i3-8100 Coffee Lake CPU now at Amazon for $117

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0759FTRZL/?tag=tonymacx86com-20

We've all heard about the new 6 core I5 and I7 consumer chips from Intel. Higher core counts = higher prices and very limited availability at launch. (Micro Center is selling the I7-8700K for $500 in their stores !) The 4 core I3-8100 clocked at 3.6 GHz is selling for the price of a Kaby Lake dual core I3 at $117. What you are getting is a Core I5-7500 chip, only without turbo boost of 200 Mhz higher than stock 3.6 GHz speeds, it's up to 3.8 GHz in the I5-7500. Both have the integrated HD630 Intel graphics, perfect for use in an HTPC. A bonus you get with the 8100 is support for 2400 MHz DDR4 ram OOB.

In contrast to the 6 core CL chips at high prices this 4 core I3 actually costs 80 dollars less than the equivalent I5-7500. A real price/performance winner. Note that there will be budget B360 chipset boards coming out soon that you can pair with an I3-8100 for a really great, low cost, gaming or HTPC customac. Check out the High Sierra Desktop Guides forum for some example builds over the next few months. If you are eager to dive into Coffee Lake right away then Newegg.com has some deals on Z370 motherboards bundled with the I3-8100. Make sure to share your results if you give this a try.

https://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboBundleDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.3654167

Chip Comparison: https://ark.intel.com/compare/126688,97123

Core I3-8100 is on the left and Core I5-7500 in the right column. The I3 retails for $117 and the I5 about $197.

trs96 said:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0759FTRZL/?tag=tonymacx86com-20

We've all heard about the new 6 core I5 and I7 consumer chips from Intel. Higher core counts = higher prices and very limited availability at launch. (Micro Center is selling the I7-8700K for $500 in their stores !) The 4 core I3-8100 clocked at 3.6 GHz is selling for the price of a Kaby Lake dual core I3 at $117. What you are getting is a Core I5-7500 chip, only without turbo boost of 200 Mhz higher than stock 3.6 GHz speeds, it's up to 3.8 GHz in the I5-7500. Both have the integrated HD630 Intel graphics, perfect for use in an HTPC. A bonus you get with the 8100 is support for 2400 MHz DDR4 ram OOB.

In contrast to the 6 core CL chips at high prices this 4 core I3 actually costs 80 dollars less than the equivalent I5-7500. A real price/performance winner. Note that there will be budget B360 chipset boards coming out soon that you can pair with an I3-8100 for a really great, low cost, gaming or HTPC customac. Check out the High Sierra Desktop Guides forum for some example builds over the next few months. If you are eager to dive into Coffee Lake right away then Newegg.com has some deals on Z370 motherboards bundled with the I3-8100. Make sure to share your results if you give this a try.

https://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboBundleDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.3654167

Chip Comparison: https://ark.intel.com/compare/126688,97123

Core I3-8100 is on the left and Core I5-7500 in the right column. The I3 retails for $117 and the I5 about $197.
View attachment 285126

Click to expand...

Hopefully the affordable mobo comes out soon =].

in Q1 2018...

Here's the CPU Mark comparison of two similar CPUs, the I3-7100 and I5-7500

i have an 8100. Which smbios do I use? None have coffee lake yet in real macs. So i need a fake cpuid or anything special?

nineniner said:

i have an 8100. Which smbios do I use? None have coffee lake yet in real macs. So i need a fake cpuid or anything special?

Click to expand...

Post your support question in High Sierra Desktop Support if that is what you'll be installing. It's obvious that you will need to use a fake CPU ID. Which one will work ? That's where you have to experiment and find out. My guess would be that the I5-7500 would be the closest match or possibly the I3-7100.

If we're lucky there will be a Mac Mini refresh that uses an I3-8100. It would need an upgraded cooling system like the one in the new iMac Pro. A refreshed Mac Mini with an 8100 and 8 GB of ram standard for $499 would be a huge seller for Apple. The problem is that Apple always under powers the Mini to not eat into iMac sales. If they would put a desktop I3-8100 in one and went with an SSD for storage and sold it for $599 it would be a huge hit for Apple's Mac lineup. I'm certain they know that the 2014 model (the Mac Wimpy) was a dismal failure due to it's low specs and slowness. Let's hope they follow their recent trend of giving Macs the better specs that their customers are asking for without jacking up the prices too high.

https://pikeralpha.wordpress.com/2017/10/20/coffee-lake-cpuids/

https://pikeralpha.wordpress.com/20...sor-model-check/comment-page-1/#comment-12134

The first Mac Mini in 2005 is what got me into the Apple ecosystem. I'm sure a more powerful desktop-like Mini would bring in millions more in 2018. Windows desktops still cost an average of 400-500 USD new so it's not a major increase in cost to go with a new Mini. The user experience with Macs is worlds better, that is something you can't put a dollar value on. I would like to see a new Mini in a form factor like HP has used for the Wave. With built in high quality audio. That would be great.