i5-6400 vs i3-8100

Aggregate performance score

Core i3-8100
2017
4 cores / 4 threads, 65 Watt
3.84
+12.6%
Core i5-6400
2015
4 cores / 4 threads, 65 Watt
3.41

Core i3-8100 outperforms Core i5-6400 by a moderate 13% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i3-8100 and Core i5-6400 processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking14541551
Place by popularity74not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation4.180.66
Market segmentDesktop processorDesktop processor
SeriesIntel Core i3Intel Core i5
Power efficiency5.864.96
Architecture codenameCoffee Lake (2017−2019)Skylake (2015−2016)
Release date5 October 2017 (7 years ago)2 July 2015 (9 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$117$187

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

i3-8100 has 533% better value for money than i5-6400.

Detailed specifications

Core i3-8100 and Core i5-6400 basic parameters such as number of cores, number of threads, base frequency and turbo boost clock, lithography, cache size and multiplier lock state. These parameters indirectly say of CPU speed, though for more precise assessment you have to consider their test results.

Physical cores4 (Quad-Core)4 (Quad-Core)
Threads44
Base clock speed3.6 GHz2.7 GHz
Boost clock speed3.6 GHz3.3 GHz
Bus typeDMI 3.0DMI 3.0
Bus rate4 × 8 GT/s4 × 8 GT/s
Multiplier3627
L1 cache64K (per core)64K (per core)
L2 cache256K (per core)256K (per core)
L3 cache6 MB (shared)6 MB (shared)
Chip lithography14 nm14 nm
Die size126 mm2177 mm2
Maximum core temperature100 °Cno data
Maximum case temperature (TCase)72 °C72 °C
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility+-

Compatibility

Information on Core i3-8100 and Core i5-6400 compatibility with other computer components: motherboard (look for socket type), power supply unit (look for power consumption) etc. Useful when planning a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. Note that power consumption of some processors can well exceed their nominal TDP, even without overclocking. Some can even double their declared thermals given that the motherboard allows to tune the CPU power parameters.

Number of CPUs in a configuration1 (Uniprocessor)1 (Uniprocessor)
SocketFCLGA1151FCLGA1151
Power consumption (TDP)65 Watt65 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i3-8100 and Core i5-6400. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
AES-NI++
AVX++
vProno data+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
Turbo Boost Technology-2.0
Hyper-Threading Technology--
Idle States++
Thermal Monitoring++

Security technologies

Core i3-8100 and Core i5-6400 technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT--
EDB++
Secure Key++
MPX++
Identity Protection++
SGXYes with Intel® MEYes with Intel® ME
OS Guard++

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i3-8100 and Core i5-6400 are enumerated here.

AMD-V-+
VT-d++
VT-x++
EPT++

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i3-8100 and Core i5-6400. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR4-2400DDR3, DDR4
Maximum memory size64 GB64 GB
Max memory channels22
Maximum memory bandwidth38.397 GB/s34.134 GB/s
ECC memory support+-

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card
Compare
Intel UHD Graphics 630Intel HD Graphics 530
Max video memory64 GB64 GB
Quick Sync Video++
Clear Video++
Clear Video HD++
Graphics max frequency1.1 GHz950 MHz
InTru 3D++

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i3-8100 and Core i5-6400 integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported33
eDPno data+
DisplayPort-+
HDMI-+
DVIno data+

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i3-8100 and Core i5-6400 integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

4K resolution support++
Max resolution over HDMI 1.44096x2304@24Hz4096x2304@24Hz
Max resolution over eDP4096x2304@60Hz4096x2304@60Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPort4096x2304@60Hz4096x2304@60Hz
Max resolution over VGAno dataN/A

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i3-8100 and Core i5-6400 integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectX1212
OpenGL4.54.5

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i3-8100 and Core i5-6400.

PCIe version3.03.0
PCI Express lanes1616

Synthetic benchmark performance

Various benchmark results of the processors in comparison. Overall score is measured in points in 0-100 range, higher is better.


Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark performance rating. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

i3-8100 3.84
+12.6%
i5-6400 3.41

Passmark

Passmark CPU Mark is a widespread benchmark, consisting of 8 different types of workload, including integer and floating point math, extended instructions, compression, encryption and physics calculation. There is also one separate single-threaded scenario measuring single-core performance.

i3-8100 6101
+12.6%
i5-6400 5417

GeekBench 5 Single-Core

GeekBench 5 Single-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses only a single CPU core.

i3-8100 1266
+12.6%
i5-6400 1124

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses all available CPU cores.

i3-8100 3472
+13.4%
i5-6400 3063

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 3.84 3.41
Integrated graphics card 3.09 2.59
Recency 5 October 2017 2 July 2015

i3-8100 has a 12.6% higher aggregate performance score, 19.3% faster integrated GPU, and an age advantage of 2 years.

The Core i3-8100 is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i5-6400 in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i3-8100 and Core i5-6400, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

Vote for your favorite

Do you think we are right or mistaken in our choice? Vote by clicking "Like" button near your favorite CPU.


Intel Core i3-8100
Core i3-8100
Intel Core i5-6400
Core i5-6400

Similar processor comparisons

We picked several similar comparisons of processors in the same market segment and performance relatively close to those reviewed on this page.

Community ratings

Here you can see how users rate the processors, as well as rate them yourself.


3.9 2291 vote

Rate Core i3-8100 on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
3.5 1223 votes

Rate Core i5-6400 on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

Questions & comments

Here you can ask a question about Core i3-8100 or Core i5-6400, agree or disagree with our judgements, or report an error or mismatch.