Intel Core i3-8300 vs Intel Core i3-9100E Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark comparison between the Intel Core i3-9100E and the Intel Core i3-8300 shows a consistent pattern: the i3-9100E wins every recorded test, but by a narrow margin. Across six Cinebench runs, the i3-9100E takes all six, with the i3-8300 recording zero victories. The deltas are remarkably uniform, hovering around 2.5% to 2.6% in every discipline.

Starting with the multi-core workloads, the i3-9100E scores 559 in Cinebench R15 multi-core against 545 for the i3-8300, a 2.6% advantage. Moving to Cinebench R20 multi-core, the i3-9100E posts 2330 versus 2271, again a 2.6% gap. In the newer Cinebench R23 multi-core test, the i3-9100E reaches 5549 while the i3-8300 manages 5408, still a 2.6% lead. These are small but real differences, suggesting the i3-9100E sustains its advantage as the workload scales.

Single-core results follow the same trajectory. The i3-9100E scores 78 in Cinebench R15 single-core against 76 for the i3-8300, a 2.6% edge. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the i3-9100E records 328 versus 320, a 2.5% lead. The Cinebench R23 single-core test shows 783 for the i3-9100E and 763 for the i3-8300, closing the set with another 2.6% margin. The consistency is striking: the i3-9100E outperforms the i3-8300 by nearly the same percentage across both single-threaded and multi-threaded tests.

When placed against the broader field, both CPUs sit at the 39th percentile among all processors in the database. The i3-9100E carries an average benchmark score of 1605, while the i3-8300 averages 1564. That 41-point gap in average score is modest, but it appears across every individual test. The i3-9100E’s nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon E3-1240L v5 with an average score of 1609 (a delta of -0.2%), the Intel Core i7-10610U at 1611 (-0.3%), and the Intel Core i7-970 at 1613 (-0.5%). On the flip side, the Intel Core i7-1060G7 trails the i3-9100E by 0.9% with a score of 1591. For the i3-8300, the closest competitors are the Intel Core i5-6600T at 1563 (essentially tied, delta 0%), the AMD Ryzen 3 1300X at 1562 (+0.1%), and the AMD Opteron 6276 at 1560 (+0.3%). The AMD Opteron 6282 SE sits slightly ahead at 1569, giving a delta of -0.3% against the i3-8300.

The data indicates that the i3-9100E does not dramatically separate itself from the i3-8300 in raw performance. Instead, it establishes a steady, repeatable lead of roughly 2.5% to 2.6% regardless of the benchmark version. This is not a case of one CPU dominating in some tests while losing in others; it is a uniform, if narrow, superiority.

Where Each One Wins

Given that the i3-9100E wins all six head-to-head benchmarks, the use-case split is heavily skewed. For any workload that relies on Cinebench-style rendering or CPU compute, the i3-9100E is the better choice. The 2.6% multi-core advantage in R15, R20, and R23 means that rendering tasks, video encoding, or any parallel processing will complete slightly faster on the i3-9100E. The single-core wins, also around 2.5% to 2.6%, point to a small edge in lightly-threaded applications like older games, office productivity, or everyday web browsing.

The i3-8300 does not win any benchmark category in this comparison. However, it is not without merit. Both CPUs share the same 4-core, 4-thread configuration, the same 14 nm process node, the same 126 mm² die size, and the same UHD Graphics 630 integrated graphics. The i3-8300 actually has a larger L3 cache at 8 MB shared versus 6 MB shared on the i3-9100E, yet this does not translate into a performance win in any recorded test. The i3-8300 also has a higher base clock of 3.70 GHz against 3.10 GHz on the i3-9100E, but the i3-9100E compensates with a boost clock of 3.70 GHz, while the i3-8300 has no listed boost clock. This explains why the i3-9100E, despite a lower base frequency, still edges ahead in every benchmark: it can reach the same 3.70 GHz ceiling under load, while the i3-8300 appears locked at its base.

For users specifically targeting the highest possible Cinebench scores, the i3-9100E is the only reasonable pick from this pair. The i3-8300 might appeal to those who prefer a higher guaranteed base clock for workloads that never trigger boost behavior, but the recorded data shows no such scenario producing a win. In practice, the database suggests that the i3-9100E is the superior processor for both single-threaded and multi-threaded tasks, albeit by a slim margin.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher multi-core score in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core i3-9100E scores 5549 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, while the Intel Core i3-8300 scores 5408. The i3-9100E leads by 2.6%.

Q: Is there any benchmark where the Intel Core i3-8300 wins?

A: No. Across all six recorded Cinebench tests (R15, R20, and R23, each in single-core and multi-core), the i3-8300 records zero wins. The i3-9100E wins all six.

Q: How do these CPUs compare to their nearest rivals in average benchmark score?

