Pros
- Runs cool
- Has integrated graphics, versus non-G-series AMD Ryzens
- Here in early 2021, you can buy one without a search party
Cons
- Comparatively slow results for its price range
- Intel UHD Graphics 630 showing its age
- Requires a platform upgrade to LGA 1200
Intel Core i3-10100 Specs
| Core Count | 4 |
| Thread Count | 8 |
| Base Clock Frequency | 3.6 GHz |
| Maximum Boost Clock | 4.3 GHz |
| Unlocked Multiplier? | |
| Socket Compatibility | Intel LGA 1151 |
| Lithography | 14 nm |
| L3 Cache Amount | 6 MB |
| Thermal Design Power (TDP) Rating | 65 watts |
| Integrated Graphics | Intel UHD Graphics 630 |
| Integrated Graphics Base Clock | 350 MHz |
| Bundled Cooler | Intel Stock Cooler |
Positioned as the entry-level Core processor within Intel’s 10th Generation series of desktop CPUs, the Core i3-10100, priced, enters a competitive market landscape. The AMD Ryzen 3 3300X, available, has been effectively outperforming various models in Intel’s gaming-oriented CPU range, excelling in both value and performance in lightly threaded gaming scenarios. In light of this formidable competition, how does the Core i3-10100 respond? It primarily seeks refuge.
The Core i3-10100 occasionally exhibits slower performance compared to its predecessor, the Core i3-9100. In contrast, the Ryzen 3 3300X has established itself as a formidable four-core CPU that excels in popular gaming titles, making it a favored option for budget-conscious PC builders and consumers. If onboard graphics are not a necessity or if there is no requirement for Intel’s LGA 1200 socket, the Ryzen 3 3300X is unequivocally the superior choice. For those who do require integrated graphics, the AMD Ryzen 3 3200G may serve as a viable alternative. In the limited circumstances where the Core i3-10100 is applicable, it performs adequately within Intel’s lineup; however, the Ryzen 3 3300X and 3200G offer better value for the investment in AMD’s offerings.
Specifications of the Intel Core i3-10100: AMD Continues to Apply Competitive Pressure.
To commence our examination of the Intel Core i3-10100 and its position relative to AMD’s range of entry-level processors, it is essential to first review some fundamental specifications of both.
The Intel Core i3-10100, featuring four cores and eight threads, is positioned within the 10th Generation lineup as Intel’s entry-level Core processor, serving as an upgrade from the Celeron and Pentium series. On paper, it appears to offer enhancements over the Intel Core i3-9100 while maintaining a similar price point. Currently, this processor is readily available in the market, a notable contrast to the AMD Ryzen 3 3300X, and is being sold at a price lower than Intel’s initial suggested retail price, typically ranging, depending on the retailer.
The chip reinstates an essential feature that was absent in numerous 9th Generation Intel desktop processors, such as the Core i3-9100: Hyper-Threading. The Intel Core i3-10100 now accommodates up to eight threads distributed across its four cores. However, our benchmarking revealed that the reintroduction of this feature in the 10th Generation, particularly at this CPU level, may not be the anticipated enhancement we expected.
It is now appropriate to address the significant issue regarding the LGA 1200 platform. While Intel’s requirement for users to undertake yet another platform upgrade in conjunction with the transition to the 10th Generation in 2020 may be justifiable for high-end models such as the Intel Core i9-10900K, priced, or even the midrange Intel Core i5-10600K, which is approximately, the situation becomes less tenable at the Core i3 price point. In this case, the expense of a new motherboard could potentially exceed the cost of the processor itself.
In the transition from LGA 1151 to LGA 1200, the Intel Core i3-10100 is exclusively compatible with motherboards featuring one of the newly introduced chipsets for 2020: Intel B460, H410, H470, or Z490. Additionally, it is expected to function with LGA 1200-based motherboards designed for the forthcoming 11th Generation “Rocket Lake” processors. While there are several budget chipset options within this range, it remains challenging for Intel to compete with AMD’s current offerings in terms of platform compatibility.
To begin with, the AMD Ryzen 5 3400G, Ryzen 3 3200G, and Ryzen 3 3300X all utilize the same socket, known as Socket AM4. This compatibility extends across numerous processors within the Zen family. However, when considering options priced, the decision to “upgrade now” versus “wait” frequently depends on the expense associated with acquiring a new motherboard for different generations, or whether a new motherboard is necessary at all.
