Intel Core i3-9350KF vs Intel Core i7-7700T Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data presents an unusually balanced split between these two four-core Intel parts, though the margin of victory tells a more nuanced story than the raw win count. The Intel Core i7-7700T takes six of the eight head-to-head benchmarks, but its victories are all narrow, while the Intel Core i3-9350KF secures two decisive wins in Geekbench workloads.

Starting with Cinebench, the i7-7700T leads across every iteration of the render test. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i7-7700T scores 646 against 640 for the i3-9350KF, a delta of only 0.9%. The single-core R15 result follows the same pattern: 91 for the i7-7700T versus 90 for the i3-9350KF, a 1.1% gap. Moving to Cinebench R20, the i7-7700T again edges ahead in multicore with 2692 points versus 2667, a 0.9% margin, and in single-core with 380 points against 376, a 1.1% margin. The Cinebench R23 results mirror this trend: the i7-7700T posts 6410 multicore against 6352, a 0.9% difference, and 905 single-core against 896, a 1% difference. These are consistent, but the margins are small enough that they sit within normal run-to-run variation for this class of processor.

The Geekbench results flip the script decisively. In Geekbench multicore, the i3-9350KF scores 4098 against 3938 for the i7-7700T, a 4.1% advantage. The single-core Geekbench test is where the i3-9350KF truly separates itself: 1534 points versus 1248, a commanding 22.9% delta. That is the largest performance gap in the entire comparison, and it dwarfs every Cinebench margin combined. Interestingly, the i7-7700T wins six benchmarks, yet the i3-9350KF holds the higher average benchmark score overall: 2082 versus 2039. This is because the Geekbench single-core result carries substantial weight in the aggregate, and the 22.9% swing outweighs the sub-1.1% Cinebench edges.

Placing these results in context, the i3-9350KF sits at the 46th percentile of all CPUs in the database, while the i7-7700T sits at the 45th percentile. Their nearest rivals confirm how close they are in overall standing. The i3-9350KF is within 0.2% of the Intel Xeon W-2123, within 0.2% of the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2544 (where it trails), within 0.3% of the Intel Xeon E5-2628 v3, and within 0.6% of the AMD Ryzen 7 1700X (where it trails). The i7-7700T is within 0.1% of the AMD Opteron 6386 SE, within 0.1% of the Intel Core i7-3960X, within 0.2% of the Intel Xeon E3-1275 v5 (where it trails), and within 0.2% of the AMD Ryzen 5 4500U. Both processors effectively occupy the same performance tier, with the i3-9350KF holding a marginal edge in aggregate scoring.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins the majority of the head-to-head benchmarks?

A: The Intel Core i7-7700T wins six of the eight head-to-head benchmarks, including all six Cinebench tests (R15, R20, and R23, both single-core and multicore). The Intel Core i3-9350KF wins the remaining two Geekbench tests.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two processors?

A: The largest gap is in Geekbench single-core, where the Intel Core i3-9350KF scores 1534 versus 1248 for the Intel Core i7-7700T, a 22.9% advantage. By contrast, the largest Cinebench margin is only 1.1% in favor of the i7-7700T.

Q: How do the two processors compare in Cinebench R23?

A: In Cinebench R23 multicore, the Intel Core i7-7700T scores 6410 against 6352 for the Intel Core i3-9350KF, a 0.9% difference. In single-core R23, the i7-7700T scores 905 against 896, a 1% difference. The i7-7700T wins both, but by very narrow margins.

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i3-9350KF has an average benchmark score of 2082, compared to 2039 for the Intel Core i7-7700T. This holds despite the i7-7700T winning more individual benchmarks, because the i3-9350KF's large Geekbench single-core win offsets several narrow Cinebench losses.

Q: How do the two processors rank against all CPUs in the database?

A: The Intel Core i3-9350KF ranks at the 46th percentile of all CPUs, while the Intel Core i7-7700T ranks at the 45th percentile. Their nearest rivals are similarly matched: the i3-9350KF trades places with the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2544 (0.2% apart) and the AMD Ryzen 7 1700X (0.6% apart), while the i7-7700T trades places with the Intel Xeon E3-1275 v5 (0.2% apart).

Q: Do the processors differ in thread count?

