Intel Core i3-10110U vs Intel Core i3-N300 Comparison

The Intel Core i3-N300 and Intel Core i3-10110U are two mobile processors that land in the same overall performance percentile but achieve it through completely different design philosophies. The N300, a newer 8-core Gracemont part, trades single-thread speed for multi-thread throughput, while the 10110U, an older 2-core Comet Lake chip, relies on high clock speeds for snappy single-thread responses. Benchmark results indicate that the N300 wins 4 of the 6 head-to-head comparisons, but the 10110U takes the most important victory in the latest multi-core test.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i3-N300 is the clear winner for multi-threaded workloads that scale across many cores. Its 8 physical cores give it a massive advantage in older Cinebench versions, with a 27.6% lead in R15 multicore and a 109.6% lead in R20 multicore. The N300 also takes the R20 single-core test with a 109.9% margin, which is surprising given its lower boost clock. In the most recent R23 single-core test, it maintains a 12.5% advantage, showing that its Gracemont architecture is efficient even at lower frequencies.

The Intel Core i3-10110U wins in two specific areas: R15 single-core and R23 multicore. The R15 single-core result is a dominant 47.5% advantage, driven by its 4.10 GHz boost clock versus the N300’s 3.70 GHz. The R23 multicore win is more interesting — the 10110U scores 3236 versus 2546, a 21.3% margin, despite having only 2 cores and 4 threads. This suggests that the 10110U’s higher sustained clocks and older but faster per-core architecture can outperform the N300 in certain sustained multi-threaded scenarios, particularly those that don’t scale perfectly across 8 cores.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from different eras and design philosophies. The N300 uses the Gracemont architecture on a 10 nm process, while the 10110U uses Comet Lake on a 14 nm process. This node difference explains much of the efficiency gap — the N300 has a 7 W TDP, while the 10110U has a 25 W TDP, meaning the N300 delivers comparable or better multi-threaded performance at less than a third of the power budget.

Core counts differ dramatically: the N300 has 8 cores and 8 threads, while the 10110U has 2 cores and 4 threads. Cache configurations also diverge. The N300 offers 96 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per module, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The 10110U offers 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and only 4 MB of shared L3. The N300’s larger L3 cache helps with multi-threaded workloads, while the 10110U’s per-core L2 is more generous relative to its core count.

Memory support differs as well. The N300 supports DDR4 and DDR5 with a single-channel bus and a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The 10110U supports DDR3 and DDR4 but has no listed memory bus or bandwidth figures. The N300 also has a PCIe Gen 3 interface with 9 lanes (CPU only), while the 10110U has no PCIe information listed. Both have integrated graphics, but the N300 uses UHD Graphics 770, while the 10110U has a generic UHD Graphics solution.

Socket and production status also separate them. The N300 uses Intel BGA 1264 and is still Active, while the 10110U uses Intel BGA 1440 and is End-of-life. The release dates differ by over three years, with the N300 launching in January 2023 and the 10110U in August 2019.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear split based on workload type. For users who run heavily multi-threaded applications — compiling code, rendering, or running multiple virtual machines — the Intel Core i3-N300 is the better choice. It offers 109.6% higher R20 multicore scores and 27.6% higher R15 multicore scores, plus a 12.5% edge in R23 single-core. Its 7 W TDP also makes it far more suitable for fanless or ultra-low-power designs.

The Intel Core i3-10110U is better for users who prioritize legacy single-thread performance. Its 47.5% lead in R15 single-core is substantial, and its R23 multicore win suggests it can hold its own in lighter multi-threaded tasks despite fewer cores. However, with a 25 W TDP and end-of-life status, it is harder to recommend for new designs.

The N300 also wins on longevity. It is an Active production part, while the 10110U is End-of-life. The N300’s newer 10 nm process and support for DDR5 make it more future-proof. The 10110U’s DDR3 support is a legacy feature, but its lack of memory bandwidth data and PCIe info makes it less transparent.

