EPYC 7281 vs Core i3-8100

Primary details

Comparing Core i3-8100 and EPYC 7281 processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in performance ranking	1368	490
Place by popularity	75	not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation	5.74	3.29
Market segment	Desktop processor	Server
Series	Intel Core i3	AMD EPYC
Architecture codename	Coffee Lake (2017−2019)	Naples (2017−2018)
Release date	5 October 2017 (6 years ago)	29 June 2017 (7 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)	$117	$650
Current price	$95 (0.8x MSRP)	$1299 (2x MSRP)

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

i3-8100 has 74% better value for money than EPYC 7281.

Detailed specifications

Core i3-8100 and EPYC 7281 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 cores	4 (Quad-Core)	16 (Hexadeca-Core)
Threads	4	32
Base clock speed	3.6 GHz	2.1 GHz
Boost clock speed	3.6 GHz	2.7 GHz
Bus support	4 × 8 GT/s	no data
L1 cache	64K (per core)	96K (per core)
L2 cache	256K (per core)	512K (per core)
L3 cache	6 MB (shared)	32 MB (shared)
Chip lithography	14 nm	14 nm
Die size	126 mm2	192 mm2
Maximum core temperature	100 °C	no data
Maximum case temperature (TCase)	72 °C	no data
Number of transistors	no data	4,800 million
64 bit support	+	+
Windows 11 compatibility	+	-
Unlocked multiplier	No	Yes

Compatibility

Information on Core i3-8100 and EPYC 7281 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 configuration	1	2 (Multiprocessor)
Socket	FCLGA1151	TR4
Power consumption (TDP)	65 Watt	170 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i3-8100 and EPYC 7281. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensions	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2	no data
AES-NI	+	+
AVX	+	+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)	+	no data
Turbo Boost Technology	-	no data
Hyper-Threading Technology	-	no data
TSX	-	no data
Idle States	+	no data
Thermal Monitoring	+	no data
SIPP	-	no data
Status	Discontinued	no data

Security technologies

Core i3-8100 and EPYC 7281 technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT	-	no data
EDB	+	no data
Secure Key	+	no data
MPX	+	no data
Identity Protection	+	no data
SGX	Yes with Intel® ME	no data
OS Guard	+	no data

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i3-8100 and EPYC 7281 are enumerated here.

AMD-V	no data	+
VT-d	+	no data
VT-x	+	no data
EPT	+	no data

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i3-8100 and EPYC 7281. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory types	DDR4-2400	DDR4 Eight-channel
Maximum memory size	64 GB	2 TiB
Max memory channels	2	8
Maximum memory bandwidth	37.5 GB/s	170.671 GB/s
ECC memory support	+	+

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card	Intel UHD Graphics 630	no data
Max video memory	64 GB	no data
Quick Sync Video	+	no data
Clear Video	+	no data
Clear Video HD	+	no data
Graphics max frequency	1.1 GHz	no data
InTru 3D	+	no data

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i3-8100 and EPYC 7281 integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported

3

no data

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i3-8100 and EPYC 7281 integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

4K resolution support	+	no data
Max resolution over HDMI 1.4	4096x2304@24Hz	no data
Max resolution over eDP	4096x2304@60Hz	no data
Max resolution over DisplayPort	4096x2304@60Hz	no data

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i3-8100 and EPYC 7281 integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectX	12	no data
OpenGL	4.5	no data

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i3-8100 and EPYC 7281.

PCIe version	3.0	3.0
PCI Express lanes	16	128

Synthetic benchmark performance

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

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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.

EPYC 7281 outperforms Core i3-8100 by 254% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

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Pros & cons summary

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Performance score	3.95	13.98
Recency	5 October 2017	29 June 2017
Physical cores	4	16
Threads	4	32
Cost	$117	$650
Power consumption (TDP)	65 Watt	170 Watt

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Should you still have questions on choice between Core i3-8100 and EPYC 7281, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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