A: The i3-9100E has an average score of 1605, sitting just below the Intel Xeon E3-1240L v5 at 1609 (-0.2%) and above the Intel Core i7-1060G7 at 1591 (+0.9%). The i3-8300 averages 1564, essentially tied with the Intel Core i5-6600T at 1563, and slightly below the AMD Opteron 6282 SE at 1569 (-0.3%).

Q: What is the difference in single-core performance between the two?

A: The i3-9100E scores 783 in Cinebench R23 single-core versus 763 for the i3-8300, a 2.6% advantage. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the gap is 328 to 320, a 2.5% lead. In R15 single-core, it is 78 to 76, again 2.6%.

Q: Do both processors share the same integrated graphics?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core i3-9100E and the Intel Core i3-8300 feature UHD Graphics 630. They also share the same memory support (DDR4, dual-channel, 38.4 GB/s bandwidth) and the same PCIe configuration (Gen 3, 16 lanes).

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each CPU?

A: The Intel Core i3-9100E has an average benchmark score of 1605, while the Intel Core i3-8300 has an average of 1564. The 41-point difference reflects the i3-9100E’s consistent, if modest, lead.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications, even though they share the same core architecture and socket. The Intel Core i3-9100E has a base clock of 3.10 GHz and a boost clock of 3.70 GHz. The Intel Core i3-8300 has a base clock of 3.70 GHz but no listed boost clock. This means the i3-9100E can reach the same maximum frequency as the i3-8300’s base, but it starts from a lower idle point.

The L3 cache also differs: the i3-9100E has 6 MB shared, while the i3-8300 has 8 MB shared. Despite the larger cache on the i3-8300, the i3-9100E still wins all benchmarks, suggesting that clock behavior outweighs cache capacity in these tests. The TDP values are close: the i3-9100E is rated at 65 watts, while the i3-8300 is rated at 62 watts. Both use the Intel Socket 1151 and are built on the Coffee Lake architecture with a 14 nm process node.

The release dates differ as well. The i3-8300 launched on 2018-02-13, while the i3-9100E arrived later on 2018-08-31. The launch MSRP for the i3-9100E is $122, and for the i3-8300 it is $138. The part numbers are SRGE0SRGQY for the i3-9100E and SR3XY for the i3-8300. Both are end-of-life products, neither has an unlocked multiplier, and both support ECC memory.

Architecture Differences

Architecturally, these are close relatives. Both use the Coffee Lake microarchitecture, though the i3-9100E is part of the Coffee Lake Refresh generation, while the i3-8300 belongs to the original Coffee Lake generation. Both are built on the same 14 nm process at Intel’s foundry, with the same 126 mm² die size. The core and thread counts are identical at 4 cores and 4 threads, and the L1 and L2 caches match at 64 KB per core and 256 KB per core respectively.

The only architectural divergence lies in the L3 cache, where the i3-8300 offers 8 MB shared versus 6 MB shared on the i3-9100E. This is a notable difference on paper, but the benchmark data shows it does not give the i3-8300 a practical edge. Both CPUs support DDR4 memory in dual-channel mode with a bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, and both include UHD Graphics 630. The PCIe interface is identical: Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. Neither processor has a v-cache or additional stacked cache, and neither has a transistor count listed in the database.

The refresh generation on the i3-9100E appears to be focused on enabling a boost clock where the original i3-8300 had none, and possibly on efficiency tweaks that allow a 65-watt TDP while maintaining a similar performance envelope. The i3-8300’s higher base clock of 3.70 GHz is offset by the i3-9100E’s ability to boost to the same frequency, which explains the consistent 2.5% to 2.6% lead in favor of the newer part.

The Verdict

From the recorded data, the Intel Core i3-9100E is the clear choice for anyone prioritizing raw benchmark performance. It wins every single test in the comparison, with margins that are consistent and reproducible. The 2.6% lead in multi-core and single-core Cinebench runs means that both rendering workloads and everyday single-threaded tasks will see a slight improvement on the i3-9100E. Its average benchmark score of 1605 against 1564 for the i3-8300 confirms this across a broader metric.

The i3-8300 is not a poor processor; it sits at the same 39th percentile and holds its own against rivals like the Intel Core i5-6600T and AMD Ryzen 3 1300X. But in a direct comparison, it loses every recorded benchmark. The larger 8 MB L3 cache and higher base clock do not compensate for the lack of a boost clock and the slightly older generation.

Users who value the highest possible Cinebench output, whether for professional rendering or hobbyist benchmarking, should pick the i3-9100E. Those who specifically want a locked 3.70 GHz base clock and do not care about boost behavior might consider the i3-8300, but the data provides no scenario where that choice yields a performance win. The verdict is straightforward: the i3-9100E is the better processor by a slim but consistent margin, and the i3-8300 remains a viable but inferior alternative in this pairing.