Intel Core i3-7101TE vs Intel Core i3-8121U

Processor comparisons 20-01-2022

   Let's say you can't decide which processor to buy, you can make a decision after reading the detailed tests Intel Core i3-7101TE vs Intel Core i3-8121U and see which is better for games or simple use for rendering, streaming, programming, machine learning, video editing. Here is all information from many benchmarks or real video editing and streaming tests. A careful review of all the technical characteristics, to make it easier to read, is summarized in the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of joint testing in synthetic type tests such as Cinebench 23 (20, 15), UserBenchmark, WPrime, SuperPi, Dolphin Emulator, GeekBench 6, 5.2, AIDA64, Handbrake, Prime95, 3DMark, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Gears 5, Blender, Blender, Furmark, PCMark 10, PassMark, MATLAB, VeraCrypt, DaVinci Resolve Studio, 7zip, RealBench.
   And how good the CPUs are in games:

Fallout 76
Apex Legends
Grand Theft Auto V
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Warzone
World of Warcraft: Shadowlands
Overwatch
Cyberpunk 2077
Halo Infinite
Rainbow Six Siege
Watch Dogs Legion
Valorant
Death Stranding
Valheim
Fortnite
Borderlands 3
Red Dead Redemption 2
DOOM: Eternal
Assassin's Creed Valhalla
Last Man Standing

After looking at the data of parallel benchmarks and videos, you can already make an informed decision about which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i3-8121U or Intel Core i3-7101TE.

Summary benchmark results

As a percentage of the maximum value based on a sample from the entire base of all processors
Processor Benchmark

Core i3-7101TE

51%

Core i3-8121U

51%

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i3-7101TE

51%

Core i3-8121U

51%

The maximum result in this parameter is 100 percent, which is the performance of the most powerful processor at the moment. And it is clear that this is a server processor, on which no one will run games. Because the cost of this processor reaches several tens of thousands of dollars. Therefore, if you think that the selected CPU has a low game result, just look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the final table below.
List of other games in which processors were compared: Ghostrunner, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, League of Legends (LOL), Control, Battlefield V, Horizon Zero Dawn, Metro Exodus, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Forza Horizon 4, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Monster Hunter World, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Hitman 3, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Half-Life: Alyx, DOTA 2A, NBA 2K20.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	90.1	90.1
Valorant	102.4	102.4
Cyberpunk 2077	57.3	57.3
Apex Legends	96.2	96.2
Call of Duty Warzone	76.8	76.8
Overwatch	82.9	82.9
Red Dead Redemption 2	70.6	70.6
DOOM Eternal	51.2	51.2
Warzone	79.8	79.9
Assassin's Creed	86.0	86.0
Valheim	85.0	85.0

The numbers in this table indicate the maximum FPS that was received on the device with the corresponding processor. Depending on the configuration of the computer (RAM size and Video Card) and graphics quality settings (Ultra, Medium, Normal), the results may differ quite significantly. We recommend that you better study the results of the Cinebench, GeekBench and Passmark becnmarks.
The computers that were in the comparisons not only did they have different video cards and different amounts of RAM. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 2K, 4K or FullHD. So the game benchmark data is approximate. But all video cards met the average system requirements of games. You will get more accurate information about how powerful the processor will be in games, if you compare it in one assembly with the video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Core i3-7101TE

85%

Core i3-8121U

200%

To make a final decision on which processor is better, you should also consider the generation of its core. The newer the processor generation, the better its performance in games and benchmarks, as well as its energy efficiency. In this case the Core i3-8121U is more energy efficient than the Core i3-7101TE since it has less power consumption: 35W vs. 15W. Power consumption is particularly important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, it will be useful to know its TDP. You need to buy a cooler that has the TDP data specified in the specification was greater than the TDP of the compared processor.

Software benchmarks

Let's say you plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for video rendering or video editing, machine learning, programming, streaming, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the CPU includes all threads and cores that it has to the maximum to reach maximum efficiency. You will learn this data from the benchmark tables below. Before you take into account the data from these tests, be sure to make sure that the program that you are going to use on your computer can work in multi-threaded mode. Because there are still many programs that can use only one core to run, and all the advantages of multi-core mode turns out to be unnecessary.

Cinebench 23, 20 an 15
The results of this benchmark show Single-threaded and Multi-threaded CPU performance

	Intel Core i3-7101TE	Intel Core i3-8121U
Cinbench 15 Single-core	126	139
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	290	305
Cinbench 20 Single-core	309	340
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	544	598
Cinbench 23 Single-core	512	563
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	1986	2184

Passmark
This popular benchmark displays Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	Intel Core i3-7101TE	Intel Core i3-8121U
Single-Core	2089	1939
Multi-Core	3973	4369

GeekBench 6, 5.2
This benchmark shows Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	Intel Core i3-7101TE	Intel Core i3-8121U
Single-Core	899	901
Multi-Core	2031	2063

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the processor release date and overclocking capability will be the most helpful. The later the processor is released, the longer it will last in your computer. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system in the future. The same can be said about overclocking. If the processor can be overclocked, thereby increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS in new games. The economy are obvious! It turns out that there is no longer a need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	Intel Core i3-7101TE	Intel Core i3-8121U
Announcement date	March 07, 2017	July 07, 2018
Type	Desktop	Laptop
Socket	FCLGA1151	Unknown
Core name	Kaby Lake	Cannon Lake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	7	8
Turbo Frequency		3.2 MHz
Frequency	3.4 MHz	2.2 MHz
Cores	2	2
Threads	4	4
Bus rate	8 GT/s	4 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	14 nm	10 nm
Transistors count	2460 millions	1800 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	35 W	15 W
Memory type	DDR3L-1600, DDR4-2400	DDR4-2400, LPDDR4/x-2400
Max. Memory	64 Gb	32 Gb
Memory Frequency
Memory bandwidth	34.1 GB/s	37.5 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache
L3 cache	3 MB	4 MB
Overclocking	No	No
Supports ECC	Yes	No
Part number	Expansion Options

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Core i3-7101TE is 35% better than Core i3-8121U in terms of CPU frequency. Also keep in mind that high CPU frequency affects battery life through power consumption (relevant for laptops).

Result:
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i3-7101TE is better: 6
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i3-8121U is better: 17
Although it should be realized that the summary data in the table above do not mean that taking them into account you should fully trust a simple quantitative comparison. Be sure to watch the video tests and read the reviews of real owners of Intel Core i3-7101TE and Intel Core i3-8121U before making a choice which of the CPUs to buy for gaming.

Intel Core i3-7101TE - all data

• Cinebench r15 score
• Cinebench r20 score
• Cinebench r23 score
• GeekBench 6, 5.2 score

• Intel Core i3-7101TE specs and review.

Intel Core i3-8121U - all data

• Cinebench r15 score
• Cinebench r20 score
• Cinebench r23 score
• GeekBench 6, 5.2 score

• Intel Core i3-8121U specs and review.