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Intel Core i3-8100B

Intel Core i3-8100B: A Budget Workhorse for Basic Tasks

Processor Analysis of 2025 in Retrospect and Laptop Selection Recommendations

Architecture and Process Technology: Coffee Lake in the Era of 3nm

The Intel Core i3-8100B processor, released in 2018, became part of the Coffee Lake lineup, which now appears outdated in 2025 against modern 7nm and 3nm chips. However, its technical specifications are still relevant for budget devices.

- 4 Cores, 4 Threads: The absence of Hyper-Threading limits multitasking, but is sufficient for simple scenarios (web browsing, office tasks).

- Base Clock of 3.6 GHz: Turbo mode is not supported, leading to predictable but limited performance.

- Integrated Graphics UHD 630: 24 EU (Execution Units), supports 4K via HDMI/DisplayPort. Suitable for browsing videos and running low-settings, non-demanding games.

- 14nm Process Technology: The main downside is high power consumption and heat generation compared to modern AMD chips (6nm) or Intel Meteor Lake (7nm).

Power Consumption and TDP: Why is 65W Considered High for Laptops?

The 65W TDP places the i3-8100B in the same category as desktop processors. In laptops, this means:

- Thick Case and Active Cooling: Such devices rarely weigh less than 2 kg and have bulky heatsinks.

- Limited Battery Life: Even with a 60 Wh battery, the runtime rarely exceeds 4–5 hours under load.

Example: The Dell Inspiron 3576 laptop with i3-8100B (2025 price: ~$550) features a 42 Wh battery, yielding only 3–4 hours of battery life for office tasks.

Performance: What Can the i3-8100B Handle in 2025?

Office and Multimedia

- Geekbench 6: 1219 (Single-Core) / 3538 (Multi-Core) — adequate for document work, Zoom conferences, and watching 4K videos.

- Running 20 Tabs in Chrome + Background Spotify: Noticeable lags if a photo editor (e.g., GIMP) is added.

Gaming

- CS:GO on Low Settings (720p): ~45–55 FPS.

- Fortnite (720p, Minimum Graphics): ~25–30 FPS.

- Indie Games (Hollow Knight, Stardew Valley): Excellent smoothness.

Important: For above-average gaming, an external graphics card (e.g., NVIDIA MX350) is required, but laptops with the i3-8100B usually do not have it installed.

Usage Scenarios: Who is This Processor Ideal For?

- Students: For writing papers, working with PDFs, and online courses.

- Office Workers: Excel, Word, email, video calls.

- Home Users: Watching Netflix, working on social media.

- Older Adults: A simple interface with uncomplicated tasks.

Not Suitable For: Video editors (lagging in Premiere Pro when rendering 1080p), gamers (except for retro games), engineers (AutoCAD will lag).

Battery Life: Why Not Expect Miracles?

- Typical Runtime: 4–6 hours at 50% brightness and power-saving mode.

- Power-Saving Technologies: Intel SpeedStep (dynamic frequency management), C-states (turning off unused cores).

- Advice: Choose laptops with a battery of at least 50 Wh and fast charging capability (e.g., HP ProBook 450 G6).

Comparison with Competitors: What is Better to Buy in 2025?

AMD Ryzen 3 4300U (2020)

- Pros: 4 cores/8 threads, 15W TDP, integrated Vega 5 graphics (30% faster than UHD 630).

- Cons: Difficult to find in new laptops in 2025.

- Price: Devices starting from $600 (e.g., Lenovo IdeaPad 5).

Apple M1 (2020)

- Pros: Energy efficiency (18 hours of battery life), performance 2–3 times higher.

- Cons: Price (starting from $900), limited compatibility with Windows software.

Intel Core i5-1135G7 (2020)

- Pros: 4 cores/8 threads, Iris Xe graphics (2x faster than UHD 630), 28W TDP.

- Cons: Laptops with it start from $700.

Conclusion: The i3-8100B falls short compared to modern counterparts but remains competitive in price ($500–$600 for a new laptop).

Pros and Cons: Is It Worth Buying in 2025?

Pros:

- Low price.

- Sufficient for basic tasks.

- Reliability (proven architecture).

Cons:

- High TDP.

- No support for Wi-Fi 6 or Thunderbolt 4.

- Outdated 14nm process technology.

Laptop Selection Recommendations

- Type of Device: Budget laptop or "workhorse" with a 15.6-inch display.

- What to Look For:

- RAM: At least 8 GB (better 12 GB for Windows 11).

- Storage: SSD only (256 GB or more).

- Ports: USB-C, HDMI, card reader.

- Screen: Matte display with a resolution of 1920×1080.

Examples of 2025 Models:

- Acer Aspire 3 A315-58 ($520): 8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD, 15.6" FHD.

- Lenovo V15 G4 ($580): 12 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD, anti-glare coating.

Final Conclusion: Who is the i3-8100B Designed For?

This processor is a choice for those seeking a low-cost laptop for immediate use. It will handle everyday tasks, but don’t expect miracles. In 2025, it is worth considering only if your budget is below $600 and you have no demands for battery life or gaming.

Alternative: If you can add $100–150, consider the Ryzen 5 5500U or Intel Core i5-1235U — they will provide better future-proofing.

Basic

Label Name

Intel

Platform

Mobile

Launch Date

July 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.

i3-8100B

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

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.

CPU Socket

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

FCBGA1440

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.

DDR4-2666

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

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.

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.

1.05 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.

4096x2304@30Hz

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.

4096x2304@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.

4096x2304@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

1219

Geekbench 6

Multi Core Score

3538

Geekbench 5

Single Core Score

920

Geekbench 5

Multi Core Score

3214

Passmark CPU

Single Core Score

2341

Passmark CPU

Multi Core Score

6045

Compared to Other CPU

Geekbench 6 Single Core

Core i3-6320

1298 +6.5%

Xeon E3-1225

1262 +3.5%

Core i3-8100B

1219

Core i7-4770S

1181 -3.1%

Ryzen 3 7320C

1150 -5.7%

Geekbench 6 Multi Core

Core i5-1035G7

3991 +12.8%

Xeon E3-1535M v5

3744 +5.8%

Core i3-8100B

3538

Pentium Gold G7400T

3326 -6%

Xeon E3-1275 v3

3063 -13.4%

Geekbench 5 Single Core

Core i5-10200H

954 +3.7%

EPYC 7662

935 +1.6%

Core i3-8100B

920

Core i7-6770HQ

901 -2.1%

Pentium G4520

885 -3.8%

Geekbench 5 Multi Core

Core i3-10100T

3452 +7.4%

Xeon E-2254ML

3336 +3.8%

Core i3-8100B

3214

Ryzen 7 3750H

3090 -3.9%

Xeon Gold 6230N

2962 -7.8%

Passmark CPU Single Core

EPYC 9534

2409 +2.9%

EPYC 8024P

2372 +1.3%

Core i3-8100B

2341

Xeon E3-1280 v5

2309 -1.4%

Core i3-10100T

2279 -2.6%

Passmark CPU Multi Core

Core i7-3770K

6468 +7%

Core i7-8650U

6296 +4.2%

Core i3-8100B

6045

Core i5-7440EQ

5711 -5.5%

Core i5-7400

5486 -9.2%