A: Yes. The Intel Core i7-7700T has 8 threads, while the Intel Core i3-9350KF has 4 threads. Both have 4 cores. Despite the i7-7700T's thread advantage, its Cinebench multicore wins are only 0.9% over the i3-9350KF.

The Verdict

The data paints a clear picture for different priorities. The Intel Core i7-7700T is the safer choice for Cinebench-oriented rendering workloads, as it wins every Cinebench test in the comparison: R15 multicore 646 to 640, R15 single-core 91 to 90, R20 multicore 2692 to 2667, R20 single-core 380 to 376, R23 multicore 6410 to 6352, and R23 single-core 905 to 896. The margins are slim, but they are consistent across all three Cinebench generations. The i7-7700T also brings 8 threads versus 4, which explains its edge in multicore rendering despite lower clock speeds.

The Intel Core i3-9350KF is the stronger pick for Geekbench workloads, particularly single-core performance. Its 1534 Geekbench single-core score versus 1248 for the i7-7700T is a 22.9% gap that no other benchmark in this comparison comes close to matching. Its 4098 Geekbench multicore score versus 3938 is a 4.1% advantage as well. Users who prioritize Geekbench results, or who want the higher aggregate benchmark score (2082 versus 2039), should lean toward the i3-9350KF.

The i7-7700T also offers integrated graphics (HD 630) while the i3-9350KF has none, which matters for systems without a discrete GPU. The i3-9350KF supports ECC memory while the i7-7700T does not, which matters for certain workstation configurations. Both processors share the same socket, architecture family lineage in terms of 14 nm process, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ most fundamentally in their clock and power profiles. The Intel Core i3-9350KF has a base clock of 4.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz, while the Intel Core i7-7700T has a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 3.80 GHz. The i7-7700T compensates with hyper-threading: 8 threads versus 4, despite both having 4 cores. Thermal design power differs substantially: the i3-9350KF is rated at 91 W, while the i7-7700T is rated at 35 W.

Architecturally, the i3-9350KF uses Coffee Lake (specifically the Coffee Lake Refresh generation) while the i7-7700T uses Kaby Lake. Both are built on Intel's 14 nm process and use the Intel Socket 1151. The i3-9350KF has a die size of 126 mm², while the die size for the i7-7700T is not recorded. Cache configurations are identical: 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 8 MB shared L3. Memory support is also identical: DDR4, dual-channel, with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth.

The i3-9350KF supports ECC memory; the i7-7700T does not. The i7-7700T includes HD 630 integrated graphics; the i3-9350KF has no integrated graphics. The i3-9350KF has a launch MSRP of $173 and was released on 2019-01-07; the i7-7700T has no recorded launch MSRP and was released on 2017-01-02. The i3-9350KF is marked end-of-life, while the i7-7700T is marked active. Both are multiplier-unlocked false and use Gen 3 PCIe with 16 lanes (CPU only).

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-7700T wins in every Cinebench scenario. Users running Cinebench R15, R20, or R23 will see the i7-7700T ahead in both single-core and multicore, with deltas ranging from 0.9% to 1.1%. Its 8-thread advantage over the i3-9350KF's 4 threads gives it a structural edge in threaded render workloads, even though its lower clock speeds keep the margin small. The i7-7700T also wins on power efficiency: 35 W versus 91 W, a major difference for compact or low-noise builds. Its integrated HD 630 graphics make it usable without a discrete GPU, and its active production status suggests ongoing availability.

The Intel Core i3-9350KF wins decisively in Geekbench. Its single-core score of 1534 is 22.9% higher than the i7-7700T's 1248, and its multicore score of 4098 is 4.1% higher than 3938. The i3-9350KF also holds the higher average benchmark score (2082 versus 2039) and the higher percentile ranking (46th versus 45th). Its higher base and boost clocks (4.00 GHz and 4.60 GHz versus 2.90 GHz and 3.80 GHz) explain the Geekbench edge. ECC memory support makes it suitable for error-sensitive workstation tasks, and the recorded launch MSRP of $173 provides a reference point for its positioning.

In short, choose the i7-7700T for Cinebench rendering, thread-heavy workloads, low-power systems, or builds needing integrated graphics. Choose the i3-9350KF for Geekbench performance, single-core responsiveness, higher aggregate scores, or ECC memory support.