CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-8400 vs Intel Core i3-10100
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i5-8400 is a landmark mainstream desktop processor that fundamentally shifted the budget CPU market by bringing six physical cores to the i5 tier for the first time.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Handles office tasks and moderate programming workloads efficiently.
Office work and web browsing are fast, but heavy multitasking will show the limitations of 4 cores.
Gaming
Capable of smooth 1080p gaming when paired with a mid-range discrete GPU.
Can handle 1080p gaming with a mid-range GPU, though it will bottleneck newer titles compared to 12th-gen alternatives.
Virtualization
Good for basic VMs, but 6 threads limit heavy parallel virtualization.
Can run a single light VM, but 4 cores and 8 threads limit serious virtualization use.
Efficiency
Balanced performance within a standard 65W power envelope.
The 14nm process is less power-efficient than modern 10nm alternatives, drawing more power for less performance.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No AI-specific hardware
- CPU inference is slow due to lack of threads
- No AI acceleration hardware
- Lacks AVX-512 support found on mobile Tiger Lake chips
- Not suitable for AI workloads
Content Creation
Gaming
- Excellent for budget gaming builds
- Handles eSports titles flawlessly
- May bottleneck high-end modern GPUs at 1080p
- Playable in older and e-sports titles with a dedicated GPU
- Will bottleneck GPUs above the GTX 1660 Super / RX 580 tier in modern games
- Lacks the single-thread speed of newer architectures
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- Disruptive price-to-performance ratio
- 6 physical cores for modern gaming
- Includes integrated UHD Graphics 630
- Standard 65W TDP is easy to cool
- Wide compatibility with 300-series motherboards
Cons
- No Hyper-Threading (only 6 threads)
- Locked multiplier prevents overclocking
- End-of-life platform (LGA 1151)
- Officially limited to DDR4-2666
- Not supported by Windows 11 officially
Pros
- Hyper-Threading provides a usable 8-thread experience
- High 3.6 GHz base clock ensures sustained performance
- UHD 630 iGPU is reliable for basic display tasks
- Very easy to cool with a 65 W TDP
- LGA 1200 allows an upgrade path to 11th-gen parts
Cons
- Outdated 14nm manufacturing process
- Limited to DDR4-2666 memory speeds on this SKU
- Only supports PCIe 3.0, bottlenecking modern NVMe drives
- Small 6 MB L3 cache compared to modern chips
- Lacks AVX-512 instructions
Competitors & Alternatives
Intel Core i5-8400
- AMD Ryzen 5 1600Rival
Mainstream Desktop
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-7500Rival
Mainstream Desktop
- AMD Ryzen 5 2600Rival
Mainstream Desktop
- Intel Core i7-7700Rival
Mainstream Desktop
- AMD Ryzen 5 2400GRival
Mainstream Desktop
Slightly newer generation with marginally higher clocks.
Compare head-to-headNewer platform with 8 threads and similar gaming performance.
Compare head-to-headLow power alternative for SFF builds.
Compare head-to-head
Intel Core i3-10100
- AMD Ryzen 3 3100Rival
Budget Desktop
- AMD Ryzen 3 3300XRival
Mainstream Budget
- AMD Ryzen 5 1600 AFRival
Value AM4
- Intel Core i3-9100Rival
Previous-Gen Budget
- AMD Ryzen 5 2600Rival
Mid-Range AM4
A massive architectural upgrade for a similar price, offering PCIe 5.0 and DDR5 support.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 5500Alt
6 cores and 12 threads provide much better multi-threaded performance on the AM4 platform.
- AMD Ryzen 5 3600Alt
Often available at a similar price point with 12 threads and superior multi-core performance.
A 6-core Comet Lake option that provides a much better upgrade path on the same LGA 1200 platform.
Compare head-to-head- Intel Core i3-10100FAlt
If you have a dedicated GPU, the F-variant saves money by removing the iGPU.
Our Verdict on Each
A legendary value CPU that forced the market to adopt 6 cores as the standard. Excellent for budget gaming, though lacking Hyper-Threading.
Best for: Upgrading an older LGA 1151 system on a budget, or building an office/HTPC machine.
Read the full reviewThe i3-10100 was a solid budget chip in 2020 thanks to the return of Hyper-Threading, but it is now outdated, held back by PCIe 3.0, DDR4-2666 limits, and an aging 14nm process.
Best for: The i3-10100 only makes sense today if you are upgrading an existing LGA 1200 system on an extremely tight budget and can find the chip used for a very low price. It can also be considered if you are repairing an office PC that already uses an LGA 1200 motherboard and you just need a drop-in replacement. However, for any new build, it is obsolete. The i3-12100 offers a massive architectural leap for a similar price, featuring PCIe 5.0, DDR5 support, and dramatically higher single-core performance. Avoid building a new system around the 10100 entirely.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i5-8400 or Intel Core i3-10100?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i5-8400 comes out ahead with a score of 8.5/10. 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 i5-8400 or Intel Core i3-10100?
For gaming, the Intel Core i5-8400 leads with a gaming performance score of 78/100 among Intel Core i5-8400 and Intel Core i3-10100.
Do Intel Core i5-8400 and Intel Core i3-10100 use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Intel Core i5-8400: Intel Socket 1151, Intel Core i3-10100: LGA 1200), so each needs a compatible motherboard.
Which has more cores?
The Intel Core i5-8400 has the most cores. Core counts: Intel Core i5-8400 (6 cores), Intel Core i3-10100 (4 cores).
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Intel Core i3-10100 posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i3-10100 (7,000). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.