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Intel Core i3-9100

Intel Core i3-9100: A Budget Processor for Basic Tasks in 2025

Updated: April 2025

1. Key Specifications: Architecture and Performance

The Intel Core i3-9100 processor, released in 2019, remains popular in budget builds due to its balance of price and basic performance.

Coffee Lake Architecture and 14nm Process Technology

- Architectural Code Name: Coffee Lake (9th generation Intel).

- Process Technology: 14nm — outdated technology by 2025, but sufficient for office tasks and less demanding applications.

- Cores and Threads: 4 cores, 4 threads (no Hyper-Threading).

- Cache: 6MB L3, which improves data processing speed in simple scenarios.

- Integrated Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 630 — supports 4K@60Hz via HDMI/DisplayPort, but is weak for modern gaming.

Performance

- Geekbench 6:

- Single-Core Test: 1367 points.

- Multi-Core Test: 3565 points.

- Real-World Usage:

- Easily handles office suites (Microsoft Office, Google Workspace), a browser with 10+ tabs, and 4K streaming video.

- In gaming: CS:GO — 60-70 FPS on medium settings (1080p), Dota 2 — 50-60 FPS (without a discrete graphics card).

2. Compatible Motherboards

Socket and Chipsets

- Socket: LGA 1151 v2 (only for 8th and 9th generation Intel).

- Suitable Chipsets:

- H310: Budget option (e.g., ASUS Prime H310M-K, ~$60).

- B360/B365: More PCIe and USB 3.1 slots (MSI B360M PRO-VDH, ~$80).

- Z390: For enthusiasts (supports overclocking, but i3-9100 does not overclock).

Important Considerations

- BIOS Update: Boards from 2018-2019 may require an update for compatibility.

- Practical Example: Users often encounter POST errors when installing the i3-9100 on older BIOS versions of H310 motherboards.

3. Supported Memory

- Memory Type: DDR4-2400 (official support).

- Modes: Dual-channel (recommended to use 2 modules).

- Maximum Capacity: Up to 64GB (depends on the motherboard).

- Tip: For better performance, choose modules with low timings (CL14-CL16).

Example Configuration: 2x8GB DDR4-2400 CL16 (~$45) — optimal for office tasks.

4. Power Supply Recommendations

- CPU TDP: 65W.

- Without a discrete graphics card: A PSU of 300-400W is sufficient (e.g., EVGA 400 N1, ~$35).

- With a graphics card: For GTX 1650 or RX 6400, a PSU of 450-500W is required (Corsair CX450, ~$55).

Important: Do not skimp on the PSU! Cheap models can damage components.

5. Pros and Cons

Advantages

- Price: ~$100-120 (new, April 2025).

- Energy Efficiency: Consumes little power, suitable for compact PCs.

- Integrated Graphics: Eliminates the need to purchase a graphics card for basic tasks.

Disadvantages

- No Hyper-Threading: Performs poorly in multi-threaded tasks (e.g., rendering).

- Outdated Platform: No upgrade path to 10th generation and above without replacing the motherboard.

6. Usage Scenarios

- Office and Education: Working with documents, video conferences, online learning.

- Multimedia: Watching 4K videos, streaming Netflix/YouTube.

- Light Gaming: Minecraft, Overwatch on low settings.

- Home Server: NAS or Plex-based media center.

User Experience: Users report that the processor "lags" when running Photoshop and a browser with 20+ tabs simultaneously.

7. Comparison with Competitors

- AMD Ryzen 3 3200G (~$110):

- Pros: Vega 8 (better graphics), SMT support (4 cores/8 threads).

- Cons: Higher power consumption.

- Intel Core i5-9400 (~$150):

- Pros: 6 cores, higher gaming performance.

- Cons: More expensive, requires more robust cooling.

Conclusion: The i3-9100 is beneficial only for tight budgets and when there are no multi-threading demands.

8. Practical Assembly Tips

- Motherboard: Choose B365 for greater reliability (e.g., Gigabyte B365M DS3H).

