Intel Core i3-8100 vs Intel Core i9-10980XE Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark comparison between the Intel Core i9-10980XE and the Intel Core i3-8100 is a study in extremes. The i9-10980XE wins all eight head-to-head tests, but the margins vary dramatically depending on the workload type. The most striking victories come in multi-core rendering tasks, where the 18-core processor obliterates the 4-core chip. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i9-10980XE scores 2734 against the i3-8100's 379, a 621.4% advantage. That pattern repeats in Cinebench R20 multi-core (11394 vs 1582, a 620.2% delta) and Cinebench R23 multi-core (27130 vs 3769, a 619.8% delta).

Single-core results tell a different story, though the i9-10980XE still wins decisively. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the i9-10980XE posts 385 against the i3-8100's 53, a 626.4% margin. Cinebench R20 single-core shows 1608 versus 223, a 621.1% delta, and Cinebench R23 single-core delivers 3830 versus 532, a 619.9% difference. These single-core margins are surprisingly close to the multi-core deltas, which seems counterintuitive for a high-core-count part. The i3-8100's base clock of 3.60 GHz helps, but the i9-10980XE's 4.80 GHz boost clock appears to provide a substantial per-thread advantage in these specific Cinebench tests.

Geekbench results introduce a more nuanced picture. The multi-core test shows the i9-10980XE at 14742 versus 3458, a 326.3% lead — significant, but roughly half the percentage gap seen in Cinebench multi-core. The single-core Geekbench test narrows things further: 1453 versus 1214, a mere 19.7% advantage for the i9-10980XE. This is the closest contest in the entire comparison. It raises a question: why does the i3-8100 come within 20% in Geekbench single-core while trailing by over 600% in Cinebench single-core? The answer likely lies in the different instruction mixes and memory access patterns each benchmark uses, with Cinebench appearing to favor the i9-10980XE's architecture disproportionately.

The data also reveals something curious about the i3-8100's average benchmark score. Despite having zero head-to-head wins, its average benchmark score of 8123 actually exceeds the i9-10980XE's 7910. This is because the i3-8100's benchmark suite includes additional PassMark tests that the i9-10980XE does not have comparable results for in the data set. The i3-8100's percentile rank of 64 matches the i9-10980XE's percentile of 64, placing both chips in the same overall performance tier despite their vastly different core counts and workloads.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins the majority of head-to-head benchmark comparisons?

A: The Intel Core i9-10980XE wins all 8 head-to-head benchmark tests. The Intel Core i3-8100 wins 0 tests. There is no benchmark in the provided data where the i3-8100 outperforms the i9-10980XE.

Q: How large is the performance gap in multi-core rendering workloads?

A: In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i9-10980XE scores 27130 versus the i3-8100's 3769, a 619.8% difference. Similar margins appear in Cinebench R15 multi-core (621.4%) and Cinebench R20 multi-core (620.2%).

Q: Is the single-core performance gap smaller than the multi-core gap?

A: In Geekbench single-core, the i9-10980XE leads by only 19.7% (1453 vs 1214). However, in Cinebench single-core tests, the gap remains around 620-626%, showing that single-core performance differences are highly benchmark-dependent.

Q: Do both processors share the same manufacturing process?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core i9-10980XE and the Intel Core i3-8100 are built on Intel's 14 nm process node. However, they use different architectures: Cascade Lake for the i9-10980XE and Coffee Lake for the i3-8100.

Q: What memory bandwidth do these processors support?

A: The i9-10980XE supports quad-channel DDR4 memory with a bandwidth of 93.9 GB/s. The i3-8100 supports dual-channel DDR4 with a bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. This represents a 55.5 GB/s difference in theoretical memory bandwidth.

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: Despite losing all head-to-head tests, the i3-8100 has an average benchmark score of 8123, which is higher than the i9-10980XE's 7910. This is due to the i3-8100 having additional PassMark benchmark results not available for the i9-10980XE.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent fundamentally different design philosophies within Intel's 14 nm era. The i9-10980XE uses the Cascade Lake architecture, specifically the Cascade Lake-X variant for the Core i9 Extreme X-Series 10th Gen lineup. The i3-8100 uses Coffee Lake architecture from the Core i3 series. Both are manufactured on Intel's 14 nm process, but the similarities end there.

The core configuration diverges dramatically. The i9-10980XE houses 18 cores with 36 threads, while the i3-8100 has 4 cores and 4 threads. This 14-core difference drives most of the multi-core performance gap. The i9-10980XE's base clock is 3.00 GHz with a boost clock of 4.80 GHz, while the i3-8100 runs at a fixed 3.60 GHz with no boost clock listed. The i9-10980XE also features an unlocked multiplier, enabling overclocking, whereas the i3-8100's multiplier is locked.

