Intel Core i7-4790 vs Intel Core i3-8100

The Intel Core i7-4790 (Haswell S), introduced in the second quarter of 2014, was manufactured in 22 nm and offered 4 cores and 8 threads.

The Intel Core i3-8100 (Coffee Lake S), released in the fourth quarter of 2017, was produced using the more efficient 14 nm process and has 4 cores and 4 threads.

In terms of performance comparison, the Intel Core i7-4790 shows a clear advantage in multi-core applications due to its 8 threads. For single-core tasks, the Intel Core i3-8100 is competitive thanks to its newer architecture, with differences under 10 percent. For gaming, the Intel Core i7-4790 can be advantageous in well-optimized titles due to more threads.

The Intel Core i3-8100 benefits from a more modern architecture; both require a dedicated graphics card. The integrated Intel UHD Graphics 630 of the Intel Core i3-8100 is more powerful than the Intel HD Graphics 4600 of the Intel Core i7-4790. The Intel Core i7-4790 has 8 MB of L3 cache, while the Intel Core i3-8100 has 6 MB.

Both support PCIe 3.0. Regarding power consumption and memory bandwidth, the Intel Core i3-8100 with a 65 Watt TDP is more energy-efficient than the Intel Core i7-4790 with 84 Watts and offers a higher maximum memory bandwidth of 38 GB/s compared to 26 GB/s. The Intel Core i7-4790 offers more multi-thread performance, while the Intel Core i3-8100 offers a more modern platform with better energy efficiency.

The Intel Core i7-4790 is recommended for tasks that benefit from many threads or as an upgrade for older Haswell systems. The Intel Core i3-8100 is a good choice for energy-efficient systems, everyday tasks, and when a more modern integrated graphics unit is desired.