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Overall rank

Core i3-8300

4 cores · 4 threads · up to 3.7 GHz on FCLGA1151.

3.5 · 14 votes

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Cores
4
Threads
4
Boost
3.7 GHz
L3 cache
8 MB
TDP
62W
Socket
FCLGA1151

Performance breakdown

Gaming4
Productivity4
Single-core4
Multi-core17
Power efficiency3

Lab scores

Performance score4
Cores4
Threads4
Boost clock (GHz)3.7 GHz

Estimated gaming FPS

Paired with a high-end GPU. CPU impact is largest at 1080p.

1080p9 fps
1440p7 fps
4K5 fps

Full specifications

Processor & cores
Architecture
Coffee Lake
Process node
14 nm
Socket
FCLGA1151
Release year
2018
Total cores
4
Threads
4
Integrated graphics
Intel UHD Graphics 630
Clocks & cache
Base clock
3.7 GHz
Boost clock
3.7 GHz
Multiplier
37
L1 cache
256 KB
L2 cache
1 MB
L3 cache
8 MB
Memory & platform
Memory support
DDR4-2400
Max capacity
64 GB
Channels
2
Max bandwidth
38.397 GB/s
Base power (TDP)
62W
Max temperature
100°C
PCIe
PCIe 3.0
Launch price
$138
Technologies
Instruction sets
SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX2
Extensions
AES-NI, AVX, VT-x, VT-d
Community Feedback

What Owners Say

Owners like it as a cheap, solid performer for basic tasks and light gaming. The common complaint is it feels noticeably slower with multiple heavy apps running at once.

Pros
  • Quiet and cool in daily use
  • Handles office work without stutter
  • Plays older games at good settings
  • Four cores still feel responsive today
Cons
  • Only four cores for modern games.
  • No overclocking support at all.
  • Stock cooler runs loud under load.
Verdict

Our verdict on the Core i3-8300

Intel's entry-level Coffee Lake chip with four real cores and no hyperthreading, fine for basic work but bottlenecked by its tiny L3 cache.

Get it if you need a cheap, low-power office or home PC that handles basic tasks without any fuss. Skip it if you want to game or multitask heavily, as its four cores will choke on modern workloads.

Buy it if…

  • You want a cheap office PC that doesn't need a graphics card.
  • You're building a basic home server or file storage box.
  • You need a low-heat upgrade for an old LGA1151 office board.
3.5

14 votes

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