Retailer photo of Intel Core i3-9100. View this offer in Where to buy
Intel · CPU
Intel Core i3-9100
The current Intel Core i3-9100 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
- Boost clock
- 4200 MHz
- 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 $68 the Intel Core i3-9100 is priced in line with its $68 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 i3-9100: 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 i3-9100 | Newegg | New | $68 | 38 | 2026-10-16 | View offer → |
| Intel Core i3-9100Multiple 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.
#241 of 264 graded processors
- #238 IntelIntel Core i5-7600K 4
- #239 AMDAMD Ryzen 3 2200G 4
- #240 IntelIntel Pentium Gold G7400 4
- #241 IntelIntel Core i3-9100 4
- #242 IntelIntel Core i5-7600 4
- #243 IntelIntel Core i7-4820K 4
- #244 AMDAMD Ryzen 3 1200 4
Value Balanced
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#126 of 264 currently priced processors
- #123 IntelIntel Core i7-9700 39
- #124 IntelIntel Core i5-10500 38
- #125 IntelIntel Core i5-8600K 38
- #126 IntelIntel Core i3-9100 38
- #127 IntelIntel Pentium Gold G7400 38
- #128 AMDAMD Ryzen 5 4600G 38
- #129 IntelIntel Core i7-6850K 37
Performance Gaming
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#221 of 264 graded processors
- #218 AMDAMD Ryzen 3 4100 52
- #219 IntelIntel Core i7-6800K 52
- #220 IntelIntel Core i7-7800X 52
- #221 IntelIntel Core i3-9100 52
- #222 IntelIntel Core i9-9820X 52
- #223 IntelIntel Xeon E3 1240 V5 52
- #224 IntelIntel Core i5-7600 52
Value Gaming
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#158 of 264 currently priced processors
- #155 AMDAMD Ryzen 3 3200G 28
- #156 IntelIntel Celeron G5900 28
- #157 IntelIntel Pentium Gold G6400 28
- #158 IntelIntel Core i3-9100 27
- #159 IntelIntel Core i7-9700K 26
- #160 IntelIntel Core i5-8500 26
- #161 IntelIntel Core i9-10920X 25
Performance Productivity
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#241 of 264 graded processors
- #238 IntelIntel Core i5-7600K 4
- #239 AMDAMD Ryzen 3 2200G 4
- #240 IntelIntel Pentium Gold G7400 4
- #241 IntelIntel Core i3-9100 4
- #242 IntelIntel Core i5-7600 4
- #243 IntelIntel Core i7-4820K 4
- #244 AMDAMD Ryzen 3 1200 4
Value Productivity
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#213 of 264 currently priced processors
- #210 IntelIntel Core i7-6800K 1
- #211 IntelIntel Core i3-13100 1
- #212 IntelIntel Core i7-7700K 1
- #213 IntelIntel Core i3-9100 1
- #214 IntelIntel Core i5-9500F 1
- #215 IntelIntel Core i7-7700 1
- #216 AMDAMD Ryzen 3 2200G 1
Performance Performance per Watt
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#247 of 264 graded processors
- #244 IntelIntel Pentium Gold G5500 8
- #245 IntelIntel Core i7-6800K 8
- #246 IntelIntel Core i5-7640X 8
- #247 IntelIntel Core i3-9100 8
- #248 IntelIntel Core i5-7600 8
- #249 IntelIntel Core i5-4690K 8
- #250 IntelIntel Pentium Gold G5400 8
Value Performance per Watt
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#184 of 264 currently priced processors
- #181 IntelIntel Pentium Gold G5500 10
- #182 IntelIntel Pentium Gold G5400 10
- #183 IntelIntel Core i5-8600K 10
- #184 IntelIntel Core i3-9100 10
- #185 IntelIntel Core i9-9960X 10
- #186 IntelIntel Core i7-8700T 10
- #187 IntelIntel Core i9-9940X 10
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 | Higher Value with current priorities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balanced (all-round)Weighted all-round view | GradeNo grade Value38 | Higher capability Intel Core i7 Extreme 5960X 32 +112% capability · +4% price | Higher Value with current priorities Intel Core i3-10100F 48 +32% capability · +6% price |
| GamingScenario capability | GradeC Value27 | Higher capability Intel Core i3-9350K C 17 +19% capability · +15% price | Higher Value with current priorities Intel Core i3-10100F C 40 +1% capability · +6% price |
| ProductivityScenario capability | GradeF Value1 | Higher capability Intel Core i7 Extreme 5960X F 2 +112% capability · +4% price | — |
| Performance per WattScenario capability | GradeF Value10 | Higher capability Higher capability · Higher Value with current priorities AMD Ryzen 5 2400G F 20 +133% capability · -19% 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
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 $23, against a cheapest tracked $68
- 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 C there; Intel Core i3-9350K grades C at $78
- 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 F there; Intel Core i7 Extreme 5960X grades F at $71
- Value for money matters more to you than this exact modelAMD Ryzen 5 2400G holds Relative Value 2 against its 1 for Productivity, at $55
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; AMD Ryzen 5 2400G grades F at $55
- Value for money matters more to you than this exact modelAMD Ryzen 5 2400G holds Relative Value 20 against its 10 for Performance per Watt, at $55
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 i3-9100
Chosen for Balanced
Chosen for Gaming
Chosen for Productivity
Chosen for Performance per Watt
Alternatives stay near this product’s price range. Step-up options may exceed the standard budget envelope when the capability gain is meaningful.
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
- 4200 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
- 2018
- Manufacturer part number
- BX80684I39100
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 i3-9100 offers a balanced view across an all-round mix of priorities. It ranks #241 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 186. AMD Ryzen 5 2400G currently clears the same practical bar with stronger Relative Value.
Intel Core i3-9100 offers C-grade capability for Gaming. It ranks #221 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 186. The C grade is the decisive limitation for this workload.
Intel Core i3-9100 offers F-grade capability for Productivity. It ranks #241 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 186. The F grade is the decisive limitation for this workload.
Intel Core i3-9100 offers F-grade capability for Performance per Watt. It ranks #247 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 186. 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.