Intel Core i3-N305 vs Intel Core i5-1035G7 Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark split between these two mobile processors is unusually lopsided, with the Intel Core i3-N305 taking five of the six recorded head-to-head tests. Its wins span both multi-core and single-core workloads in the older Cinebench R15 and R20 suites, plus the Geekbench tests where it holds a clear edge. The i3-N305 posts a 22.3% lead in Cinebench R15 multi-core, a 73.4% lead in R15 single-core, an 18.4% lead in R20 multi-core, and an 18.3% lead in R20 single-core. It also wins the R23 single-core test by a modest 4.6%.

The Intel Core i5-1035G7, by contrast, wins exactly one test: Cinebench R23 multi-core, where it scores 6736 against the i3-N305's 5092, a 24.4% margin. That single victory is significant, as R23 is a more demanding and modern rendering workload than R15 or R20, and it suggests the i5-1035G7's architecture sustains longer multi-threaded pushes better than the i3-N305.

Looking at the broader database numbers, the i3-N305 averages 1979 across all benchmark suites, which places it in the 44th percentile of all CPUs. The i5-1035G7 averages 1948, also in the 44th percentile. The delta between them is small, roughly 1.6%, but the distribution of wins matters more than the average. The i3-N305 is the stronger all-rounder in short bursts and lighter loads, while the i5-1035G7 is the pick for sustained multi-core rendering.

The Verdict

Choose the Intel Core i3-N305 if your workloads are short, bursty, or single-threaded. It wins every single-core comparison in the database, including a dominant 73.4% margin in Cinebench R15 single-core, and it leads in all three Geekbench tests (3881 multi-core vs. the i5-1035G7's 3881 is not recorded, but the i3-N305's Geekbench multi-core score of 3881 stands alone in the pack; the i5-1035G7 has no Geekbench entry). For everyday responsiveness, light productivity, and older application versions, the i3-N305 is the data-backed choice.

Choose the Intel Core i5-1035G7 if your primary task is modern multi-core rendering, specifically Cinebench R23. Its 6736 score is the highest multi-core result recorded for either chip, and the 24.4% lead over the i3-N305 is the largest margin in any test. The i5-1035G7 also brings a dual-channel memory bus with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth, double the i3-N305's 38.4 GB/s single-channel figure, which can matter for memory-sensitive workloads. However, its older R15 and R20 results are consistently lower, so it is not a general-purpose winner.

The database's nearest rival comparisons reinforce the split. The i3-N305 sits within 0.4% of the AMD Ryzen Embedded V1756B and Intel Core i5-8279U, while the i5-1035G7 sits within 0.3% of the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 3400GE. Neither chip dominates its peer group; they are both mid-pack mobile parts, but with different strengths.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single victory belongs to the i3-N305 in Cinebench R15 single-core. It scores 164.7 against the i5-1035G7's 95, a 73.4% delta. This is an enormous gap for a single-threaded test and points to the i3-N305's Gracemont cores having a far higher effective per-thread throughput in that older benchmark, likely due to its 3.80 GHz boost clock versus the i5-1035G7's 3.70 GHz, combined with architectural differences in how instructions are scheduled.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i3-N305 scores 829 versus 678, a 22.3% lead. This is notable because the i5-1035G7 has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the i3-N305 has 8 cores and 8 threads. The i3-N305's two-to-one core advantage is not fully reflected in the score, but the delta is still decisive. In R20 multi-core, the i3-N305 scores 3349 versus 2829, an 18.4% lead. In R20 single-core, it scores 472 versus 399, an 18.3% lead.

The i5-1035G7's sole win is Cinebench R23 multi-core, where it scores 6736 against 5092. The 24.4% margin is the largest of any test, and it flips the multi-core narrative. R23 is a longer and more complex render than R15 or R20, and the i5-1035G7's Ice Lake cores, despite being fewer in number, appear to maintain higher sustained clocks under load. The i3-N305's Gracemont efficiency cores may throttle or lose efficiency in longer renders, which the data strongly suggests.

The single-core R23 result is close: 995 for the i3-N305 versus 951 for the i5-1035G7, a 4.6% margin. This shows that in the newest single-threaded test, the two chips are nearly equivalent, a sharp contrast to the 73.4% R15 single-core gap. The i3-N305 still wins, but the i5-1035G7 closes the distance considerably.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher overall benchmark average?

A: The Intel Core i3-N305 averages 1979 across all benchmark suites, while the Intel Core i5-1035G7 averages 1948. Both sit in the 44th percentile of all CPUs.

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

A: The Intel Core i5-1035G7 wins decisively, scoring 6736 versus the i3-N305's 5092, a 24.4% margin. This is the only test the i5-1035G7 wins in the head-to-head data.

Q: What is the biggest performance gap in either direction?

A: The largest gap is the i3-N305's 73.4% lead in Cinebench R15 single-core, where it scores 164.7 against the i5-1035G7's 95.

Q: Are these chips close to any other processors in the database?

A: Yes. The i3-N305 is within 0.4% of the AMD Ryzen Embedded V1756B and Intel Core i5-8279U. The i5-1035G7 is within 0.3% of the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 3400GE.

Q: Which chip has more cores?

A: The Intel Core i3-N305 has 8 cores and 8 threads. The Intel Core i5-1035G7 has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: Does the i5-1035G7 have any memory advantage?

A: Yes, it uses a dual-channel memory bus with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth, while the i3-N305 uses a single-channel bus with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel families and target different design philosophies. The Intel Core i3-N305 uses the Gracemont architecture, built on a 10 nm process, and belongs to the Core i3 (Alder Lake-N) generation. It houses 8 Gracemont efficiency cores with 8 threads, a base clock of 100.00 MHz (likely a typo in the database for 1.00 GHz) and a boost clock of 3.80 GHz. Its cache layout is 96 KB L1 per core, 2 MB L2 per module, and 6 MB shared L3. It ships in the Intel BGA 1264 socket, supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a single-channel configuration, and includes UHD Graphics 770 integrated graphics. The chip uses PCIe Gen 3 with 9 lanes (CPU only).

The Intel Core i5-1035G7 uses the Ice Lake architecture, specifically the Ice Lake-U codename, on the same 10 nm process. It belongs to the Core i5 (Sunny Cove-U) generation. It has 4 Sunny Cove cores with 8 threads, a base clock of 1200.00 MHz (1.20 GHz) and a boost clock of 3.70 GHz. Its cache is 80 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 6 MB shared L3. The die size is 123 mm². It uses the Intel BGA 1526 socket, supports DDR4 in a dual-channel configuration with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth, and features Iris Plus integrated graphics. It uses PCIe Gen 3 without a lane count specified.

The core count difference is the most obvious architectural split: 8 Gracemont cores versus 4 Sunny Cove cores. Gracemont is a efficiency-focused design, while Sunny Cove is a performance-focused design. This explains the benchmark pattern: the i3-N305 wins in short tests where its extra cores and higher boost clock matter, while the i5-1035G7 wins in the sustained R23 render where its larger, more capable cores maintain performance. The i5-1035G7 also has a memory bandwidth advantage (51.2 GB/s vs. 38.4 GB/s) and dual-channel support, which can aid memory-heavy tasks. The i3-N305 counters with DDR5 support and a newer generation label, but its single-channel bus limits memory throughput. Both chips are 15 W TDP parts, active production, and neither supports ECC memory. The i3-N305 has a launch MSRP of $309; the i5-1035G7 has no recorded launch MSRP.