Intel Core i3-8350K Review

Introducing the Core i3-8350K! This Desktop processor is a marvel in Intel's entry-level range. Debuted in 2017, it's packed with 4 cores and 4 threads. It operates at a base clock speed of 4GHz, can ramp up to 4GHz, and has a power consumption of 91W, ready to supercharge your gaming system. The Core i3-8350K is built on the Coffee Lake 14nm platform and belongs to the esteemed Core i3 series.

And guess what? The Core i3-8350K is the ultimate successor to Intel's previous-gen gaming champion, the Core i3-7350K. The Core i3-7350K 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 i3-8350K 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 i3-8350K 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 i3-8350K scored a 4260 and 171 respectively. This is a massive leap from the Core i3-7350K, but it still falls behind the Ryzen 5 2400G, which scored a 4295 and 155 in the same tests. Don't worry though, the multi-core gains usually outweigh the single-core difference.

Introducing the Core i3-8350K, the high-performance counterpart to the award-winning Core i3-8300. Both are built on the same 14nm Coffee Lake platform, but the Core i3-8350K cranks the power up to a toasty 91W for those extra cores and threads. We're expecting big things from this one, just like its lower-powered sibling! 'sChoiceHype

Heads up, with a simple overclock, the Core i3-8300 can actually perform almost as well as the Core i3-8350K, even when the Core i3-8350K is overclocked too. But the Core i3-8300 is $70 cheaper! Don't get us wrong, the Core i3-8350K is still a beast and offers more overall performance than AMD's Ryzen 3 3200G, but if you're on a budget, the cheaper sibling might be the better call.

The Core i3-8350K is the more expensive version of the Core i3-8300, and it shows with its higher base and boost clock speeds: 4 GHz and 4 GHz, respectively. That's a nice boost in speed, but the real game changer is the higher power delivery (PPT). This lets the motherboard pump more juice (up to 142W) to the Core i3-8350K compared to the Core i3-8300's limit of 62W. This extra power allows the Core i3-8350K to crank up the boost clocks even more aggressively, on both single and multiple cores. That means the performance gap between these two CPUs might be bigger than what the specs on paper suggest.

The Intel Core i3-8350K launched on Oct 2017 for $168, which is pretty much the same price as the last-generation Core i3-7350K. At least there's no crazy price hike this generation!

Heads up! If you already have a Core i3-7350K, 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.

Alright, buying advice time! Before this review, we recommended the Ryzen 5 2400G because it comes with a better stock cooler, can be overclocked, and the platform allows for easier future upgrades.

For things other than gaming, the Ryzen 5 2400G is the clear winner. With all those extra threads, it can crush the Core i3-8350K on demanding applications. Think of it this way: the Core i3-8350K is only slightly faster than the Core i3-7350K, so you can use that as a benchmark. For rendering videos and encoding stuff, the Ryzen 5 2400G can be up to 19% faster.

But beyond gaming, the Ryzen 5 2400G is the future-proof option. The Ryzen 5 platform on A320, B350, B450, X370, X470, X570 motherboards supports upcoming Zen processors. So, if you buy a good A320, B350, B450, X370, X470, X570 board with the Ryzen 5 2400G now, you can easily upgrade to a newer Coffee Lake CPU later on.

Don't let the 4 cores fool you, the Intel Core i3-8350K 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 Intel Core i3-8350K is a decent performing chip for $168. The main competitor at this price point is the Ryzen 5 2400G, a 4-core unlocked processor with integrated graphics, which costs $169.

The Intel Core i3-8350K might not get a lot of hype, but it's a solid entry-level option that delivers a good experience for casual users.

If you don't care too much about overclocking and max boost speeds, then the Intel Core i3-8300 is a good option for $138. It also has 4 cores and 4 threads, but with slightly lower clock speeds (3.7GHz base and 3.7GHz boost).

Can you game on Intel's Core i3 CPU? Absolutely! We got a solid 85% 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 i3-8350K processors, available since Oct 2017.