Retailer photo of Intel Core i3-8100. View this offer in Where to buy
Intel · CPU
Intel Core i3-8100
The current Intel Core i3-8100 price from retailers, its key specifications, and how it performs for each job.
Trade-offs: you want strong value with Balanced priorities specifically
- Cores / threads
- 4C / 4T
- Socket
- LGA 1151
- TDP
- 154 W
- Memory support
- DDR4
Move a slider and the page re-scores this product against the same market frame.
What does it cost today, and is that a good price?
Market confidence: LowAt $31 the Intel Core i3-8100 is priced in line with its $31 representative market level. Only one retailer currently backs that price, so the level is a single data point rather than a market.
Limited market: only one retailer currently has a verified offer, so treat this price as a single data point.
Prices & availability
Intel Core i3-8100: current price and offers
Compare the offers we track for this model, across variants and retailers.
1 tracked offers · 1 retailers
| Variant | Store | Condition | Price (snapshot) | Value · Balanced | Checked | Offer link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intel Core i3-8100 | Newegg | New | $31 | 51 | 2026-10-16 | View offer → |
| Intel Core i3-8100Multiple variants available | Amazon Affiliate | Varies | Find on Amazon | Not tracked | No price snapshot | Find on Amazon → |
Prices are dated snapshots, not live quotes — confirm the final price at the store. New, refurbished and used offers are listed separately; used offers carry warranty and seller risk.
Performance and where it ranks
Two different questions, side by side. Performance compares what the hardware can do; Value compares what that capability costs at today’s price. A product can rank high on one and low on the other — that gap is the point.
Performance Balanced
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#245 of 264 graded processors
- #242 IntelIntel Core i5-7600 4
- #243 IntelIntel Core i7-4820K 4
- #244 AMDAMD Ryzen 3 1200 4
- #245 IntelIntel Core i3-8100 4
- #246 IntelIntel Core i5-6600 4
- #247 IntelIntel Core i5-7500 4
- #248 IntelIntel Xeon E3 1225 V5 3
Value Balanced
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#76 of 264 currently priced processors
- #73 IntelIntel Core i5-13600K 52
- #74 AMDAMD Ryzen 3 4100 51
- #75 IntelIntel Core i5-10400F 51
- #76 IntelIntel Core i3-8100 51
- #77 IntelIntel Core i5-12400 51
- #78 AMDAMD Ryzen 5 5500GT 50
- #79 IntelIntel Core i5-11600 50
Performance Gaming
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#237 of 264 graded processors
- #234 IntelIntel Xeon E3 1225 V5 51
- #235 IntelIntel Core i5-7500 51
- #236 IntelIntel Xeon E3-1245 V3 50
- #237 IntelIntel Core i3-8100 50
- #238 IntelIntel Core i7 Extreme 6950X 50
- #239 IntelIntel Xeon E3 1220 V5 50
- #240 IntelIntel Xeon E3 1240 V3 50
Value Gaming
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#172 of 264 currently priced processors
- #169 IntelIntel Core i9-9900K 23
- #170 IntelIntel Core i7-9800X 22
- #171 AMDAMD Ryzen 3 2200G 21
- #172 IntelIntel Core i3-8100 21
- #173 IntelIntel Core i3-8350K 21
- #174 AMDAMD Ryzen Threadripper 9985WX 20
- #175 IntelIntel Core i9-9920X 20
Performance Productivity
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#245 of 264 graded processors
- #242 IntelIntel Core i5-7600 4
- #243 IntelIntel Core i7-4820K 4
- #244 AMDAMD Ryzen 3 1200 4
- #245 IntelIntel Core i3-8100 4
- #246 IntelIntel Core i5-6600 4
- #247 IntelIntel Core i5-7500 4
- #248 IntelIntel Xeon E3 1225 V5 3
Value Productivity
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#221 of 264 currently priced processors
- #218 IntelIntel Core i3-8350K 1
- #219 IntelIntel Core i5-9500 1
- #220 IntelIntel Celeron G6900 1
- #221 IntelIntel Core i3-8100 1
- #222 IntelIntel Core i7-5820K 1
- #223 IntelIntel Core i5-7600K 1
- #224 IntelIntel Core i7-6700K 1
Performance Performance per Watt
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#253 of 264 graded processors
- #250 IntelIntel Pentium Gold G5400 8
- #251 IntelIntel Core i7-5820K 7
- #252 IntelIntel Core i7 Extreme 4960X 7
- #253 IntelIntel Core i3-8100 7
- #254 IntelIntel Core i5-6600 7
- #255 IntelIntel Core i5-7500 7
- #256 IntelIntel Core i5-7400 6
Value Performance per Watt
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#208 of 264 currently priced processors
- #205 IntelIntel Core i9-9980XE 8
- #206 IntelIntel Core i5-9500T 8
- #207 IntelIntel Core i7-8086K 8
- #208 IntelIntel Core i3-8100 8
- #209 IntelIntel Core i9-7900X 8
- #210 AMDAMD Ryzen 5 3600XT 7
- #211 IntelIntel Core i5-7600 7
These ladders follow the preset scenario shown above. Your own weights re-score this product, not the whole field.
What it is good for
| Scenario | this productCapability grade · Value at current price | Higher capability |
|---|---|---|
| Balanced (all-round)Weighted all-round view | GradeNo grade Value51 | — |
| GamingScenario capability | GradeC Value21 | — |
| ProductivityScenario capability | GradeF Value1 | — |
| Performance per WattScenario capability | GradeF Value8 | Higher capability Intel Core i5-6500T F 9 +64% capability · +11% price |
Balanced has no letter: it is a weighting preset, not a capability rubric. A grade answers “how well does this handle that job?” — price is never part of it. Relative Value puts the current market price back in.
