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Intel Core i3-7100U

Intel Core i3-7100U: A Modest Workhorse for Basic Tasks. A Full Review of the 2025 Processor

Architecture and Process Technology: What's Inside Kaby Lake?

The Intel Core i3-7100U, released in 2017, belongs to the seventh generation of Kaby Lake architecture. Despite its age, it is still found in budget laptops in 2025 due to its low cost and balanced performance for simple tasks.

Specifications

- Cores and Threads: 2 cores, 4 threads thanks to Hyper-Threading technology. This allows it to handle light multitasking scenarios, such as using a browser, office applications, and messaging apps simultaneously.

- Clock Speed: Fixed at 2.4 GHz. There is no Turbo mode, which limits peak performance.

- Integrated Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 620 with a base frequency of 300 MHz and a maximum of 1000 MHz. It supports 4K video via HDMI 1.4 or DisplayPort but is weak for gaming.

- Process Technology: 14 nm. By 2025 standards, this is an outdated norm, but for its tasks, the processor is well-optimized.

Why is This Important?

Kaby Lake is an evolutionary update to Skylake. The main improvements include energy consumption optimization and support for H.265/HEVC codecs for decoding 4K video. These features remain relevant for undemanding users.

Power Consumption and TDP: A Balance Between Performance and Battery Life

The TDP (Thermal Design Power) of the i3-7100U is 15 watts. This is a classic figure for ultrabooks, where long battery life and minimal heating are essential.

Features

- Energy Efficiency: The processor does not overload the system even under peak loads. For example, when rendering simple video in Movavi or converting PDFs, the temperature rarely exceeds 70°C.

- Cooling: Passive heatsinks or compact coolers handle heat dissipation. There is almost no noise, which is valuable for quiet work in an office environment.

Practical Example: The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 with this CPU (price in 2025 — $450) is equipped with a 40-watt battery. With moderate use (browser, Word, Zoom), the battery life reaches 6-7 hours.

Performance: What Can the i3-7100U Do in 2025?

A Geekbench 6 score (Single Core: 769, Multi Core: 1577) places the processor alongside budget chips from 2023-2024, but it is insufficient for heavy tasks.

Real Scenarios

- Office Work: Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, PDF editors — everything works without lag. Problems begin when opening 20+ tabs in Chrome or working with large Excel spreadsheets.

- Multimedia: Watching 4K videos on YouTube (via VP9) and streaming services (Netflix) — smooth. Editing in Filmora or Shotcut is possible, but rendering will take 2-3 times longer than on a Core i5.

- Gaming: Only light projects on low settings — Minecraft, Dota 2, Stardew Valley. CS:GO delivers 30-40 FPS at 720p, but drops can occur.

Turbo Mode: Absent. This is the main downside — the processor cannot temporarily speed up for complex operations, such as running Photoshop.

Usage Scenarios: Who is the i3-7100U Suitable For?

This CPU is an option for those who value portability and are not chasing performance.

Target Audience

- Students: Note-taking, online courses, Zoom conferences.

- Office Workers: Working with documents, email, CRM systems.

- "Surfing" Users: Social networks, streaming, online shopping.

Who is it not suitable for?

Gamers, video editors, engineers (CAD, MATLAB), programmers (building large projects).

Battery Life: How Does the Processor Affect Runtime?

Thanks to its 15W TDP and energy-saving technologies, laptops with the i3-7100U still rank highly in battery life among budget models.

Energy-Saving Technologies

- Intel SpeedStep: Dynamically adjusts frequency based on load. For example, when typing, the frequency drops to 1.2 GHz, saving power.

- C-States: The processor puts inactive cores into "sleep mode."

Tip: Choose laptops with a battery of at least 40 Wh. For example, the Acer Aspire 5 ($500) with a 48 Wh battery offers up to 8 hours of use at 50% brightness.

Comparison with Competitors: Who is Better?

In 2025, the i3-7100U competes with ultra-budget CPUs from previous years.