- Memory: 16GB DDR4-2400 is the minimum for 2025.

- Storage: Ensure an SSD (Crucial MX500 500GB, ~$50).

- Cooling: The standard cooler is adequate, but for quiet operation, consider the DeepCool GAMMAXX 400 (~$25).

Example Build:

- Processor: i3-9100 ($110).

- Motherboard: Gigabyte B365M DS3H ($85).

- Memory: 16GB DDR4-2400 ($45).

- Storage: 500GB SSD ($50).

- PSU: EVGA 450 BR ($45).

- Total: ~$335 (excluding case and graphics card).

9. Final Conclusion: Who Should Choose the i3-9100?

This processor is a good choice if:

- Your budget is limited to $300-400.

- You need a PC for the office, education, or a media center.

- You do not plan to run "heavy" games or professional applications.

Why in 2025? Despite its age, the i3-9100 remains one of the most affordable options for basic tasks. However, for future upgrades, it’s better to consider a platform supporting DDR5 and PCIe 4.0 (e.g., Intel 12th generation or AMD Ryzen 5000).

Conclusion: The Intel Core i3-9100 is a "workhorse" for those who do not need high performance. It is ideal as a temporary solution or the foundation for a simple home PC, but do not expect long-term viability.

Basic

Label Name

Intel

Platform

Desktop

Launch Date

September 2018

Model Name

The Intel processor number is just one of several factors - along with processor brand, system configurations, and system-level benchmarks - to be considered when choosing the right processor for your computing needs.

i3-9100

Code Name

Coffee Lake

CPU Specifications

Total Cores

Cores is a hardware term that describes the number of independent central processing units in a single computing component (die or chip).

Total Threads

Where applicable, Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology is only available on Performance-cores.

Basic Frequency

3.60 GHz

Max Turbo Frequency

Max Turbo Frequency is the maximum single-core frequency at which the processor is capable of operating using Intel® Turbo Boost Technology and, if present, Intel® Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 and Intel® Thermal Velocity Boost. Frequency is typically measured in gigahertz (GHz), or billion cycles per second.

4.20 GHz

Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 Frequency

4.20 GHz

Intel Turbo Boost Technology

Intel® Turbo Boost Technology dynamically increases the processor's frequency as needed by taking advantage of thermal and power headroom to give you a burst of speed when you need it, and increased energy efficiency when you don’t.

2.0

Intel Hyper-Threading Technology

Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology (Intel® HT Technology) delivers two processing threads per physical core. Highly threaded applications can get more work done in parallel, completing tasks sooner.

L3 Cache

6 MB

CPU Socket

The socket is the component that provides the mechanical and electrical connections between the processor and motherboard.

FCLGA1151

Technology

Lithography refers to the semiconductor technology used to manufacture an integrated circuit, and is reported in nanometer (nm), indicative of the size of features built on the semiconductor.

14 nm

TDP

65 W

Max. Operating Temperature

Junction Temperature is the maximum temperature allowed at the processor die.

100°C

PCI Express Version

PCI Express Revision is the supported version of the PCI Express standard. Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (or PCIe) is a high-speed serial computer expansion bus standard for attaching hardware devices to a computer. The different PCI Express versions support different data rates.

3.0

Number of PCI Express Lanes

A PCI Express (PCIe) lane consists of two differential signaling pairs, one for receiving data, one for transmitting data, and is the basic unit of the PCIe bus. Max # of PCI Express Lanes is the total number of supported lanes.

Intel 64

Intel® 64 architecture delivers 64-bit computing on server, workstation, desktop and mobile platforms when combined with supporting software.¹ Intel 64 architecture improves performance by allowing systems to address more than 4 GB of both virtual and physical memory.