Compare these grades with the full tier list
Browse shortlists for different uses
Trade-offs
Works well if
- Gaming is your main prioritygraded C for Gaming on the same rubric as the tier list
- Nothing in this budget scores better with Balanced prioritiesno graded product within the 10% budget envelope around $31 reaches a higher Relative Value with Balanced priorities
Consider other options if
- You want strong value with Balanced priorities specificallyat today's market no realistic price for this model reaches strong value with Balanced priorities — the calculation only gets there near $16, against a cheapest tracked $31
- Productivity is what you actually need it forit grades only F there
For the selected scenario this is not a strong fit — the grade above is the reason, and the models below suit it better.
Consider other options if
- Gaming is what you actually need it forit grades only C there
- You want strong value for Gaming specificallycompeting products deliver so much more for Gaming per dollar that no price this model realistically trades at reaches the strong-value mark for this job
- You are buying for Gaming and want no asterisksthe rubric caps this grade: gaming index estimated from single-thread speed, cache and x3d — not a measured game benchmark for this exact chip
For the selected scenario this is not a strong fit — the grade above is the reason, and the models below suit it better.
Works well if
- Productivity is not actually your main job — Gaming isit grades F for Productivity, but C for Gaming
Consider other options if
- Productivity is what you actually need it forit grades only F there
For the selected scenario this is not a strong fit — the grade above is the reason, and the models below suit it better.
Works well if
- Performance per Watt is not actually your main job — Gaming isit grades F for Performance per Watt, but C for Gaming
Consider other options if
- Performance per Watt is what you actually need it forit grades F there; Intel Core i5-6500T grades F at $35
Models that suit Performance per Watt better, at this budget
Every line states the fact it was derived from, for the scenario selected above. Thresholds are calculated points on our value curve — information about where the maths turns, not instructions about what to pay.
Similar options to the Intel Core i3-8100
Chosen for Performance per Watt
More head-to-head comparisons in this category
Upgrade planner
Judge the change in the active scenario, then make the cash gap explicit.
Using page scenarioWhat are you upgrading from? These are the axes we compare on, and where this product stands in the current market.
We rank upgrades by out-of-pocket cost — the new price minus what yours is worth — not by sticker price.
Only candidates that clear the configured meaningful-upgrade gate will be shown; roles are omitted rather than filled.
Capability differences are expressed as tiers and index points, not as benchmark percentages we did not measure.
Specifications and compatibility
What this product is, and what to check before it goes into your build.
Core / Performance
- Cores
- 4
- Threads
- 4
- Performance cores
- 4
- Efficiency cores
- 0
- Base clock
- 3600 MHz
- Boost clock
- 0 MHz
Power / Interface
- TDP
- 154 W
- Maximum turbo power
- 154 W
- Socket
- LGA 1151
- Memory support
- DDR4
- Maximum memory
- 64 GB
- Integrated graphics
- Intel UHD Graphics 630
- Process node
- 14 nm
Show all specifications
Core / Performance
- L2 cache
- 1 MB
- L3 cache
- 6 MB
- Unlocked multiplier
- No
Warranty & release
- Warranty
- 3 years
- Release year
- 2017
- Manufacturer part number
- CM8068403377308
Hover any value to see where it came from: a manufacturer specification, or a figure The Comparator calculated.
Sources: Comparator offer frame 2026-10-10–2026-10-17
What to check in your build
LGA 1151 required
Your motherboard must use socket LGA 1151. A different socket does not fit — this is a physical constraint, not a preference.
Board BIOS must list this model
A matching socket is necessary but not sufficient — check the vendor CPU support list.
DDR4 memory
This processor takes DDR4. Memory of another generation does not fit the slots, even on a board with the right socket.
Cooler rated for 154 W or more
No cooler is included. Your cooler must be rated for at least 154 W on socket LGA 1151.
Found an error? Report this specification Email the field, corrected value and an optional source.
Compatibility guidance is practical help, not a score. Missing data is shown as unknown, never invented.
Summary
Intel Core i3-8100 offers a balanced view across an all-round mix of priorities. It ranks #245 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 171. The main limitation appears when Productivity becomes the priority, where it grades F.
Intel Core i3-8100 offers C-grade capability for Gaming. It ranks #237 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 171. The C grade is the decisive limitation for this workload.
Intel Core i3-8100 offers F-grade capability for Productivity. It ranks #245 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 171. The F grade is the decisive limitation for this workload.
Intel Core i3-8100 offers F-grade capability for Performance per Watt. It ranks #253 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 171. The F grade is the decisive limitation for this workload.
FAQ
Why does Relative Value change when I choose another scenario?
Each scenario changes the weights applied to capability, price and the other published factors. The hardware facts stay fixed, but the value question changes, so its score and rank can change too.
Why can Amazon appear without a tracked price?
Amazon is shown as a discovery link when we do not have a permitted verified price snapshot. It is excluded from price comparisons, rankings and Relative Value until a compliant tracked price exists.
Useful links & sources
offer frame 2026-10-10–2026-10-17 · formula cpu-value-v1.4 · facts facts-2026-10-17 · Relative Value is an estimate from our current dataset, the selected weights and dated market prices — not an official product rating and not a price forecast. Target prices are calculation thresholds, not predictions. Methodology We are not a shop. Affiliate links may earn us a commission; they never change the calculations or the ranking.