Intel Core i3-6100 Processor

The Intel Core i3-6100 Processor — 2 cores and 4 threads, 3.7 GHz base, 3 MB Intel Smart Cache, 51 W processor base power, LGA1151. Supplied from stock with a 1-year warranty.

The Skylake dual-core that defined the DDR4 transition

The i3-6100 arrived in Q3 2015 as the mainstream entry point into Skylake: two cores with Hyper-Threading at 3.70 GHz, 3 MB of cache and a 51 W envelope. It was the generation that moved the desktop platform from DDR3 to DDR4, and it is still one of the most common processors in ex-corporate business desktops because so many were sold into corporate fleets.

The 51 W figure matters more than the clock. It runs on the small OEM coolers and tight airflow paths of 1-litre and SFF chassis without throttling, and its integrated Intel HD Graphics 530 with Quick Sync handles dual display output and hardware video decode without a discrete card. Two cores with Hyper-Threading is enough for office suites, browser-based line-of-business apps and point-of-sale work — the roles these machines actually do.

Technical specifications

Instruction set extensions: Intel SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX and AVX2. AVX-512 is not present on this generation. Security and virtualisation: AES-NI, Intel VT-x with EPT and VT-d, Intel Boot Guard.

Which systems take this processor

Anything on the FCLGA1151 socket with an Intel 100 or 200 series chipset: H110, B150, B250, H170, H270, Q170, Q270 and Z270. Boards built for 7th Generation parts will run 6th Generation processors, and most 6th Generation boards take 7th Generation parts after a BIOS update.

• Business desktops and SFF machines — Dell OptiPlex 3040 / 5040 / 7040, HP EliteDesk 800 G2 / ProDesk 600 G2, Lenovo ThinkCentre M700 / M900. These chassis shipped with this generation as a factory option, so replacement boards and coolers are easy to source.
• Entry workstations — HP Z240 SFF / Tower, Dell Precision T3620, Lenovo ThinkStation P310, where a 51 W dual-core is enough for office, CAD viewer and point-of-sale duty.
• NAS and firewall builds — C236 boards such as Supermicro X11SSH and ASUS P10S accept Core i3 parts alongside Xeon E3, and the low thermal envelope suits 24/7 enclosures.

One caveat when buying a board separately: 100 series boards may need a BIOS from late 2015 or later before a 7th Generation part will POST, and 200 series boards handle both generations out of the box. Tell us the board or the machine model when you enquire and we will confirm before you order.

How it compares across the i3 line

Within the Skylake line the choice is simple: the 6100 for standard desktops, the 6100T when the chassis cannot move 51 W of heat. Against the 7th Generation 7100 it gives up 200 MHz and nothing else — same cores, same cache, same power. The real generational jump is the 8100, which doubles the cores and cache but needs a 300 series board.

How each processor is tested before it ships

1. Visual inspection of the integrated heat spreader, substrate and contact pads; the sSpec laser marking (SR2HG on our i3-6100 stock) is verified against the Intel specification sheet.
2. Burn-in on a matched diagnostic board with a pair of memory modules of the correct type for this platform.
3. All populated memory channels and the primary PCIe lanes are validated, then the processor is identified in the BIOS and in the operating system.
4. A sustained multi-threaded load test at full core count, with the clock and thermal readings recorded.
5. Thermal paste cleaned off, final inspection, then packaging in an anti-static tray with foam — which is how it arrives to you.

Warranty and lead time

Every processor is covered by a 1-year warranty against defects in workmanship and function. If a part fails within the period we replace it or refund it, and we cover return shipping on a verified fault. Stock is held in our own warehouse and normally dispatches within three to seven working days; tracking is issued at dispatch.

Purchasing and volume enquiries

The minimum order quantity for this processor is 2 units. Price is quotation-based rather than listed, because CPU pricing moves with each incoming batch — send us the quantity you need and we will come back with a firm quote and the current lead time. Larger quantities ship from the same production batch so the sSpec and the stepping stay consistent across your order.