Intel Core i7-975 vs Intel Processor N100 Comparison

Intel Core i7-975 and Intel Processor N100 occupy very different corners of the hardware landscape, yet their benchmark scores place them within a few points of each other in the database’s aggregate ranking. The Core i7-975 is a 4-core, 8-thread desktop part from 2009, built on the 45 nm Nehalem architecture, while the N100 is a 4-core, 4-thread mobile processor from 2023, using the 10 nm Gracemont architecture. The recorded data shows a near-total split in performance character: the older chip wins in sustained multi-core rendering, the newer chip dominates single-thread workloads and low-power scenarios. Their average benchmark scores are 1023 and 1007, respectively, a 1.6% gap that hides how differently they achieve parity.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-975 takes the multi-core crown in the head-to-head data, specifically in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where it scores 2974 against the N100’s 2559.5, a 16.2% margin. This is the only benchmark in the head-to-head set that the i7-975 wins, and it reflects the chip’s 8 threads versus the N100’s 4 threads, plus its larger 8 MB shared L3 cache. In the older Cinebench R15 multi-core test, however, the N100 reverses the result, scoring 401.5 versus 299, a 25.5% advantage. That discrepancy suggests the N100 scales better in shorter or less demanding multi-threaded bursts, while the i7-975 pulls ahead when the workload is long enough to leverage its extra threads and higher 130 W thermal envelope allows sustained boost clocks.

The Intel Processor N100 wins in every single-thread metric recorded. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 910.5 versus 419, a 54% lead, and in Cinebench R15 single-core it posts 147.9, which the i7-975 does not even have a recorded score for in this comparison. The N100 also shows strong results in the 3DMark thread-scaling suite, with scores of 1243 for 16 threads, 1246 for 4 threads, and 1250 for 8 threads, all above its max-thread score of 1235. These numbers indicate the N100 handles lightly threaded workloads with far greater efficiency, which is typical for a modern architecture with a much higher base clock of 100.00 MHz and boost of 3.40 GHz. For everyday tasks like web browsing, office work, or media playback, the data points firmly to the N100.

Architecture Differences

The two processors share a core count of 4, but diverge immediately after. The i7-975 has 8 threads, while the N100 has 4, meaning the older chip can process twice as many concurrent instruction streams. The i7-975 uses the Nehalem architecture with the Bloomfield codename, fabricated on Intel’s 45 nm process with 731 million transistors on a 263 mm² die. The N100 uses the Gracemont architecture, also codenamed Gracemont, on a 10 nm process, with no transistor or die size figures recorded in the database. This process shrink is the primary reason the N100’s thermal design power is 6 W, compared to the i7-975’s 130 W, a 95% reduction in power draw.

Cache layouts differ substantially. The i7-975 has 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, plus 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The N100 has 96 KB of L1 per core, but only 2 MB of shared L2 and 6 MB of shared L3. The N100’s smaller total cache is offset by its much higher clock speeds and newer instruction set. Memory support also diverges: the i7-975 uses DDR3 with a triple-channel bus and 25.6 GB/s bandwidth, while the N100 supports both DDR4 and DDR5 with a single-channel bus but higher 38.4 GB/s bandwidth. The N100 also includes integrated UHD Graphics 730, whereas the i7-975 has no integrated graphics recorded.

The i7-975 is an unlocked multiplier part on Intel Socket 1366, designed for desktop use, and is now end-of-life. The N100 is locked, soldered to Intel BGA 1264, targets the mobile segment, and remains in active production. The i7-975 supports PCIe Gen 2, while the N100 offers PCIe Gen 3 with 9 lanes on the CPU. Neither supports ECC memory. The release dates are 2009-06-01 for the i7-975 and 2023-01-02 for the N100, a gap of over 13 years that explains most of the architectural divergence.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

Three direct comparisons exist in the database. The first is Cinebench R15 multi-core, where the N100 scores 401.5 against the i7-975’s 299, a delta of negative 25.5% for the i7-975, meaning the N100 leads by a quarter. This is a surprising result given the i7-975’s thread advantage, but the N100’s per-core efficiency in this specific test outweighs the thread count. The second is Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the i7-975 reverses course with 2974 versus 2559.5, a 16.2% win. The R23 workload is longer and more demanding, which allows the i7-975’s higher sustained power draw and 8 threads to assert themselves. The third is Cinebench R23 single-core, where the N100 scores 910.5 versus 419, a 54% advantage. This is the largest delta in the entire head-to-head set and highlights the generational leap in single-thread performance.

