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: Not the pick if Productivity is your main use
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 | 100 | 2026-11-08 | 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.
#251 of 270 graded processors
- #248 IntelIntel Core i5-7600 4
- #249 IntelIntel Core i7-4820K 4
- #250 AMDAMD Ryzen 3 1200 4
- #251 IntelIntel Core i3-8100 4
- #252 IntelIntel Core i5-6600 4
- #253 IntelIntel Core i5-7500 4
- #254 IntelIntel Xeon E3 1225 V5 3
Value Balanced
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#1 of 270 currently priced processors
- #1 IntelIntel Core i3-8100 100
- #2 AMDAMD Ryzen 5 7500F 94
- #3 AMDAMD Ryzen 5 5500 90
- #4 IntelIntel Core Ultra 5 225F 88
- #5 IntelIntel Core i7-6800K 80
- #6 IntelIntel Core i3-14100F 80
- #7 IntelIntel Core Ultra 5 245KF 79
Performance Gaming
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#246 of 270 graded processors
- #243 IntelIntel Xeon E5 2660 V3 51
- #244 IntelIntel Core i5-7500 51
- #245 IntelIntel Xeon E3-1245 V3 50
- #246 IntelIntel Core i3-8100 50
- #247 IntelIntel Xeon E3 1220 V5 50
- #248 IntelIntel Xeon E3 1240 V3 50
- #249 IntelIntel Xeon E5 1620 V4 50
Value Gaming
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#68 of 270 currently priced processors
- #65 AMDAMD Ryzen 9 7900 56
- #66 AMDAMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D 56
- #67 IntelIntel Core i7-14700KF 56
- #68 IntelIntel Core i3-8100 55
- #69 IntelIntel Core i5-10400F 55
- #70 IntelIntel Core i5-13600K 55
- #71 IntelIntel Core i7-14700F 55
Performance Productivity
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#251 of 270 graded processors
- #248 IntelIntel Core i5-7600 4
- #249 IntelIntel Core i7-4820K 4
- #250 AMDAMD Ryzen 3 1200 4
- #251 IntelIntel Core i3-8100 4
- #252 IntelIntel Core i5-6600 4
- #253 IntelIntel Core i5-7500 4
- #254 IntelIntel Xeon E3 1225 V5 3
Value Productivity
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#173 of 270 currently priced processors
- #170 IntelIntel Core i5-10400 28
- #171 IntelIntel Core i7 Extreme 5960X 28
- #172 IntelIntel Core i5-8500 27
- #173 IntelIntel Core i3-8100 27
- #174 IntelIntel Core i9-9900K 27
- #175 IntelIntel Core i7-7800X 27
- #176 AMDAMD EPYC 4564P 27
Performance Performance per Watt
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#259 of 270 graded processors
- #256 IntelIntel Pentium Gold G5400 8
- #257 IntelIntel Core i7-5820K 7
- #258 IntelIntel Core i7 Extreme 4960X 7
- #259 IntelIntel Core i3-8100 7
- #260 IntelIntel Core i5-6600 7
- #261 IntelIntel Core i5-7500 7
- #262 AMDAMD A8-7680 7
Value Performance per Watt
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#5 of 270 currently priced processors
- #2 AMDAMD Ryzen 5 7500F 96
- #3 AMDAMD Ryzen 5 4500 89
- #4 AMDAMD Ryzen 5 2400G 85
- #5 IntelIntel Core i3-8100 85
- #6 IntelIntel Core i5-6500T 84
- #7 IntelIntel Core i3-14100F 81
- #8 IntelIntel Core Ultra 5 225F 79
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 Value100 | — |
| GamingScenario capability | GradeC Value55 | — |
| ProductivityScenario capability | GradeF Value27 | — |
| Performance per WattScenario capability | GradeF Value85 | Higher capability Intel Core i5-6500T F 84 +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
- Today's price already clears the strong-value markcheapest tracked $31 against a $39 threshold with Balanced priorities
- 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
- 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 specificallyat today's market no realistic price for this model reaches strong value for Gaming — the calculation only gets there near $15, against a cheapest tracked $31
- 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 only F there
- You want strong value for Productivity specificallycompeting products deliver so much more for Productivity per dollar that no price this model realistically trades at reaches the strong-value mark for this job
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
- Today's price already clears the strong-value markcheapest tracked $31 against a $33 threshold for Performance per Watt
Consider other options if
- Not the pick if Performance per Watt is your main useit 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 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 2026-11-02–2026-11-09
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 #251 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 #246 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 #251 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 #259 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 2026-11-02–2026-11-09 · formula cpu-value-v6.1 · facts facts-2026-11-09 · 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.