Intel Core i3-6100 vs Intel Core i3-8100

The Intel Core i3-6100 and Intel Core i3-8100 are desktop processors targeting the entry-level segment of the market.

They were designed for users who need reliable performance for everyday tasks, office applications, and light media consumption. Although both belong to the Core i3 family, they represent different generations of Intel architecture. The Intel Core i3-6100 is based on the Skylake S architecture and was manufactured using a 14 nm fabrication process.

It offers 2 cores and 4 threads, enabled by Intel's Hyper-Threading technology. The maximum memory bandwidth is 34 GB/s. With its integrated Intel HD Graphics 530, it allows for the display of visual content without a dedicated graphics card. In single-core performance comparisons, this processor showed solid performance, while multi-core performance is sufficient for basic multitasking scenarios.

It uses PCIe Version 3.0 for connecting expansion cards. The Level 3 cache is 3 MB. The Intel Core i3-8100 belongs to the Coffee Lake S architecture and is also manufactured using a 14 nm fabrication process. A significant difference lies in the core count: it features 4 physical cores, but without Hyper-Threading, resulting in 4 threads.

This leads to significantly improved multi-core performance compared to its predecessor. The maximum memory bandwidth is slightly higher at 38 GB/s. The integrated graphics is an Intel UHD Graphics 630, which supports improved media playback. In the single-core domain, this processor exhibits higher performance.

It offers improved performance for more demanding applications and multitasking. The Level 3 cache is twice as large at 6 MB. It also supports PCIe Version 3.0. The Intel Core i3-8100 noticeably outperforms the Intel Core i3-6100 in both single-core and multi-core performance. The newer Coffee Lake S architecture combined with the doubling of physical cores from two to four in the Intel Core i3-8100 results in significantly better performance for tasks that benefit from multiple cores, such as video editing or complex multitasking.

The single-core performance of the Intel Core i3-8100 is also higher, which is noticeable in more responsive execution of everyday applications. For gaming scenarios, the Intel Core i3-8100 offers better performance. The higher single-core performance is advantageous for many games that often rely heavily on the performance of a single core.

Furthermore, the four physical cores of the Intel Core i3-8100 enable more stable frame rates and better handling of background processes in modern games, which increasingly benefit from a higher core count. The improved integrated graphics of the Intel Core i3-8100, the Intel UHD Graphics 630, also offers a slight advantage over the Intel HD Graphics 530 of the Intel Core i3-6100, although a dedicated graphics card is recommended for demanding gaming in both cases.

Both processors are manufactured using a 14 nm fabrication process. The Intel Core i3-8100, with its higher core count and increased performance, typically has a slightly higher power consumption than the Intel Core i3-6100. This means that under full load, the Intel Core i3-8100 can potentially consume more power and generate more heat, which might require a slightly more robust cooling solution, although both CPUs are designed for standard air coolers.

At the time of their introduction, the Intel Core i3-8100 offered significantly improved performance for a moderate price increase over the Intel Core i3-6100, making it an attractive option. In today's used market, both processors can be found, with the Intel Core i3-8100 tending to offer a higher resale value or better performance per Euro due to its superior multi-core performance and newer architecture, especially for systems that benefit from more cores.