Intel Core i3-8100 vs Intel Core i5-8250U Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking pattern in the head-to-head results is the complete sweep by the Intel Core i5-8250U across every Cinebench generation. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i5-8250U scores 495 against the i3-8100's 379, a 30.6% advantage. The single-core R15 result follows the same shape: 69 versus 53, a 30.2% lead. Moving to R20, the i5-8250U posts 2065 multicore and 291 single-core, while the i3-8100 manages 1582 and 223, deltas of 30.5% in both. The R23 results repeat that exact 30.5% margin: 4918 versus 3769 multicore and 694 versus 532 single-core. This uniformity across three Cinebench versions indicates a structural advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

The Passmark suite tells a more fragmented story. The i5-8250U wins data encryption with 1979 against 1828, an 8.3% margin. It also takes integer math decisively at 20885 versus 16191, a 29% lead, and edges random string sorting at 10257 versus 10150, a slim 1.1% gain. The i3-8100, however, dominates several Passmark workloads. Its biggest win comes in extended instructions: 7212 versus 4920, a 31.8% gap. Find prime numbers goes to the i3-8100 by 33.3% (27 versus 18), while floating point math favors it by 7.8% (13774 versus 12706). The i3-8100 also leads in passmark multithread (6086 versus 5812, a 4.5% margin), physics (462 versus 405, a 12.3% edge), and single-thread performance (2203 versus 1886, a 14.4% gap in both single_thread and singlethread entries).

The final tally is close: the i5-8250U wins 9 benchmark categories, the i3-8100 wins 8. Yet the margins tell a clearer story. The i5-8250U's victories are often large, especially in integer math and every Cinebench test, while the i3-8100's wins are concentrated in specialized Passmark workloads. The average benchmark score reinforces this: the i5-8250U sits at 8577, the i3-8100 at 8123, a difference of 454 points. Both processors land at the 64th percentile among all CPUs, meaning they occupy the same overall performance tier despite their different benchmark profiles.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The Intel Core i5-8250U scores 4918 versus the i3-8100's 3769, a 30.5% advantage. This is consistent with the R15 and R20 multicore results, where the i5-8250U also leads by roughly 30.5%.

Q: Does the i3-8100 win any benchmark categories?

A: Yes, it wins 8 of the 17 head-to-head tests. Its largest margins are in find prime numbers (33.3% ahead) and extended instructions (31.8% ahead), with additional wins in floating point math, physics, multithread, single-thread, and data compression.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The i5-8250U has an average benchmark score of 8577, while the i3-8100 averages 8123. The i5-8250U is therefore about 5.6% higher on average, and it sits near the Intel Core i7-10510U (8580) and Intel Core i5-8265U (8568) in the database.

Q: What explains the i5-8250U's Cinebench sweep?

A: The i5-8250U has 8 threads versus the i3-8100's 4 threads, which directly benefits multicore rendering workloads. The single-core Cinebench wins are notable as well, with margins around 30%, suggesting the i5-8250U's boost behavior in these tests is strong.

Q: Is the i3-8100 better at any math workloads?

A: The i3-8100 leads in floating point math (13774 versus 12706), prime number finding (27 versus 18), and extended instructions (7212 versus 4920). The i5-8250U, however, leads in integer math by a wide 29% margin (20885 versus 16191).

Q: Which processor has the higher single-thread Passmark score?

A: The i3-8100 scores 2203 in both passmark_single_thread and passmark_singlethread, while the i5-8250U scores 1886 in both, a 14.4% advantage for the i3-8100. This contrasts with the Cinebench single-core results, where the i5-8250U leads by about 30%.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear split based on workload type. For rendering, encoding, and integer-heavy parallel tasks, the Intel Core i5-8250U is the stronger choice. Its 30.5% lead across all three Cinebench versions and 29% lead in integer math are decisive. The i5-8250U also carries the higher average benchmark score, 8577 versus 8123, and matches the i3-8100 at the 64th percentile overall.

