Intel Core i3-8100T vs Intel Processor N100

The Intel Core i3-8100T (Coffee Lake S, 14 nm) is an 8th generation processor for energy-efficient desktops.

The Intel Processor N100 (Alder Lake N, 10 nm) is a newer processor for ultra-energy-efficient mini-PCs and embedded systems.

Both CPUs have 4 cores and 4 threads. The i3-8100T uses Coffee Lake S, while the N100 uses efficiency-optimized Alder Lake N cores. They support PCIe 3.0 and 38 GB/s memory bandwidth. The Intel Processor N100 shows noticeably higher single-core performance (>10%) in Geekbench 6. Multi-core performance (Geekbench 6, Cinebench R23) is comparable.

The N100 can also run modern benchmarks like Cinebench 2024. Neither is suitable for demanding gaming; the N100 (UHD Graphics 24 EUs) offers marginal advantages over the i3-8100T (UHD Graphics 630) in very light games. The Intel Core i3-8100T has a 35W TDP. The Intel Processor N100, with only 6W TDP, is significantly more energy-efficient, ideal for fanless systems.

The i3-8100T is an older model, mostly available used. The N100 is more current and can be found in new, inexpensive mini-PCs. Its price-performance ratio is attractive due to its efficiency. The Intel Core i3-8100T offers solid basic performance (35W TDP). The Intel Processor N100 impresses with extreme energy efficiency (6W TDP), improved single-core performance, and modern architecture.

For energy-efficient systems, the N100 is the better choice; the i3-8100T is more for existing older systems.