AMD Ryzen 3 3200U (2019)

- Pros: Vega 3 graphics are around 20% more powerful, supports DDR4-2400.

- Cons: Higher heating (15W TDP, but actual consumption can reach 18W).

Apple M1 (2020)

- Pros: 3-4 times higher performance, 18 hours of battery life.

- Cons: Laptops with M1 start at $800, which is double the cost of devices with i3-7100U.

Conclusion: For Windows devices under $500, there are few alternatives. Among new releases is the Intel N100 (2023), but it is weaker in single-core tasks.

Pros and Cons of the i3-7100U

Strengths

- Low price of laptops (starting at $400).

- Cool and quiet operation.

- Support for 4K video.

- Sufficient for basic tasks.

Weaknesses

- No Turbo mode.

- Weak iGPU for gaming.

- Only 2 cores — multi-threaded tasks “lag.”

Recommendations for Choosing a Laptop

Devices with the i3-7100U in 2025 include ultrabooks and budget Chromebooks. When purchasing, consider:

1. Storage Type: Only SSD (minimum 256 GB). HDD is outdated.

2. RAM: 8 GB DDR4. 4 GB is insufficient even for Windows 11.

3. Screen: Full HD (1920×1080). HD (1366×768) looks archaic in 2025.

4. Ports: USB-C with charging support — useful for modern gadgets.

Examples of Models:

- HP 15-dw2000 ($430): 256 GB SSD, 8 GB RAM, anti-glare display.

- ASUS VivoBook 15 ($470): weighs 1.7 kg, has a slot for an HDD.

Final Conclusion: Who is the i3-7100U Suitable For?

This processor is an option for those looking for a budget laptop for study, document work, and browsing. Its key advantages are low price, long battery life, and sufficient performance for everyday tasks. However, for gaming, video editing, or professional software, it is better to consider models with Core i5 or Ryzen 5 level CPUs. In 2025, the i3-7100U remains a niche solution, but it finds its audience.

Basic

Label Name

Intel

Platform

Mobile

Launch Date

July 2016

Model Name

The Intel processor number is just one of several factors - along with processor brand, system configurations, and system-level benchmarks - to be considered when choosing the right processor for your computing needs.

i3-7100U

Code Name

Kaby Lake

CPU Specifications

Total Cores

Cores is a hardware term that describes the number of independent central processing units in a single computing component (die or chip).

Total Threads

Where applicable, Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology is only available on Performance-cores.

Basic Frequency

2.40 GHz

Intel Turbo Boost Technology

Intel® Turbo Boost Technology dynamically increases the processor's frequency as needed by taking advantage of thermal and power headroom to give you a burst of speed when you need it, and increased energy efficiency when you don’t.

Intel Hyper-Threading Technology

Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology (Intel® HT Technology) delivers two processing threads per physical core. Highly threaded applications can get more work done in parallel, completing tasks sooner.

Yes

CPU Socket

The socket is the component that provides the mechanical and electrical connections between the processor and motherboard.

FCBGA1356 | FPBGA1356

Technology

Lithography refers to the semiconductor technology used to manufacture an integrated circuit, and is reported in nanometer (nm), indicative of the size of features built on the semiconductor.

14 nm

TDP

15 W

Max. Operating Temperature

Junction Temperature is the maximum temperature allowed at the processor die.

100°C

PCI Express Version

PCI Express Revision is the supported version of the PCI Express standard. Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (or PCIe) is a high-speed serial computer expansion bus standard for attaching hardware devices to a computer. The different PCI Express versions support different data rates.

3.0

Number of PCI Express Lanes

A PCI Express (PCIe) lane consists of two differential signaling pairs, one for receiving data, one for transmitting data, and is the basic unit of the PCIe bus. Max # of PCI Express Lanes is the total number of supported lanes.

Intel 64

Intel® 64 architecture delivers 64-bit computing on server, workstation, desktop and mobile platforms when combined with supporting software.¹ Intel 64 architecture improves performance by allowing systems to address more than 4 GB of both virtual and physical memory.

