i3-4100M vs i7-870

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-870 and Core i3-4100M processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking	1926	2095
Place by popularity	not in top-100	not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation	0.19	no data
Market segment	Desktop processor	Laptop
Series	no data	Intel Core i3
Power efficiency	1.97	4.07
Architecture codename	Lynnfield (2009−2010)	Haswell (2013−2015)
Release date	8 September 2009 (15 years ago)	4 June 2013 (11 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)	$305	$225

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

Detailed specifications

Core i7-870 and Core i3-4100M basic parameters such as number of cores, number of threads, base frequency and turbo boost clock, lithography, cache size and multiplier lock state. These parameters indirectly say of CPU speed, though for more precise assessment you have to consider their test results.

Physical cores	4 (Quad-Core)	2 (Dual-core)
Threads	8	4
Base clock speed	2.93 GHz	2.5 GHz
Boost clock speed	3.6 GHz	2.5 GHz
Bus rate	2.5 GT/s	5 GT/s
L1 cache	64 KB (per core)	128 KB
L2 cache	256 KB (per core)	512 KB
L3 cache	8 MB (shared)	3 MB
Chip lithography	45 nm	22 nm
Die size	296 mm2	130 mm2
Maximum core temperature	73 °C	100 °C
Number of transistors	774 million	960 Million
64 bit support	+	+
Windows 11 compatibility	-	-

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-870 and Core i3-4100M compatibility with other computer components: motherboard (look for socket type), power supply unit (look for power consumption) etc. Useful when planning a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. Note that power consumption of some processors can well exceed their nominal TDP, even without overclocking. Some can even double their declared thermals given that the motherboard allows to tune the CPU power parameters.

Number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Socket	FCLGA1156,LGA1156	FCPGA946
Power consumption (TDP)	95 Watt	37 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-870 and Core i3-4100M. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensions	Intel® SSE4.2	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
AES-NI	-	+
AVX	-	+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)	+	+
Turbo Boost Technology	1.0	-
Hyper-Threading Technology	+	+
Idle States	+	no data
Thermal Monitoring	-	+
Demand Based Switching	-	no data
PAE	36 Bit	no data

Security technologies

Core i7-870 and Core i3-4100M technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT	+	-
EDB	+	+
Secure Key	no data	+
Identity Protection	-	+
Anti-Theft	no data	+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i7-870 and Core i3-4100M are enumerated here.

AMD-V	-	+
VT-d	+	-
VT-x	+	+
EPT	+	+

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i7-870 and Core i3-4100M. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory types	DDR3	DDR3
Maximum memory size	16 GB	32 GB
Max memory channels	2	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	21 GB/s	25.6 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card	N/A	Intel HD Graphics 4600
Max video memory	no data	2 GB
Quick Sync Video	-	+
Graphics max frequency	no data	1.1 GHz
InTru 3D	no data	+

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i7-870 and Core i3-4100M integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported	no data	3
eDP	no data	+
DisplayPort	-	+
HDMI	-	+
VGA	no data	+

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i7-870 and Core i3-4100M integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

Max resolution over HDMI 1.4	no data	3840x2160@60Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPort	no data	3840x2160@60Hz
Max resolution over VGA	no data	2880x1800@60Hz

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i7-870 and Core i3-4100M integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectX	no data	11.2/12
OpenGL	no data	4.3

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-870 and Core i3-4100M.

PCIe version	2.0	2.0
PCI Express lanes	16	16

Synthetic benchmark performance

Various benchmark results of the processors in comparison. Overall score is measured in points in 0-100 range, higher is better.

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Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark performance rating. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

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Pros & cons summary

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Performance score	2.05	1.65
Recency	8 September 2009	4 June 2013
Physical cores	4	2
Threads	8	4
Chip lithography	45 nm	22 nm
Power consumption (TDP)	95 Watt	37 Watt

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Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-870 and Core i3-4100M, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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