Intel Core i3-8100 Processor

The Intel Core i3-8100 Processor — 4 cores and 4 threads, 3.6 GHz base, 6 MB Intel Smart Cache, 65 W processor base power, LGA1151. Supplied from stock with a 1-year warranty.

The quad-core that ended the dual-core i3 era

The i3-8100 is the part that reset expectations for the entry desktop: four full physical cores at 3.60 GHz, 6 MB of cache and a 65 W envelope, launched in Q4 2017 on Coffee Lake. Before it, an i3 meant two cores and four threads; the 8100 dropped Hyper-Threading and gave you four real cores instead — the trade that made quad-core the new floor for office machines.

There is no Turbo Boost here, so the 8100 holds a flat 3.60 GHz under load. In practice that is an advantage in fixed-function roles: kiosks, point-of-sale terminals, digital signage and small virtualization hosts see a predictable clock rather than a bin that depends on how many cores are busy. Intel UHD Graphics 630 is on package with Quick Sync, so no discrete card is needed for display output or hardware transcoding.

Technical specifications

Instruction set extensions: Intel SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX and AVX2. 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 300 series chipset: H310, B360, B365, H370, Q370, Z370 and Z390, plus C246 server boards. The 300 series supports 8th and 9th Generation Core processors, with 9th Generation parts requiring a BIOS from late 2018 or later on the earlier boards.

• Business desktops and SFF machines — Dell OptiPlex 3060 / 5060 / 7060, HP EliteDesk 800 G4 / ProDesk 600 G4, Lenovo ThinkCentre M720 / M920. This generation was the volume corporate platform, so chassis, coolers and replacement boards are widely available.
• Entry workstations — HP Z2 G4, Dell Precision 3630, Lenovo ThinkStation P330, where a four-core i3 covers office, CAD viewer and light rendering duty.
• Micro-server and NAS builds — C246 boards such as Supermicro X11SCH and ASUS P11C accept Core i3 parts with ECC UDIMMs, and the low power draw suits 24/7 operation.

One caveat when buying a board separately: 9th Generation parts need a BIOS from late 2018 or later on 300 series boards, and C246 boards were sold mainly for Xeon E and may list Core support only from a specific revision. Tell us the board or the machine model when you enquire and we will check it.

How it compares across the i3 line

The two Coffee Lake Refresh parts in this table are the interesting upgrade paths. The 8300 adds 100 MHz and 2 MB of cache for 3 W less, and the 9100 brings Turbo Boost for the first time in a non-K i3. The 8350K is unlocked but draws 91 W and needs a Z-series board to be worth it. If your board is a B360 or H370 and the workload is steady-state, the 8100 is the cheapest way into four cores.

How each processor is tested before it ships

1. Visual inspection of the integrated heat spreader, substrate and contact pads; the sSpec laser marking (SR3N5 on our i3-8100 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.