AMD FX-8350 vs Intel Core i3-8100T Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data includes two direct comparisons between the AMD FX-8350 and the Intel Core i3-8100T, and in both cases the Intel part comes out ahead by a substantial margin. The most lopsided result is in the single-core test, where the Core i3-8100T scores 1104 against the FX-8350's 563, a delta of 49% in favor of Intel. That is a massive gap, and it reflects how far the architectural efficiency of Coffee Lake has moved past Piledriver when only one thread is active. The FX-8350 simply cannot compete on a per-thread basis, and the data shows that clearly.

The multi-core result is closer but still favors Intel. The Core i3-8100T posts 3142 in Geekbench multi-core, while the FX-8350 manages 2551, giving Intel an 18.8% advantage. This is notable because the FX-8350 has twice the core count, eight cores versus four, and yet the Intel chip still wins the multi-threaded test by a wide margin. The FX-8350's eight threads are not enough to overcome the Core i3-8100T's superior IPC and memory bandwidth. In the head-to-head comparison, the Intel Core i3-8100T wins both recorded benchmarks, so it holds a clean 2-0 record in the database's direct matchups.

Looking at the broader benchmark averages, the two chips sit very close together overall. The FX-8350 has an average benchmark score of 1557, while the Core i3-8100T averages 1500. That puts the FX-8350 at the 39th percentile of all CPUs in the database, and the Core i3-8100T at the 38th percentile. So despite the Core i3-8100T winning the head-to-head tests decisively, the FX-8350 edges out the Intel part in the aggregate average, which suggests the FX-8350 holds up better across a wider range of recorded workloads, possibly due to its higher core count in certain legacy tests. The nearest rivals for the FX-8350 include the Intel Xeon E3-1268L v5 at an identical 1557 average score, the Intel Core i3-1115G4E at 1559, and the AMD Opteron 6276 at 1560. The Core i3-8100T's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-3770S at 1498, the Intel Core i5-4590S at 1493, and the Intel Core i7-8665U at 1513. Both chips sit in a crowded field of older and low-power desktop parts, and neither is anywhere near the top of the database.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i3-8100T is the clear winner in both direct head-to-head tests, so the use-case split is straightforward. The 49% lead in Geekbench single-core means the Intel part is the better choice for workloads that depend on per-thread performance, such as lightly threaded applications, everyday desktop responsiveness, and older games that rely on one or two fast cores. The 18.8% lead in Geekbench multi-core also means the Core i3-8100T handles moderately threaded tasks better than the FX-8350, even with half the cores. If a workload can use two to four threads effectively, the Core i3-8100T should pull ahead.

The AMD FX-8350's case is more nuanced. It loses both recorded head-to-head benchmarks, so the database does not show any direct test where it wins. However, its higher average benchmark score of 1557 versus 1500, along with its 39th percentile placement versus the Core i3-8100T's 38th percentile, indicates that across the full set of recorded results in the database, the FX-8350 performs at least on par overall. The FX-8350 also has eight cores and eight threads, which gives it more raw thread capacity than the Core i3-8100T's four cores and four threads. In workloads that scale across many threads and are not memory bandwidth limited, the FX-8350 may close the gap, even though the direct Geekbench multi-core test does not show that happening. The data does not include a multi-threaded test beyond Geekbench for the FX-8350, so any claim of an FX-8350 win in heavily threaded software is not directly supported by the recorded benchmarks. Still, the average score suggests the FX-8350 is not a complete loss, and in systems where the motherboard and memory are already AM3+ based, it may be the only option without a platform change.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two parts is substantial. The AMD FX-8350 uses the Piledriver architecture under the Vishera codename, built on a 32 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It packs 1,200 million transistors into a 315 mm² die. The Intel Core i3-8100T uses Coffee Lake, built on Intel's 14 nm process, with a much smaller 126 mm² die and no transistor count listed in the database. The process node difference alone explains a large portion of the performance and efficiency gap, as the 14 nm node allows for much higher transistor density and lower power consumption.

Cache layouts are also very different. The FX-8350 has 384 KB of L1 cache, 8 MB of L2 cache, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core i3-8100T has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3. On a per-core basis, the Intel part actually has less L2 cache, but the architecture uses it more efficiently. The FX-8350's L3 is 8 MB versus the Core i3-8100T's 6 MB, but the Intel design relies on much better prefetching and a more efficient memory hierarchy overall. The FX-8350 supports DDR3 memory with dual-channel access and a maximum bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s, while the Core i3-8100T supports DDR4, also dual-channel, but with a higher maximum bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. That 8.5 GB/s bandwidth advantage helps the Intel part in memory-sensitive workloads and partly explains its multi-core win despite fewer cores.

