Core i3-4170 vs Core i3-6100T

Both the Core i3-4170 and Core i3-6100T share an identical 2-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the Core i3-4170 versus 3.2 GHz on the Core i3-6100T — a 14.5% clock advantage for the Core i3-4170 (base: 3.7 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Core i3-4170 uses the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Core i3-6100T uses Skylake (2015−2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-4170 scores 3,626 against the Core i3-6100T's 3,641 — a 0.4% lead for the Core i3-6100T. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,140 vs 1,041, a 9.1% lead for the Core i3-4170 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 1,897 vs 2,071 (8.8% advantage for the Core i3-6100T). L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-4170 vs 3 MB on the Core i3-6100T.

The Core i3-4170 uses the LGA1150 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i3-6100T uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1600 on the Core i3-4170 versus DDR4-2133 on the Core i3-6100T — the Core i3-6100T supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i3-6100T supports up to 64 GB of RAM compared to 32 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: LGA1150 (Core i3-4170) and H110,B150,H170,Z170 (Core i3-6100T).

Neither processor supports overclocking. Both support VT-x, VT-d virtualization. Both include integrated graphics — HD Graphics 4400 (Core i3-4170) and HD Graphics 530 (Core i3-6100T) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-6100T targets Budget.

The Core i3-4170 launched at $117 MSRP, while the Core i3-6100T debuted at $117. At current prices ($40 vs $20), the Core i3-6100T is $20 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i3-4170 delivers 90.7 pts/$ vs 182.1 pts/$ for the Core i3-6100T — making the Core i3-6100T the 67% better value option.