In order to balance the cost advantages that either the AMD Ryzen 3 3100 or Ryzen 3 3300X may possess over Intel at this price point, the Core i3-10100 counters with the addition of its UHD Graphics 630 integrated graphics processor (IGP), thereby negating the necessity for a dedicated graphics card. This adjustment allows the Core i3-10100 to more equitably compete with the “Zen+”-based AMD Ryzen 3 3200G and the approximately AMD Ryzen 5 3400G, which feature their respective Radeon RX Vega 8 and RX Vega 11 IGPs. It is important to note that these AMD processors have been somewhat scarce at those price levels as of early 2021 due to supply constraints.
Intel provides its standard stock cooler with every Core i3-10100 processor, which is appropriate for this level of CPU. Typically, consumers purchasing processors priced, particularly those opting for CPUs with integrated graphics, prefer a straightforward installation process without complications. In this capacity, Intel’s stock cooler performs adequately. While gamers may prefer a more robust cooling solution, the stock cooler is sufficient for basic needs.
Evaluating the Intel Core i3-10100: An Advancement in Platforms, Yet a Regression in Performance.
The Core i3-10100 was evaluated using an Asus ROG Maximus XII Hero (Wi-Fi) motherboard, accompanied by 16GB of G.Skill memory operating at a frequency of 3,000MHz to ensure consistency with our previous CPU assessments. Additionally, the setup included an Intel SATA boot SSD along with an ADATA SATA M.2 secondary storage drive.
The entire setup was housed within the ADATA XPG Invader chassis, which was equipped with a Deepcool GamerStorm Captain 240 EX 240mm liquid cooling system and a 750-watt power supply from Corsair. For our gaming evaluations, we utilized an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Ti operating at Founders Edition clock speeds, consistent with our approach in recent reviews of mainstream and high-end CPUs.
We evaluate CPUs through a range of synthetic benchmarks that provide proprietary scores, in addition to conducting real-world assessments utilizing consumer applications such as 7-Zip and 3D games like Far Cry 5. For processors in the category of the Intel Core i3-10100, we also perform tests on the integrated graphics processor (IGP) with several games. The charts presented below include a selection of similarly priced competing and related AMD and Intel CPUs, along with some significantly higher-end models for comparative analysis.
CPU-Focused Evaluations: A Quad-Core Processor Should Achieve Greater Performance.
The Intel Core i3-10100 may not excel in multi-threaded performance in this context; however, several tests remain significant indicators for users who frequently engage in single-threaded activities.
The Intel Core i3-10100 demonstrated commendable performance in single-threaded tasks; however, it surprisingly appeared to lag behind its predecessor, the Intel Core i3-9100, in certain benchmarks. Although it possesses four additional threads compared to the i3-9100, the i3-10100 did not consistently outperform the chip it was designed to succeed, preventing it from being regarded as a clear winner.
It is worth noting the significant advantage that the Ryzen 3 3300X holds over the i3-10100. (On a positive note for the Core i3, it is readily available for purchase without the need for an extensive search.) Nevertheless, the i3-10100 is capable of matching or even surpassing the performance of the Radeon Vega-IGP integrated within the AMD Ryzen 3 3200G, depending on the specific benchmarks, making this latter chip a more appropriate point of comparison.
Gaming Performance on a Budget: Frame Rates with the Intel Core i3-10100
The results from our extensive gaming tests utilizing the GeForce RTX 2080 Ti graphics card reveal significant insights. This high-end consumer graphics card serves as the key determinant of performance at 4K resolution when paired with the various CPUs listed below. However, at 1080p, the card becomes less of a limiting factor, allowing the distinctions among the CPUs to become more apparent.
The Intel Core i3-10100 effectively fulfills its role in this context, specifically in delivering power for gaming at 1080p and 4K resolutions while maintaining reasonably high frame rates. Indeed, it performs well.
Is the AMD Ryzen 3 3300X superior in nearly every aspect? Certainly. Although some advantages may be marginal, particularly regarding frame rates, it is essential to consider the likely necessity of upgrading to an LGA 1200 motherboard, as opposed to utilizing more affordable B350 or B450 boards. Consequently, the price-to-performance ratio tends to favor AMD.
