Intel Core i3-10300 vs Intel Core i7-1180G7 Comparison

The Intel Core i3-10300 and the Intel Core i7-1180G7 occupy nearly identical positions in the aggregate benchmark hierarchy, yet they are fundamentally different products. The data shows the desktop i3-10300 edges out the mobile i7-1180G7 in every Cinebench test recorded, but the margins are remarkably thin. The Core i3-10300 holds an average benchmark score of 1934 against 1930 for the Core i7-1180G7, a difference of only 0.2 percent. Both processors sit at the 43rd percentile among all CPUs, placing them in the same performance tier despite their divergent designs.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results are consistent across all six Cinebench tests, with the Core i3-10300 winning every round. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i3-10300 scores 673 against 672 for the i7-1180G7, a delta of 0.1 percent. The single-core R15 test shows a slightly larger gap: 95 versus 94, giving the i3-10300 a 1.1 percent advantage. Moving to Cinebench R20, the multi-core scores are 2808 versus 2802 (0.2 percent delta), and single-core scores are 396 versus 395 (0.3 percent delta). The Cinebench R23 results mirror this pattern, with the i3-10300 scoring 6687 multi-core and 944 single-core, against 6672 and 942 for the i7-1180G7, each a 0.2 percent difference.

These margins are negligible in real-world terms. The largest delta, 1.1 percent in R15 single-core, is barely measurable outside synthetic benchmarks. What is notable is that the desktop part wins all six head-to-head matchups despite having a lower boost clock of 4.40 GHz compared to 4.60 GHz on the i7-1180G7. The i7-1180G7’s higher boost clock does not translate into a single benchmark victory. For context, the nearest rival to the i3-10300, the AMD Opteron 6348, matches its average score of 1930 exactly, while the Intel Core i7-7820HQ sits at 1940 (0.3 percent higher) and the Core i7-9850HL at 1941 (0.4 percent higher). The i7-1180G7’s nearest rival is the AMD Opteron 6348 at equal score, followed by the i3-10300 itself at a 0.2 percent deficit.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two chips is stark. The Core i3-10300 is built on Intel’s 14 nm process using the Comet Lake architecture, while the Core i7-1180G7 uses the 10 nm Tiger Lake architecture with the Willow Cove-U core design. The process node difference is significant: the i7-1180G7 packs a die size of 144 mm², while the i3-10300 lists no die size in the available data. Cache configurations diverge substantially. The i3-10300 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 per core, with 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The i7-1180G7 more than doubles this: 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. This larger cache pool does not yield a performance advantage in the tested workloads.

Memory support differs by design intent. The desktop i3-10300 uses DDR4 memory over a dual-channel bus with a peak bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. The mobile i7-1180G7 uses LPDDR4X memory, also dual-channel, but with a lower bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s. PCIe connectivity also separates them: the i3-10300 provides Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i7-1180G7 offers Gen 4 with just 4 lanes (CPU only). The i7-1180G7’s integrated graphics, Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 96EU, is a more capable part than the UHD Graphics 630 in the i3-10300, though no graphics benchmarks are included in this data set. Neither chip supports ECC memory, and both are multiplier-unlocked false, meaning locked overclocking.

The Verdict

The data points to a near-total performance tie with a slight edge to the Core i3-10300. In every Cinebench test, the i3-10300 wins, but the largest margin is 1.1 percent and most are under 0.3 percent. This means that for pure CPU compute in Cinebench workloads, the i3-10300 is technically the faster chip, but the difference falls within run-to-run variance. The i7-1180G7 does not win a single benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, yet its average score of 1930 is only 0.2 percent behind the i3-10300’s 1934.

