Intel Core i5-7400 vs Intel Core i3-10100

Processor comparisons   17-03-2021
   Perhaps you can't decide which processor to buy, you can make a choice by looking at the Intel Core i5-7400 vs Intel Core i3-10100 tests and decide which is better for games or normal use for streaming, video editing, rendering, programming, machine learning. Here is all information from real streaming and video editing tests or many benchmarks. A careful analysis of all the specifications, so that it can be easier to read, is summarized in the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of parallel examination in software tests such as Prime95, Blender, MATLAB, RealBench, Gears 5, Handbrake, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, AIDA64, Dolphin Emulator, 7zip, GeekBench 6, 5.2, VeraCrypt, SuperPi, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), 3DMark, DaVinci Resolve Studio, PCMark 10, Furmark, PassMark, Blender, WPrime, UserBenchmark.
   Gaming performance of CPUs in:

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

After reading the results of parallel benchmarks and videos, you already be able to understand which CPU is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i3-10100 or Intel Core i5-7400.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i5-7400

51%

Core i3-10100

52%

This parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i3-10100 is 1% better than Core i5-7400. The data source is several popular tests. More detailed information of the benchmarks is below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i5-7400

51%

Core i3-10100

52%

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

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	91.4	92.8
Valorant	103.9	105.5
Cyberpunk 2077	58.2	59.1
Apex Legends	97.6	99.1
Call of Duty Warzone	77.9	79.1
Overwatch	84.1	85.4
Red Dead Redemption 2	71.7	72.8
DOOM Eternal	51.9	52.7
Warzone	81.0	82.3
Assassin's Creed	87.3	88.6
Valheim	86.2	87.5

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: 4K, 2K or FullHD. So the game benchmark data is approximate. But all video cards met the average system requirements of games. To be sure exactly how much performance 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 i5-7400

49%

Core i3-10100

58%

To make a final decision on which processor is better, you should also consider the generation of its core. It is clear that the newer the generation, the better the performance of the processor in games and benchmarks, as well as its energy efficiency. In this case the Core i3-10100 is more energy efficient than the Core i5-7400 as it consumes less power: 65W vs. 65W. Power consumption is particularly important for laptops. And TDP should be taken into account when choosing a processor cooling system. 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 want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for streaming, machine learning, programming, video editing or video rendering, then first of all you need to pay attention to the performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the CPU uses all cores and threads that it has to the maximum to reach maximum performance. You will find out this data from the benchmark tables below. Before using 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 use only one core to work, and all the benefit of multi-core mode are unused.
Cinebench 23, 20 an 15
The results of this benchmark show Single-threaded and Multi-threaded CPU performance

	Intel Core i5-7400	Intel Core i3-10100
Cinbench 15 Single-core	149	191
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	564	1001
Cinbench 20 Single-core	345	448
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	1266	2284
Cinbench 23 Single-core	820	1144
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	2853	4442

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

	Intel Core i5-7400	Intel Core i3-10100
Single-Core	2131	2617
Multi-Core	5499	8889

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

	Intel Core i5-7400	Intel Core i3-10100
Single-Core	959	1147
Multi-Core	3349	4722

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the processor release date and overclocking capability will be the most useful. The later the processor is released, the longer it will last you. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system later. The same can be said about overclocking. When the processor can be overclocked, thereby increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS in the newest games. Accordingly, you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The economy are obvious!

	Intel Core i5-7400	Intel Core i3-10100
Announcement date	January 01, 2017	April 01, 2020
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA1151	FCLGA1200
Core name	Kaby Lake	Comet Lake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	7	10
Turbo Frequency	3.5 MHz	4.3 MHz
Frequency	3 MHz	3.6 MHz
Cores	4	4
Threads	4	8
Bus rate	8 GT/s	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	14 nm	14 nm
Transistors count	2460 millions	2600 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	65 W	65 W
Memory type	DDR4-2133/2400, DDR3L-1333/1600 @ 1.35V	DDR4-2666
Max. Memory	64 Gb	128 Gb
Memory Frequency
Memory bandwidth		41.6 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache
L3 cache	6 MB	6 MB
Overclocking	Yes	Yes
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Core i3-10100 is 16% better than Core i5-7400 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 i5-7400 is better: 0
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i3-10100 is better: 29
However, it should be understood that all the data in the text above do not mean that taking them into account you should totally trust a simple comparison of these figures. Better to watch the testing video and read the opinion of real owners of Intel Core i5-7400 and Intel Core i3-10100 before deciding which CPU to buy for gaming and which not.

• Intel Core i5-7400 specs and review.

• Intel Core i3-10100 specs and review.