Core i3-4100U vs Core i7-6870HQ

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-6870HQ and Core i3-4100U processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in performance ranking	not rated	not rated
Place by popularity	not in top-100	not in top-100
Market segment	Laptop	Laptop
Series	Intel Core i7	Intel Core i3
Architecture codename	Skylake (2015−2016)	Haswell (2013−2015)
Release date	24 January 2016 (8 years ago)	4 June 2013 (10 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)	$434	no data
Current price	$54 (0.1x MSRP)	$370

Detailed specifications

Core i7-6870HQ and Core i3-4100U basic parameters such as number of cores, number of threads, base frequency and turbo boost clock, lithography, cache size and multiplier lock state. These parameters indirectly say of CPU speed, though for more precise assessment you have to consider their test results.

Physical cores	4 (Quad-Core)	2 (Dual-core)
Threads	8	4
Base clock speed	2.7 GHz	1.8 GHz
Boost clock speed	3.6 GHz	1.8 GHz
L1 cache	256 KB	64K (per core)
L2 cache	1 MB	256K (per core)
L3 cache	8 MB	3 MB (shared)
Chip lithography	14 nm	22 nm
Die size	no data	118 mm2
Maximum core temperature	100 °C	100 °C
Number of transistors	no data	1,400 million
64 bit support	+	+
Windows 11 compatibility	-	-
Unlocked multiplier	No	No

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-6870HQ and Core i3-4100U compatibility with other computer components: motherboard (look for socket type), power supply unit (look for power consumption) etc. Useful when planning a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. Note that power consumption of some processors can well exceed their nominal TDP, even without overclocking. Some can even double their declared thermals given that the motherboard allows to tune the CPU power parameters.

Number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Socket	FCBGA1440	FCBGA1168
Power consumption (TDP)	45 Watt	15 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-6870HQ and Core i3-4100U. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensions	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
AES-NI	+	+
AVX	+	+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)	+	+
eDRAM	128 MB	no data
Turbo Boost Technology	2.0	-
Hyper-Threading Technology	+	+
TSX	-	-
Idle States	+	+
Thermal Monitoring	+	+
SIPP	-	no data
Smart Response	+	no data
GPIO	no data	+
Smart Connect	no data	+
FDI	no data	-
AMT	no data	9.5
Matrix Storage	no data	-
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued
HD Audio	no data	+
RST	no data	+

Security technologies

Core i7-6870HQ and Core i3-4100U technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT	+	+
EDB	+	+
Secure Key	+	+
MPX	+	no data
Identity Protection	no data	+
SGX	Yes with Intel® ME	no data
OS Guard	+	no data
Anti-Theft	no data	+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i7-6870HQ and Core i3-4100U are enumerated here.

AMD-V	+	+
VT-d	+	+
VT-x	+	+
EPT	+	+

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i7-6870HQ and Core i3-4100U. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory types	DDR3, DDR4	DDR3
Maximum memory size	64 GB	16 GB
Max memory channels	2	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	34.1 GB/s	25.6 GB/s
ECC memory support	-	-

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card Compare	Intel Iris Pro Graphics 580	Intel HD Graphics 4400
Max video memory	64 GB	2 GB
Quick Sync Video	+	+
Clear Video HD	+	+
Graphics max frequency	1 GHz	1 GHz
InTru 3D	no data	+

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i7-6870HQ and Core i3-4100U integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported	3	3
eDP	+	+
DisplayPort	+	+
HDMI	+	+
DVI	+	no data

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i7-6870HQ and Core i3-4100U integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

4K resolution support	+	no data
Max resolution over HDMI 1.4	4096x2304@24Hz	3200x2000@60Hz
Max resolution over eDP	4096x2304@60Hz	no data
Max resolution over DisplayPort	4096x2304@60Hz	3200x2000@60Hz
Max resolution over VGA	no data	N/A

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i7-6870HQ and Core i3-4100U integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectX	12	11.2/12
OpenGL	4.5	4.3

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-6870HQ and Core i3-4100U.

PCIe version	3.0	2.0
PCI Express lanes	16	12
PCI support	no data	-
USB revision	no data	3.0
Total number of SATA ports	no data	4
Max number of SATA 6 Gb/s Ports	no data	4
Integrated IDE	no data	-
Number of USB ports	no data	4
Integrated LAN	no data	-
UART	no data	+

Pros & cons summary

---

Integrated graphics card	4.76	1.35
Recency	24 January 2016	4 June 2013
Physical cores	4	2
Threads	8	4
Chip lithography	14 nm	22 nm
Power consumption (TDP)	45 Watt	15 Watt

---

Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-6870HQ and Core i3-4100U, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

Vote for your favorite

Do you think we are right or mistaken in our choice? Vote by clicking "Like" button near your favorite CPU.

---