Intel Core i3-10100 socket: LGA 1200
The Intel Core i3-10100 uses the LGA 1200 socket. It is a 4-core Comet Lake chip with Hyper-Threading for entry PCs on 400 series boards and later 500 series boards.
- Socket
- LGA 1200
- Launched
- May 2020
- Cores and threads
- 4 and 8
- Base power
- 65 W
- Codename
- Comet Lake
- Segment
- Desktop
- Family
- Intel Core i3
- Clocks
- 3.6 / 4.3 GHz
Intel Core i3-10100 specifications
| Cores | 4 |
|---|---|
| Threads | 8 |
| Core architecture | Skylake based cores on 14 nm |
| Clocks | 3.6 GHz base, up to 4.3 GHz (Turbo Boost 2.0) |
| Cache | 6 MB Intel Smart Cache (L3) |
| Processor base power (TDP) | 65 W |
| Manufacturing process | 14 nm |
| Memory support | DDR4 up to 2666 MT/s, two channels, up to 128 GB |
| PCI Express | 16 lanes from the CPU, PCIe 3.0 |
| Integrated graphics | Intel UHD Graphics 630 (up to 1.10 GHz) |
| Multiplier | Locked |
| Package | FCLGA1200 |
Motherboard and chipset compatibility
Intel Core i3-10100 needs a motherboard with a LGA 1200 socket. The table shows which chipset series accept it.
| Series | Chipsets | Support |
|---|---|---|
| 500 series | Z590, H570, B560, H510, Q570, W580 | Works out of the box |
| 400 series: Z490, H470, Q470, W480 | Z490, H470, Q470, W480 | Works out of the box |
| 400 series: B460, H410 | B460, H410 | Works out of the box |
Board makers publish a CPU support list for every model. Check it for your exact board before buying. Chipset details for LGA 1200.
Recommended GPU pairing
| Recommended tier | Entry 1080p |
|---|---|
| Example GPUs | GeForce GTX 1650 Super, Radeon RX 580 |
| Target resolution | 1080p medium to high settings |
Four cores with boost to 4.3 GHz, 16 PCIe 3.0 lanes and DDR4 suit entry 1080p cards from its era. A faster card still works and the balance shifts with game, settings and resolution.
This is a rough match for a new build at the stated resolution, not a limit. A faster card still works and helps at higher resolutions or in games that load the GPU more than the CPU. A slower card is fine for lighter games and office use. The exact balance shifts with the game, the settings and the resolution, so no percentage is given.
LGA 1200 at a glance
| Type | LGA, 1,200 contacts |
|---|---|
| Package size | 37.5 × 37.5 mm |
| Introduced | April 2020 |
| Memory | DDR4 only |
| Cooler mounting holes | 75 × 75 mm |
What the Core i3-10100 is
The Core i3-10100 is a four core, eight thread processor that Intel released in 2020 at the entry of the Comet Lake desktop range. Its cores run 3.6 GHz base to 4.3 GHz turbo with Turbo Boost 2.0. Cache is 6 MB of shared L3.
Hyper-Threading separates it from older i3 chips: four cores handle eight threads, which keeps everyday multitasking smooth. The TDP is 65 W on the 14 nm process.
Intel UHD Graphics 630 handle display output, at up to 1.10 GHz. The multiplier is locked. On memory tuning, Z490 and Z590 boards accept XMP kits past DDR4-2666 while H-series boards hold narrower ranges.
Socket and motherboard compatibility
The 10100 fits the LGA 1200 socket. Boards with 400 series chipsets (Z490, H470, Q470, W480, B460, H410) accept it from the start. Later 500 series boards accept Comet Lake natively as well.
H410 and B460 boards are the expected pairing for an entry chip. Expensive Z-series boards make little sense here unless a later upgrade to an unlocked chip is already planned, since the multiplier stays locked either way and the extra ports go unused on such builds.
Check the maker's CPU support list for the minimum BIOS version. Like other Comet Lake chips, it needs no update anywhere on this socket.
Memory, PCIe and cooling
The memory controller supports DDR4 up to 2666 MT/s officially. Two channels carry up to 128 GB. DDR4 boards reuse older kits, which keeps entry builds cheap.
The CPU supplies 16 PCIe 3.0 lanes from the processor. Integrated graphics drive office displays and light games without a card.
At 65 W base with modest peaks, basic cooling suffices with airflow. Mounting uses the 75 mm LGA 1200 pattern from the CPU cooler compatibility by socket guide.
An efficient entry on a mature lineage
Comet Lake kept the Skylake lineage on 14 nm, and the 10100 shows its efficient end: four threads per pair of cores, high enough clocks for everyday work, and graphics included. It was a common choice for first PCs and office refreshes.
The platform trade is connectivity: PCIe 3.0 only, with no Gen 4 link. That mattered little at this tier, where budget graphics cards of the era used Gen 3 links anyway. B460 boards pair low cost with locked memory behavior that suits the chip, while a move to B560 keeps a later upgrade to Rocket Lake open on the same socket.
Upgrade paths
Against the Intel Core i5-10400, the 10100 gives up two cores and cache for a lower price on the same boards. Against the Intel Core i7-10700K, it is an entry placeholder that can later hand its board to an unlocked chip.
Moving to LGA 1700 needs a new board, new memory for DDR5 builds, and a new cooler bracket. The 10100 fits a first PC on a tight budget or an office refresh.
Frequently asked questions
What socket does the Intel Core i3-10100 use?
It uses LGA 1200, written FCLGA1200 in Intel's documents.
How is the 10100 different from older Core i3 chips?
The 10100 adds Hyper-Threading for eight threads, which the older 4-thread i3 chips lack. Clocks and graphics are close.
Does the 10100 run in an H410 motherboard?
Yes. H410 and B460 boards accept Comet Lake from the start, and H510 boards accept it natively too.
What memory speed does the 10100 support?
Officially up to DDR4-2666. Faster kits run through XMP profiles, which count as overclocking.
What cooling and graphics does the 10100 need?
At 65 W base the stock cooling approach works with airflow, while integrated graphics cover office displays without a card.
Sources and verification
Facts last checked against these sources on . Page last edited on .