CPU Comparison
Intel Core i3-8100 vs Intel Core i3-9350K
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.
The fast cache and high clocks make single-app use feel snappy, but multitasking is heavily bottlenecked.
Gaming
Paired with a strong discrete GPU, it can still handle older eSports titles, but modern AAA games will be heavily CPU bottlenecked.
The high clocks help in CPU-bound esports, but the 4-thread limit causes severe 1% low drops in modern games.
Virtualization
4 threads is the absolute minimum for running a modern OS and a single light virtual machine.
4 threads are completely inadequate for modern virtualization.
Efficiency
The 14nm process is power-hungry compared to modern 7nm or 5nm alternatives, drawing 65W for modest performance.
The 91 W TDP on a 14nm 4-core chip results in very poor performance-per-watt.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No AI hardware acceleration
- Lacks AVX-512
- Far too slow for any practical AI inference
- No AI acceleration features
- Lacks AVX-512 instructions
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
- High clocks yield good average FPS in CS:GO and Valorant
- Stuttering will occur in games that demand more than 4 threads
- Requires substantial cooling to maintain 4.6 GHz boost
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- Outdated 14nm architecture with poor efficiency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
- Unlocked multiplier allows for manual overclocking
- Massive 4.0 GHz base clock out of the box
- 8 MB L3 cache reduces latency compared to other i3s
- Very high single-threaded frequency potential
- Includes UHD 630 for basic display needs
Cons
- Only 4 threads severely limit real-world performance
- 91 W TDP is power-hungry for just 4 cores
- Expensive at $184 compared to the hyper-threaded i5-9400F
- 14nm process limits maximum overclocking headroom
- Intel discontinued unlocked i3s after this generation
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 i3-9350K
- AMD Ryzen 5 3600Rival
Mainstream AM4
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-9400FRival
Mainstream Budget
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-9600KRival
Enthusiast Budget
- AMD Ryzen 5 2600XRival
Previous-Gen AM4
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i3-10100Rival
Next-Gen i3
- AMD Ryzen 7 5700XAlt
A modern 8-core option that completely eclipses the 9350K in every metric.
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 i3-9350K is an interesting engineering exercise with its high clocks and large cache, but the lack of Hyper-Threading and 14nm process limitations make it a poor value compared to a slightly more expensive i5.
Best for: The only reason to seek out an i3-9350K today is for a retro overclocking project or if you are a collector of unusual Intel silicon. If you happen to have one, pushing it to 5 GHz on a Z390 board with liquid cooling can be a fun experiment. It should not be purchased for any practical computing task. Even in 2019, spending slightly more on an i5-9400F or i5-9600K was the objectively correct decision for both gaming and productivity.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i3-8100 or Intel Core i3-9350K?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i3-9350K comes out ahead with a score of 4.5/10. 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 i3-8100 or Intel Core i3-9350K?
For gaming, the Intel Core i3-9350K leads with a gaming performance score of 58/100 among Intel Core i3-8100 and Intel Core i3-9350K.
Which uses less power?
The Intel Core i3-8100 has the lowest rated TDP. Power draw across these chips: Intel Core i3-8100 (65 W), Intel Core i3-9350K (91 W).
Do Intel Core i3-8100 and Intel Core i3-9350K 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 i3-9350K posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i3-9350K (5,800). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.