Intel Core i3-N300 vs Intel Core i5-1230U

Processor comparisons 29-09-2022

   Let's say you have difficulties with the choice of a CPU, you will solve them by reading the comprehensive tests Intel Core i3-N300 vs Intel Core i5-1230U and see which is better for games or normal use for streaming, machine learning, video editing, rendering, programming. Here is all information from many benchmarks or real video editing and streaming tests. A careful review of all the technical characteristics, to make it easier to read, is summarized in the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of joint testing in special testing software such as SuperPi, 7zip, Furmark, Blender, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, 3DMark, WPrime, PassMark, DaVinci Resolve Studio, PCMark 10, VeraCrypt, Handbrake, UserBenchmark, AIDA64, Gears 5, GeekBench 6, 5.2, Prime95, Blender, RealBench, Dolphin Emulator, MATLAB, Cinebench 23 (20, 15).
   Gaming performance of processors in:

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

After reading the results of all benchmarks and videos, you already be able to figure out which CPU is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i5-1230U or Intel Core i3-N300.

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-N300

54%

Core i5-1230U

55%

This parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i5-1230U is 1% better than Core i3-N300. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i3-N300

52%

Core i5-1230U

53%

The maximum result in this parameter is 100 percent, which is the performance of the most powerful processor at the moment. 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 low game result, look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the summary table below.
List of other games in which processors were compared: Hitman 3, Metro Exodus, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Battlefield V, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Control, League of Legends (LOL), DOTA 2A, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Ghostrunner, Monster Hunter World, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Forza Horizon 4, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Horizon Zero Dawn, NBA 2K20, Half-Life: Alyx.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	92.1	94.7
Valorant	104.7	107.6
Cyberpunk 2077	58.6	60.2
Apex Legends	98.4	101.1
Call of Duty Warzone	78.5	80.7
Overwatch	84.8	87.1
Red Dead Redemption 2	72.2	74.2
DOOM Eternal	52.4	53.8
Warzone	81.7	83.9
Assassin's Creed	88.0	90.4
Valheim	86.9	89.3

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 that were in the comparisons not only did they have different amounts of RAM and different video cards. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 2K, FullHD or 4K. 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-N300

498%

Core i5-1230U

435%

To make a finishing choice on which processor is better, you should also consider the generation of its core. The newer the processor generation, the better its performance in games and benchmarks, as well as its energy efficiency. In this case the Core i3-N300 is more energy efficient than the Core i5-1230U since it has less power consumption: 7W vs. 9W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. And TDP should be taken into account when choosing a processor cooling system. It is necessary to calculate so that the TDP data specified in the cooler specification is 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 programming, machine learning, streaming, video rendering or video editing, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to reach maximum performance, the processor turns on all cores and threads that it has. You will find out this data from the benchmark tables below. Before using the data from these tests, be sure to check whether the program you are going to use on your computer supports multi-threaded mode. Since there are still many programs that use only one core to work, and all the advantages 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-N300	Intel Core i5-1230U
Cinbench 15 Single-core	201	216
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	1403	1591
Cinbench 20 Single-core	467	522
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	3172	3613
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1079	1221
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	10430	11909

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

	Intel Core i3-N300	Intel Core i5-1230U
Single-Core	2510	2856
Multi-Core	15340	16672

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

	Intel Core i3-N300	Intel Core i5-1230U
Single-Core	1047	1177
Multi-Core	4058	6538

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most helpful will be the the possibility of overclocking it and release date of the processor. The newer the processor, the longer it will last you. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system later. The same can be said about overclocking. If the processor can be overclocked, thereby increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce maximum FPS in the newest games. The savings are obvious! Accordingly, you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	Intel Core i3-N300	Intel Core i5-1230U
Announcement date	January 25, 2023	January 07, 2022
Type	Laptop	Laptop
Socket	FCBGA1264	FCBGA1744
Core name	Alder Lake-N	Alder Lake-U
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	13	12
Turbo Frequency	3.8 MHz	4.4 MHz
Frequency	1.74 MHz	1 MHz
Cores	8	10
Threads	8	12
Bus rate	8 GT/s	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	7 nm	10 nm
Transistors count	9800 millions	9800 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	7 W	9 W
Memory type	DDR4 3200 MT/s DDR5 4800 MT/s LPDDR5 4800 MT/s	Up to DDR5 4800 MT/s Up to DDR4 3200 MT/s Up to LPDDR5 5200 MT/s Up to LPDDR4x 4267 MT/s
Max. Memory	16 Gb	64 Gb
Memory Frequency
Memory bandwidth	45.8 GB/s	45.8 GB/s
L1 cache	384KB
L2 cache	2MB
L3 cache	6 MB	24 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 i3-N300 is 42% better than Core i5-1230U in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i5-1230U has 2 more core than Core i3-N300. 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-N300 is better: 8
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i5-1230U is better: 25
Although it should be understood that all the number that you have looked at here do not mean that taking them into account you should fully trust a simple comparison of these figures. Be sure to watch benchmarks video and read the reviews of real owners of Intel Core i3-N300 and Intel Core i5-1230U before making a decision which of the CPUs to buy for gaming.

Intel Core i3-N300 - all data

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

• Intel Core i3-N300 specs and review.

Intel Core i5-1230U - all data

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

• Intel Core i5-1230U specs and review.