The platform features differ as well. The FX-8350 uses PCIe Gen 2, while the Core i3-8100T uses PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The FX-8350 has integrated graphics only as a chipset feature on certain motherboards, whereas the Core i3-8100T includes UHD Graphics 630 directly on the CPU. The Intel part also supports ECC memory, while the FX-8350 does not. The FX-8350 has an unlocked multiplier, making it overclockable, while the Core i3-8100T is locked. The FX-8350 was released in October 2012 with a launch MSRP of $199, and the Core i3-8100T was released in April 2018 with a launch MSRP of $117. Both are end-of-life products.

Specification Differences

The core counts set these apart immediately: the FX-8350 has 8 cores and 8 threads, while the Core i3-8100T has 4 cores and 4 threads. Base clocks differ as well, with the FX-8350 running at 4.00 GHz and boosting to 4.20 GHz, while the Core i3-8100T runs at a fixed 3.10 GHz with no boost clock listed. The FX-8350 has a TDP of 125 watts, while the Core i3-8100T draws only 35 watts, a 90 watt difference that makes the Intel part far easier to cool and much cheaper to run. The sockets are incompatible: the FX-8350 uses AMD Socket AM3+, and the Core i3-8100T uses Intel Socket 1151.

Memory support differs by generation, with the FX-8350 on DDR3 and the Core i3-8100T on DDR4, and the Intel part offers higher maximum memory bandwidth at 38.4 GB/s versus 29.9 GB/s. ECC memory support is present on the Core i3-8100T but absent on the FX-8350. PCIe generation also differs, with Gen 2 on the AMD part and Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes on the Intel part. The FX-8350 has an unlocked multiplier, while the Core i3-8100T is locked. The FX-8350's integrated graphics are tied to the chipset on certain motherboards, while the Core i3-8100T includes UHD Graphics 630. The launch MSRP was $199 for the FX-8350 and $117 for the Core i3-8100T. The FX-8350 launched in October 2012, while the Core i3-8100T launched in April 2018.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i3-8100T is far faster in single-core performance. In Geekbench single-core, it scores 1104 against the FX-8350's 563, a 49% advantage for Intel.

Q: Does the AMD FX-8350's eight cores beat the four-core Core i3-8100T in multi-core tests?

A: No. In Geekbench multi-core, the Core i3-8100T scores 3142 versus the FX-8350's 2551, an 18.8% lead for Intel despite having half the physical cores.

Q: Which CPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD FX-8350 has a slightly higher average benchmark score of 1557, compared to 1500 for the Core i3-8100T. The FX-8350 also sits at the 39th percentile of all CPUs, one point above the Core i3-8100T's 38th percentile.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The FX-8350 has a TDP of 125 watts, while the Core i3-8100T has a TDP of 35 watts. The Intel part consumes far less power and produces much less heat.

Q: Do both CPUs support ECC memory?

A: No. The Intel Core i3-8100T supports ECC memory, while the AMD FX-8350 does not.

Q: Can either CPU be overclocked?

A: The AMD FX-8350 has an unlocked multiplier, so it can be overclocked. The Intel Core i3-8100T has a locked multiplier, so it cannot.

The Verdict

The data points to the Intel Core i3-8100T as the stronger processor in direct benchmark comparisons. It wins both recorded head-to-head tests, and the margins are not small: 49% in single-core and 18.8% in multi-core. For anyone building a system today from new or used parts and comparing these two chips, the Core i3-8100T is the better choice for general use, light gaming, and any workload that benefits from strong single-thread performance. Its 35 watt TDP also makes it dramatically easier to cool, and it brings modern platform features like DDR4 memory support, PCIe Gen 3, and integrated UHD Graphics 630, which means a basic system can run without a discrete GPU.

The AMD FX-8350 still has a place, but it is a narrower one. Its higher average benchmark score of 1557 and 39th percentile placement show that it is not obsolete across the board, and its eight cores and eight threads give it raw thread count that the Core i3-8100T cannot match. In workloads that scale well beyond four threads and are not bottlenecked by memory bandwidth, the FX-8350 may hold its own, and its unlocked multiplier makes it attractive to users who want to overclock. However, the recorded benchmarks do not show a single direct win for the FX-8350, so any such advantage is inferred from the aggregate average rather than demonstrated in a head-to-head test.

The platform decision matters just as much as the CPU itself. The FX-8350 requires an AM3+ motherboard and DDR3 memory, while the Core i3-8100T requires an LGA 1151 board and DDR4. The Intel platform offers newer I/O, higher memory bandwidth, and lower power draw. The FX-8350 offers more cores and overclocking freedom. For most users, the Core i3-8100T is the safer, more efficient pick. For enthusiasts with existing AM3+ hardware who want to squeeze performance out of an older platform, the FX-8350 remains a viable option, but the benchmark data makes it clear that the Intel part is the faster CPU where it matters most.