Yes

Instruction Set

The instruction set is a hard program stored inside the CPU that guides and optimizes CPU operations. With these instruction sets, the CPU can run more efficiently. There are many manufacturers that design CPUs, which results in different instruction sets, such as the 8086 instruction set for the Intel camp and the RISC instruction set for the ARM camp. x86, ARM v8, and MIPS are all codes for instruction sets. Instruction sets can be extended; for example, x86 added 64-bit support to create x86-64. Manufacturers developing CPUs that are compatible with a certain instruction set need authorization from the instruction set patent holder. A typical example is Intel authorizing AMD, enabling the latter to develop CPUs compatible with the x86 instruction set.

64-bit

PCI Express Configurations

PCI Express (PCIe) Configurations describe the available PCIe lane configurations that can be used to link to PCIe devices.

Up to 1x16 | 2x8 | 1x8+2x4

Memory Specifications

Memory Type

Intel® processors come in four different types: Single Channel, Dual Channel, Triple Channel, and Flex Mode. Maximum supported memory speed may be lower when populating multiple DIMMs per channel on products that support multiple memory channels.

DDR4-2400

Max Memory Size

Max memory size refers to the maximum memory capacity supported by the processor.

64 GB

Memory Channels

The number of memory channels refers to the bandwidth operation for real world application.

Bus Speed

8 GT/s

Max Memory Bandwidth

Max Memory bandwidth is the maximum rate at which data can be read from or stored into a semiconductor memory by the processor (in GB/s).

37.5 GB/s

ECC Memory Supported

ECC Memory Supported indicates processor support for Error-Correcting Code memory. ECC memory is a type of system memory that can detect and correct common kinds of internal data corruption. Note that ECC memory support requires both processor and chipset support.

Yes

GPU Specifications

Integrated Graphics Model

An integrated GPU refers to the graphics core that is integrated into the CPU processor. Leveraging the processor's powerful computational capabilities and intelligent power efficiency management, it delivers outstanding graphics performance and a smooth application experience at a lower power consumption.

Intel® UHD Graphics 630

Graphics Base Frequency

Graphics Base frequency refers to the rated/guaranteed graphics render clock frequency in MHz.

350 MHz

Graphics Frequency

Graphics max dynamic frequency refers to the maximum opportunistic graphics render clock frequency (in MHz) that can be supported using Intel® HD Graphics with Dynamic Frequency feature.

1.10 GHz

Graphics Video Max Memory

64 GB

4K Support

Yes | at 60Hz

DirectX Support

DirectX* Support indicates support for a specific version of Microsoft’s collection of APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) for handling multimedia compute tasks.

Max Resolution (HDMI)

Max Resolution (HDMI) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor via the HDMI interface (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your system.

4096 x 2304@24Hz

Max Resolution (DP)

Max Resolution (DP) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor via the DP interface (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your system.

4096 x 2304@60Hz

Max Resolution (eDP - Integrated Flat Panel)

Max Resolution (Integrated Flat Panel) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor for a device with an integrated flat panel (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your device.

4096 x 2304@60Hz

Number of Displays Supported

Miscellaneous

Intel Virtualization Technology (VT-x)

Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x) allows one hardware platform to function as multiple “virtual” platforms. It offers improved manageability by limiting downtime and maintaining productivity by isolating computing activities into separate partitions.

Yes

Intel Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)

Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d) continues from the existing support for IA-32 (VT-x) and Itanium® processor (VT-i) virtualization adding new support for I/O-device virtualization. Intel VT-d can help end users improve security and reliability of the systems and also improve performance of I/O devices in virtualized environments.

Yes

Intel Standard Manageability (ISM)

Intel® Standard Manageability is the manageability solution for Intel vPro® Essentials platforms and is a subset of Intel® AMT with out-of-band management over Ethernet and Wi-Fi, but no KVM or new life cycle management features.

Intel® SSE4.1 | Intel® SSE4.2 | Intel® AVX2

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology is an advanced means of enabling high performance while meeting the power-conservation needs of mobile systems. Conventional Intel SpeedStep® Technology switches both voltage and frequency in tandem between high and low levels in response to processor load. Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology builds upon that architecture using design strategies such as Separation between Voltage and Frequency Changes, and Clock Partitioning and Recovery.

