Intel Core i3-8100
The current Intel Core i3-8100 price from retailers, its key specifications, and how it performs for each job.
Intel · CPU
Retailer photo of Intel Core i3-8100. View this offer in Where to buy
Trade-offs: you want strong value with Balanced priorities specifically
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 CAD 62 the Intel Core i3-8100 is priced in line with its CAD 62 representative market level. Only one verified new offer stands behind it, so the level can move quickly.
Consider: Intel Xeon E5 2620 V2 offers stronger value around CAD 27.Compare
Prices & availability
Intel Core i3-8100: current price and offers
Compare the offers we track for this model, across variants and retailers.
2 tracked offers · 2 retailers
| Variant | Store | Condition | Price (snapshot) | Value · Balanced | Checked | Offer link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intel Core i3-8100 | Newegg | New | CAD 62 | 42 | 2026-10-29 | View offer → |
| Intel Core i3-8100 | Amazon | New | Check on Amazon | 25 | 2026-10-29 | 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.
#218 of 232 graded processors
- #215 IntelIntel Core i5-7600 4
- #216 IntelIntel Core i7-4820K 4
- #217 IntelIntel Xeon E5 2620 V2 4
- #218 IntelIntel Core i3-8100 4
- #219 IntelIntel Core i5-6600 4
- #220 IntelIntel Core i5-7500 4
- #221 IntelIntel Core i5-4690K 3
Value Balanced
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#99 of 232 currently priced processors
- #96 AMDAMD Ryzen 3 4100 43
- #97 IntelIntel Core i9-14900 43
- #98 IntelIntel Core i5-11600 42
- #99 IntelIntel Core i3-8100 42
- #100 IntelIntel Core i7-11700KF 42
- #101 IntelIntel Core i7-11700F 42
- #102 IntelIntel Core i5-10600KF 42
Performance Gaming
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#218 of 232 graded processors
- #215 IntelIntel Core i5-6600 51
- #216 IntelIntel Core i5-7500 51
- #217 IntelIntel Xeon E3-1245 V3 50
- #218 IntelIntel Core i3-8100 50
- #219 IntelIntel Core i5-4690 50
- #220 IntelIntel Core i5-7400 50
- #221 IntelIntel Core i5-6400 49
Value Gaming
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#160 of 232 currently priced processors
- #157 IntelIntel Core i9-10980XE 21
- #158 IntelIntel Pentium Gold G5400 21
- #159 AMDAMD Ryzen 3 2200G 20
- #160 IntelIntel Core i3-8100 19
- #161 IntelIntel Core i9-9900X 19
- #162 AMDAMD Ryzen 5 2600X 19
- #163 IntelIntel Core i5-8400 18
Performance Productivity
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#218 of 232 graded processors
- #215 IntelIntel Core i5-7600 4
- #216 IntelIntel Core i7-4820K 4
- #217 IntelIntel Xeon E5 2620 V2 4
- #218 IntelIntel Core i3-8100 4
- #219 IntelIntel Core i5-6600 4
- #220 IntelIntel Core i5-7500 4
- #221 IntelIntel Core i5-4690K 3
Value Productivity
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#198 of 232 currently priced processors
- #195 IntelIntel Celeron G6900 1
- #196 IntelIntel Xeon E 2286G 1
- #197 IntelIntel Core i5-8600T 1
- #198 IntelIntel Core i3-8100 1
- #199 IntelIntel Core i7-8700T 1
- #200 IntelIntel Core i7-7700K 1
- #201 IntelIntel Core i3-8350K 1
Performance Performance per Watt
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#223 of 232 graded processors
- #220 IntelIntel Pentium Gold G5400 8
- #221 IntelIntel Core i7-5820K 7
- #222 IntelIntel Core i7 Extreme 4960X 7
- #223 IntelIntel Core i3-8100 7
- #224 IntelIntel Core i5-6600 7
- #225 IntelIntel Core i5-7500 7
- #226 AMDAMD A9700 7
Value Performance per Watt
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#180 of 232 currently priced processors
- #177 IntelIntel Core i3-9300 8
- #178 IntelIntel Core i3-8350K 8
- #179 IntelIntel Core i9-9940X 8
- #180 IntelIntel Core i3-8100 7
- #181 IntelIntel Core i7-8086K 7
- #182 IntelIntel Core i7-9800X 7
- #183 IntelIntel Core i7-7740X 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 | Higher Value with current priorities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balanced (all-round)Weighted all-round view | GradeNo grade Value42 | — | Higher Value with current priorities Intel Xeon E5 2620 V2 46 +2% capability · -57% price |
| GamingScenario capability | GradeC Value19 | — | — |
| ProductivityScenario capability | GradeF Value1 | — | — |
| Performance per WattScenario capability | GradeF Value7 | Higher capability Intel Xeon E5 2620 V2 F 6 +36% capability · -57% 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 CAD 25, against a cheapest tracked CAD 62
- Value for money matters more to you than this exact modelIntel Xeon E5 2620 V2 holds Relative Value 46 against its 42 with Balanced priorities, at CAD 27
- Not the pick if Productivity is your main useit 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
- Not the pick if Gaming is your main useit 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
- Not the pick if Productivity is your main useit grades F there; Intel Xeon E5 2620 V2 grades F at CAD 27
- Value for money matters more to you than this exact modelIntel Xeon E5 2620 V2 holds Relative Value 1 against its 1 for Productivity, at CAD 27
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
- Not the pick if Performance per Watt is your main useit grades F there; Intel Xeon E5 2620 V2 grades F at CAD 27
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 Balanced
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
- 0 MHz
Power / Interface
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 2026-10-24–2026-10-29
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 #218 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 171. Intel Xeon E5 2620 V2 currently clears the same practical bar with stronger Relative Value.
Intel Core i3-8100 offers C-grade capability for Gaming. It ranks #218 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 #218 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 #223 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 listing snapshots can participate in Value while fresh. We show Check on Amazon instead of its price; confirm the current price and availability at the store. When no current listing snapshot exists, Amazon is a search link only.
Useful links & sources
offer frame 2026-10-24–2026-10-29 · formula cpu-value-v1.4 · facts facts-2026-10-29 · 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.