Quick Verdict
A historically bizarre chip that lacked both Hyper-Threading and integrated graphics. Its abrupt cancellation means it is practically irrelevant for any practical computing today.
Overview
Launch
2018
Status
End-of-lifeGeneration
8th Gen Core i3 (Coffee Lake)
Market
Budget Desktop
The Intel Core i3-8100F is a notoriously short-lived 4-core, 4-thread desktop processor that lacked integrated graphics, launched and then abruptly cancelled before wide distribution.
The Core i3-8100F was announced in September 2018 as a budget gaming chip, stripping the UHD 630 from the i3-8100 to lower costs. Like the 8100, it had 4 cores, 4 threads, no Hyper-Threading, and no Turbo Boost, locked at 3.6 GHz.
However, Intel cancelled the product almost immediately, making working samples incredibly rare.
Specifications
Performance
Functions identically to an i3-8100 for desktop tasks.
4 threads with no SMT is the absolute minimum for any modern OS.
The fixed 3.6 GHz clock and 4 threads provide a very baseline experience, similar to the i3-8100 but with no iGPU fallback.
Draws a constant 65W because there is no Turbo Boost power state cycling.
- •Requires a discrete GPU.
- •Fixed 3.6 GHz is too low for modern AAA games.
- •Lacks the burst performance of even cheaper Pentium chips that have Turbo Boost.
- •No AI hardware.
- •4 threads are insufficient.
Architecture
14nm
Process Node
Coffee Lake
Codename
4C / 4T
Core Config
6 MB
L3 Cache
65 W
TDP
Architecture Overview
Architecturally, the i3-8100F is a standard Coffee Lake 4-core die with the graphics portion physically disabled. It shares the same fundamental limitations as the i3-8100: no Hyper-Threading and no Turbo Boost.
CPU Design
4 active Skylake cores running at a fixed 36x multiplier (3.6 GHz). Without Turbo Boost, the CPU never requests the PL2 power state. Without Hyper-Threading, each core handles one thread.
Memory Subsystem
Dual-channel DDR4-2400.
PCIe & I/O
16 lanes of PCIe 3.0.
Overclocking
Locked. The fixed 3.6 GHz clock makes BCLK overclocking the only option, which is highly unstable.
Key Highlights
- Historical novelty value
- Functions as a standard Coffee Lake i3 if you have a GPU
- Fixed 3.6 GHz is higher than the T-series chips
- Supports ECC memory
- Cancelled by Intel, no support
- Extremely rare and hard to find
- No integrated graphics
- No Hyper-Threading
- No Turbo Boost
- Overpriced on the secondary market due to rarity
History
The i3-8100F is a ghost in the machine. In September 2018, as Intel was pushing F-series processors aggressively in the Chinese market to combat AMD's Ryzen, someone in product management decided to extend the lineup down to the i3 tier. The i3-8100F was listed on distributor databases, spec sheets were printed, and a few chips made it onto shelves.
</br></br>However, reality set in quickly. The i3-8100 was already a compromised chip—4 cores without Hyper-Threading. Stripping the integrated graphics from it created a part that required a discrete GPU but offered no Turbo Boost to help feed that GPU.
It was a worse value than the Pentium Gold G5400 for basic office work (which had an iGPU) and a worse value than the Ryzen 3 2200 for gaming (which had SMT). Realizing they had created a product with no logical target audience, Intel executed a quiet withdrawal. The i3-8100F vanished from price engines, distributor catalogs were updated, and the i3-9100F—which fixed the SMT omission—was rushed in to replace it.
The 8100F stands as Intel's rare admission of a product planning error.
Alternatives & Competitors
Should You Buy It?
Not Recommended for the right buyer
Only as a collector's piece if found in its original box for a reasonable price.
Avoid if…
- You need a working computer
- Paying more than $20 for it
- Expecting any practical advantage over an i3-8100
Use Cases
Interesting Facts
It is one of the only Intel desktop processors to be officially announced and then cancelled before wide retail distribution.
The tech press initially listed it, leading to confusion when it vanished from price trackers.
It lacks Hyper-Threading, a feature that was added back to the desktop i3 with the 9th gen (i3-9100/F).
Part number SR3XL is known to hardware collectors but barely documented in Intel's official ARK database.
Its cancellation paved the way for the much more successful i3-9100F, which fixed the Hyper-Threading omission.
People Also Ask
Was the Intel Core i3-8100F actually released?
It was briefly launched in September 2018 but was cancelled by Intel almost immediately, making retail units extremely rare.
Why was the i3-8100F cancelled?
Intel never officially stated why, but it is speculated that a 4-core chip without Hyper-Threading, without Turbo Boost, and without integrated graphics was too compromised to sell, even as a budget option.
Does the i3-8100F have Hyper-Threading?
No, unlike the later i3-9100F, the 8100F only has 4 threads.
Does the i3-8100F have Turbo Boost?
No, it is locked at 3.6 GHz.
How much is an i3-8100F worth?
As a collector's item, sealed boxes can fetch high prices, but for actual computing, it is worth no more than a standard i3-8100.
What socket does it use?
LGA 1151 (v2) for 300-series motherboards.
Can it run without a graphics card?
No, the 'F' means no integrated graphics. The system will not display anything.
What is the part number?
SR3XL.
Is it compatible with Windows 11?
Yes, if the motherboard has TPM 2.0.
Is it the same as the i3-9100F?
No, the 9100F is its successor, featuring Hyper-Threading, faster clocks, and actual market availability.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the TDP?
65W.
How much cache?
6 MB L3.
What is the clock speed?
3.6 GHz fixed.
Does it support ECC?
Yes.
What PCIe version?
PCIe 3.0.
What process node?
14nm.
Can I buy it new?
No, it was cancelled and is only found on the secondary/collector market.
Does it come with a cooler?
If found as a retail box, yes, but most were OEM trays.
What generation is it?
8th Generation (Coffee Lake).
Why is it so famous?
Its fame comes entirely from its bizarre launch-and-cancel status, making it a piece of tech lore.