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CPU Comparison: FPS, Specs & Value

Core i5-8500 vs Core i3-9100

The Core i5-8500 is same performance as the Core i3-9100 on average across 100+ games. We cannot compare value as at least one CPU is out of stock.

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CPU

Out of StockView CPUAll CPUs

Up to 57% more expensive – $192 vs $108.02

CPU

$108.02View CPUAll CPUs

Is 7 months newer
Up to 57% cheaper – $108.02 vs $192
Up to 57% better value for money

FPS Comparison Across Popular Games

Predicted average FPS at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K, based on real game benchmarks.

Resolution

Quality

Paired GPU

View Compare All GPUs

Select GPU

Elden Ring2022

Core i5-8500

152FPS

Core i3-9100

152FPS

League of Legends2009

Core i5-8500

216FPS

Core i3-9100

216FPS

Grand Theft Auto V2013

Core i5-8500

204FPS

Core i3-9100

204FPS

Fortnite2017

Core i5-8500

327FPS

Core i3-9100

327FPS

Valorant2020

Core i5-8500

591FPS

Core i3-9100

591FPS

Minecraft2011

619FPS

619FPS

532FPS

532FPS

Overwatch 22023

Core i5-8500

520FPS

Core i3-9100

520FPS

Specs & Benchmark Comparison

Side-by-side specs, synthetic benchmarks, and key hardware differences.

Scorehelp

Core i5-8500

28%

Core i3-9100

28%

Similar overall gaming performance.

Coreshelp

Core i5-8500

Core i3-9100

Core i5-8500 has 2 more cores.

Threadshelp

Core i5-8500

Core i3-9100

Core i5-8500 has 2 more threads.

L3 Cachehelp

Core i5-8500

9 MB

Core i3-9100

6 MB

Core i5-8500 has 3 MB more L3 cache.

Base Frequencyhelp

Core i5-8500

3 GHz

Core i3-9100

3.6 GHz

Core i3-9100 has a 20% higher base clock.

Turbo Frequencyhelp

Core i5-8500

4.1 GHz

Core i3-9100

4.2 GHz

Core i3-9100 boosts 2% higher.

TDPhelp

Core i5-8500

65W

Core i3-9100

65W

Pricehelp

Core i5-8500

Core i3-9100

$108.02

Core i5-8500Core i3-9100

LGA1151

Sockethelp

LGA1151

Coffee Lake

Codenamehelp

Coffee Lake

Desktop

Segmenthelp

Desktop

UHD Graphics 630

Integrated GPUhelp

UHD Graphics 630

2666 MHz (DDR4)

RAMhelp

2400 MHz (DDR4)

Not Overclockable

Overclock Supporthelp

Not Overclockable

Frequently Asked Questions

compare_arrowsWhich is better, Core i5-8500 or Core i3-9100?expand_more

Neither, they're within 1% of each other across 100+ games. Pick based on price, availability, or platform compatibility.

aspect_ratioWhich is better for 1440p and 4K gaming, Core i5-8500 or Core i3-9100?expand_more

They trade blows depending on the game. Toggle the resolution selector above to compare per-game FPS at 1440p and 4K.

differenceWhat is the difference between Core i5-8500 and Core i3-9100?expand_more

Performance: Core i5-8500 scores 28/100, Core i3-9100 scores 28/100. They also differ in core count, clock speeds, L3 cache, and power draw. Full breakdown in the specs section above.

compressWill the Core i5-8500 or Core i3-9100 bottleneck my PC?expand_more

Depends on the rest of your build, especially your GPU. Swap the paired GPU in the FPS section above to see if it limits performance, or use our bottleneck calculator for a full analysis.

upgradeIs it worth upgrading to the Core i5-8500 or Core i3-9100?expand_more

Both are solid choices. Compare your current CPU against each one to see the exact FPS gain.