CPU Comparison

The Intel Core i3-1115G4E and Intel Core i3-9300 occupy the same performance percentile (39th) but represent fundamentally different design philosophies. The 1115G4E is a 2-core, 4-thread Tiger Lake-U mobile part built on Intel's 10 nm process, while the 9300 is a 4-core, 4-thread Coffee Lake desktop chip on the older 14 nm node. Benchmark data shows the desktop part winning every single head-to-head test, though the margin is consistent rather than overwhelming, and the mobile chip counters with architectural advantages in platform features and power efficiency.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i3-9300 wins all six benchmark comparisons listed in the head-to-head results. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the 9300 scores 541 against 452 for the 1115G4E, a delta of -16.5% for the mobile chip. The single-core result tells a similar story: 76 for the 9300 versus 63 for the 1115G4E, a -17.1% gap. These early-generation render tests set the tone for the entire comparison.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the pattern holds with remarkable consistency. The multi-core score favors the 9300 at 2257 versus 1887, and single-core favors it at 318 versus 266, both showing a -16.4% delta. Cinebench R23 repeats this exact margin: multi-core 5374 against 4493, and single-core 758 against 634, again with a -16.4% difference. It is worth noting that the deltaPct is nearly identical across R20 and R23, suggesting that the performance ratio between these two chips is stable under varying workload durations and memory pressures.

The Geekbench results are only available for the 1115G4E (multi-core 2972, single-core 1702), so no direct comparison is possible there. The overall win count is 6-0 in favor of the 9300, with zero wins for the 1115G4E in any listed test. Average benchmark scores are nearly identical, 1559 for the 1115G4E and 1554 for the 9300, which is a curious artifact of the averaging methodology that includes different test suites for each chip. The nearest rivals for both chips include the AMD FX-8350 and Intel Xeon E3-1268L v5, with both CPUs sitting within 0.3% of those rivals' scores.

Where Each One Wins

The 9300 wins in every raw compute benchmark available, which points to scenarios where sustained multi-threaded or single-threaded performance is the primary requirement. Its 4 physical cores (versus 2 in the 1115G4E) give it a structural advantage in Cinebench render workloads, where the deltaPct of -16.4% to -16.5% in multi-core tests reflects that core count difference. Single-core tests also favor the 9300 by similar margins, which is notable because the 1115G4E has a newer microarchitecture (Willow Cove) but a much lower base clock (2.20 GHz versus 3.70 GHz) and lower boost (3.90 GHz versus 4.30 GHz).

The 1115G4E does not win any benchmark, but its strengths lie outside the tested suite. It supports DDR4 and LPDDR4X memory, whereas the 9300 only supports DDR4. It also features PCIe Gen 4 with 4 lanes, while the 9300 offers PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, the mobile chip has a newer interconnect standard, though fewer lanes. The 1115G4E has a 15 W TDP against 62 W for the 9300, indicating that it is designed for thermally constrained environments where the 9300's power draw would be prohibitive. The 1115G4E remains an active production part, while the 9300 is end-of-life, which matters for long-term availability in new designs.

For use-case separation, the 9300 is the choice for desktop workloads where power consumption is not a limiting factor and raw Cinebench scores translate directly to render times or compute throughput. The 1115G4E fits into thin-and-light mobile systems where the 15 W TDP and LPDDR4X support enable fanless or low-noise designs, and where the 4-lane Gen 4 PCIe connection is sufficient for NVMe storage. The 9300's 16-lane Gen 3 PCIe supports more expansion options in a desktop motherboard.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from different process nodes: the 1115G4E is built on Intel's 10 nm process, while the 9300 uses the older 14 nm node. This directly impacts die size, the 1115G4E measures 144 mm² versus 126 mm² for the 9300, despite having half the physical cores. The newer node allows the Tiger Lake part to integrate more complex circuitry per area, including a more recent Willow Cove core design, while the Coffee Lake part uses the older Skylake-derived core architecture.

