Core 3 100U vs Core i7-9700
Core 3 100U
Core i7-9700
Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core 3 100U
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-9700
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 3 100U | Core i7-9700 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | Balanced gaming performance | Balanced gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($150) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Raptor Lake-U Refresh (2024) / 10 nm) | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 3 100U | Core i7-9700 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($150) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core 3 100U and Core i7-9700
Core 3 100U
The Core 3 100U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 8 January 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Raptor Lake-U Refresh (2024) architecture. It features 6 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 1.2 GHz, with boost up to 4.7 GHz. L3 cache: 10 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1744. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-5200, DDR4-3200, LPDDR4X-4267. Passmark benchmark score: 13,312 points. Launch price was $426.
Core i7-9700
The Core i7-9700 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 23 April 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture. It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 4.7 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 13,206 points. Launch price was $323.
Processing Power
The Core 3 100U packs 6 cores / 8 threads, while the Core i7-9700 offers 8 cores / 8 threads — the Core i7-9700 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.7 GHz on the Core 3 100U versus 4.7 GHz on the Core i7-9700 — identical boost frequencies (base: 1.2 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Core 3 100U uses the Raptor Lake-U Refresh (2024) architecture (10 nm), while the Core i7-9700 uses Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core 3 100U scores 13,312 against the Core i7-9700's 13,206 — a 0.8% lead for the Core 3 100U. L3 cache: 10 MB (total) on the Core 3 100U vs 12 MB (total) on the Core i7-9700.
| Feature | Core 3 100U | Core i7-9700 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 8 | 8 / 8+33% |
| Boost Clock | 4.7 GHz | 4.7 GHz |
| Base Clock | 1.2 GHz | 3 GHz+150% |
| L3 Cache | 10 MB (total) | 12 MB (total)+20% |
| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core)+400% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 10 nm-29% | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Raptor Lake-U Refresh (2024) | Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) |
| PassMark | 13,312 | 13,206 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 8,540 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 1,570 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 7,202 |
Memory & Platform
The Core 3 100U uses the FCBGA1744 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Core i7-9700 uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core 3 100U | Core i7-9700 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1744 | LGA1151 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0+67% | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR4-2666 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 128 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Core 3 100U) / VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-9700). The Core i7-9700 includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630), while the Core 3 100U requires a dedicated GPU.
| Feature | Core 3 100U | Core i7-9700 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | UHD Graphics 630 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d |
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