The i7-975 also has a Cinebench R20 multi-core score of 1249 and a single-core score of 175, while the N100 has no R20 results recorded. The N100’s 3DMark scores, ranging from 386 in single-thread to 1250 in 8-thread, are not matched by any i7-975 data, so no direct comparison is possible there. The aggregate benchmark averages tell a similar story: the i7-975 scores 1023, the N100 scores 1007, a 1.6% difference that places both in the 27th to 28th percentile of all CPUs. The i7-975’s nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U with a score of 1024 and delta of 0%, and the Intel Pentium Gold G5600 at 1022 with a delta of 0.1%. The N100’s nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-10210Y at 1006 with a delta of 0.1% and the Intel Core i7-880 at 1006, also 0.1%. These narrow deltas confirm that both chips sit in the same performance tier despite their vastly different architectures.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-core performance?

A: The Intel Processor N100 wins decisively. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 910.5 against the Core i7-975’s 419, a 54% lead. The N100 also has a Cinebench R15 single-core score of 147.9, which the i7-975 does not have a recorded result for.

Q: How do they compare in multi-core workloads?

A: It depends on the test. The i7-975 wins Cinebench R23 multi-core with 2974 versus 2559.5, a 16.2% margin, but the N100 wins Cinebench R15 multi-core with 401.5 versus 299, a 25.5% margin. The i7-975’s 8 threads help in longer, heavier workloads, while the N100’s efficiency wins in shorter bursts.

Q: What are the power consumption differences?

A: The i7-975 has a thermal design power of 130 W, while the N100 has a TDP of 6 W. This is a 95% reduction in power draw, making the N100 far more suitable for fanless or battery-powered mobile devices.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: No. The i7-975 supports DDR3 with a triple-channel bus and 25.6 GB/s bandwidth. The N100 supports DDR4 and DDR5 with a single-channel bus and 38.4 GB/s bandwidth. The N100 offers higher peak bandwidth despite fewer channels.

Q: Which chip has integrated graphics?

A: Only the Intel Processor N100 includes integrated UHD Graphics 730. The Core i7-975 has no integrated graphics recorded in the database, meaning it requires a discrete GPU for any display output.

Q: What is the release date difference?

A: The i7-975 was released on 2009-06-01, while the N100 was released on 2023-01-02. The N100 is also in active production, whereas the i7-975 is end-of-life.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear use-case split. For anyone running modern single-threaded applications, the Intel Processor N100 is the obvious choice. Its 54% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core, combined with a 6 W TDP and integrated graphics, makes it suitable for low-power laptops, mini PCs, or embedded systems where efficiency and quiet operation matter. The N100’s 3DMark scores, including 1246 in 4-thread and 1250 in 8-thread, further indicate strong performance in lightly threaded games or productivity apps. Its active production status and support for DDR4 and DDR5 also mean it is a current, upgradeable platform.

The Intel Core i7-975 is only preferable in one specific scenario: long, heavily multi-threaded workloads that can use its 8 threads and 130 W power budget. Its 16.2% win in Cinebench R23 multi-core shows it can still hold its own against a modern low-power chip in sustained rendering, but this comes at the cost of 130 W power draw, a triple-channel DDR3 memory controller, and no integrated graphics. The i7-975 is end-of-life, so it offers no upgrade path and requires a discrete GPU. Its 28th percentile ranking and nearest rivals around the 1024 score mark place it in the same tier as the N100, but the N100 achieves that tier with far less power and far better single-thread responsiveness.

For most users, the N100 is the better choice because it wins 2 of the 3 head-to-head benchmarks, including the single-core test that dominates everyday usage. The i7-975 is a niche part for retro builds or specific multi-threaded tasks where its thread count and older architecture still deliver. The 95% TDP reduction and 54% single-core lead of the N100 are decisive advantages in any modern context. The i7-975’s only recorded win is a 16.2% margin in R23 multi-core, which is not enough to recommend it for general use.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-975 | Intel Processor N100 |

|----------------|-------------------|----------------------|

| Cores | 4 | 4 |

| Threads | 8 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 3.33 GHz | 100.00 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.60 GHz | 3.40 GHz |

| TDP | 130 W | 6 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1366 | Intel BGA 1264 |

| Architecture | Nehalem | Gracemont |

| Codename | Bloomfield | Gracemont |

| Process Node | 45 nm | 10 nm |

| Transistors | 731 million | Not recorded |

| Die Size | 263 mm² | Not recorded |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 96 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 256 KB (per core) | 2 MB (shared) |

| L3 Cache | 8 MB (shared) | 6 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR3 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory Bus | Triple-channel | Single-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 25.6 GB/s | 38.4 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 2 | Gen 3, 9 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | None | UHD Graphics 730 |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Production Status | End-of-life | Active |

| Release Date | 2009-06-01 | 2023-01-02 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | No |

| Part Number | SLBEQ | SRMDM |

| Launch MSRP | $1059 | $128 |