Yes

Execute Disable Bit

Execute Disable Bit is a hardware-based security feature that can reduce exposure to viruses and malicious-code attacks and prevent harmful software from executing and propagating on the server or network.

Yes

Cache

CPU Cache is an area of fast memory located on the processor. Intel® Smart Cache refers to the architecture that allows all cores to dynamically share access to the last level cache.

6 MB Intel® Smart Cache

Intel AES New Instructions

Intel® AES New Instructions (Intel® AES-NI) are a set of instructions that enable fast and secure data encryption and decryption. AES-NI are valuable for a wide range of cryptographic applications, for example: applications that perform bulk encryption/decryption, authentication, random number generation, and authenticated encryption.

Yes

Intel Boot Guard

Intel® Device Protection Technology with Boot Guard helps protect the system’s pre-OS environment from viruses and malicious software attacks.

Yes

Intel Clear Video HD Technology

Intel® Clear Video HD Technology, like its predecessor, Intel® Clear Video Technology, is a suite of image decode and processing technologies built into the integrated processor graphics that improve video playback, delivering cleaner, sharper images, more natural, accurate, and vivid colors, and a clear and stable video picture. Intel® Clear Video HD Technology adds video quality enhancements for richer color and more realistic skin tones.

Yes

Intel Clear Video Technology

Yes

Intel VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)

Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT), also known as Second Level Address Translation (SLAT), provides acceleration for memory intensive virtualized applications. Extended Page Tables in Intel® Virtualization Technology platforms reduces the memory and power overhead costs and increases battery life through hardware optimization of page table management.

Yes

Intel InTru 3D Technology

Yes

Intel OS Guard

Yes

OpenGL Support

OpenGL (Open Graphics Library) is a cross-language, multi-platform API (Application Programming Interface) for rendering 2D and 3D vector graphics.

4.5

Intel Quick Sync Video

Intel® Quick Sync Video delivers fast conversion of video for portable media players, online sharing, and video editing and authoring.

Yes

Benchmarks

Geekbench 6

Single Core Score

1367

Geekbench 6

Multi Core Score

3565

Geekbench 5

Single Core Score

1045

Geekbench 5

Multi Core Score

3346

Passmark CPU

Single Core Score

2334

Passmark CPU

Multi Core Score

6868

Compared to Other CPU

Geekbench 6 Single Core

Ryzen 7 4800H

1454 +6.4%

Core i3-9350K

1408 +3%

Core i3-9100

1367

Core i5-13400E

1325 -3.1%

Xeon E5-1680 v3

1283 -6.1%

Geekbench 6 Multi Core

Core i7-5750HQ

4008 +12.4%

Core i7-4940MX

3773 +5.8%

Core i3-9100

3565

Xeon E5-2689

3329 -6.6%

Ryzen 5 PRO 2400G

3079 -13.6%

Geekbench 5 Single Core

Xeon Gold 5315Y

1090 +4.3%

Core i9-7940X X-series

1068 +2.2%

Core i3-9100

1045

Xeon E3-1270L v4

1023 -2.1%

Xeon Gold 6246

1003 -4%

Geekbench 5 Multi Core

Xeon E3-1575M v5

3601 +7.6%

Xeon E3-1245 v5

3459 +3.4%

Core i3-9100

3346

Xeon Silver 4210R

3226 -3.6%

Core i5-4690

3097 -7.4%

Passmark CPU Single Core

Ryzen 5 7235HS

2398 +2.7%

EPYC 8324P

2366 +1.4%

Core i3-9100

2334

Core i3-9300T

2302 -1.4%

Core i5-7500

2269 -2.8%

Passmark CPU Multi Core

Xeon E5-1620

7377 +7.4%

Core i7-6770HQ

7072 +3%

Core i3-9100

6868

Core i7-1060NG7

6605 -3.8%

Xeon E5-2430L

6332 -7.8%