Intel Core i7-7700 vs Intel Processor N100

The Intel Core i7-7700 (Kaby Lake S, 2017) was designed for mainstream desktops and offered solid performance for productivity and light gaming.

Manufactured using a 14 nm process, it features 4 cores and 8 threads. It offers 8 MB of Level 3 Cache, a maximum memory bandwidth of 38 GB/s, and supports PCIe 3.0. Its integrated graphics unit is the Intel HD Graphics 630. In benchmarks, the Intel Core i7-7700 shows significantly higher multi-core performance and superior single-core performance in Cinebench R23 compared to the Intel Processor N100.

For gaming, it is the better choice thanks to its stronger CPU and graphics unit. Power consumption is in the mid-range, and it is primarily available on the used market. The Intel Processor N100 (Alder Lake N, 2023) is an energy-efficient processor for compact systems such as mini-PCs.

It is manufactured using a more modern 10 nm process and has 4 cores and 4 threads designed for efficiency. This processor features 4 MB of Level 2 Cache and 6 MB of Level 3 Cache. The maximum memory bandwidth is also 38 GB/s, and it supports PCIe 3.0. Its integrated graphics unit is the Intel UHD Graphics 24 EUs (Alder Lake), which is sufficient for simple graphical tasks.

In multi-core benchmarks like Geekbench 6, its performance is below that of the Intel Core i7-7700, while single-core performance in Geekbench 6 is comparable. It is characterized by extremely low power consumption, enabling fanless operation, and is often found in new, cost-effective systems.