Intel Core i3-8100 Review

Meet the Core i3-8100! This Desktop processor is a standout in Intel's entry-level lineup. Unveiled in 2017, it comes with 4 cores and 4 threads. It operates at a base clock speed of 3.6GHz, can ramp up to 3.6GHz, and has a power draw of 65W, ready to take your gaming experience to the next level. The Core i3-8100 is crafted using the formidable Coffee Lake 14nm process and is a part of the prestigious Core i3 series.

And guess what? The Core i3-8100 is the ultimate successor to Intel's previous-gen gaming champion, the Core i3-7100. The Core i3-7100 was based on the legendary Kaby Lake-S and 14nm process, and it made its grand entrance into the gaming scene back in 2017. But now, it's time for the Core i3-8100 to take the throne and conquer the gaming world!

The best CPUs are the ones that slay frames at a price that won't make you ragequit. The Core i3-8100 totally wins this game.

Oof, the single-core performance isn't quite as impressive, even though Intel is closer than ever to matching AMD core for core. In our single-core GeekBench and Cinebench tests, the Core i3-8100 scored a 3834 and 154 respectively. This is a massive leap from the Core i3-7100, but it still falls behind the Ryzen 3 2200G, which scored a 3896 and 142 in the same tests. Don't worry though, the multi-core gains usually outweigh the single-core difference.

The Intel Core i3-8100 launched on Oct 2017 for $117, which is pretty much the same price as the last-generation Core i3-7100. At least there's no crazy price hike this generation!

Heads up! If you already have a Core i3-7100, this new generation doesn't offer a huge jump in performance. You might be better off waiting a year to upgrade or spending more on a higher-end CPU.

One of the best things about the Intel Core i3-8100 is that it comes with a free CPU cooler! You can grab the Core i3-8100 for $117 without having to spend extra on cooling.

The Intel Core i3-8100 comes with a basic heatsink cooler, nothing fancy. But it gets the job done for this low-power CPU (TDP of 65W). You won't need a fancy aftermarket cooler unless you want to overclock it.

Don't let the 4 cores fool you, the Intel Core i3-8100 is a surprisingly capable processor! It held its own and felt snappy in our tests. While it fell behind on heavily threaded tasks due to the lower core count, it actually beat some pricier siblings in lightly threaded tasks thanks to its high clock speeds.

The gaming tests with an RTX 2080 Ti were surprising! The budget-friendly Intel Core i3-8100 (only 117)managedtooutperformthemoreexpensiveRyzen 3 2300X(141) in three games we tested. We know three games aren't everything, but it shows that even a 4 core CPU can still hold its own today. You can even play modern games and stream to Twitch on the Core i3-8100 (playable results, not amazing). As games get more demanding, a 4 core CPU might not be ideal, but the Core i3-8100 can hold its own for now in a pinch.

The Intel Core i3-8100 is a decent performing chip for $117. The main competitor at this price point is the Ryzen 3 2200G, a 4-core unlocked processor with integrated graphics, which costs $99.

The Intel Core i3-8100 might not get a lot of hype, but it's a solid entry-level option that delivers a good experience for casual users.

Looking at the competition, AMD's current 4-core processor, the Ryzen 3 2300X, is much more expensive at $141. Even going back a generation to Summit Ridge, the 4-core AMD Ryzen 3 1300X isn't much cheaper at $129.

Can you game on Intel's Core i3 CPU? Absolutely! We got a solid 84% score in our gaming benchmarks.

Building on the success of mainstream Core i3 CPUs, Intel is now attacking the entry-level market with the Core i3-8100 processors, available since Oct 2017.