Cores
2
Threads
4
Boost
3.9 GHz
L3 cache
3 MB
TDP
51W
Socket
FCLGA1151
Performance breakdown
Gaming3
Productivity3
Single-core3
Multi-core8
Power efficiency3
Lab scores
Performance score3
Cores2
Threads4
Boost clock (GHz)3.9 GHz
Estimated gaming FPS
Paired with a high-end GPU. CPU impact is largest at 1080p.
1080p7 fps
1440p5 fps
4K4 fps
Full specifications
Processor & cores
Clocks & cache
- Base clock
- 3.9 GHz
- Boost clock
- 3.9 GHz
- Multiplier
- 39
- L1 cache
- 128 KB
- L2 cache
- 0.5 MB
- L3 cache
- 3 MB
Memory & platform
- Memory support
- DDR4
- Max capacity
- 64 GB
- Channels
- 2
- Max bandwidth
- 38.397 GB/s
- Base power (TDP)
- 51W
- Max temperature
- 100°C
- PCIe
- PCIe 3.0
- Launch price
- $117
Technologies
- Instruction sets
- SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX2
- Extensions
- AES-NI, AVX, VT-x, VT-d
Community Feedback
What Owners Say
Owners like it for basic office work and the low power draw. The usual gripe is it feels too slow for modern multitasking or gaming.
Pros
- Feels fast for everyday tasks
- Sips power, runs cool and quiet
- Handles light gaming without fuss
- Boots and loads programs quickly
Cons
- Only two physical cores
- No hyperthreading for multitasking
- Limited upgrade path on motherboard
Verdict
Our verdict on the Core i3-7100
A dual-core budget CPU from 2017, its main caveat is that quad-core chips were already the standard.
Get it if you’re building a cheap office PC or basic home rig and don’t need more than two cores for web browsing and light apps. Skip it if you plan to game, edit video, or multitask heavily—this chip will choke fast.
Buy it if…
- You’re building a cheap home office PC for web browsing and email.
- You need a basic office machine that won’t heat up a small case.
- You want a cheap upgrade for an older LGA1151 motherboard without swapping the board.
Leaderboard
Its place in the overall top
3.4
362 votes
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