Intel Core i3-9100
The current Intel Core i3-9100 price from retailers, its key specifications, and how it performs for each job.
Intel · CPU
Retailer photo of Intel Core i3-9100. 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 122 the Intel Core i3-9100 is priced in line with its CAD 122 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 | CAD 122 | 33 | 2026-10-29 | 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.
#214 of 232 graded processors
- #211 IntelIntel Xeon E5 2430V2 4
- #212 IntelIntel Core i5-7600K 4
- #213 AMDAMD Ryzen 3 2200G 4
- #214 IntelIntel Core i3-9100 4
- #215 IntelIntel Core i5-7600 4
- #216 IntelIntel Core i7-4820K 4
- #217 IntelIntel Xeon E5 2620 V2 4
Value Balanced
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#121 of 232 currently priced processors
- #118 IntelIntel Core i7-7700 34
- #119 IntelIntel Celeron G5900 34
- #120 IntelIntel Core i5-10500 34
- #121 IntelIntel Core i3-9100 33
- #122 AMDAMD Ryzen 9 5900X 33
- #123 IntelIntel Core i5-9600K 32
- #124 IntelIntel Core i7-9700 32
Performance Gaming
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#206 of 232 graded processors
- #203 IntelIntel Core i7 Extreme 4960X 52
- #204 IntelIntel Core i7-5930K 52
- #205 IntelIntel Core i7-7800X 52
- #206 IntelIntel Core i3-9100 52
- #207 IntelIntel Core i7 Extreme 5960X 52
- #208 IntelIntel Core i5-7600 52
- #209 IntelIntel Xeon E3 1230 V5 51
Value Gaming
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#147 of 232 currently priced processors
- #144 IntelIntel Core i9-10900 27
- #145 AMDAMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5975WX 27
- #146 IntelIntel Core i5-9600K 25
- #147 IntelIntel Core i3-9100 25
- #148 AMDAMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX 24
- #149 IntelIntel Core i7-9700K 23
- #150 IntelIntel Core i9-10940X 23
Performance Productivity
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#214 of 232 graded processors
- #211 IntelIntel Xeon E5 2430V2 4
- #212 IntelIntel Core i5-7600K 4
- #213 AMDAMD Ryzen 3 2200G 4
- #214 IntelIntel Core i3-9100 4
- #215 IntelIntel Core i5-7600 4
- #216 IntelIntel Core i7-4820K 4
- #217 IntelIntel Xeon E5 2620 V2 4
Value Productivity
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#186 of 232 currently priced processors
- #183 IntelIntel Core i7-8086K 1
- #184 IntelIntel Core i7 Extreme 5960X 1
- #185 IntelIntel Core i3-13100 1
- #186 IntelIntel Core i3-9100 1
- #187 IntelIntel Core i7-7700 1
- #188 IntelIntel Core i7-6850K 1
- #189 IntelIntel Core i7-6800K 1
Performance Performance per Watt
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#217 of 232 graded processors
- #214 IntelIntel Core i7-6800K 8
- #215 IntelIntel Core i7-5930K 8
- #216 IntelIntel Core i5-7640X 8
- #217 IntelIntel Core i3-9100 8
- #218 IntelIntel Core i5-7600 8
- #219 IntelIntel Core i5-4690K 8
- #220 IntelIntel Pentium Gold G5400 8
Value Performance per Watt
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#167 of 232 currently priced processors
- #164 IntelIntel Pentium Gold G5500 11
- #165 IntelIntel Core i9-10920X 10
- #166 IntelIntel Core i7-8700T 10
- #167 IntelIntel Core i3-9100 10
- #168 IntelIntel Core i9-9960X 10
- #169 IntelIntel Core i7-8700 9
- #170 IntelIntel Core i9-9980XE 9
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 Value33 | Higher capability Higher capability · Higher Value with current priorities AMD Ryzen 5 5500 84 +191% capability | |
| GamingScenario capability | GradeC Value25 | Higher capability Intel Core i3-14100F C 78 +23% capability · +15% price | Higher Value with current priorities AMD Ryzen 5 5500 B 60 +13% capability |
| ProductivityScenario capability | GradeF Value1 | Higher capability Higher capability · Higher Value with current priorities AMD Ryzen 5 5500 D 8 +191% capability | |
| Performance per WattScenario capability | GradeF Value10 | Higher capability Higher capability · Higher Value with current priorities AMD Ryzen 5 5500 C 61 +417% capability | |
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 35, against a cheapest tracked CAD 122
- 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 C there; Intel Core i3-14100F grades C at CAD 140
- 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 useGraded F; AMD Ryzen 5 5500 reaches D. Check on Amazon.
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 useGraded F; AMD Ryzen 5 5500 reaches C. Check on Amazon.
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
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 2026-10-24–2026-10-29
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 i3-9100 offers a balanced view across an all-round mix of priorities. It ranks #214 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 186. Intel Xeon E5 2620 V2 currently clears the same practical bar with stronger Relative Value.
Intel Core i3-9100 offers C-grade capability for Gaming. It ranks #206 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 #214 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 #217 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 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.