Core i3-8100H vs Steam Deck OLED APU

Core i3-8100H vs Steam Deck OLED APU Performance Spectrum

Core i3-8100H

4 / 4

4,435

0.0%

4,457

+0.5%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7965WX

About PassMark

PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Core i3-8100H vs Steam Deck OLED APU FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Core i3-8100H vs Steam Deck OLED APU: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Core i3-8100H

2018

Why buy it

✅+50% larger total L3 cache (6 MB vs 4 MB).
✅Draws 1W instead of 2W, a 1W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 630, while Steam Deck OLED APU needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Steam Deck OLED APU across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (4,435 vs 4,457).

Steam Deck OLED APU

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +15.0% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (4 MB vs 6 MB).
❌100% higher power demand at 2W vs 1W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i3-8100H can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Steam Deck OLED APU better than Core i3-8100H?

Yes. Steam Deck OLED APU is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 15.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.5% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Steam Deck OLED APU is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 15.0% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Steam Deck OLED APU is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.5% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 8 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Steam Deck OLED APU still makes the most sense overall. Steam Deck OLED APU comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 15.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Steam Deck OLED APU makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2018) and more multi-core headroom with 4 cores / 8 threads instead of 4/4. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Core i3-8100H vs Steam Deck OLED APU Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Core i3-8100H

The Core i3-8100H is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 July 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-H (2018−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1440. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 4,435 points. Launch price was $225.

Steam Deck OLED APU

The Steam Deck OLED APU is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 9 November 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Van Gogh (Custom) (2023) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 6 nm process technology. Thermal design power (TDP): 2 MB + 4 MB. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 4,457 points. Launch price was $69.

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Processing Power

The Core i3-8100H packs 4 cores / 4 threads, matching the Steam Deck OLED APU's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 3 GHz on the Core i3-8100H versus 3.5 GHz on the Steam Deck OLED APU — a 15.4% clock advantage for the Steam Deck OLED APU (base: 3 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Core i3-8100H uses the Coffee Lake-H (2018−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Steam Deck OLED APU uses Van Gogh (Custom) (2023) (6 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-8100H scores 4,435 against the Steam Deck OLED APU's 4,457 — a 0.5% lead for the Steam Deck OLED APU. L3 cache: 6 MB on the Core i3-8100H vs 4 MB on the Steam Deck OLED APU.

Feature	Core i3-8100H	Steam Deck OLED APU
Cores / Threads	4 / 4	4 / 8
Boost Clock	3 GHz	3.5 GHz+17%
Base Clock	3 GHz+25%	2.4 GHz
L3 Cache	6 MB+50%	4 MB
L2 Cache	1 MB	2 MB+100%
Process	14 nm	6 nm-57%
Architecture	Coffee Lake-H (2018−2019)	Van Gogh (Custom) (2023)
PassMark	4,435	4,457

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i3-8100H) / not specified (Steam Deck OLED APU). The Core i3-8100H includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630), while the Steam Deck OLED APU requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-8100H targets Mobile.