CPU Showdown

Core i3-7100vsRyzen Threadripper 7970X

The Core i3-7100 is a simple, low-power two-core chip for basic office work and web browsing, while the Ryzen Threadripper 7970X is a massive thirty-two-core workstation monster for heavy rendering and multitasking.

Intel Core i3-7100
2C / 4T · 51W
VS
AMD Ryzen Threadripper 7970X
32C / 64T · 350W
Intel

Core i3-7100

Kaby Lake · 14 nm · 2017

3score
3.4/ 5
0 votes
Cores / Threads
2 / 4
TDP
51W
Boost Clock
3.9 GHz
L3 Cache
3 MB

As an Amazon Associate we may earn from qualifying purchases.

AMD

Ryzen Threadripper 7970X

Storm Peak · 5 nm · 2023

60score
4/ 5
0 votes
Cores / Threads
32 / 64
TDP
350W
Boost Clock
5.3 GHz
L3 Cache
128 MB

As an Amazon Associate we may earn from qualifying purchases.

Aggregate Performance

Overall Performance Score

A unified score from combined synthetic and real-world benchmarks. 100 represents the fastest desktop CPU available.

Core i3-7100
3
Ryzen Threadripper 7970XWinner
60
Ryzen Threadripper 7970X leads by 1900.0% in aggregate performance.
Where they rank overall
#4Ryzen Threadripper 9970X64
#5Ryzen Threadripper 7970X60
#6Ryzen Threadripper 9960X56
#479Pentium Gold G65053
#480Core i3-71003
#481Athlon 300GE3
Technical Specifications

Side-by-Side Specs

Every detail compared. Highlighted cells indicate the leading value for that metric.

SpecsCore i3-7100Ryzen Threadripper 7970X
Cores
Total Cores232
Threads464
Base Clock3.9 GHz4.0 GHz
Boost Clock3.9 GHz5.3 GHz
Cache
L2 Cache0.5 MB32 MB
L3 Cache3 MB128 MB
Platform
MemoryDDR4DDR5
PCIePCIe 3.0PCIe 5.0
iGPUIntel HD Graphics 630
Power
Base TDP51W350W
General
Process14 nm5 nm
Verdict

Which should you buy?

Winner overall

The Ryzen Threadripper 7970X wins overall for anyone needing serious multi-core muscle, leaving the Core i3-7100 far behind.

Best value

For budget or value buyers, the Core i3-7100 is the smarter pick for basic office tasks where extreme performance isn't needed.

When the other wins

The weaker Core i3-7100 is the right choice for a low-power home server or basic web browsing machine where cost and efficiency matter most.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is the Core i3-7100 better than the Ryzen Threadripper 7970X?

Overall the Ryzen Threadripper 7970X is the stronger processor: it ranks higher in our aggregate performance score (60 vs 3 out of 100), so it leads the Core i3-7100 in most workloads.

How much faster is the Ryzen Threadripper 7970X than the Core i3-7100?

Based on our aggregated benchmark scores the Ryzen Threadripper 7970X is roughly 1900% faster than the Core i3-7100 overall. The real-world gap varies by game, resolution and settings.

Which should you buy, the Core i3-7100 or the Ryzen Threadripper 7970X?

If you want the most performance, pick the Ryzen Threadripper 7970X. If the Core i3-7100 is meaningfully cheaper where you shop, it can be the better value for similar real-world results — check current prices and the full spec comparison above before deciding.