Intel Core i3-9100F vs Intel Core i3-8100

The Intel Core i3-8100 is an eighth-generation (Coffee Lake S) desktop processor designed for mainstream applications such as office and multimedia.

It features an integrated Intel UHD Graphics 630 graphics unit. The Intel Core i3-9100F is a ninth-generation (Coffee Lake S Refresh) processor aimed at users with a dedicated graphics card, as it does not have an integrated graphics unit itself.

Both CPUs are manufactured by Intel using the 14 nm process and offer four cores, four threads, PCIe Version 3.0, 38 GB/s maximum memory bandwidth, and 6 MB of Level 3 Cache. In terms of computing performance, the Intel Core i3-9100F shows significant advantages. Its multi-core performance in benchmarks is over 10 percent higher than that of the Intel Core i3-8100, and its single-core performance also surpasses it by more than 10 percent in some tests.

For gaming scenarios, the Intel Core i3-9100F, paired with a separate GPU, offers better gaming performance thanks to its higher CPU performance. The Intel Core i3-8100, with its integrated graphics, is only suitable for very undemanding games. Regarding power consumption and thermal design power (TDP), no major differences are to be expected due to similar specifications and manufacturing processes.

The price-performance ratio of the Intel Core i3-9100F is often more advantageous in systems with a dedicated graphics card, as it offers more computing power without the premium for integrated graphics. The Intel Core i3-8100 is the choice if no separate graphics card is planned.