Performance of Integrated Graphics in Gaming: Results from the Intel Core i3-10100 IGP
The Intel Core i3-10100, categorized as an entry-level processor, is frequently regarded as capable of supporting gaming experiences when paired with a dedicated graphics card, while also being able to operate independently with its integrated Intel UHD Graphics 630. We evaluate lower-tier CPUs equipped with integrated graphics processors (IGPs) by testing them across a selection of games configured to either the lowest or near-lowest settings at a resolution of 1,280 by 720 pixels (720p) and 1,920 by 1,080 pixels (1080p).
This situation does not bode well for Intel’s Core i3. Although the Ryzen 3 3200G may not be the most advantageous option when compared to its more powerful counterpart, the Ryzen 5 3400G, it certainly presents a compelling value when juxtaposed with the Core i3-10100, particularly if one intends to utilize the AMD chip’s Radeon Graphics integrated GPU for gaming purposes.
The Ryzen 3 3200G serves as an effective budget gaming solution, frequently approaching 60 frames per second at 1080p resolution. Notably, it surpasses this threshold in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, while the Intel Core i3-10100 achieves only 35 frames per second in the same test.
The Night Raid 3DMark benchmark illustrates the significant advancements AMD has made in enhancing its APUs over the past few years, transforming them from mere afterthoughts into formidable competitors. The Ryzen 3200G and 3400G excel in this synthetic test, highlighting the limitations of Intel’s older UHD Graphics solutions in the current landscape.
An Overview of Thermals and the Implications of (Not) Overclocking
Throughout our testing, the Intel Core i3-10100 maintained a maximum temperature of 46 degrees Celsius, which is quite moderate. It is important to note that our cooling solution was significantly more robust than necessary for this processor. We did not evaluate the performance of the stock cooler, as it does not align with our typical testing protocols. Nevertheless, given that the Core i3-10100 is a four-core processor, it is improbable that it will trigger any overheating alerts in your system, provided there is at least a minimal level of airflow.
The Core i3-10100 is classified as a non-“K” processor, meaning it is not designed for overclocking. Consequently, we were unable to evaluate the performance potential of the Core i3-10100 without the limitations imposed by Intel’s anti-overclocking measures. For those interested in overclocking at this performance tier, the Ryzen 3 3300X, with its unlocked clock speed, would be the preferable option.
Conclusion: At this tier, Ryzens prevail…provided you can locate them.
The Intel Core i3-10100, designed to occupy what is arguably one of the most significant volume-selling positions in any chip release—the entry-level segment—highlights the challenging position that Intel’s 10th Generation desktop processors have created for the company in terms of pricing, value, and performance.
The aforementioned results illustrate the maximum performance that the Core i3-10100 can achieve at its default settings, considering the high-end test environment in which it was placed. Nevertheless, it still fell significantly short of the new benchmarks established by AMD and its Zen architecture CPUs and APUs.
It is acknowledged that the chips were evaluated on robust AM4 motherboards equipped with liquid cooling systems that were priced similarly to or higher than the CPU itself; however, we will move on. For those seeking a processor that significantly surpasses the Core i3-10100 in gaming performance when paired with a dedicated GPU, the Ryzen 3 3100 and Ryzen 3300X consistently deliver superior results across nearly all metrics we assess.
If financial considerations are your primary focus (while also requiring Intel), it is advisable to utilize your savings wisely prior to choosing the Core i3-10100 upgrade. For those with an older-generation motherboard, consider pairing it with the Intel Core i3-9100, which, based on our evaluations, frequently performed comparably to, and at times surpassed, the Core i3-10100 in multi-core benchmarks. Alternatively, you may wish to explore options higher in the product line, such as the Core i5.
The Core i3-10100, while suitable for routine tasks as an IGP-equipped CPU, falls short as a dedicated gaming solution. In our integrated graphics performance evaluations, the Ryzen 3 3200G, featuring Radeon RX Vega 8 graphics, significantly surpassed the capabilities of the Core i3-10100’s UHD Graphics. Furthermore, the performance of Vega 11 in the Ryzen 5 3400G was even more impressive, highlighting a considerable gap in gaming performance.
It is possible that Intel’s 11th Generation Core “Rocket Lake” desktop processors, expected to be released in March 2021, may usher in a resurgence for Intel in the low-end market. However, in the interim, it is advisable to continue favoring AMD at this price range and to consider any of the previously mentioned alternatives before opting for the Intel Core i3-10100. These alternatives are certainly worth pursuing.