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Intel Core i3-7101E

Intel Core i3-7101E: A Budget Choice for Office and Multimedia in 2025

(Relevant as of April 2025)

Key Features: Kaby Lake in Miniature

The Intel Core i3-7101E processor, released in 2017, belongs to the Kaby Lake line. Despite its age, it can still be found in new entry-level builds due to its low cost (around $50-70) and energy efficiency.

- Architecture and Manufacturing Process: 14-nm technology, 2 cores with Hyper-Threading (4 threads).

- Frequency: Fixed base frequency of 3.9 GHz. Turbo Boost is absent.

- TDP: 54W — a modest figure even for budget systems.

- Key Features: Support for AVX2 instructions, Intel HD Graphics 630 (for basic graphics), hardware acceleration for 4K video.

Practical Example: In 2025, this processor easily handles office applications (Microsoft Office, browsers) and plays 4K video via HDMI 1.4. However, multitasking (e.g., streaming + working in Photoshop) may experience slowdowns.

Compatible Motherboards: LGA 1151 Socket and Chipsets

The processor uses the LGA 1151 (v1) socket, which limits motherboard options to older models.

- Compatible Chipsets: H270, B250, Q270 (for the corporate segment).

- Details:

- Motherboards with series 300 chipsets (e.g., H310) are incompatible — they are designed for Coffee Lake processors.

- Recommended models: ASUS Prime B250M-K (around $60), Gigabyte H270-HD3 (from $70).

- Important: Many new motherboards for LGA 1151 have already been discontinued, but they can still be found with residual suppliers.

Tip: When purchasing, check the list of supported processors on the motherboard manufacturer's website.

Memory: DDR4-2133/2400 and Dual-Channel Mode

Core i3-7101E works with DDR4-2133/2400 memory in dual-channel configuration.

- Maximum Capacity: Up to 64 GB (theoretically), but most motherboards for LGA 1151 are limited to 32-64 GB.

- Recommendations:

- The optimal choice is 2 modules of 8 GB DDR4-2400 (e.g., Crucial CT8G4DFD824A).

- DDR5 and XMP profiles are not supported.

Example: In tests, the difference between single-channel and dual-channel modes reaches 15-20% in gaming and rendering.

Power Supply: Minimum Requirements

With a TDP of 54W, the processor does not require a powerful PSU:

- Without a discrete graphics card: A 300-400W PSU is sufficient (e.g., be quiet! Pure Power 11 400W, $55).

- With a graphics card: For NVIDIA GTX 1650 (TDP 75W), 450W is enough (Corsair CX450, $60).

- Tips:

- Don't skimp on certifications (80+ Bronze or higher).

- Avoid no-name PSUs — risks of overheating and voltage fluctuations.

Pros and Cons: Balance of Price and Capabilities

Pros:

- Low price ($50-70) for new units.

- Energy efficiency (suitable for compact PCs).

- Support for modern interfaces: USB 3.1, SATA III.

Cons:

- Only 2 cores — issues in multithreaded tasks (e.g., rendering in Blender).

- No overclocking or Turbo Boost.

- Outdated architecture: by 2025, even budget Ryzen 3 models offer 4-6 cores.

Real Case: In the game Cyberpunk 2077 (minimum settings), the processor becomes a "bottleneck" when using RTX 3050, yielding only 25-30 FPS.

Usage Scenarios: Where is the i3-7101E Relevant?

1. Office Tasks: Document work, video conferencing, multitasking in a browser (up to 10 tabs).

2. Multimedia: 4K viewing via HDMI, basic editing in Shotcut or DaVinci Resolve (with simplified projects).

3. Light Gaming: CS:GO, Minecraft, Dota 2 (60+ FPS on medium settings with a GTX 1050 Ti level graphics card).

Limitations: Not suitable for streaming, 3D modeling, or modern open-world games.

Comparison with Competitors: Who is Better in 2025?

- AMD Ryzen 3 1200 (4 cores/4 threads, $40-50 used): Better in multithreading but requires a separate graphics card.

- Intel Pentium Gold G7400 (2 cores/4 threads, $90 new): 10% more performant but more expensive.

- Ryzen 3 5300G (4 cores/8 threads, $130 new): Integrated Vega graphics, supports DDR4-3200.

Conclusion: The i3-7101E is only advantageous in tight budget situations or when using pre-built OEM systems.

Building Tips: How to Avoid Mistakes

1. Motherboard: Choose models with HDMI and USB 3.1 (e.g., ASUS Prime B250M-A).

2. Storage: Ensure an SSD (Kingston A400 480 GB, $35) for speed.

3. Cooling: The standard cooler is sufficient, but for quiet operation, consider a Deepcool GAMMAXX 400 ($25).

4. Upgrade: Remember — the LGA 1151 socket has no future prospects. Plan to upgrade the platform in the future.

Final Conclusion: Who is the i3-7101E Suitable For?

Choose this processor if:

- You need the cheapest possible PC for office or study.

- An energy-efficient system is required (e.g., for HTPC).

- Your budget is limited to $200-300, and performance is not critical.

Why Not to Choose It: Even in 2025, two cores are insufficient for comfortable use with modern software. If the budget allows, it's better to consider Ryzen 3 or Core i3 of the 10th generation and above.

Conclusion

The Intel Core i3-7101E is a relic of the past, but it still holds a niche in the ultra-budget segment. It's a choice for those who value minimalism and do not plan to overload the system with complex tasks. However, for future upgrades, such a platform is not very suitable — keep this in mind when building.

Basic

Label Name

Intel

Platform

Desktop

Launch Date

January 2017

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.

i3-7101E

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

3.90 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.

FCLGA1151

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

54 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.

1x16 | 2x8 | 1x8+2x4

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.

DDR3L-1600 | DDR4-2400

Max Memory Size

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

64 GB

Memory Channels

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

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.

Yes

GPU Specifications

GPU Name

Intel® HD Graphics 630

Graphics Base Frequency

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

350 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.

1.10 GHz

Graphics Video Max Memory

64 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@30Hz

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 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 InTru 3D Technology

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 5

Single Core Score

1025

Geekbench 5

Multi Core Score

2159

Passmark CPU

Single Core Score

2407

Passmark CPU

Multi Core Score

4430

Compared to Other CPU

Geekbench 5 Single Core

Xeon Gold 6326

1069 +4.3%

Xeon W-2175

1050 +2.4%

Core i3-7101E

1025

Xeon E3-1240 v3

1004 -2%

Xeon E3-1245 v3

978 -4.6%

Geekbench 5 Multi Core

Core i5-4440

2483 +15%

Core i7-2820QM

2337 +8.2%

Core i3-7101E

2159

Xeon E5606

2014 -6.7%

Xeon E5-2407 v2

1888 -12.6%

Passmark CPU Single Core

Core i5-9400H

2470 +2.6%

Ryzen Embedded V2516

2439 +1.3%

Core i3-7101E

2407

Xeon Gold 6240

2370 -1.5%

Ryzen 5 PRO 3350GE

2340 -2.8%

Passmark CPU Multi Core

Xeon E3-1235L v5

5013 +13.2%

Xeon E3-1220 v2

4667 +5.3%

Core i3-7101E

4430

Core i5-3340

4246 -4.2%

Celeron G6900T

4003 -9.6%