CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-9400F vs Intel Core i3-8100
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i5-9400F is a six-core desktop processor that gained massive popularity among budget gamers by removing the integrated graphics to lower the cost, requiring a dedicated GPU.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Snappy application launches and smooth multitasking.
The lack of Hyper-Threading severely limits performance in heavily threaded office applications compared to newer 8-thread budget chips.
Gaming
Excellent pairing for mid-range GPUs; handles 60fps gaming effortlessly.
Paired with a strong discrete GPU, it can still handle older eSports titles, but modern AAA games will be heavily CPU bottlenecked.
Virtualization
Limited to 6 threads, but VT-x support allows basic VM usage.
4 threads is the absolute minimum for running a modern OS and a single light virtual machine.
Efficiency
65W TDP is easy to manage with budget coolers.
The 14nm process is power-hungry compared to modern 7nm or 5nm alternatives, drawing 65W for modest performance.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No dedicated AI hardware
- CPU inference is slow
- No AI hardware acceleration
- Lacks AVX-512
- Far too slow for any practical AI inference
Content Creation
Gaming
- Ideal for GTX 1660 / RTX 3060 class GPUs
- Slight bottleneck possible with high-end GPUs at 1080p
- Lacks integrated graphics for troubleshooting
- 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
- Excellent budget gaming value
- 6 physical cores
- 4.1 GHz single-core boost
- Low 65W TDP
- Easy to cool
Cons
- No integrated graphics (requires discrete GPU)
- No Hyper-Threading
- Locked multiplier
- End-of-life platform
- Limited to PCIe 3.0
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- Outdated 14nm architecture with poor efficiency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 i5-9400F
- AMD Ryzen 5 2600Rival
Budget Desktop
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-8400Rival
Mainstream Desktop
- AMD Ryzen 5 1600Rival
Budget Desktop
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i3-8100Rival
Budget Desktop
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-9400Rival
Mainstream Desktop
- Intel Core i3-10100FAlt
Newer generation, 8 threads, and often cheaper on modern platforms.
Better multi-threaded performance with 12 threads.
Compare head-to-headSlight bump in clock speeds if you want a tiny edge.
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
One of the best value gaming CPUs of its era. By removing the iGPU, Intel lowered the price, making it a top choice for budget builders with a dedicated graphics card.
Best for: Building a budget 1080p gaming PC using the used market, where a dedicated GPU is already owned.
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 i5-9400F or Intel Core i3-8100?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i5-9400F comes out ahead with a score of 8.2/10. 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 i5-9400F or Intel Core i3-8100?
For gaming, the Intel Core i5-9400F leads with a gaming performance score of 80/100 among Intel Core i5-9400F and Intel Core i3-8100.
Do Intel Core i5-9400F and Intel Core i3-8100 use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Intel Core i5-9400F: Intel Socket 1151, Intel Core i3-8100: LGA 1151), so each needs a compatible motherboard.
Which has more cores?
The Intel Core i5-9400F has the most cores. Core counts: Intel Core i5-9400F (6 cores), Intel Core i3-8100 (4 cores).