For a new purchase, the N300 is the safer bet. For an existing 10110U system, the data does not justify an upgrade if single-thread tasks dominate. The 10110U’s R23 multicore win is notable, but the N300’s superior wattage efficiency and broader multi-threaded wins make it the more balanced processor.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core i3-N300 has 8 cores and 8 threads. The Intel Core i3-10110U has 2 cores and 4 threads.

Q: Which processor wins in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The Intel Core i3-10110U wins with a score of 3236, which is 21.3% higher than the Intel Core i3-N300’s 2546.

Q: What is the TDP difference between these two chips?

A: The Intel Core i3-N300 has a 7 W TDP, while the Intel Core i3-10110U has a 25 W TDP.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i3-10110U has a 4.10 GHz boost clock, compared to the Intel Core i3-N300’s 3.70 GHz.

Q: Does the Intel Core i3-N300 support DDR5 memory?

A: Yes, the Intel Core i3-N300 supports both DDR4 and DDR5. The Intel Core i3-10110U supports only DDR3 and DDR4.

Q: Which processor is still in production?

A: The Intel Core i3-N300 is listed as Active, while the Intel Core i3-10110U is End-of-life.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The biggest win for the Intel Core i3-N300 comes in Cinebench R20 multicore, where it scores 2849 against the 10110U’s 1359. That is a 109.6% margin — more than double the performance. The R20 single-core test is equally lopsided, with the N300 scoring 401 versus 191, a 109.9% delta. These results show that the N300’s 8-core design dominates in tests that reward parallel execution and can also outpace the older chip in single-threaded R20 workloads.

The N300 also wins Cinebench R15 multicore with 416 versus 326, a 27.6% margin. In R23 single-core, it scores 513 versus 456, a 12.5% advantage. These wins suggest that the N300’s Gracemont cores are not just more numerous but also competitively fast per clock in modern benchmarks.

The Intel Core i3-10110U’s biggest win is in Cinebench R15 single-core, where it scores 162 against the N300’s 85. That is a 47.5% margin, driven by its 4.10 GHz boost clock. The 10110U also wins Cinebench R23 multicore with 3236 versus 2546, a 21.3% margin. This R23 result is the most surprising — it indicates that the 10110U’s two cores can outperform the N300’s eight cores in a sustained multi-threaded workload, likely due to higher sustained clocks and a more mature scheduler response.

Overall, the N300 wins 4 of 6 head-to-head tests, but the 10110U takes the two most modern benchmarks (R23 multicore and R15 single-core). The N300’s wins are larger in magnitude, with two tests exceeding 100% deltas, while the 10110U’s wins are 47.5% and 21.3%. This suggests the N300 is more consistently strong, while the 10110U has specific strengths that may matter for certain applications.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts are the most obvious difference: the N300 has 8 cores and 8 threads, while the 10110U has 2 cores and 4 threads. Base clocks diverge significantly, with the N300 at 100 MHz (effectively a placeholder) and the 10110U at 2.10 GHz. Boost clocks also differ, with the N300 at 3.70 GHz and the 10110U at 4.10 GHz.

TDP is a major differentiator: the N300 is rated at 7 W, while the 10110U is rated at 25 W. The process node also differs — 10 nm for the N300 versus 14 nm for the 10110U. Cache layouts are distinct: the N300 has 96 KB L1 per core, 2 MB L2 per module, and 6 MB shared L3; the 10110U has 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 4 MB shared L3.

Memory support varies: the N300 supports DDR4 and DDR5, while the 10110U supports DDR3 and DDR4. The N300 has a listed memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s and a single-channel bus, while the 10110U has no memory bus or bandwidth data. The N300 has PCIe Gen 3 with 9 lanes (CPU only), while the 10110U has no PCIe information.

Integrated graphics differ: the N300 uses UHD Graphics 770, while the 10110U uses a generic UHD Graphics. Sockets are different: BGA 1264 for the N300 and BGA 1440 for the 10110U. Production status also differs — Active for the N300, End-of-life for the 10110U. Release dates are January 2023 for the N300 and August 2019 for the 10110U. The N300 has a launch MSRP of $309; the 10110U has no launch MSRP listed.