Intel Core i3-10305 vs Intel Core i5-10400H Comparison

# Intel Core i5-10400H vs Intel Core i3-10305

The Intel Core i3-10305 is the outright winner across every benchmark in this comparison, taking all six head-to-head tests with a consistent 11.5–11.7% lead over the Intel Core i5-10400H. Despite the i5's "higher-tier" naming within the same Core 10th Gen family, the data shows the desktop i3-10305 outperforms the mobile i5-10400H in both single-core and multi-core workloads, making it the stronger processor for raw performance in every measured scenario.

The Verdict

The Intel Core i3-10305 is the superior processor for anyone prioritizing raw compute performance, as it wins all six benchmark comparisons against the Intel Core i5-10400H. The i3-10305 leads by 11.5% in multi-core Cinebench tests (R15, R20, R23) and by 11.6–11.7% in single-core tests, demonstrating a decisive and uniform advantage across both rendering and single-threaded workloads. The i5-10400H, while competitive in its own right, trails in every measurable category; its 47th percentile ranking among all CPUs matches the i3-10305's percentile, but the i3's higher average benchmark score of 2264 versus the i5's 2303 (which is actually lower despite the i5's higher average — note the i3's average is 2264 and the i5's is 2303, yet the i3 wins all head-to-heads, indicating the i5's average is skewed by Geekbench results not present in the head-to-head set) reveals a nuanced picture. For desktop users with access to Socket 1200 motherboards, the i3-10305 is the clear choice based on benchmark data alone. The i5-10400H, being a mobile part on BGA 1440, targets laptops and compact systems where its 45W TDP and integrated UHD Graphics (non-630 variant) may be more relevant than peak performance. However, strictly from the numbers, the i3-10305 wins decisively, and the data does not support choosing the i5-10400H for any performance-driven application.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i3-10305 wins every single benchmark category in the head-to-head comparison, making it the dominant part across all use cases measured. In multi-core workloads — Cinebench R15 multi-core (788 vs 697), R20 multi-core (3287 vs 2908), and R23 multi-core (7828 vs 6924) — the i3-10305 maintains a consistent 11.5% advantage, which translates to faster rendering, video encoding, and compilation tasks that leverage all 8 threads. In single-core tests, the i3-10305 also prevails, with R15 single-core (111 vs 98), R20 single-core (464 vs 410), and R23 single-core (1105 vs 977) all showing an 11.6–11.7% lead, indicating better responsiveness in lightly-threaded applications like gaming, web browsing, and office productivity. The Intel Core i5-10400H, by contrast, wins zero benchmarks in this comparison. Its strengths lie outside the measured tests: it features a lower 45W TDP versus the i3's 65W, making it more suitable for thermally constrained mobile environments, and it supports DDR3 memory in addition to DDR4, offering broader memory compatibility for older systems. The i5-10400H also has a higher boost clock of 4.60 GHz versus the i3's 4.50 GHz, but this does not translate into benchmark victories, likely due to the i3's higher base clock of 3.80 GHz versus 2.60 GHz, which gives the desktop part a sustained performance advantage. For users in the mobile segment, the i5-10400H's lower power draw and BGA 1440 socket are practical benefits, but the benchmark data is unambiguous: the i3-10305 outperforms it in all measured workloads.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on Intel's Comet Lake architecture, but they belong to different sub-families: the i5-10400H uses Comet Lake-H (mobile) while the i3-10305 uses Comet Lake-R (desktop). Both are manufactured on Intel's 14 nm process node, and both feature 4 cores and 8 threads, indicating identical core and thread counts. The cache hierarchies are similar but not identical: both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, but the i3-10305 has a larger 8 MB shared L3 cache compared to the i5-10400H's 6 MB shared L3 cache. This 2 MB difference in L3 cache likely contributes to the i3's performance advantage, as larger shared caches can reduce memory latency and improve hit rates in multi-threaded workloads. The base clocks differ significantly: the i3-10305 runs at 3.80 GHz base, while the i5-10400H operates at 2.60 GHz base — a 1.2 GHz gap that favors the desktop part in sustained workloads. Boost clocks are closer, with the i5-10400H reaching 4.60 GHz and the i3-10305 hitting 4.50 GHz, but the i3's higher base clock provides a more consistent performance floor. The TDPs reflect their intended markets: the i5-10400H is rated at 45W for mobile thermal envelopes, while the i3-10305 draws 65W in desktop configurations. The sockets are incompatible — the i5-10400H uses Intel BGA 1440 (soldered to the motherboard), while the i3-10305 uses Intel Socket 1200 (LGA, replaceable). Memory support differs as well: the i5-10400H supports both DDR3 and DDR4 in dual-channel configuration with 46.9 GB/s bandwidth, while the i3-10305 supports only DDR4 with 42.7 GB/s bandwidth. Both use PCIe Gen 3, but the i3-10305 specifies 16 lanes from the CPU, while the i5-10400H's PCIe configuration is not detailed. Integrated graphics differ slightly: the i5-10400H has UHD Graphics (unnamed variant), while the i3-10305 has UHD Graphics 630. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, and both are listed as Active production with ECC memory not supported.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher base clock speed?

A: The Intel Core i3-10305 has a higher base clock of 3.80 GHz compared to the Intel Core i5-10400H's 2.60 GHz.

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-10400H have more cache than the i3-10305?

A: No, the opposite is true. The i3-10305 has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i5-10400H has only 6 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: What are the TDP differences between these two processors?

A: The Intel Core i5-10400H has a 45W TDP, making it more power-efficient for mobile use, while the Intel Core i3-10305 has a 65W TDP, reflecting its desktop design.

Q: Are these processors compatible with the same motherboards?

A: No, they use different sockets. The i5-10400H uses Intel BGA 1440, which is soldered onto the board, while the i3-10305 uses Intel Socket 1200, which is a replaceable LGA socket.

Q: Which processor wins in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Core i3-10305 wins with a score of 7828, compared to the Intel Core i5-10400H's 6924, a difference of 11.5%.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No, neither processor supports ECC memory; both have ECC memory set to false.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a remarkably consistent pattern: the Intel Core i3-10305 beats the Intel Core i5-10400H by nearly identical margins across all six tests. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i3-10305 scores 788 against the i5-10400H's 697, a delta of -11.5% from the i5's perspective. The single-core R15 test shows a similar gap: 111 versus 98, a -11.7% delta. This consistency suggests the i3's advantage is not workload-specific but rather a fundamental performance edge, likely driven by its higher base clock and larger L3 cache. Moving to Cinebench R20, the pattern holds: multi-core scores are 3287 for the i3-10305 versus 2908 for the i5-10400H (-11.5%), and single-core scores are 464 versus 410 (-11.6%). The largest absolute difference appears in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the i3-10305 scores 7828 and the i5-10400H scores 6924, a gap of 904 points. The single-core R23 test shows 1105 versus 977, a -11.6% delta. These margins are substantial in real-world terms — an 11.5% multi-core lead means the i3-10305 will complete rendering tasks noticeably faster, and the 11.6–11.7% single-core lead translates to snappier response in everyday applications. Notably, the i5-10400H's Geekbench scores (5000 multi-core, 1413 single-core) and its average benchmark score of 2303 are not directly comparable to the i3-10305's head-to-head results, but the i3's average of 2264, despite being lower, does not dilute its superior performance in the six Cinebench tests where both were measured. The data is unambiguous: the i3-10305 wins every benchmark by a consistent margin, making it the better-performing processor in both multi-threaded and single-threaded scenarios.