Intel i3 8100, is it as good as it should be?

[Stefan_77]

Hello.

I am building a Coffee Lake system. I am on a budget, and since I also want a huge monitor I'll settle for an i3 CPU -- four cores, works for me. The 8100 / 8300 price difference is $50, so I'm thinking to get the 8100, spend the extra $50 on a better mobo, or better PSU etc.

QUESTION

I heard Z370 mobos have issues, because Z370 was launched in a hurry, way before it was planned. Apparently, the Z370 will be replaced in Q4 by a Z390 -- which will be what the Z370 should've been in the first place.

i3 8100 was released in a hurry too.
Is it possible that this CPU has some issues as well? Have you heard anyone suspecting anything like that?

 

[Phaaze88]

What's the resolution of this 'huge' monitor, in which case, this would be more of a gpu issue.

The issue was likely the whole Spectre/Meltdown fiasco, which affects all processors - only some of which have received patches.
I believe the Ice Lake processors are supposed to have the fix already. No idea when they come out though.

 

[zyh1987]

i don't think so, i actually think most of the work for coffeelake was done long ago, but amd didn't pose any serious competition in 2016Q4, so they just did kabylake, which is very similar to skylake. the 6 month before ryzen launch was mainly adjusting production line and marketing strategies things like that. and it's not Intel's first time doing 6 cores either, they been making xeon series with a lot more cores for a long time. coffeelake was more like moving some of their low end xeon chip into the mainstream, and optimizing performance vs thermal.
so no, i don't think there is any major flaws with it.

 

[Stefan_77]

What's the resolution of this 'huge' monitor, in which case, this would be more of a gpu issue.

The issue was likely the whole Spectre/Meltdown fiasco, which affects all processors - only some of which have received patches.
I believe the Ice Lake processors are supposed to have the fix already. No idea when they come out though.

I am not that familiar with deep technical details... But I can tell you that the system won't be used for any gaming what-so-ever. I won't install any, and no one will play any Solitaire either -- haha. It'll be used for video streaming. Intel says i3 8100 has UHD graphics included at 60Hz, and that will be good enough... I suppose (?).

As for the monitor, I am looking for a 50" more or less. Not a monitor, actually, 'cause they cost too much. I am trying to find a UHD TV with Chroma 4:4:4, since that will display fonts just as good as a monitor. And since I'm not playing videogames I don't care about the refresh rate.

Apparently, though, in Romania only the OLED / AMOLED have 4:4:4 -- $1000 and up. The Eastern EU & US markets have cheaper alternatives, but it'd be difficult to get one from there. The shipping will add a lot to costs, and I'll have no warranty either.

I might not be able to get my "huge" monitor after all, but I am still searching.

Anyways...
What do you think? Will the integrated graphics be good enough for what I need?

 

[geofelt]

Do not begrudge the price of a Z370 motherboard.
It will let you upgrade in time to an overclockable Z suffix processor.
All Z370 motherboards are decent and the least expensive ones are priced about the same as the upcoming
H370/B360 chipset versions.
Asrock Z370M PRO4 has been good to me.
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157793

As to the i3-8100, it is an excellent processor.
Check the newegg reviews:
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819117822

 

[mdd1963]

the 8100 is not really 'new', it's effectively a 'tweaked process' former 7600 that has been rebadged as the 'new 4c i3' and OC'd about another 100 MHz or so on base clock, with turbo disabled....; presto, 'new' 8100 released....

Decent processor for general work, I'd not personally choose a 4c/4t for gaming with the R5-1600 at such good prices, but, it still does 'ok'.