CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-7400 vs Intel Core i3-8100
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i5-7400 is a mainstream desktop processor launched in early 2017 as part of the 7th Generation Kaby Lake lineup. Designed as the entry point for the Core i5 desktop family, it features four physical cores operating at a base frequency of 3.0 GHz, with the ability to boost up to 3.5 GHz. Manufactured on Intel's mature 14nm process, it fits into the standard 65-watt TDP envelope, making it compatible with a wide range of cooling solutions and motherboards. The chip lacks Hyper-Threading, handling four threads simultaneously, which was standard for i5 processors of this generation. It integrates Intel HD 630 graphics, providing adequate performance for everyday multimedia tasks and hardware-accelerated video decoding. Supporting dual-channel DDR4 memory at 2400 MT/s and featuring 16 PCIe 3.0 lanes, the i5-7400 was widely adopted in budget gaming rigs and office PCs. While it has been surpassed by modern processors, it remains a functional solution for basic computing needs and legacy system builds.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Solid performance for standard office tasks, but limited by 4 threads in heavy multitasking.
The lack of Hyper-Threading severely limits performance in heavily threaded office applications compared to newer 8-thread budget chips.
Gaming
Can run older games well but will bottleneck modern GPUs significantly.
Paired with a strong discrete GPU, it can still handle older eSports titles, but modern AAA games will be heavily CPU bottlenecked.
Virtualization
Basic VM support is possible, but performance is restricted by core count.
4 threads is the absolute minimum for running a modern OS and a single light virtual machine.
Efficiency
65W TDP is well-managed and easy to cool.
The 14nm process is power-hungry compared to modern 7nm or 5nm alternatives, drawing 65W for modest performance.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No AI acceleration hardware
- Will struggle with any local AI inference
- No AI hardware acceleration
- Lacks AVX-512
- Far too slow for any practical AI inference
Content Creation
Gaming
- Heavily bottlenecked by 4 threads in modern titles
- Acceptable for retro or e-sports titles with a low-end GPU
- HD 630 not suitable for modern gaming without a dedicated GPU
- Requires a dedicated GPU for any gaming
- Fixed clock speed prevents single-thread boosts
- 4 cores are becoming the bare minimum for modern games
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- Good single-core performance for basic tasks
- Low 65W TDP is easy to cool
- Hardware video decoding for modern codecs
- Widely compatible with LGA 1151 motherboards
- Affordable on the used market
Cons
- Only 4 threads limits modern multitasking
- Locked multiplier prevents overclocking
- No PCIe Gen 4 support
- Bottlenecks modern mid-range GPUs
- Not supported on Windows 11 officially
Pros
- Historically significant for bringing 4 cores to the i3 tier
- Very cheap on the used market
- Low 65W TDP is easy to cool
- UHD 630 iGPU is sufficient for basic display tasks
- Stable, mature platform with abundant used motherboards
Cons
- No Hyper-Threading (4 cores, 4 threads only)
- No Turbo Boost (fixed 3.6 GHz clock)
- DDR4 memory speed artificially capped at 2400 MT/s
- Outdated 14nm architecture with poor efficiency
- Limited to PCIe 3.0
Competitors & Alternatives
Intel Core i5-7400
- AMD Ryzen 3 1200Rival
Desktop
- AMD Ryzen 5 1400Rival
Desktop
- Intel Core i3-7100Rival
Desktop
- Intel Core i5-6400Rival
Desktop
- AMD FX-8350Rival
Desktop
Successor with 6 cores, offering vastly superior modern performance.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 1600Alt
Contemporary AMD alternative with 6 cores and 12 threads.
A slight step up in clock speeds if sticking to 7th Gen.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 3600Alt
A much better modern alternative for a budget build.
A modern budget CPU that destroys this chip in every metric.
Compare head-to-head
Intel Core i3-8100
- AMD Ryzen 3 1200Rival
Budget Desktop
- AMD Ryzen 3 2200GRival
Budget Desktop APU
- Intel Pentium Gold G5400Rival
Entry Desktop
- AMD Ryzen 5 1400Rival
Mid-Range Desktop
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-7400Rival
Previous Gen Mid-Range
A drop-in replacement (with a BIOS update) that adds Hyper-Threading for 8 threads and much higher clocks.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 3 3100Alt
Offers SMT (8 threads) and a modern upgrade path to Ryzen 5000 series.
If staying on the exact same platform, the 8400 offers 6 cores for much better multitasking.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 3600Alt
A massively faster 12-thread CPU that redefines budget performance.
The current king of budget computing, offering IPC gains that make the 8100 look stationary.
Compare head-to-head
Our Verdict on Each
A standard quad-core CPU of its era that handles basic tasks well, but lacks Hyper-Threading and is heavily bottlenecked in modern multi-threaded workloads.
Best for: Keeping an existing LGA 1151 system alive for basic office work.
Read the full reviewA landmark chip in 2017 for bringing quad-core computing to the masses, but thoroughly outclassed by modern budget processors in every metric.
Best for: The only justifiable scenario for purchasing an Intel Core i3-8100 today is if you are repairing an existing LGA 1151 v2 system (like an office PC or a hand-me-down) and can find the CPU for under $20 on the used market. Even then, you must consider that the 8100 lacks Hyper-Threading, which severely limits its longevity in modern operating systems that are increasingly optimized for 8 or more threads. If you are building a new system, even the absolute cheapest new motherboard and CPU combo from AMD or Intel's 12th/13th gen will offer exponentially better performance, efficiency, and platform features like PCIe 4.0 or DDR5. Do not buy this CPU for gaming, as the lack of Turbo Boost and Hyper-Threading will cause severe stuttering in modern titles compared to a modern Ryzen 3.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i5-7400 or Intel Core i3-8100?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i5-7400 comes out ahead with a score of 6/10. That said, the best choice depends on your workload — check the spec and performance breakdown above for gaming, productivity and efficiency differences.
Which is faster for gaming, Intel Core i5-7400 or Intel Core i3-8100?
For gaming, the Intel Core i5-7400 leads with a gaming performance score of 45/100 among Intel Core i5-7400 and Intel Core i3-8100.
Do Intel Core i5-7400 and Intel Core i3-8100 use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Intel Core i5-7400: Intel Socket 1151, Intel Core i3-8100: LGA 1151), so each needs a compatible motherboard.
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Intel Core i5-7400 posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i5-7400 (5,200). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.