Cache hierarchies show another major architectural divergence. The i9-10980XE has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 cache per core, and 24.75 MB of shared L3 cache. The i3-8100 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The per-core L2 cache difference is particularly notable: 1 MB versus 256 KB, a 4x disparity that affects how much data each core can keep close at hand.

Memory architecture differs as well. The i9-10980XE supports quad-channel DDR4 memory with a theoretical bandwidth of 93.9 GB/s, while the i3-8100 uses dual-channel DDR4 at 38.4 GB/s. The i9-10980XE does not support ECC memory, while the i3-8100 does. PCIe connectivity also diverges: the i9-10980XE offers 48 PCIe Gen 3 lanes from the CPU, while the i3-8100 provides 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes.

The i3-8100 includes integrated graphics in the form of UHD Graphics 630, while the i9-10980XE has no integrated graphics listed. This makes the i3-8100 a more self-contained package for basic systems, while the i9-10980XE requires a discrete GPU. The i3-8100 also has a documented die size of 126 mm², while the i9-10980XE's die size is not listed.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every specification category. Core count: 18 cores for the i9-10980XE versus 4 for the i3-8100. Thread count: 36 versus 4. Base clock: 3.00 GHz versus 3.60 GHz. The i9-10980XE has a boost clock of 4.80 GHz; the i3-8100 has no boost clock listed. Thermal design power: 165 W for the i9-10980XE versus 65 W for the i3-8100 — a 100 W difference.

Sockets are incompatible: the i9-10980XE uses Intel Socket 2066, while the i3-8100 uses Intel Socket 1151. Memory channels: quad-channel versus dual-channel. Memory bandwidth: 93.9 GB/s versus 38.4 GB/s. ECC support: the i3-8100 supports ECC memory, the i9-10980XE does not. PCIe lanes: 48 versus 16, both Gen 3.

Cache configurations differ as described above. The i3-8100 has integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630); the i9-10980XE has none. The i9-10980XE has an unlocked multiplier; the i3-8100 does not. Release dates: the i9-10980XE launched on 2019-10-18, while the i3-8100 launched on 2017-10-04. Both are marked as end-of-life production status. The i9-10980XE's launch MSRP was $1076; the i3-8100's launch MSRP was $117.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear verdict for different user profiles. The i9-10980XE is the overwhelming choice for multi-threaded workloads. Its 18 cores and 36 threads deliver 619.8% higher Cinebench R23 multi-core scores and 326.3% higher Geekbench multi-core scores compared to the i3-8100. For rendering, video encoding, scientific computing, or any task that scales across cores, the i9-10980XE is categorically superior.

The i3-8100, however, is not without merit. Its 4 cores run at a higher base clock of 3.60 GHz, and its Geekbench single-core score comes within 19.7% of the i9-10980XE. For basic desktop tasks, office productivity, or light web browsing, the i3-8100 provides adequate performance with a 65 W TDP — 100 W lower than the i9-10980XE. It also supports ECC memory, which the i9-10980XE does not, and includes integrated graphics for systems without discrete GPUs.

The average benchmark scores complicate the picture slightly. The i3-8100's average score of 8123 exceeds the i9-10980XE's 7910, despite losing every head-to-head test. This suggests that the i3-8100's benchmark suite includes workloads where it performs competitively relative to other CPUs in its class, while the i9-10980XE's average is dragged down by its weaker single-core performance relative to other high-end chips.

Where Each One Wins

The i9-10980XE wins in every scenario where multi-threading is paramount. Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests all show it delivering over 600% higher scores than the i3-8100. Geekbench multi-core shows a 326.3% advantage. Any workload that can utilize more than 4 threads — video rendering, 3D animation, data analysis, software compilation — will see massive gains from the i9-10980XE's 18 cores and 36 threads. The 48 PCIe lanes also make it suitable for multi-GPU configurations or high-bandwidth storage arrays.

The i3-8100's wins are more subtle and context-dependent. Its higher base clock of 3.60 GHz means it may feel snappier in lightly-threaded, latency-sensitive tasks, though the Geekbench single-core data shows only a 19.7% deficit to the i9-10980XE. Its 65 W TDP makes it far easier to cool and power, and its integrated UHD Graphics 630 eliminates the need for a discrete GPU in basic systems. ECC memory support gives it an edge in error-sensitive computing environments that don't require massive compute throughput.

For workloads dominated by single-thread performance, the data suggests the i3-8100 is closer to the i9-10980XE than the core count would imply. Geekbench single-core shows 1214 versus 1453, a gap of only 239 points. This makes the i3-8100 a reasonable choice for legacy applications or software that doesn't scale beyond 4 threads, provided the user doesn't need the i9-10980XE's other capabilities. The i9-10980XE's 64th percentile ranking and the i3-8100's identical 64th percentile ranking indicate that both CPUs sit in the same overall performance tier relative to all CPUs, despite their vastly different designs.