. The fact that the i3-9100T wins by 9.2% in Geekbench multi-core while losing by nearly the same percentage in Cinebench multi-core suggests the two benchmark suites are measuring fundamentally different aspects of performance, or that the i3-9100T's newer architecture responds differently to Geekbench's workload patterns.

The average benchmark scores reflect this mixed outcome. The i7-6700TE carries an average score of 1666 across all tests, while the i3-9100T sits at 1620. That difference places the i7-6700TE at the 40th percentile among all CPUs, barely ahead of the i3-9100T's 39th percentile. For context, the i7-6700TE's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-7600T at 1664 (just 0.1% behind) and the Intel Core i7-4770HQ at 1660 (0.4% behind). The i3-9100T sits within a similarly tight cluster, with the Intel Xeon E5-2623 v3 at 1630 (0.6% ahead) and the Intel Pentium Gold G7400T at 1628 (0.5% ahead). Both processors are operating in a crowded performance tier where single-digit percentage differences separate them from their closest competition.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gulf between these two chips is significant despite both being built on Intel's 14 nm process node. The i3-9100T belongs to the Coffee Lake generation, specifically the Coffee Lake Refresh line, while the i7-6700TE is a Skylake design. This generational gap of roughly three years in release timing (the i3-9100T launched in August 2018, the i7-6700TE in August 2015) translates into several concrete specification differences.

Core and thread counts diverge notably. Both processors feature 4 physical cores, but the i7-6700TE doubles the thread count to 8 through Hyper-Threading, while the i3-9100T is limited to 4 threads. This explains the i7-6700TE's consistent Cinebench multi-core advantage despite its lower clock speeds. The i7-6700TE's base clock is 2.40 GHz with a boost of 3.40 GHz, while the i3-9100T runs at 3.10 GHz base and 3.70 GHz boost. The i3-9100T's higher clocks, especially the 300 MHz boost advantage, likely contribute to its Geekbench single-core dominance.

Cache allocation also differs. Both share 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, but the L3 cache tells a different story: the i7-6700TE has 8 MB shared, while the i3-9100T has only 6 MB shared. That extra 2 MB of L3 on the older chip helps explain its strong Cinebench showing. The die sizes reflect their respective designs, with the i3-9100T measuring 126 mm², while the i7-6700TE's die size is not recorded in the database.

Memory support shows both chips using DDR4 with dual-channel buses, but the bandwidth figures differ. The i3-9100T reaches 38.4 GB/s, while the i7-6700TE is capped at 34.1 GB/s. ECC memory support also separates them: the i3-9100T supports ECC, the i7-6700TE does not. Integrated graphics differ as well, with the i3-9100T featuring UHD Graphics 630 versus the older HD Graphics 530 in the i7-6700TE. Both use the same Intel Socket 1151 and provide Gen 3 PCIe with 16 lanes from the CPU. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier, and both are locked to their respective clock profiles.

Where Each One Wins

The workload implications of these benchmark results are fairly clear. The i7-6700TE dominates in Cinebench across all versions and both single and multi-core variants. Cinebench's rendering workloads benefit from the additional threads provided by Hyper-Threading, and the 8 MB L3 cache appears to serve these tasks well. For users running 3D rendering, video encoding, or other heavily threaded productivity applications, the i7-6700TE's 9.2% multi-core advantage in Cinebench R23 (5273 versus 4788) represents a meaningful performance edge.

The i3-9100T's wins come in Geekbench, particularly in single-core performance where its 18.2% lead (1215 versus 1028) is decisive. The higher boost clock of 3.70 GHz versus 3.40 GHz likely drives much of this advantage. Geekbench's single-core tests tend to be sensitive to clock speed and per-core efficiency, areas where the newer Coffee Lake architecture shines. The i3-9100T also wins Geekbench multi-core by 9.2% (3443 versus 3154), which is surprising given the i7-6700TE's thread advantage, but the newer architecture's efficiency per clock appears to compensate.

