Intel Core i3-N305 vs Intel Core i5-11260H

Processor comparisons 29-09-2022

   Perhaps you are thinking about choosing a processor, you will be able to make a choice by looking at the Intel Core i3-N305 vs Intel Core i5-11260H tests and decide which is better for games or simple use for rendering, video editing, machine learning, streaming, programming. Here is all information from real video editing and streaming tests or various benchmarks. A careful review of all the specifications, to make it easier to understand, is summarized in the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of joint testing in special test applications such as Cinebench 23 (20, 15), SuperPi, Handbrake, WPrime, AIDA64, RealBench, Blender, GeekBench 6, 5.2, MATLAB, UserBenchmark, Furmark, VeraCrypt, Prime95, Dolphin Emulator, Blender, 3DMark, 7zip, PCMark 10, Gears 5, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, PassMark, DaVinci Resolve Studio.
   And how good the CPUs are in games:

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

After looking at the data these benchmarks and videos, you already be able to know which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i5-11260H or Intel Core i3-N305.

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-N305

55%

Core i5-11260H

54%

This shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i3-N305 is 1% better than Core i5-11260H. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i3-N305

52%

Core i5-11260H

53%

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

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	93.1	95.0
Valorant	105.8	108.0
Cyberpunk 2077	59.3	60.5
Apex Legends	99.5	101.5
Call of Duty Warzone	79.4	81.0
Overwatch	85.7	87.4
Red Dead Redemption 2	73.0	74.5
DOOM Eternal	52.9	54.0
Warzone	82.5	84.2
Assassin's Creed	88.9	90.7
Valheim	87.8	89.6

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 comparing not only were the equipped with different amounts of RAM and different video cards. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 2K, 4K or FullHD. Therefore, 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-N305

501%

Core i5-11260H

143%

To make a finishing resolution 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 i3-N305 is more energy efficient than the Core i5-11260H as it consumes less power: 7W vs. 32W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, it will be useful to know its TDP. 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 want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for streaming, programming, machine learning, video editing or video rendering, then first of all you need to pay attention to the performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the CPU includes all threads and cores that it has to the maximum to reach maximum efficiency. You will learn this data from the benchmark tables below. Before using the data from these tests, be sure to find out whether the software that you are going to use on your computer can work in multi-threaded mode. Because there are still many programs that use only one core to work, and all the benefit of multi-core mode turns out to be unnecessary.

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

	Intel Core i3-N305	Intel Core i5-11260H
Cinbench 15 Single-core	225	213
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	1627	1504
Cinbench 20 Single-core	535	739
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	3691	2636
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1250	1895
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	12158	8344

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

	Intel Core i3-N305	Intel Core i5-11260H
Single-Core	2918	3904
Multi-Core	17887	14013

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

	Intel Core i3-N305	Intel Core i5-11260H
Single-Core	1054	1380
Multi-Core	5026	6865

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the processor release date and overclocking capability will be the most useful. The later the processor is released, the longer it will last you. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system later. The same can be said about overclocking. When the processor can be overclocked, thereby increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain 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-N305	Intel Core i5-11260H
Announcement date	January 26, 2023	May 01, 2021
Type	Laptop	Laptop
Socket	FCBGA1264	FCBGA1787
Core name	Alder Lake-N	Tiger Lake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	13	11
Turbo Frequency	3.8 MHz	4.4 MHz
Frequency	1.8 MHz	2.6 MHz
Cores	8	6
Threads	8	12
Bus rate	8 GT/s	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	7 nm	10 nm
Transistors count	9800 millions	5200 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	7 W	32 W
Memory type	DDR4 3200 MT/s DDR5 4800 MT/s LPDDR5 4800 MT/s	Up to 3200 MT/s
Max. Memory	16 Gb	128 Gb
Memory Frequency
Memory bandwidth	45.8 GB/s	51.2 GB/s
L1 cache	384KB
L2 cache	2MB
L3 cache	6 MB	12 MB
Overclocking	No	No
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number	Expansion Options

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Core i5-11260H is 30% better than Core i3-N305 in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i3-N305 has 2 more core than Core i5-11260H. 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-N305 is better: 14
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i5-11260H is better: 21
Although it should be understood that all the data in the article above do not mean that taking them into account you should totally trust a simple comparison of these numbers. Be sure to watch the testing video and read the reviews of real owners of Intel Core i3-N305 and Intel Core i5-11260H before making a selection which processor to buy for gaming and which not.

Intel Core i3-N305 - all data

• Cinebench r15 score
• Cinebench r20 score
• Cinebench r23 score
• GeekBench 6, 5.2 score

• Intel Core i3-N305 specs and review.

Intel Core i5-11260H - all data

• Cinebench r15 score
• Cinebench r20 score
• Cinebench r23 score
• GeekBench 6, 5.2 score

• Intel Core i5-11260H specs and review.