Intel Core i3-8100F socket: LGA 1151
The Intel Core i3-8100F uses the LGA 1151 socket, second revision. It runs on 300 series boards as a 3.6 GHz quad core without integrated graphics, so a separate card is required.
- Socket
- LGA 1151
- Launched
- January 2019
- Cores and threads
- 4 and 4
- Base power
- 65 W
- Codename
- Coffee Lake
- Segment
- Desktop
- Family
- Intel Core i3
- Clocks
- 3.6 / 3.6 GHz
Intel Core i3-8100F specifications
| Cores | 4 |
|---|---|
| Threads | 4 |
| Core architecture | Coffee Lake |
| Clocks | 3.6 GHz (no turbo) |
| Cache | 6 MB Intel Smart Cache (L3) |
| Processor base power (TDP) | 65 W |
| Manufacturing process | 14 nm |
| Memory support | DDR4-2400, two channels, up to 64 GB |
| PCI Express | PCIe 3.0, 16 lanes from the CPU |
| Integrated graphics | None. A graphics card is required |
| Multiplier | Locked |
| ECC memory | Yes |
| Package | FCLGA1151 |
Motherboard and chipset compatibility
Intel Core i3-8100F needs a motherboard with a LGA 1151 socket. The table shows which chipset series accept it.
| Series | Chipsets | Support |
|---|---|---|
| 300 series: B365 and Z390 | Z390, B365 | Works out of the box |
| 300 series: H310, B360, H370, Q370, Z370 | Z370, H370, B360, H310, Q370 | Works out of the box |
| 200 series | Z270, H270, B250, Q270, Q250 | Not supported |
| 100 series | Z170, H170, B150, H110, Q170, Q150 | Not supported |
Board makers publish a CPU support list for every model. Check it for your exact board before buying. Chipset details for LGA 1151.
LGA 1151 at a glance
| Type | LGA, 1,151 contacts |
|---|---|
| Package size | 37.5 × 37.5 mm |
| Introduced | August 2015 |
| Memory | DDR4 on most boards (some early boards use DDR3L). DDR4 only on the second revision |
| Cooler mounting holes | 75 × 75 mm |
What the Core i3-8100F is
The Core i3-8100F is a four core, four thread desktop processor with a fixed 3.6 GHz clock and no turbo step. It carries 6 MB of Smart Cache and a 65 W TDP on the 14 nm process. The F suffix marks the missing graphics engine, which is the whole point of the SKU: the same quad core silicon as the i3-8100 with the display block disabled.
Intel listed it in the first quarter of 2019 as a cheaper path for towers that already include a graphics card. System builders pair it with entry discrete cards for office triples or light play. The multiplier is locked, so clocks stay at the rated 3.6 GHz.
No integrated graphics means no display output from the board ports with this chip installed. Buyers who forget the card get a tower that starts with a blank screen. The saving over the graphics version only pays where a card was already planned.
Socket and motherboard compatibility
The 8100F fits LGA 1151 revision 2 on 300 series motherboards such as H310, B360 and H370. Boards sold in 2019 accept it with the shipping BIOS where the maker lists the part. The Socket vs chipset: what decides whether a CPU works guide explains the two revisions of this socket.
It does not fit 100 or 200 series boards, which are revision 1 for 6th and 7th Gen chips. Board display ports stay dark with this chip even on the right boards, since there is no graphics engine to feed them. Connect monitors to the discrete card outputs.
Budget builders should pick a board with the PCIe x16 slot wired at full speed for the card they plan. A cheap H310 board with one x16 slot suits a single card tower. The Intel Core i3-9100F is the 9th Gen successor on the same boards with higher clocks.
Memory, PCIe and cooling
Memory support is DDR4-2400 in two channels up to 64 GB, with about 37.5 GB per sec of bandwidth. ECC is listed as supported in the database entry, so workstation boards that wire it can use it. Two matched sticks give dual channel speed for office work and light creation.
PCI Express arrives as version 3.0 with 16 lanes from the CPU, which feed the discrete graphics card in most builds. A second NVMe drive runs through the chipset lanes where the board provides the slot. Cooling uses the shared 75 mm LGA 1151 pattern at 65 W, so stock coolers fit.
Upgrade paths
On the same socket the step up is a six core chip such as the Intel Core i5-8400 where threaded work matters, keeping the board, DDR4 and the same graphics card. The 8100F keeps its place where a cheap quad core covers office work beside a basic card.
Moving past LGA 1151 to LGA 1200 needs a new board and, for office towers, often a return to integrated graphics. Gamers on this chip usually upgrade the graphics card before the processor.
Frequently asked questions
What socket does the Core i3-8100F use?
It uses LGA 1151 revision 2 on 300 series boards. Board display ports stay dark because the chip has no graphics engine.
How many cores does the 8100F have?
Four cores and four threads at a fixed 3.6 GHz with no turbo step, with 6 MB of cache at 65 W.
Does the 8100F have integrated graphics?
None. A separate graphics card is required, and monitors must connect to the card outputs rather than the board ports.
What memory does the 8100F support?
DDR4-2400 in two channels up to 64 GB. ECC is listed as supported for boards that wire it.
What replaces the 8100F on the same socket?
The Intel Core i3-9100F is the 9th Gen successor with higher clocks on the same boards. The 8100F keeps value where the card already exists.
Sources and verification
- Intel Core i3-8100F specifications (Intel ARK archive)
- Intel Core i3-8100F specs (TechPowerUp CPU database)
Facts last checked against these sources on . Page last edited on .