Core i3-7100T vs Core i5-7287U

Both the Core i3-7100T and Core i5-7287U share an identical 2-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.4 GHz on the Core i3-7100T versus 3.7 GHz on the Core i5-7287U — a 8.5% clock advantage for the Core i5-7287U (base: 3.4 GHz vs 3.3 GHz). Both are built on the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture using a 14 nm process. In PassMark, the Core i3-7100T scores 3,763 against the Core i5-7287U's 3,743 — a 0.5% lead for the Core i3-7100T. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-7100T vs 4 MB on the Core i5-7287U.

The Core i3-7100T uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i5-7287U uses BGA1356 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2400 on the Core i3-7100T versus 2133 on the Core i5-7287U — the Core i5-7287U supports 199.3% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i3-7100T supports up to 64 GB of RAM compared to 32 — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i3-7100T) vs 12 (Core i5-7287U) — the Core i3-7100T offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: B250,H270,Z270 (Core i3-7100T) and Kaby Lake-U (Core i5-7287U).

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i3-7100T) vs true (Core i5-7287U). Both include integrated graphics — Intel HD Graphics 630 (Core i3-7100T) and Intel Iris Plus Graphics 650 (Core i5-7287U) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-7100T targets Low Power Desktop, Core i5-7287U targets Mobile.