The i3-8100, however, is the better option for workloads that rely on raw per-core throughput and certain specialized instruction paths. Its 14.4% advantage in Passmark single-thread performance, 31.8% lead in extended instructions, and 33.3% lead in prime number finding show a different strength profile. The i3-8100 also wins passmark multithread (6086 versus 5812) despite having half the threads, which suggests higher per-core efficiency in that specific test.

For a user choosing between them, the decision hinges on the dominant application. The i5-8250U's Cinebench dominance makes it the pick for creative workloads, 3D rendering, and multithreaded productivity. The i3-8100's single-thread and instruction-specific wins make it suitable for lightly threaded tasks, legacy software, or workloads that stress floating point and extended instructions. The i5-8250U is the more balanced processor by average score, but the i3-8100 holds genuine advantages in its niche.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several fundamental specifications. The i5-8250U has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the i3-8100 has 4 cores and 4 threads. Base clocks diverge sharply: the i5-8250U runs at 1600 MHz, the i3-8100 at 3600 MHz. The i5-8250U has a boost clock of 3.40 GHz, while the i3-8100 has no boost clock listed. Thermal design power differs by segment: the i5-8250U is rated at 15 W, the i3-8100 at 65 W. The i5-8250U uses Intel BGA 1356, the i3-8100 uses Intel Socket 1151.

Memory specifications overlap on DDR4 support, but the i3-8100 adds dual-channel capability and a listed memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, while the i5-8250U has no memory bus or bandwidth figures recorded. ECC memory support also differs: the i5-8250U does not support it, the i3-8100 does. The i3-8100 lists PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i5-8250U has no PCIe field recorded. Integrated graphics differ as well: the i5-8250U uses UHD 620, the i3-8100 uses UHD Graphics 630. Production status separates them further: the i5-8250U is Active, the i3-8100 is End-of-life. The i3-8100 has a recorded launch MSRP of $117, while the i5-8250U has no launch MSRP listed. Part numbers are SR3LA for the i5-8250U and SR3N5 for the i3-8100.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on Intel's 14 nm process, but they belong to different architecture generations. The i5-8250U uses the Kaby Lake architecture with the Kaby Lake-R codename, while the i3-8100 uses the Coffee Lake architecture with the Coffee Lake codename. The i5-8250U is part of the Core i5 (Kaby Lake-U Refresh) generation, while the i3-8100 belongs to the Core i3 (Coffee Lake) generation. Die size differs modestly: the i5-8250U measures 123 mm², the i3-8100 measures 126 mm². Cache configurations are identical: 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 6 MB shared L3 for both. The i5-8250U targets the mobile market segment, while the i3-8100 targets desktop. Release dates differ by about six weeks: the i5-8250U launched on 2017-08-20, the i3-8100 on 2017-10-04. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-8250U wins in multithreaded rendering workloads, as shown by its 30.5% lead in every Cinebench variant. It also wins in integer math (29% ahead), data encryption (8.3% ahead), and random string sorting (1.1% ahead). Its 8 threads give it a structural advantage in parallel tasks, and the 30.5% Cinebench margins suggest it is particularly effective in rendering and content creation. The i5-8250U also carries the higher average benchmark score, making it the stronger overall performer in the database's aggregate metrics.

The Intel Core i3-8100 wins in single-threaded Passmark tests (14.4% ahead), extended instructions (31.8% ahead), prime number finding (33.3% ahead), floating point math (7.8% ahead), physics (12.3% ahead), multithread (4.5% ahead), and data compression (7.8% ahead). Its higher base clock of 3600 MHz versus 1600 MHz likely contributes to its per-core strength. The i3-8100 also supports ECC memory and dual-channel DDR4 with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth, making it suitable for workstation-adjacent builds where those features matter. Its desktop socket and 65 W TDP position it for stationary systems, while the i5-8250U's 15 W TDP and BGA socket fit mobile designs. The i3-8100 is end-of-life, however, while the i5-8250U remains active in production.