CPU Comparison
Intel Core i3-9300 vs Intel Core i3-9350K
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i3-9300 is an OEM-exclusive 4-core, 4-thread desktop processor featuring an 8 MB L3 cache, a 62 W TDP, and slightly elevated clocks, created specifically to help system builders differentiate product lines.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
The 8 MB cache helps keep frequently used office applications responsive.
The fast cache and high clocks make single-app use feel snappy, but multitasking is heavily bottlenecked.
Gaming
Slightly better than the 9100 due to cache and clocks, but 4 threads remain a hard bottleneck.
The high clocks help in CPU-bound esports, but the 4-thread limit causes severe 1% low drops in modern games.
Virtualization
4 threads are insufficient for meaningful virtualization.
4 threads are completely inadequate for modern virtualization.
Efficiency
The 62 W TDP makes it slightly more efficient per clock than the 65 W 9100.
The 91 W TDP on a 14nm 4-core chip results in very poor performance-per-watt.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No AI capabilities
- No AI acceleration features
- Lacks AVX-512 instructions
Content Creation
Gaming
- Can handle very light esports at low settings if paired with a dedicated GPU
- The 4-thread limit causes significant stuttering in 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
- 8 MB L3 cache provides a tangible latency reduction
- 62 W TDP is slightly more efficient than the 65 W standard
- Higher clocks than the i3-9100 out of the box
- UHD 630 included for display output
- ECC memory support (if motherboard allows)
Cons
- OEM-exclusive, impossible to buy at retail
- Only 4 cores and 4 threads
- No Hyper-Threading
- Memory locked to DDR4-2400 MT/s
- Outclassed by cheap used AMD Ryzen parts
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 i3-9300
- AMD Ryzen 3 3100Rival
Budget AM4
- Intel Core i3-9100Rival
Standard Desktop
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-9400Rival
Mainstream Desktop
- AMD Ryzen 5 1600 AFRival
Used Market Value
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i3-10100Rival
Next-Gen Desktop
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
The i3-9300 is a minor tweak on the 9100, offering a bit more cache and slightly better efficiency, but its OEM-exclusive nature and 4-thread limit make it irrelevant for DIY builders.
Best for: The i3-9300 should only be considered if you are purchasing a pre-built desktop from an OEM (like HP or Lenovo) that happens to use this chip, and the price is heavily discounted. The 8 MB cache makes it a slightly better performer than a 9100 in single-task office environments. If you are building a PC yourself, you cannot buy this chip, and you shouldn't try to hunt it down on the grey market.
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 i3-9300 or Intel Core i3-9350K?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i3-9300 comes out ahead with a score of 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 i3-9300 or Intel Core i3-9350K?
For gaming, the Intel Core i3-9350K leads with a gaming performance score of 58/100 among Intel Core i3-9300 and Intel Core i3-9350K.
Which uses less power?
The Intel Core i3-9300 has the lowest rated TDP. Power draw across these chips: Intel Core i3-9300 (62 W), Intel Core i3-9350K (91 W).
Do Intel Core i3-9300 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 i3-9300 (5,600), Intel Core i3-9350K (5,800). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.