CPU Comparison
Intel Core i3-8100 vs Intel Core i3-9000
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i3-8100 is a historically significant 8th-generation desktop processor that introduced 4 physical cores to the mainstream i3 tier, replacing the dual-core designs of previous generations.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
The lack of Hyper-Threading severely limits performance in heavily threaded office applications compared to newer 8-thread budget chips.
Can handle single applications well due to the high 3.7 GHz clock, but multitasking is severely hindered by 4 threads.
Gaming
Paired with a strong discrete GPU, it can still handle older eSports titles, but modern AAA games will be heavily CPU bottlenecked.
Even with a dedicated GPU, the lack of Hyper-Threading will cause severe stuttering in modern CPU-bound games.
Virtualization
4 threads is the absolute minimum for running a modern OS and a single light virtual machine.
4 threads are the absolute minimum for a host OS, leaving no room for a useful virtual machine.
Efficiency
The 14nm process is power-hungry compared to modern 7nm or 5nm alternatives, drawing 65W for modest performance.
The 14nm process is power-hungry compared to modern alternatives, drawing 65W for mediocre performance.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No AI hardware acceleration
- Lacks AVX-512
- Far too slow for any practical AI inference
- Lacks AVX-512 and any modern AI acceleration capabilities
Content Creation
Gaming
- Requires a dedicated GPU for any gaming
- Fixed clock speed prevents single-thread boosts
- 4 cores are becoming the bare minimum for modern games
- Modern games require at least 8 threads to avoid stuttering
- The fixed 3.7 GHz clock prevents the CPU from boosting during heavy gaming loads
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
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- Outdated 14nm architecture with poor efficiency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
Pros
- High fixed 3.7 GHz clock provides consistent single-thread performance
- 65W TDP is easy to cool
- 16 PCIe 3.0 lanes are sufficient for basic add-in cards
- Uses mature, inexpensive LGA 1151 motherboard chipsets
Cons
- No Hyper-Threading limits it to 4 threads, which is unacceptable today
- No integrated graphics means a dead system if the dGPU fails
- No Turbo Boost technology
- Locked to DDR4-2666 memory speeds
- Dead-end LGA 1151 platform with no upgrade path
Competitors & Alternatives
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
Intel Core i3-9000
- AMD Ryzen 3 2200GRival
Budget Desktop APU
- AMD Ryzen 3 1200Rival
Budget AM4
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i3-8100Rival
Better 8th-Gen i3
- Intel Pentium Gold G5600Rival
Budget 2-Core
- AMD Ryzen 5 1600Rival
Used Market King
A drop-in upgrade for LGA 1200 systems that offers HT, higher clocks, and an iGPU.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 3 3200GAlt
A budget AMD alternative with strong integrated graphics and 4 cores/4 threads.
The logical OEM upgrade with 6 cores, providing much better multitasking.
Compare head-to-head
Our Verdict on Each
A 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 reviewThe i3-9000 is a heavily segmented OEM chip that removed Hyper-Threading and integrated graphics. It has no place in the modern computing landscape.
Best for: The only acceptable scenario for the i3-9000 is if you inherit a pre-built office PC for free and need a basic machine to run a legacy piece of software or act as a home file server. Because it lacks an iGPU, you must ensure it has a dedicated graphics card installed, or it will not output video. Do not spend money acquiring this processor.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i3-8100 or Intel Core i3-9000?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i3-8100 comes out ahead with a score of 4/10. That said, the best choice depends on your workload — check the spec and performance breakdown above for gaming, productivity and efficiency differences.
Do Intel Core i3-8100 and Intel Core i3-9000 use the same socket?
Yes — all of these CPUs use the LGA 1151 socket, so they share compatible motherboards.
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Intel Core i3-9000 posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i3-9000 (0). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.