The choice between these two should come down to platform and usage context, not raw performance. The i3-10300 is a desktop part on the Intel Socket 1200 platform with a 62 W TDP, while the i7-1180G7 is a mobile part on Intel BGA 1598 with a 9 W TDP. That 53 W TDP difference tells a story: the i7-1180G7 achieves nearly identical scores at a fraction of the power envelope. For a desktop system where power is not a constraint, the i3-10300 is the marginally faster option. For a thin-and-light laptop, the i7-1180G7 delivers the same level of performance in a vastly more power-efficient package. The production status confirms this: the i3-10300 is active, while the i7-1180G7 is end-of-life.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ on nearly every major specification field. The i3-10300 has a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz, while the i7-1180G7 has a base clock of 1300.00 MHz (1.30 GHz) and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. TDP is the largest differentiator: 62 W for the i3-10300 versus 9 W for the i7-1180G7. Socket types are incompatible: Intel Socket 1200 for the desktop part, Intel BGA 1598 for the mobile part.

Process technology and die size differ: 14 nm for the i3-10300, 10 nm for the i7-1180G7, with the latter listing a 144 mm² die. Cache hierarchies are different across all levels: L1 is 64 KB per core versus 80 KB per core, L2 is 256 KB per core versus 1.25 MB per core, and L3 is 8 MB shared versus 12 MB shared. Memory support differs: DDR4 versus LPDDR4X, with bandwidths of 42.7 GB/s versus 34.1 GB/s. PCIe connectivity differs: Gen 3 with 16 lanes versus Gen 4 with 4 lanes. Integrated graphics are different: UHD Graphics 630 versus Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 96EU. Market segment is Desktop versus Mobile. Release dates differ: 2020-04-29 for the i3-10300, 2021-03-30 for the i7-1180G7. The i7-1180G7 has a launch MSRP of $426. The i3-10300 has no listed launch MSRP. Part numbers are SRH3J and SRK0D, respectively.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i3-10300 has an average benchmark score of 1934, which is 0.2 percent higher than the Core i7-1180G7’s 1930.

Q: How many benchmark tests did each processor win in the head-to-head comparison?

A: The Core i3-10300 won all six head-to-head Cinebench tests. The Core i7-1180G7 won zero.

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

A: The Core i3-10300 has a TDP of 62 W, while the Core i7-1180G7 has a TDP of 9 W, a difference of 53 W.

Q: Do these processors use the same memory type?

A: No. The Core i3-10300 supports DDR4 memory, while the Core i7-1180G7 supports LPDDR4X memory. Both use a dual-channel bus.

Q: What is the L3 cache capacity for each processor?

A: The Core i3-10300 has 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core i7-1180G7 has 12 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Core i7-1180G7 has a boost clock of 4.60 GHz, which is higher than the Core i3-10300’s 4.40 GHz boost clock.

Where Each One Wins

The Core i3-10300 wins on raw benchmark performance, taking all six Cinebench tests with deltas ranging from 0.1 percent to 1.1 percent. It also wins on memory bandwidth, offering 42.7 GB/s versus 34.1 GB/s for the i7-1180G7. Its PCIe implementation is more expansive for desktop use: Gen 3 with 16 lanes versus Gen 4 with 4 lanes on the mobile part. The i3-10300 is also the active production part, whereas the i7-1180G7 is end-of-life.

The Core i7-1180G7 wins on power efficiency, with a 9 W TDP versus 62 W for the i3-10300. This makes it the obvious choice for mobile platforms where battery life and thermal headroom matter. It also wins on process technology, using a 10 nm node versus 14 nm for the desktop chip. The i7-1180G7 has a larger cache hierarchy across all levels, including 12 MB of L3 versus 8 MB. Its integrated graphics, Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 96EU, is a more advanced solution than the UHD Graphics 630. The i7-1180G7 also has a higher boost clock at 4.60 GHz versus 4.40 GHz, though this does not translate into benchmark wins. For a single-user laptop scenario, the i7-1180G7 delivers essentially identical Cinebench performance at 9 W, making it the superior choice for ultraportable systems. For a desktop workstation where power is not a concern, the i3-10300’s marginal benchmark advantage and active production status make it the safer pick.