Intel Core i3-10305 vs Intel Core i7-1068NG7 Comparison

FAQ

Q: How do the two processors compare in overall average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i3-10305 has an average benchmark score of 2264, while the Intel Core i7-1068NG7 scores 2259. That puts the i3-10305 just 0.2% ahead of the i7-1068NG7, making them statistically near-identical in aggregate performance. Both CPUs rank at the 47th percentile among all CPUs.

Q: Which processor wins in Cinebench R23 multi-core performance, and by how much?

A: The Intel Core i3-10305 wins the Cinebench R23 multi-core test with a score of 7828 versus 7810 for the i7-1068NG7, a delta of 0.2%. This is the largest multi-core margin in the head-to-head results, though still very small.

Q: What are the clock speed differences between the two chips?

A: The i3-10305 has a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz. The i7-1068NG7 has a base clock of 2.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. The i3-10305 runs at substantially higher clocks at both ends, yet the benchmark scores remain close because the i7-1068NG7 uses a more advanced process node.

Q: What is the difference in process node and die size?

A: The i3-10305 is built on Intel's 14 nm process (Comet Lake), while the i7-1068NG7 uses the 10 nm process (Ice Lake). The i7-1068NG7 has a die size of 123 mm²; the i3-10305 does not have a listed die size in the data.

Q: Which processor has a higher TDP?

A: The i3-10305 has a TDP of 65 watts, while the i7-1068NG7 has a TDP of 28 watts. This reflects their market segments: the i3-10305 is a desktop chip, whereas the i7-1068NG7 is a mobile processor.

Q: What are the memory bandwidth figures for each CPU?

A: The i3-10305 supports dual-channel DDR4 with a memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. The i7-1068NG7 also supports dual-channel DDR4 but achieves a higher memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, which is about 20% more despite the mobile form factor.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent different architectural generations and market segments within Intel's 10th Gen lineup. The Intel Core i3-10305 is a desktop part based on the Comet Lake architecture, specifically the Comet Lake-R codename, built on Intel's 14 nm process. It uses the Intel Socket 1200 and belongs to the Core i3 (Comet Lake) generation. The Intel Core i7-1068NG7 is a mobile processor based on the Ice Lake architecture, codenamed Ice Lake-U, built on Intel's 10 nm process with a die size of 123 mm². It uses the Intel BGA 1344 socket and belongs to the Core i7 (Sunny Cove-U) generation.

The core and thread counts are identical: both have 4 cores and 8 threads. The cache hierarchy is also the same — 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. Neither processor supports ECC memory, and both have locked multipliers. The i3-10305 is still marked as Active in production status, while the i7-1068NG7 is End-of-life.

The most significant architectural differences lie in the process node, socket, and integrated graphics. The i3-10305 pairs its 14 nm Comet Lake cores with UHD Graphics 630, while the i7-1068NG7 uses Iris Plus graphics on 10 nm. The PCIe support also differs: the i3-10305 lists "Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only)" whereas the i7-1068NG7 simply lists "Gen 3" without a lane count. The i3-10305 has a base clock of 3.80 GHz and boost clock of 4.50 GHz, compared to 2.30 GHz base and 4.10 GHz boost on the i7-1068NG7. The TDP difference is stark — 65 watts for the desktop part versus 28 watts for the mobile part — and the memory bandwidth favors the i7-1068NG7 at 51.2 GB/s versus 42.7 GB/s.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are remarkably one-sided in terms of wins — the Intel Core i3-10305 wins all six Cinebench tests — but the margins are exceedingly thin. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i3-10305 scores 788 against 787 for the i7-1068NG7, a 0.1% edge. The R15 single-core test shows a slightly larger gap: 111 versus 110, a 0.9% advantage for the i3-10305. That 0.9% delta is actually the largest single-test margin in the entire comparison.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the pattern continues. The multi-core result is 3287 for the i3-10305 versus 3280 for the i7-1068NG7, a 0.2% lead. The R20 single-core test gives 464 versus 462, a 0.4% margin. In Cinebench R23, the multi-core scores are 7828 and 7810 for a 0.2% delta, and the single-core scores are 1105 and 1102 for a 0.3% delta. Across all six tests, the i3-10305 never leads by more than 1%, and the average benchmark scores confirm this — 2264 versus 2259, a 0.2% overall difference.

The data suggests that the higher clock speeds of the i3-10305 (3.80 GHz base, 4.50 GHz boost) are almost exactly offset by the architectural efficiency of the i7-1068NG7's 10 nm Ice Lake cores. The i7-1068NG7 manages to match the desktop chip despite a 1.5 GHz lower base clock and a 0.4 GHz lower boost clock. This confirms the IPC improvements in the Sunny Cove microarchitecture. Yet in every measured workload, the desktop part edges ahead, however narrowly. The wins are consistent — all six tests favor the i3-10305 — but the practical difference is within noise for most real-world usage.

The Verdict

The benchmark data paints a clear picture: the Intel Core i3-10305 and Intel Core i7-1068NG7 are functionally equivalent in raw compute performance. The i3-10305 wins all six Cinebench tests, but the largest margin is 0.9% in R15 single-core, and the average score difference is just 0.2%. A user moving between these two processors would not notice a performance difference in CPU-bound workloads.

The deciding factors are therefore not performance but platform and usage context. The i3-10305 is a desktop processor on Intel Socket 1200 with a 65 watt TDP, designed for systems where power consumption is secondary. The i7-1068NG7 is a mobile processor on Intel BGA 1344 with a 28 watt TDP, suited for laptops and compact systems where thermal headroom is limited. The i7-1068NG7 also offers higher memory bandwidth (51.2 GB/s versus 42.7 GB/s) and a newer 10 nm process, but it is end-of-life and was launched with a $320 MSRP.

For a desktop builder, the i3-10305 is the logical choice given its active production status and socket compatibility with mainstream desktop boards. For a mobile system integrator, the i7-1068NG7 makes sense if the 28 watt TDP and BGA 1344 form factor are required. The data does not support choosing one over the other on performance grounds alone — the scores are too close. The decision hinges on platform, power envelope, and availability. If you need a desktop part, take the i3-10305. If you need a mobile part, the i7-1068NG7 delivers nearly identical performance at less than half the TDP.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i3-10305 | Intel Core i7-1068NG7 |

|---|---|---|

| Base Clock | 3.80 GHz | 2.30 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.50 GHz | 4.10 GHz |

| TDP | 65 watts | 28 watts |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1200 | Intel BGA 1344 |

| Architecture | Comet Lake | Ice Lake |

| Codename | Comet Lake-R | Ice Lake-U |

| Generation | Core i3 (Comet Lake) | Core i7 (Sunny Cove-U) |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 10 nm |

| Die Size | Not listed | 123 mm² |

| Memory Bandwidth | 42.7 GB/s | 51.2 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 3 |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 630 | Iris Plus |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Production Status | Active | End-of-life |

| Release Date | 2021-03-15 | 2019-07-31 |

| Launch MSRP | Not listed | $320 |

| Part Number | SRH3K | SRG0U |

The two processors share identical core counts (4 cores, 8 threads), cache sizes (64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, 8 MB L3 shared), memory support (dual-channel DDR4), ECC support (none on both), and unlocked multiplier status (both locked). The remaining differences are all captured in the table above. The i3-10305 is the faster-clocked desktop part; the i7-1068NG7 is the more efficient mobile part with higher memory bandwidth and a smaller process node.