I have both an i5-8500 and an i3-9100 and I'm trying to figure out which one to install in my girlfriend's new PC build. The system has a GTX 1660 graphics card and 16GB of DDR4 RAM. She's currently coming from a 4th generation i5 processor. I recently upgraded her case and got her an Asus Prime Z390-P motherboard, so I'm curious which CPU would perform better for her gaming needs.
3 Answers
Hands down, the i5-8500 is the way to go. Even though both CPUs have similar single-thread performance, the i5 having more cores and a larger cache will translate into better gaming performance overall, especially with modern titles needing more than just four cores.
You should really stick with the i5-8500. It's vastly superior. And even if the cache size and core count are more significant, the 8500 supports faster RAM, which is a plus, though it might not matter a lot in your current setup. But it's still the better choice for gaming!
The i5-8500 will definitely outperform the i3-9100. You’ll find that in terms of gaming and overall performance, it's the better option for her setup. Plus, it has a larger cache, which helps.
I appreciate the advice! I already got a Z motherboard, so I won't be limited to slower RAM speeds. Just trying to make sure I optimize her gaming experience.