i3-6100U vs i7-940XM

VS

Aggregate performance score

Core i7-940XM
2010
4 cores / 8 threads, 55 Watt
1.44
Core i3-6100U
2015
2 cores / 4 threads, 15 Watt
1.72
+19.4%

Core i3-6100U outperforms Core i7-940XM by a moderate 19% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-940XM and Core i3-6100U processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking22072059
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Market segmentLaptopLaptop
SeriesIntel Core i7Intel Core i3
Power efficiency2.3910.46
Architecture codenameClarksfield (2009−2010)Skylake (2015−2016)
Release date20 June 2010 (14 years ago)1 September 2015 (9 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$1,096$281

Detailed specifications

Core i7-940XM and Core i3-6100U 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 cores4 (Quad-Core)2 (Dual-core)
Threads84
Base clock speed2.13 GHz2.3 GHz
Boost clock speed3.33 GHz2.3 GHz
Bus typeno dataOPI
Bus rate2500 MHz4 GT/s
Multiplierno data23
L1 cache64 KB (per core)128 KB
L2 cache256 KB (per core)512 KB
L3 cache8 MB (shared)3 MB
Chip lithography45 nm14 nm
Die size296 mm298.57 mm2
Maximum core temperature100 °C100 °C
Number of transistors774 million1750 Million
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility--
Unlocked multiplier+-

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-940XM and Core i3-6100U 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 configuration11 (Uniprocessor)
SocketFCPGA988,PGA988FCBGA1356
Power consumption (TDP)55 Watt15 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-940XM and Core i3-6100U. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® SSE4.2Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
AES-NI-+
AVX-+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
My WiFino data+
Turbo Boost Technology+-
Hyper-Threading Technology++
Idle States++
Thermal Monitoring++
Flex Memory Accessno data+
Smart Responseno data+
Demand Based Switching-no data
PAE36 Bitno data

Security technologies

Core i7-940XM and Core i3-6100U technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT+-
EDB++
Secure Keyno data+
MPX-+
Identity Protection-+
SGXno dataYes with Intel® ME
OS Guardno data+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i7-940XM and Core i3-6100U are enumerated here.

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

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i7-940XM and Core i3-6100U. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR3-1066, DDR3-1333DDR3, DDR4
Maximum memory size8 GB32 GB
Max memory channels22
Maximum memory bandwidth21 GB/s34.134 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardNoneIntel HD Graphics 520
Max video memoryno data32 GB
Quick Sync Video-+
Clear Videono data+
Clear Video HDno data+
Graphics max frequencyno data1 GHz
InTru 3Dno data+

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i7-940XM and Core i3-6100U integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supportedno data3
eDPno data+
DisplayPort-+
HDMI-+
DVIno data+

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i7-940XM and Core i3-6100U integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

4K resolution supportno data+
Max resolution over HDMI 1.4no data4096x2304@24Hz
Max resolution over eDPno data4096x2304@60Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPortno data4096x2304@60Hz

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i7-940XM and Core i3-6100U integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectXno data12
OpenGLno data4.5

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-940XM and Core i3-6100U.

PCIe version23.0
PCI Express lanes1612

Synthetic benchmark performance

Various benchmark results of the processors in comparison. Overall score is measured in points in 0-100 range, higher is better.


Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark performance rating. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

i7-940XM 1.44
i3-6100U 1.72
+19.4%

Passmark

Passmark CPU Mark is a widespread benchmark, consisting of 8 different types of workload, including integer and floating point math, extended instructions, compression, encryption and physics calculation. There is also one separate single-threaded scenario measuring single-core performance.

i7-940XM 2209
i3-6100U 2634
+19.2%

GeekBench 5 Single-Core

GeekBench 5 Single-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses only a single CPU core.

i7-940XM 389
i3-6100U 758
+94.9%

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses all available CPU cores.

i7-940XM 1073
i3-6100U 1546
+44.1%

Cinebench 10 32-bit single-core

Cinebench R10 is an ancient ray tracing benchmark for processors by Maxon, authors of Cinema 4D. Its single core version uses just one CPU thread to render a futuristic looking motorcycle.

i7-940XM 3630
i3-6100U 3714
+2.3%

Cinebench 10 32-bit multi-core

Cinebench Release 10 Multi Core is a variant of Cinebench R10 using all the processor threads. Possible number of threads is limited by 16 in this version.

i7-940XM 11391
+35.2%
i3-6100U 8426

3DMark06 CPU

3DMark06 is a discontinued DirectX 9 benchmark suite from Futuremark. Its CPU part contains two scenarios, one dedicated to artificial intelligence pathfinding, another to game physics using PhysX package.

i7-940XM 4064
+25.4%
i3-6100U 3242

wPrime 32

wPrime 32M is a math multi-thread processor test, which calculates square roots of first 32 million integer numbers. Its result is measured in seconds, so that the less is benchmark result, the faster the processor.

i7-940XM 25.18
i3-6100U 23.51
+7.1%

Cinebench 11.5 64-bit multi-core

Cinebench Release 11.5 Multi Core is a variant of Cinebench R11.5 which uses all the processor threads. A maximum of 64 threads is supported in this version.

i7-940XM 4
+40%
i3-6100U 3

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 1.44 1.72
Recency 20 June 2010 1 September 2015
Physical cores 4 2
Threads 8 4
Chip lithography 45 nm 14 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 55 Watt 15 Watt

i7-940XM has 100% more physical cores and 100% more threads.

i3-6100U, on the other hand, has a 19.4% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 5 years, a 221.4% more advanced lithography process, and 266.7% lower power consumption.

The Core i3-6100U is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i7-940XM in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-940XM and Core i3-6100U, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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Intel Core i7-940XM
Core i7-940XM
Intel Core i3-6100U
Core i3-6100U

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Community ratings

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