CPU
GPU
Core i7-8550U
Core i3-8100
Performance Spectrum - CPU
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Core i7-8550U is positioned at rank 686 and the Core i3-8100 is on rank 410, so the Core i3-8100 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-8550U
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-8100
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-8550U | Core i3-8100 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($45) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake Refresh (2017−2019) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake (2017−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-8550U | Core i3-8100 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($45) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Path of Exile 2
Counter-Strike 2
Valorant
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-8550U and Core i3-8100
Core i7-8550U
The Core i7-8550U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 21 August 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake Refresh (2017−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 1.8 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1356. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 6,118 points. Launch price was $409.
Core i3-8100
The Core i3-8100 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 5 October 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake (2017−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 6,073 points. Launch price was $117.
Processing Power
The Core i7-8550U packs 4 cores / 8 threads, matching the Core i3-8100's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 4 GHz on the Core i7-8550U versus 3.6 GHz on the Core i3-8100 — a 10.5% clock advantage for the Core i7-8550U (base: 1.8 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Core i7-8550U uses the Kaby Lake Refresh (2017−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i3-8100 uses Coffee Lake (2017−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-8550U scores 6,118 against the Core i3-8100's 6,073 — a 0.7% lead for the Core i7-8550U. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-8550U vs 6 MB (total) on the Core i3-8100.
| Feature | Core i7-8550U | Core i3-8100 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 4 GHz+11% | 3.6 GHz |
| Base Clock | 1.8 GHz | 3.6 GHz+100% |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total)+33% | 6 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Kaby Lake Refresh (2017−2019) | Coffee Lake (2017−2019) |
| PassMark | 6,118 | 6,073 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 1,200 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 3,600 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-8550U uses the BGA1356 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i3-8100 uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-8550U | Core i3-8100 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1356 | LGA1151 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR4-2400 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Core i7-8550U) / VT-x, VT-d (Core i3-8100). The Core i3-8100 includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 630), while the Core i7-8550U requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-8100 targets Budget Desktop.
| Feature | Core i7-8550U | Core i3-8100 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Intel UHD Graphics 630 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | — | Budget Desktop |
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