Core and cache configurations diverge significantly. The 1115G4E has 2 cores and 4 threads, with 80 KB L1 and 1.25 MB L2 per core, plus 6 MB shared L3. The 9300 has 4 cores and 4 threads (no hyper-threading), with 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, plus 8 MB shared L3. The mobile chip has substantially more L2 cache per core (1.25 MB versus 256 KB), which helps mitigate the lower core count in some workloads, but the 9300's larger L3 pool (8 MB versus 6 MB) and additional cores win out in the tested scenarios.

Integrated graphics differ as well: the 1115G4E carries UHD Graphics G4 with 48 execution units, while the 9300 has UHD 630. Memory support is another differentiator, the 1115G4E accepts both DDR4 and LPDDR4X, while the 9300 is limited to DDR4 and has a specified memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s (the 1115G4E's bandwidth is not listed). The 9300 supports ECC memory, while the 1115G4E does not. Sockets are incompatible: BGA 1449 for the mobile part versus Socket 1151 for the desktop part, meaning no cross-platform upgrade path exists.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Core i3-9300 scores 5374 versus 4493 for the Intel Core i3-1115G4E, a -16.4% delta for the mobile chip.

Q: Does the mobile chip have any performance advantage in the listed tests?

A: No. The 9300 wins all six head-to-head benchmarks, with zero wins recorded for the 1115G4E.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: They are nearly identical: the 1115G4E averages 1559 and the 9300 averages 1554, with both sitting at the 39th percentile of all CPUs.

Q: What memory types does each CPU support?

A: The 1115G4E supports DDR4 and LPDDR4X, while the 9300 supports DDR4 only. The 9300 also supports ECC memory, which the 1115G4E does not.

Q: Are these CPUs on the same socket?

A: No. The 1115G4E uses Intel BGA 1449 (mobile), and the 9300 uses Intel Socket 1151 (desktop). They are not interchangeable.

Q: What is the production status of each part?

A: The 1115G4E is active and in production, while the 9300 is end-of-life.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear choice for users who prioritize raw compute performance: the Intel Core i3-9300. It wins every benchmark in the comparison set, with consistent margins around 16.4% in both single-core and multi-core Cinebench tests. Its 4 physical cores and higher clock speeds (3.70 GHz base, 4.30 GHz boost) directly enable these results. The 9300 also offers ECC memory support and 8 MB of shared L3 cache, which are meaningful for reliability-focused desktop builds. Its end-of-life status is a caveat, but for existing Socket 1151 systems, it remains a functional upgrade path.

The Intel Core i3-1115G4E is not competitive in raw performance, but that is not its purpose. Its 15 W TDP, LPDDR4X support, and PCIe Gen 4 interface make it a platform play for mobile designs where power and thermal envelopes are hard constraints. The 2-core configuration limits it to light workloads, and the -16.4% to -17.1% deltas in Cinebench confirm it will trail the 9300 in render tasks. However, its active production status and newer 10 nm process make it a viable choice for current-generation ultraportable laptops where the 9300's 62 W TDP and desktop socket are simply not options.

The verdict depends entirely on the target platform. Desktop users with power headroom should select the 9300 for its benchmark superiority and ECC capability. Mobile system designers or users requiring a low-power chip with modern memory and PCIe features should choose the 1115G4E, accepting the performance deficit in exchange for a 47 W TDP advantage and platform flexibility. Neither chip is a universal winner, the 9300 wins on compute, the 1115G4E wins on efficiency and integration.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i3-1115G4E | Intel Core i3-9300 |

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

| Cores | 2 | 4 |

| Threads | 4 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 2.20 GHz | 3.70 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.90 GHz | 4.30 GHz |

| TDP | 15 W | 62 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1449 | Intel Socket 1151 |

| Architecture | Tiger Lake | Coffee Lake |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 14 nm |

| Die Size | 144 mm² | 126 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 80 KB (per core) | 64 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core) | 256 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 6 MB (shared) | 8 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4, LPDDR4X | DDR4 |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not listed | 38.4 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 4 Lanes | Gen 3, 16 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics G4 48EU | UHD 630 |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

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

| Release Date | 2020-09-01 | 2019-04-22 |

| Launch MSRP | $285 | $143 |

| Part Number | SRK12 | SRCZU |