Yes

Instruction Set

The instruction set is a hard program stored inside the CPU that guides and optimizes CPU operations. With these instruction sets, the CPU can run more efficiently. There are many manufacturers that design CPUs, which results in different instruction sets, such as the 8086 instruction set for the Intel camp and the RISC instruction set for the ARM camp. x86, ARM v8, and MIPS are all codes for instruction sets. Instruction sets can be extended; for example, x86 added 64-bit support to create x86-64. Manufacturers developing CPUs that are compatible with a certain instruction set need authorization from the instruction set patent holder. A typical example is Intel authorizing AMD, enabling the latter to develop CPUs compatible with the x86 instruction set.

64-bit

PCI Express Configurations

PCI Express (PCIe) Configurations describe the available PCIe lane configurations that can be used to link to PCIe devices.

1x4 | 2x2 | 1x2+2x1 and 4x1

Memory Specifications

Memory Type

Intel® processors come in four different types: Single Channel, Dual Channel, Triple Channel, and Flex Mode. Maximum supported memory speed may be lower when populating multiple DIMMs per channel on products that support multiple memory channels.

DDR4-2133 | LPDDR3-1866 | DDR3L-1600

Max Memory Size

Max memory size refers to the maximum memory capacity supported by the processor.

32 GB

Memory Channels

The number of memory channels refers to the bandwidth operation for real world application.

Bus Speed

4 GT/s

Max Memory Bandwidth

Max Memory bandwidth is the maximum rate at which data can be read from or stored into a semiconductor memory by the processor (in GB/s).

34.1 GB/s

ECC Memory Supported

ECC Memory Supported indicates processor support for Error-Correcting Code memory. ECC memory is a type of system memory that can detect and correct common kinds of internal data corruption. Note that ECC memory support requires both processor and chipset support.

GPU Specifications

GPU Name

Intel® HD Graphics 620

Graphics Base Frequency

Graphics Base frequency refers to the rated/guaranteed graphics render clock frequency in MHz.

300 MHz

Graphics Frequency

Graphics max dynamic frequency refers to the maximum opportunistic graphics render clock frequency (in MHz) that can be supported using Intel® HD Graphics with Dynamic Frequency feature.

1.00 GHz

Graphics Video Max Memory

32 GB

4K Support

Yes | at 60Hz

DirectX Support

DirectX* Support indicates support for a specific version of Microsoft’s collection of APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) for handling multimedia compute tasks.

Max Resolution (HDMI)

Max Resolution (HDMI) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor via the HDMI interface (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your system.

4096x2304@24Hz

Max Resolution (DP)

Max Resolution (DP) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor via the DP interface (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your system.

4096x2304@60Hz

Max Resolution (eDP - Integrated Flat Panel)

Max Resolution (Integrated Flat Panel) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor for a device with an integrated flat panel (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your device.

4096x2304@60Hz

Max Resolution (VGA)

N/A

Number of Displays Supported

Graphics Output

Graphics Output defines the interfaces available to communicate with display devices.

eDP/DP/HDMI/DVI

Miscellaneous

Intel Virtualization Technology (VT-x)

Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x) allows one hardware platform to function as multiple “virtual” platforms. It offers improved manageability by limiting downtime and maintaining productivity by isolating computing activities into separate partitions.

Yes

Intel Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)

Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d) continues from the existing support for IA-32 (VT-x) and Itanium® processor (VT-i) virtualization adding new support for I/O-device virtualization. Intel VT-d can help end users improve security and reliability of the systems and also improve performance of I/O devices in virtualized environments.

Yes

Intel Standard Manageability (ISM)

Intel® Standard Manageability is the manageability solution for Intel vPro® Essentials platforms and is a subset of Intel® AMT with out-of-band management over Ethernet and Wi-Fi, but no KVM or new life cycle management features.

