Intel Core i3-N300 vs Intel Core i5-3570T Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data reveals a fascinating split between these two Intel processors. The Intel Core i3-N300 claims four of the five head-to-head victories, yet the Intel Core i5-3570T delivers the single most decisive win. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i5-3570T posts a score of 3293 against the i3-N300’s 2546, a commanding 29.3% advantage. This is the largest margin in either direction across all tested workloads, underscoring the older chip’s sustained multi-threaded muscle under heavy sustained loads.

The i3-N300, however, dominates the other multi-core tests. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 416 versus 331, a 20.4% lead. The gap widens dramatically in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the i3-N300 hits 2849 against 1383 — a 51.5% blowout. That nearly doubles the output, suggesting the newer architecture scales far better in modern rendering workloads. The single-core results tell a similar story: the i3-N300 leads by 51.4% in Cinebench R20 single-core (401 vs 195) and by 9.4% in Cinebench R23 single-core (513 vs 465). The i5-3570T’s lone win in R23 multi-core is impressive, but it cannot offset the i3-N300’s broader consistency across four of five tests.

Looking at average benchmark scores, the two CPUs are nearly identical: the i5-3570T averages 1136, while the i3-N300 averages 1135, a negligible 0.1% difference. Both sit at the 32nd percentile among all CPUs. This parity in aggregate scoring masks the stark workload-dependent swings — the i3-N300 excels in most Cinebench iterations, yet the i5-3570T claws back a decisive victory in the newest multi-core test. The data suggests these chips trade blows based on test generation and thread scheduling behavior, not raw capability.

The Verdict

From the data alone, the Intel Core i3-N300 is the better choice for most users. It wins 80% of the head-to-head matchups, including the critical single-core tests where responsiveness and legacy application performance shine. Its 51.5% lead in Cinebench R20 multi-core and 51.4% lead in single-core are not marginal — they represent generational leaps in efficiency per clock. The only scenario where the i5-3570T pulls ahead is Cinebench R23 multi-core, where its 29.3% victory suggests it retains an edge in certain sustained workloads, possibly due to thermal headroom or cache behavior.

For anyone prioritizing modern rendering, daily multitasking, or power-sensitive mobile use, the i3-N300’s four wins make it the rational pick. The i5-3570T appeals only to those running legacy software that favors its older microarchitecture or who need a desktop socket (LGA 1155) for upgrades. But the i3-N300’s 7W TDP versus 45W, combined with its superior single-core scores, makes it the more future-proof investment. The data does not support choosing the i5-3570T unless the specific R23 multi-core workload is your primary use case — and even then, the i3-N300’s other victories suggest it is the safer all-around performer.

Architecture Differences

The i5-3570T is built on Intel’s Ivy Bridge architecture, a 22 nm design with 1,400 million transistors on a 160 mm² die. It features four cores with four threads, each with 64 KB of L1 cache and 256 KB of L2 cache, plus a shared 6 MB L3 cache. The i3-N300, by contrast, uses the newer Gracemont architecture on a 10 nm process, with eight cores and eight threads. Each core has 96 KB of L1 cache and 2 MB of L2 per module, but it also shares 6 MB of L3 cache — the same total L3 capacity as the older chip. The transistor count and die size for the i3-N300 are not listed, but the process shrink from 22 nm to 10 nm is a fundamental architectural leap.

Memory support diverges sharply: the i5-3570T uses dual-channel DDR3, while the i3-N300 supports single-channel DDR4 and DDR5 with a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The i3-N300 also features Intel UHD Graphics 770, compared to the i5-3570T’s Intel HD 2500. PCIe connectivity differs too — the i5-3570T offers Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), whereas the i3-N300 provides Gen 3 with only 9 lanes. The i3-N300 is a mobile part on BGA 1264, while the i5-3570T is a desktop chip on Socket 1155. These differences explain the benchmark outcomes: the i3-N300’s newer cores and higher efficiency (7W TDP) enable superior per-clock performance, while the i5-3570T’s larger thermal envelope (45W) allows it to sustain higher clocks in some multi-core scenarios.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every measurable specification. The i5-3570T has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the i3-N300 has 8 cores and 8 threads — a doubling of parallelism. Base clock speeds are listed as 2.30 GHz for the i5-3570T and a peculiar 100.00 GHz for the i3-N300, though the boost clock is 3.30 GHz versus 3.70 GHz, respectively. TDP is a stark contrast: 45W for the i5-3570T versus 7W for the i3-N300. The i5-3570T uses dual-channel DDR3 memory, whereas the i3-N300 uses single-channel DDR4/DDR5 with a specified 38.4 GB/s bandwidth. Cache structures differ: the i5-3570T has 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, while the i3-N300 has 96 KB L1 and 2 MB L2 per module, both sharing 6 MB L3. Integrated graphics are HD 2500 versus UHD Graphics 770. PCIe lanes are 16 versus 9. Release dates are 2012-04-28 for the i5-3570T and 2023-01-02 for the i3-N300. The i3-N300 has a launch MSRP of $309; the i5-3570T has no listed MSRP. The i3-N300 is marked "Active" production, while the i5-3570T has no production status.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core i3-N300 has 8 cores and 8 threads, while the Intel Core i5-3570T has 4 cores and 4 threads.

Q: How do the multi-core scores compare in Cinebench R23?

A: The i5-3570T scores 3293, which is 29.3% higher than the i3-N300’s 2546 in that specific test.

Q: What is the biggest performance gap between the two?

A: The i3-N300 leads by 51.5% in Cinebench R20 multi-core (2849 vs 1383) and by 51.4% in single-core (401 vs 195), the largest margins in the data.

Q: Are their overall benchmark averages similar?

A: Yes, the i5-3570T averages 1136 and the i3-N300 averages 1135, a 0.1% difference, with both at the 32nd percentile.

Q: Which chip has lower power consumption?

A: The i3-N300 has a TDP of 7W, compared to the i5-3570T’s 45W.

Q: What memory types do they support?

A: The i5-3570T supports DDR3, while the i3-N300 supports DDR4 and DDR5 with a single-channel bus.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i3-N300 wins in Cinebench R15 multi-core (416 vs 331), Cinebench R20 multi-core (2849 vs 1383), Cinebench R20 single-core (401 vs 195), and Cinebench R23 single-core (513 vs 465). This makes it the clear pick for modern rendering engines, single-threaded applications like web browsing or office suites, and battery-sensitive mobile workloads given its 7W TDP. Its 8 cores and newer 10 nm Gracemont architecture also suggest better scaling in parallel tasks that leverage more than four threads, as evidenced by its 51.5% lead in R20 multi-core.

The Intel Core i5-3570T wins only in Cinebench R23 multi-core (3293 vs 2546), a 29.3% advantage. This single victory points to a niche: workloads that are heavily optimized for sustained multi-core performance over long durations, possibly due to its 45W TDP allowing higher sustained clocks or its larger die (160 mm²) providing better thermal dissipation. Its 4 cores and older Ivy Bridge architecture may also be favored by legacy software that does not utilize the i3-N300’s efficiency cores effectively. For users running such specific rendering tasks on a desktop platform with LGA 1155, the i5-3570T retains relevance, but the data overwhelmingly favors the i3-N300 for general-purpose and modern workloads.