Intel Core i3-9100F vs Intel Core i7-8550U

Processor comparisons 17-03-2021

   For example you are thinking about choosing a processor, you will be able to make a decision after reading the full tests Intel Core i3-9100F vs Intel Core i7-8550U and see which is better for games or simple use for programming, streaming, machine learning, rendering, video editing. Here you can find useful information from various benchmarks or real streaming and video editing tests. A careful analysis of all the specifications, to make it easier to read, is made by the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of joint testing in software tests such as UserBenchmark, WPrime, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, DaVinci Resolve Studio, SuperPi, Handbrake, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), PassMark, GeekBench 6, 5.2, Gears 5, AIDA64, VeraCrypt, RealBench, MATLAB, 7zip, Prime95, Blender, PCMark 10, Blender, Furmark, Dolphin Emulator, 3DMark.
   Gaming performance of CPUs in:

Overwatch
Apex Legends
World of Warcraft: Shadowlands
Red Dead Redemption 2
Death Stranding
Fallout 76
Valheim
Rainbow Six Siege
DOOM: Eternal
Valorant
Assassin's Creed Valhalla
Watch Dogs Legion
Fortnite
Last Man Standing
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Warzone
Halo Infinite
Grand Theft Auto V
Borderlands 3
Cyberpunk 2077

After reading the results of parallel benchmarks and videos, you already be able to understand which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i7-8550U or Intel Core i3-9100F.

Summary benchmark results

As a percentage of the maximum value based on a sample from the entire base of all processors
Processor Benchmark

Core i3-9100F

52%

Core i7-8550U

51%

This value shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i3-9100F is 1% better than Core i7-8550U. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i3-9100F

52%

Core i7-8550U

52%

For the maximum in this test, the results of the most powerful processor in the site database are taken. And of course, this is a server processor, on which no one will play games. Because the cost of this processor reaches several tens of thousands of dollars. Therefore, if you think that the selected CPU has a small game result, just look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the final table below.
List of other games in which CPU comparisons were performed: Ghostrunner, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Half-Life: Alyx, Control, Metro Exodus, Forza Horizon 4, Battlefield V, League of Legends (LOL), Monster Hunter World, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, DOTA 2A, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Horizon Zero Dawn, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), NBA 2K20, Hitman 3.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	91.8	91.9
Valorant	104.4	104.4
Cyberpunk 2077	58.4	58.5
Apex Legends	98.1	98.1
Call of Duty Warzone	78.3	78.3
Overwatch	84.5	84.6
Red Dead Redemption 2	72.0	72.0
DOOM Eternal	52.2	52.2
Warzone	81.4	81.4
Assassin's Creed	87.7	87.7
Valheim	86.6	86.6

The numbers in this table indicate the maximum FPS that was received on the device with the corresponding processor. Depending on the configuration of the computer (RAM size and Video Card) and graphics quality settings (Ultra, Medium, Normal), the results may differ quite significantly. We recommend that you better study the results of the Cinebench, GeekBench and Passmark becnmarks.
The computers participating in the comparisons not only were the equipped with different amounts of RAM and different video cards. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 2K, FullHD or 4K. So the game benchmark data is approximate. But all video cards met the average system requirements of games. You will get more accurate information about how powerful the processor will be in games, if you compare it in one assembly with the video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Core i3-9100F

57%

Core i7-8550U

228%

To make a final decision on which processor is better, you should also consider the generation of its core. It is clear that the newer the generation, the better the performance of the processor in games and benchmarks, as well as its energy efficiency. In this case the Core i7-8550U is more energy efficient than the Core i3-9100F as it consumes less power: 65W vs. 15W. Power consumption is particularly important for laptops. And TDP should be taken into account when choosing a processor cooling system. You need to buy a cooler that has the TDP data specified in the specification was greater than the TDP of the compared processor.

Software benchmarks

For example you plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for streaming, machine learning, programming, video editing or video rendering, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to achieve maximum efficiency, the CPU includes all cores and threads that it has. You will find out this data from the benchmark tables below. Before you take into account the data from these tests, be sure to check whether the software you are going to use on your computer supports multi-threaded mode. Because there are still many programs that can use only one core to work, and all the advantages of multi-core mode are unused.

Cinebench 23, 20 an 15
The results of this benchmark show Single-threaded and Multi-threaded CPU performance

	Intel Core i3-9100F	Intel Core i7-8550U
Cinbench 15 Single-core	168	167
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	660	564
Cinbench 20 Single-core	445	354
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	1630	1211
Cinbench 23 Single-core	877	979
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	3405	3111

Passmark
This popular benchmark displays Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	Intel Core i3-9100F	Intel Core i7-8550U
Single-Core	2502	2072
Multi-Core	6813	5970

GeekBench 6, 5.2
This benchmark shows Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	Intel Core i3-9100F	Intel Core i7-8550U
Single-Core	1130	1027
Multi-Core	3769	3788

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the processor release date and overclocking capability will be the most helpful. The newer the processor, the longer it will last you. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system later. The same benefits from the presence of overclocking. If the processor can be overclocked, thereby increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce maximum FPS in the newest games. Accordingly, you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The economy are obvious!

	Intel Core i3-9100F	Intel Core i7-8550U
Announcement date	April 01, 2019	April 01, 2017
Type	Desktop	Laptop
Socket	FCLGA1151-2	FC-BGA1356
Core name	Coffee Lake	Kaby Lake R
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	9	8
Turbo Frequency	4.2 MHz	4 MHz
Frequency	3.6 MHz	1.8 MHz
Cores	4	4
Threads	4	8
Bus rate	8 GT/s	4 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	14 nm	14 nm
Transistors count	2400 millions	1820 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	65 W	15 W
Memory type	DDR4-2400	DDR4-2400, LPDDR3-2133
Max. Memory	64 Gb	32 Gb
Memory Frequency
Memory bandwidth	37.5 GB/s	37.5 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache
L3 cache	6 MB	8 MB
Overclocking	Yes	Yes
Supports ECC	Yes	No
Part number

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Core i3-9100F is 50% better than Core i7-8550U in terms of CPU frequency. Also keep in mind that high CPU frequency affects battery life through power consumption (relevant for laptops).

Result:
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i3-9100F is better: 16
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i7-8550U is better: 8
Although it should be understood that the summary data in the table above do not mean that taking them into account you should completely trust a simple quantitative comparison. Better to watch the video tests and read the reviews of of people who bought Intel Core i3-9100F and Intel Core i7-8550U before making a decision which CPU to buy for gaming and which not.

• Intel Core i3-9100F specs and review.

• Intel Core i7-8550U specs and review.