FPSVersusCore i3-10100 vs Core i5-8500
Performance score
Core i3-10100 and Core i5-8500 are almost equally fast (under 3% apart) — choose by price, socket and platform.
Different sockets (LGA1200 and LGA1151) — switching between them needs a different motherboard.
The score is our own estimate from the specs (cores, threads, clocks, architecture generation), not a benchmark run. 100 = the fastest CPU in our database.
Real tests
What the test measures
Blender is a popular free 3D graphics program. The test makes the device render three ready-made 3D scenes (light, shadows, reflections) and counts how many render passes it finishes per minute. The higher the number, the faster the device handles heavy work: 3D, video editing, photo processing. On a CPU the test loads all cores at once, so it shows the chip's full power; on a graphics card it shows its compute strength.
Median of real test runs on users' computers. It does not show FPS in games. Data updated: 31.10.2026.
Overview
| Core i3-10100 | Core i5-8500 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score (0–100) | 20.57 | 20.79 |
| Ranking position | 428 | 424 |
| Power efficiency (0–100) | 16.54 | 16.71 |
| Type | Desktop | Desktop |
| Manufacturer | Intel | Intel |
| Architecture | Comet Lake | Coffee Lake |
| Release date | Q2 2020 | Q2 2018 |
Specifications
| Core i3-10100 | Core i5-8500 | |
|---|---|---|
| Cores | 4 | 6 |
| Threads | 8 | 6 |
| Base clock | 3.6 GHz | 3 GHz |
| Boost clock | 4.3 GHz | 4.1 GHz |
| L3 cache | 6 MB | 9 MB |
| Process node | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Unlocked multiplier | no | no |
| Integrated graphics | Intel UHD Graphics 630 | Intel UHD Graphics 630 |
| NPU (AI accelerator) | no | no |
Compatibility
| Core i3-10100 | Core i5-8500 | |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1200 | LGA1151 |
| TDP | 65 W | 65 W |
Memory and PCI Express
| Core i3-10100 | Core i5-8500 | |
|---|---|---|
| Memory type | DDR4-2666 | DDR4-2666 |
| Memory channels | 2 | 2 |
| Max memory | 128 GB | 128 GB |
| PCI Express version | 3.0 | 3.0 |
| PCIe lanes | 16 | 16 |
Pros and cons
Core i3-10100
- 5% faster single core
- more threads: 8 vs 6
- newer: released in 2020
Core i5-8500
- more cores: 6 vs 4
- bigger L3 cache: 9 MB vs 6 MB
Other comparisons
Preliminary data: specs are still being checked against the manufacturer's website.
Visitor rating
Questions and comments
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