Price vs. Performance, 2 Different Outcomes

Now it's fourth dimension for the price vs. functioning scatter plots. We're going to exist looking closely at the Premiere, Corona and F1 2022 results...

Please annotation we're using the Core i3-8100 DDR4-3200 data since you can but purchase Z370 boards for at present and that'll make even more sense in a moment. So here nosotros are, the Premiere price vs. operation scatter plot and it'due south looking all Intel in this category.

The Cadre i3-8100 and i5-8400 provide the best value, beating the 1300X, 1500X and 1600 processors quite easily. Yet, what happens if we factor in motherboard price. We at present know the cheapest Z370 boards toll $120 while a typical B350 board will set you back $lxx. Adding those two prices to the advisable CPUs this is what we get.

Well that certainly looks more than competitive. The Ryzen 3 1300X, R5 1500X and R5 1600 are all quite similar in terms of value hither while the Intel Core i3-8100 and i5-8400 are certainly poorer options once you factor in the price of the absolute cheapest Z370 boards.

Next up we accept the Corona results and here the Ryzen v 1600 and 1500X wait far more than competitive when merely factoring in the CPU cost. Again it's the Core i3-8100 and i5-8400 that look impressive while the 8350K is virtually off in no man'southward land.

Yet, what happens if we favor in the toll of entry-level motherboards?

Doing that turns the scatter plot cherry, at to the lowest degree where it counts, and even the Ryzen seven 1700 stacks up pretty well. Again nosotros see that with motherboard costs factored in, Ryzen is a much better value proposition for these productivity workloads.

This by no means represents all gaming just we experience like the results are pretty typical for CPU intensive DirectX 11 titles. Ryzen is usually more competitive in the modernistic DX12 games. Keeping that in mind allow'southward see how F1 2022 pans out.

Hither we see that the Core i3-8100 to the i5-8400 are the best value options of Intel's sub $200 Coffee Lake lineup and they are considerably better value in this game compared to Ryzen.

Even with the motherboard pricing factored in, Intel remains comfortably ahead and while Ryzen'south operation is respectable, it'southward not comparable to the Core i3-8100 and Cadre i5-8400 in terms of value. Again the 8350K is pretty poor in comparison though its toll to performance is quite like to that of the R3 1300X.

...the Core i3-8100 is a bit special at $120, a price that nearly makes it a Ryzen 3 killer. I say nearly considering correct now we're missing one key ingredient: affordable motherboards.

Wrapping It Up

We're aware that we didn't factor in the price of a cooler for the Core i3-8350K in the scatter plots in a higher place and that will further reduce its appeal. Nosotros don't think we need to get into it too much more, the 8350K is a pretty poor value even if you consider its overclocking capabilities.

At least you'll have to buy a $20 cooler and you're non hitting 4.9GHz on a upkeep cooler. I was up effectually 90 degrees with a 240mm AIO liquid cooler, then expect effectually 4.5GHz with a basic air-cooler. That's a xiii% bump over stock, so you'll be lucky to extract 10% more performance. At best it volition match the Core i5-8400 while costing more, consuming more power and running hotter.

As it happens, the Cadre i3-8350K really is a worthy successor to the 7350K: they both suck equally in respect to their own product lines.

On the other hand, the Cadre i3-8100 is a bit special at $120, a cost that nearly makes information technology a Ryzen 3 killer. I say nigh considering right now we're missing one cardinal ingredient: affordable motherboards. Information technology appears that Intel won't be releasing H370, H310 or B360 motherboards until the Q1 2022. Only so will the i3-8100 truly smoothen as a budget offering along with sub-$100 motherboards.

As good equally it is, sticking the $120 CPU on a $120 motherboard doesn't make all that much sense. Instead, I'd rather become a Ryzen 3 1200, slap it on a B350 motherboard and overclock it to at least 3.8GHz with my fingers crossed for 4GHz.

The Core i5-8400 is a seriously tempting option and I'll cover that in more detail in another piece very soon. For now, those subsequently a budget productivity setup will notice the all-time value in the Ryzen 3 and v serial processors on a B350 board, which will be as fast or faster for the well-nigh function and cost less.

Shopping Shortcuts:

  • Intel Core i3-8100 on Amazon, Newegg
  • Intel Cadre i3-8350K on Amazon, Newegg

For a upkeep-minded gamer, the Cadre i3-8100 looks great, information technology just needs to be complemented by a more affordable motherboard. If you lot enjoyed this second pass at Coffee Lake, stay tuned because the Core i5s are coming up next...

Intel Core i3-8100 Scorecard

Pros: The Core i3-8100 puts up great gaming and encoding functioning, good thermals, and generally respectable results against Ryzen iii and 5.

Cons: Intel'southward platform costs a lot more than AMD'due south correct now if you're on a tight budget. We need more than affordable Intel boards.

Intel Core i3-8350K Scorecard

Pros: The Cadre i3-8350K overclocks well and does keen on gaming loads.

Cons: Respective to the balance of the lineup and Ryzen contest, the 8350K is almost off in no human'south land, We'd rather pay a little bit more for a much amend i5-8400. Intel'southward platform is expensive (for now) and the 8350K exacerbates the outcome with no box cooler.