Retailer photo of Intel Core i3-10100. View this offer in Where to buy
Intel · CPU
Intel Core i3-10100
Trade-offs: you want strong value with Balanced priorities specifically
- Cores / threads
- 4C / 8T
- Boost clock
- 4300 MHz
- Socket
- LGA 1200
- TDP
- 154 W
- Memory support
- DDR4
Move a slider and the page re-scores this product against the same market frame.
Is this a good buy today?
Market confidence: LowAt CAD 232 the Intel Core i3-10100 is priced in line with its CAD 232 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
Where to buy the Intel Core i3-10100
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 i3-10100 | Newegg | New | CAD 232 | 27 | 2026-09-27 | View offer → |
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.
Where it stands in the field
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.
#139 of 161 graded processors
- #136 IntelIntel Core i3-10100F 12
- #137 IntelIntel Core i7-7700 12
- #138 IntelIntel Core i7-7700 12
- #139 IntelIntel Core i3-10100 12
- #140 IntelIntel Core i7-4790K 11
- #141 IntelIntel Core i3-9350KF 10
- #142 IntelIntel Core i7-4790 10
Value Balanced
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#84 of 161 currently priced processors
- #81 IntelIntel Core i9-10850K 27
- #82 IntelIntel Core i5-9400 27
- #83 IntelIntel Core i5-4690K 27
- #84 IntelIntel Core i3-10100 27
- #85 IntelIntel Core i3-9350KF 27
- #86 IntelIntel Core i9-9960X 26
- #87 IntelIntel Core i7-8700 26
Performance Gaming
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#136 of 161 graded processors
- #133 IntelIntel Core i3-10100F 52
- #134 IntelIntel Core i7-6850K 52
- #135 IntelIntel Core i7-6850K 52
- #136 IntelIntel Core i3-10100 52
- #137 AMDAMD Ryzen 3 4100 52
- #138 IntelIntel Core i7-6800K 52
- #139 IntelIntel Core i7-6800K 52
Value Gaming
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#69 of 161 currently priced processors
- #66 IntelIntel Core i5-10400 34
- #67 IntelIntel Core i5-10500 32
- #68 IntelIntel Core i5-9600KF 32
- #69 IntelIntel Core i3-10100 32
- #70 IntelIntel Core i5-10600K 31
- #71 IntelIntel Core i7-10700F 31
- #72 IntelIntel Pentium Gold G6400 31
Performance Productivity
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#139 of 161 graded processors
- #136 IntelIntel Core i3-10100F 12
- #137 IntelIntel Core i7-7700 12
- #138 IntelIntel Core i7-7700 12
- #139 IntelIntel Core i3-10100 12
- #140 IntelIntel Core i7-4790K 11
- #141 IntelIntel Core i3-9350KF 10
- #142 IntelIntel Core i7-4790 10
Value Productivity
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#111 of 159 currently priced processors
- #108 IntelIntel Core i7-8700 3
- #109 IntelIntel Core i5-9400 3
- #110 IntelIntel Core i5-8500 3
- #111 IntelIntel Core i3-10100 3
- #112 IntelIntel Core i7-7820X 3
- #113 IntelIntel Core i7-6900K 3
- #114 IntelIntel Core i7-9700K 3
Performance Performance per Watt
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#136 of 161 graded processors
- #133 IntelIntel Core i3-10100F 14
- #134 IntelIntel Core i7-7700 14
- #135 IntelIntel Core i7-7700 14
- #136 IntelIntel Core i3-10100 14
- #137 IntelIntel Core i7-4790 14
- #138 IntelIntel Core i3-9350KF 13
- #139 IntelIntel Core i3-8350K 12
Value Performance per Watt
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#80 of 161 currently priced processors
- #77 IntelIntel Core i9-10850K 16
- #78 IntelIntel Core i7-9700K 15
- #79 IntelIntel Core i9-10900KF 15
- #80 IntelIntel Core i3-10100 15
- #81 IntelIntel Core i5-10600KF 15
- #82 IntelIntel Core i7-10700K 14
- #83 IntelIntel Core i7-10700F 14
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 Value27 | Higher capability AMD Ryzen 5 7600X 77 +233% capability · -10% price | Higher Value with current priorities AMD Ryzen 5 5500 80 +127% capability · -46% price |
| GamingScenario capability | GradeC Value32 | Higher capability AMD Ryzen 5 7500F A 72 +33% capability · +12% price | Higher Value with current priorities AMD Ryzen 5 7600X A 66 +29% capability · -10% price |
| ProductivityScenario capability | GradeF Value3 | Higher capability AMD Ryzen 5 7600X C 20 +233% capability · -10% price | Higher Value with current priorities AMD Ryzen 7 5700 C 20 +186% capability · -14% price |
| Performance per WattScenario capability | GradeF Value15 | Higher capability AMD Ryzen 7 5700 B 67 +388% capability · -14% price | Higher Value with current priorities AMD Ryzen 5 8400F B 77 +388% capability · -10% 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.
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 specificallycompeting products deliver so much more per dollar that no price this model realistically trades at reaches the strong-value mark for this job
- Value for money matters more to you than this exact modelAMD Ryzen 5 5500 holds Relative Value 80 against its 27 with Balanced priorities, at CAD 125
- 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; AMD Ryzen 5 7500F grades A at CAD 260
- 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
- Value for money matters more to you than this exact modelAMD Ryzen 5 7600X holds Relative Value 66 against its 32 for Gaming, at CAD 210
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; AMD Ryzen 5 7600X grades C at CAD 210
- Value for money matters more to you than this exact modelAMD Ryzen 7 5700 holds Relative Value 20 against its 3 for Productivity, at CAD 200
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 7 5700 grades B at CAD 200
- You want strong value for Performance per Watt specificallycompeting products deliver so much more for Performance per Watt per dollar that no price this model realistically trades at reaches the strong-value mark for this job
- Value for money matters more to you than this exact modelAMD Ryzen 5 8400F holds Relative Value 77 against its 15 for Performance per Watt, at CAD 210
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 i3-10100
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.
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 & compatibility
What this product is, and what to check before it goes into your build.
Core / Performance
- Cores
- 4
- Threads
- 8
- Performance cores
- 4
- Efficiency cores
- 0
- Base clock
- 3600 MHz
- Boost clock
- 4300 MHz
Power / Interface
- TDP
- 154 W
- Maximum turbo power
- 154 W
- Socket
- LGA 1200
- Memory support
- DDR4
- Maximum memory
- 128 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
- 2020
- Manufacturer part number
- BX8070110100
Hover any value to see where it came from: a manufacturer specification, or a figure The Comparator calculated.
Sources: Comparator offer frame 2026-09-27
What to check in your build
LGA 1200 required
Your motherboard must use socket LGA 1200. 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 1200.
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 i3-10100 offers a balanced view across an all-round mix of priorities. It ranks #139 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 239. AMD Ryzen 5 5500 currently clears the same practical bar with stronger Relative Value.
Intel Core i3-10100 offers C-grade capability for Gaming. It ranks #136 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 239. The C grade is the decisive limitation for this workload.
Intel Core i3-10100 offers F-grade capability for Productivity. It ranks #139 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 239. The F grade is the decisive limitation for this workload.
Intel Core i3-10100 offers F-grade capability for Performance per Watt. It ranks #136 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 239. 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.
Useful links & sources
offer frame 2026-09-27 · formula cpu-value-v1.4 · facts facts-2026-09-27 · 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.