Intel® SSE4.1 | Intel® SSE4.2 | Intel® AVX2

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology is an advanced means of enabling high performance while meeting the power-conservation needs of mobile systems. Conventional Intel SpeedStep® Technology switches both voltage and frequency in tandem between high and low levels in response to processor load. Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology builds upon that architecture using design strategies such as Separation between Voltage and Frequency Changes, and Clock Partitioning and Recovery.

Yes

Execute Disable Bit

Execute Disable Bit is a hardware-based security feature that can reduce exposure to viruses and malicious-code attacks and prevent harmful software from executing and propagating on the server or network.

Yes

Cache

CPU Cache is an area of fast memory located on the processor. Intel® Smart Cache refers to the architecture that allows all cores to dynamically share access to the last level cache.

3 MB Intel® Smart Cache

Intel AES New Instructions

Intel® AES New Instructions (Intel® AES-NI) are a set of instructions that enable fast and secure data encryption and decryption. AES-NI are valuable for a wide range of cryptographic applications, for example: applications that perform bulk encryption/decryption, authentication, random number generation, and authenticated encryption.

Yes

Intel Boot Guard

Intel® Device Protection Technology with Boot Guard helps protect the system’s pre-OS environment from viruses and malicious software attacks.

Yes

Intel Clear Video HD Technology

Intel® Clear Video HD Technology, like its predecessor, Intel® Clear Video Technology, is a suite of image decode and processing technologies built into the integrated processor graphics that improve video playback, delivering cleaner, sharper images, more natural, accurate, and vivid colors, and a clear and stable video picture. Intel® Clear Video HD Technology adds video quality enhancements for richer color and more realistic skin tones.

Yes

Intel Clear Video Technology

Yes

Intel VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)

Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT), also known as Second Level Address Translation (SLAT), provides acceleration for memory intensive virtualized applications. Extended Page Tables in Intel® Virtualization Technology platforms reduces the memory and power overhead costs and increases battery life through hardware optimization of page table management.

Yes

Intel Flex Memory Access

Yes

Intel OS Guard

Yes

OpenGL Support

OpenGL (Open Graphics Library) is a cross-language, multi-platform API (Application Programming Interface) for rendering 2D and 3D vector graphics.

4.5

Intel Quick Sync Video

Intel® Quick Sync Video delivers fast conversion of video for portable media players, online sharing, and video editing and authoring.

Yes

Benchmarks

Geekbench 6

Single Core Score

769

Geekbench 6

Multi Core Score

1577

Geekbench 5

Single Core Score

599

Geekbench 5

Multi Core Score

1358

Passmark CPU

Single Core Score

1386

Passmark CPU

Multi Core Score

2721

Compared to Other CPU

Geekbench 6 Single Core

Core i7-8500Y

891 +15.9%

Core i7-6700TE

835 +8.6%

Core i3-7100U

769

Xeon D-1559

711 -7.5%

Xeon E5-2609 v3

660 -14.2%

Geekbench 6 Multi Core

FX-8150

1900 +20.5%

Core i3-6100TE

1735 +10%

Core i3-7100U

1577

Core i7-8500Y

1439 -8.8%

Pentium Gold G5400T

1253 -20.5%

Geekbench 5 Single Core

FX-9370

645 +7.7%

Core i7-2820QM

619 +3.3%

Core i3-7100U

599

EPYC 7351

578 -3.5%

FX-8320E

560 -6.5%

Geekbench 5 Multi Core

A8-9600

1492 +9.9%

Celeron G5900E

1417 +4.3%

Core i3-7100U

1358

Xeon E5-2660 v2

1271 -6.4%

A10-6790K

1183 -12.9%

Passmark CPU Single Core

PRO A12-8870E

1444 +4.2%

Core i5-6350HQ

1420 +2.5%

Core i3-7100U

1386

A8-5500

1349 -2.7%

Xeon E5-2648L v3

1292 -6.8%

Passmark CPU Multi Core

Xeon W3530

3061 +12.5%

FX-770K

2915 +7.1%

Core i3-7100U

2721

Core m3-7Y30

2579 -5.2%

Celeron G3920

2358 -13.3%