Alleged Intel Core i3-13100 Appears in CPU-Z Validator

Intel Core i3-13100
(Image credit: Future)

What looks like a retail specification Intel Core i3-13100 has appeared in the online CPU-Z Validator pages. Prolific Twitter-based tech data digger Tum Apisak unearthed the processor validation page, and suggests it is confirmation of a leak he shared last month; showing a ‘nothing exciting’ Raptor Lake processor with a base clock of 3,415 MHz. The key points to note here are that the next-gen processor's base clock looks like it is just 100 MHz above current gen, and there has been no apparent adjustment of the core configuration; it is still a 4C / 8T part. As ever with leaks, take the speculation with a grain of salt.

(Image credit: Future)

Tom's Hardware reviewed the Intel Core i3-12100 this summer, and it received four out of five stars for its compelling price / performance ratio. Notably it offered Alder Lake's leading single-thread performance, and the 4C / 8T configuration still managed to do pretty well in PC gaming in 2022. Other positives were its relatively low power consumption, and ability to enjoy some performance boost with overclocked memory (with suitable memory / motherboard). It exists in a market segment where AMD doesn't offer a great deal of competition. However, Intel's apparent foot dragging here, in the generational move to the i3-13100, isn't going to win any favor.

So how do the specs of the i3-13100 compare the i3-12100? A quick scan of what little information there is and it seems that the 13100 is an incremental update to the previous generation.

Swipe to scroll horizontally
Header Cell - Column 0 Intel Core i3-12100Intel Core i3-13100
Performance cores4C / 8T4C / 8T
Base / boost clocks3.3 / 4.3 GHz3.4 / ?.? GHz
Efficiency CoresNANA
L3 cache12MB12MB
TDP60W60W?
Launch price$139$ a RKL premium?
AvailableJan 2022Jan 2023?

Two of the big features of the upcoming Raptor Lake family are; improved architecture performance cores (AKA Raptor Cove), and the doubling or addition of efficiency cores (Gracemont, same architecture as Alder Lake). If this leak and some other rumors swirling at this time are correct, then the upcoming Intel Core i3-13100 will benefit from neither of these attractions. In other words, it is thought the i3-13100 will be simply a 13th gen refresh based on a clock bumped Alder Lake die.

Official specs of the Core i3-13100 probably won't be shared until 2023

Intel has only been officially discussing the launch trio of 'K' suffixed overclockable CPUs so far. It is scheduled to let loose its upcoming Core i9-13900K, i7-13700K, and i5-13600K LGA1700 chips, along with the overclocking friendly Z790 motherboards on October 20, with pre-orders starting on Oct 13 (this Thursday). However, mainstream PC DIYers and pre-built customers will often favor one of the wide range of non-K chips that will eventually be released - due to budget and power consumption considerations. Non-K processors like the titular Intel Core i3-13100 probably won't be launched until CES 2023 in January, if Intel follows last year's playbook.

Mark Tyson
News Editor

Mark Tyson is a news editor at Tom's Hardware. He enjoys covering the full breadth of PC tech; from business and semiconductor design to products approaching the edge of reason.

  • sherhi
    Even 1 e core would be amazing for this CPU but probably way too good for its price, average users would just jump on it, more so if it had like 4+2
    Reply
  • eye4bear
    That is exactly why it will not get the 2 extra chips, so Intel can sell those users a higher priced chip.
    Reply
  • Dakkoch
    Who knows we might get it by december this time. Raptorlake will hit the store a month earlier sometimes this month in october compared to alderlake which was in late november
    The lower end alder lake was launched in january so we might see the lower end raptorlake launch a month early too
    Reply
  • cyrusfox
    if cache is the same doesn't this mean it is still Alder Lake silicon? I thought the big cores got an update with cache, so sounds like low end is only getting minor clockspeed bump and no other benefit. What's old is new again...


    Update looks like I am wrong these are the new raptor cores but they are keeping cache the same for i3.
    Reply
  • spentshells
    How long till an i3 is just 8 e cores? This is interesting to me.
    Reply
  • TerryLaze
    spentshells said:
    How long till an i3 is just 8 e cores? This is interesting to me.
    Never.
    If they ever release an e-cores only CPU it will be a new SKU and probably even a completely different line of CPUs, maybe it would make sense in the server market or something, I can't see it being of much interest for desktop.
    Reply
  • thestryker
    spentshells said:
    How long till an i3 is just 8 e cores? This is interesting to me.
    This would be Alder Lake-N where I believe they're up to 8 e-cores N100/N200 are the rumored CPUs with 4/8 e-cores.

    cyrusfox said:
    if cache is the same doesn't this mean it is still Alder Lake silicon? I thought the big cores got an update with cache, so sounds like low end is only getting minor clockspeed bump and no other benefit. What's old is new again...


    Update looks like I am wrong these are the new raptor cores but they are keeping cache the same for i3.
    From everything I've seen they are new revisions of Alder Lake cores rather than RPL. This somewhat makes sense as Intel wouldn't have to design a new core for a market they have no real competition in.
    Reply
  • KyaraM
    TerryLaze said:
    Never.
    If they ever release an e-cores only CPU it will be a new SKU and probably even a completely different line of CPUs, maybe it would make sense in the server market or something, I can't see it being of much interest for desktop.
    I think I have seen an article about this type of CPU leaked a while ago, but I can't find it anymore... it was on this website, though.
    Reply