The computer market is saturated with processors.
And finding the perfect CPU based on your usage is a tough job.
The Intel Core i3 processor is a king in the entry-level segment.
But before buying the processor, a question arises on how itll perform in average and heavy tasks.
Well, dont worry.
So, lets begin.
Is the Intel i3 CPU Good?
The Intel i3 processors are suitable for daily computing, running Office applications, and using media software.
Also, it is well-capable for web browsing and managing several tabs smoothly.
In addition, it’s possible for you to play low-end games in specific tweaks without any difficulties.
Intel has various processor series for each price and performance segment.
And all of them are categorized fromentry to high levelbased on their performance.
Lets see the Intel hierarchy below to understand the positioning of the i3 processor in the Intel family.
The Intel i3 sits at the lower half of the Intel hierarchy and is considered as a low-end CPU.
In2010, the first Intel Core i3 processor came, and after that, they are continuously evolving.
Depending on the generation, theCore i3 processor has different core counts.
The following chart will provide ideas on the specification of the different generation Intel Core i3 processors.
The table above shows the differences between Core i3 processors and generations.
They differ in clock speed, core & thread count, cache size, and integrated graphics.
Intel Core i3 processor is beneficial for your normal day-to-day usage.
The following will describe the advantages of Core i3 in your everyday life.
Its also capable ofmultitaskingand can accomplish various tasks at once.
Office Purpose
The i3 processor, especially the i3-powered laptops, is very popular for economic purposes.
Gaming
The Core i3 isnt made for gaming.
But, with itsIntel UHD 730, you could play some low-level games at specific graphics configs.
The following chart will show the Intel i3 processor gaming performance in different games with the iGPU.
The gaming performance isnt very promising with the iGPU.
But, the result changes when you pair it with adedicated graphics card.
The i3-12100 has a60W max TDP, whereas the i9-13900k needs241W.
However, the i3 is ahead of everyone else in this segment for its performance and price ratio.
But, to understand the performance, we must look at their synthetic and real-life benchmarks.
And the following passage will provide the score and help you choose the i3 processor regarding your usage.
Should I Buy the Intel Core i3 Processor?
If you are looking for a budget and cheap CPU, you should buy the Intel Core i3 processor.
It can provide good single-core performance and satisfy you in gaming while paired with a dedicated GPU.
But if youre a heavy PC user, you should consider a better processor.
Before buying a processor, you must look at thesimulation and real-life performanceto match your expectation.
Ive described all the crucial points of the Core i3 processors with its tested benchmark and provided them below.
Consider reading the following passage before purchasing the Intel i3 processors.
Its called the synthetic benchmark and measures with popular benchmarking applications likeCinebenchandGeekbench 5.
Likewise to the Cinebench R23, weve got a similar result inGeekbench 5benchmark.
The following chart will give the Geekbench 5 scoring of the i3 processor.
But, if you prefer thesingle-threaded performance, Core i3 is a cheaper option for you.
The productive performance gives a real-life benchmark and idea about the processors capability.
The following chart will describe the scoring of Intel Core i3-12100 in various software.
It took way more time compared to the average, andnot preferable for 3D rendering.
The high-end CPU outperforms the low-end PC in the Adobe Premiere benchmark.
However, if you occasionally do the editing, the i3shouldnt give you much hassle.
After coming to Adobe Photoshop, it performed comparatively better than the previous test.
The Intel i3 evenoutperformedthe best processor of the 9th gen.
The Core i3 processors may have fewer numbers of cores.
But its not necessarily a bad thing, sincehow many cores you needmostly depends on your usage.
Most modern games depend on single-core performance, and multicore doesnt affect much experience.
Weve tested various processors with the same rig and game options to get a gaming benchmark.
For the test rig, Weve used anRTX 3080and16 GB RAM.
CS: GO is a CPU-bound game.
Cyberpunk 2077 isnt a well-optimized game.
But still, the Intel i3 has provided a143 FPSin this massive game.
But the i3 is still30% behindthe most powerful CPU in the FPS segment.
As shown in the table above, Intel i3 processors arevery energy efficientand perfect forsaving money.
Value for Money
The value for money is a major factor when buying a processor.
The CPU value is calculated by thePassmark scoreand thepriceof a processor.
The following table will show you the CPU value for the Intel processors.
The CPU price of Intel i3-12100 may be less, but the other processor has the better CPU value.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is i3 better than i5?
Is Intel i3 good for gaming?
The newer Intel i3 CPUs are the fastest budget gaming processors while pairing with a dedicated graphics card.
Is i3 good enough for students?
Final Thought
The Intel Core i3 processors are manufactured for low-budget users and laptops for maintaining efficiency.
It can serve you well in everyday activities, official tasks, and moderate gaming.
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