The production status of these chips adds another dimension. The i3-9100T is marked as end-of-life, while the i7-6700TE remains active. This suggests availability considerations for system builders, though both occupy the same 35-watt TDP envelope and desktop market segment. Neither processor offers an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking is not a differentiator.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has better multi-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i7-6700TE wins all three Cinebench multi-core tests. It scores 531 in R15, 2214 in R20, and 5273 in R23, versus 482, 2010, and 4788 for the i3-9100T, a consistent 9.2% advantage.

Q: How do single-core scores compare?

A: It depends on the benchmark. The i7-6700TE leads in Cinebench R15 single-core (74 versus 67) and R20 single-core (312 versus 283), but the i3-9100T wins Geekbench single-core by a large 18.2% margin (1215 versus 1028).

Q: Why does the i3-9100T win Geekbench multi-core despite having fewer threads?

A: The i3-9100T scores 3443 versus 3154 for the i7-6700TE in Geekbench multi-core. Its higher clock speeds, 3.10 GHz base and 3.70 GHz boost compared to 2.40 GHz and 3.40 GHz, along with the newer Coffee Lake architecture, appear to offset the i7-6700TE's 4-thread advantage.

Q: Which processor has more cache?

A: The i7-6700TE has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i3-9100T has 6 MB. Both have 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core.

Q: Do these processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes for the i3-9100T, which lists ECC memory support as true. The i7-6700TE does not support ECC memory.

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

A: The i7-6700TE averages 1666 across all recorded benchmarks, placing it at the 40th percentile of all CPUs. The i3-9100T averages 1620, at the 39th percentile.

Specification Differences

The recorded specifications show several clear differences between these two processors. The i7-6700TE has 8 threads versus 4 for the i3-9100T. Clock speeds differ, with the i3-9100T running at 3.10 GHz base and 3.70 GHz boost, while the i7-6700TE runs at 2.40 GHz base and 3.40 GHz boost. The i7-6700TE uses the Skylake architecture, while the i3-9100T uses Coffee Lake. L3 cache is 8 MB on the i7-6700TE versus 6 MB on the i3-9100T. Memory bandwidth favors the i3-9100T at 38.4 GB/s versus 34.1 GB/s for the i7-6700TE. ECC memory support is present on the i3-9100T but absent on the i7-6700TE. Integrated graphics differ, with the i3-9100T featuring UHD Graphics 630 and the i7-6700TE using HD Graphics 530. The i3-9100T has a recorded die size of 126 mm², while the i7-6700TE's die size is not recorded. The i3-9100T launched in August 2018 with a launch MSRP of $122, while the i7-6700TE launched in August 2015 with no recorded launch MSRP. The i3-9100T is end-of-life, while the i7-6700TE remains in active production.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear choice for different user profiles. The i7-6700TE is the stronger option for Cinebench-style rendering workloads, winning all six Cinebench tests with margins around 9%. Its 8 threads and 8 MB L3 cache provide a tangible advantage in threaded productivity tasks. Users running rendering, video encoding, or similar multi-threaded applications should favor the i7-6700TE based on these measurements.

The i3-9100T is the better pick for Geekbench-style workloads, particularly single-core performance where its 18.2% lead is substantial. Its higher boost clock of 3.70 GHz and newer Coffee Lake architecture deliver superior per-core performance. Applications that depend heavily on single-threaded speed, such as older games or lightly threaded software, would benefit more from the i3-9100T.

The production status matters here. The i3-9100T being end-of-life could be a concern for new system builds, while the i7-6700TE's active status suggests ongoing availability. Both processors sit at nearly the same performance percentile, 39th versus 40th, and their average benchmark scores differ by less than 3%. The i3-9100T offers ECC memory support and higher memory bandwidth, which may appeal to specific workstation scenarios. The i7-6700TE offers double the thread count and more L3 cache. Ultimately, the choice hinges on whether the workload favors Cinebench-style multi-threading (i7-6700TE) or Geekbench-style clock-sensitive performance (i3-9100T).