Intel Core i3-N305 vs Intel Core i7-8709G Comparison

The Intel Core i3-N305 and Intel Core i7-8709G are two mobile chips separated by roughly five years of Intel engineering, and the recorded data shows the newer design winning nearly everywhere. The i3-N305 takes 5 of the 6 head-to-head benchmarks, including a staggering 73.4% single-core victory in Cinebench R15, while the i7-8709G holds one major card: a 24.5% win in Cinebench R23 multi-core, powered by its eight threads against the N305's eight single-threaded cores. Both chips land in the 44th percentile against all CPUs in the database, with nearly identical average benchmark scores of 1979 and 1950, which makes this a genuine generation-versus-architecture matchup rather than a mismatch.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU wins more benchmarks, the i3-N305 or the i7-8709G?

A: The i3-N305 wins 5 of the 6 recorded head-to-head benchmarks. The i7-8709G takes only one: Cinebench R23 multi-core, where it scores 6743 versus 5092, a 24.5% advantage.

Q: How big is the single-core gap?

A: It depends on the test. In Cinebench R15 single-core the i3-N305 scores 164.7 against 95 for the i7-8709G, a 73.4% lead. In Cinebench R23 single-core the gap narrows to 995 versus 952, a 4.5% edge for the N305.

Q: What was the launch MSRP of the i3-N305?

A: The launch MSRP was $309. No launch MSRP figure is recorded for the i7-8709G in the database.

Q: How power-efficient are these two chips?

A: The i3-N305 carries a 15 W TDP against 65 W for the i7-8709G, a substantial difference that explains why the older chip can sustain higher multi-core throughput in long runs like Cinebench R23.

Q: Which integrated graphics do they include?

A: The i3-N305 pairs its Gracemont cores with UHD Graphics 770, while the i7-8709G integrates Radeon RX Vega M GH, a dedicated-class graphics solution from its Kaby Lake G design.

Q: Are these chips in the same performance class overall?

A: Yes. Both sit in the 44th percentile versus all CPUs in the database, and their average benchmark scores differ by under 2% (1979 for the N305, 1950 for the 8709G). Their nearest-rival lists, including the Core i5-7600K and Xeon E3-1245 v5 for the N305 and the Core i5-1035G7 and Xeon E3-1230 v5 for the 8709G, confirm they cluster around the same mid-tier neighborhood.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gulf here is wide. The i3-N305 is built on Intel's 10 nm process using the Gracemont efficiency-focused architecture under the Alder Lake-N generation, while the i7-8709G is a 14 nm Kaby Lake G part. That node advantage translates directly into the efficiency story: the N305 operates within a 15 W TDP, whereas the 8709G needs 65 W to feed its four cores and eight threads.

Core topology is the philosophical divide. The N305 offers 8 cores and 8 threads, meaning no SMT: each core handles one thread at a time. The 8709G offers 4 cores but 8 threads through hyper-threading, which is precisely why it pulls ahead in the sustained Cinebench R23 multi-core run. The N305 counters with a higher boost clock of 3.80 GHz versus 4.10 GHz peak on paper but a far stronger per-core implementation, as the single-core scores demonstrate.

Cache layouts differ meaningfully. The N305 carries 96 KB of L1 per core and 2 MB of L2 per module, with 6 MB of shared L3. The 8709G has 64 KB of L1 per core and 256 KB of L2 per core, but a larger 8 MB shared L3. Memory support also favors the newer chip: the N305 accepts both DDR4 and DDR5 over a single-channel bus with 38.4 GB/s of bandwidth, while the 8709G is limited to DDR4 with no bus or bandwidth figures recorded in the database.

Platform details diverge too. The N305 uses the Intel BGA 1264 socket and provides PCIe Gen 3 with 9 lanes from the CPU. The 8709G sits on Intel BGA 2270 with no PCIe configuration recorded. The graphics pairing is the 8709G's signature feature: Radeon RX Vega M GH, a product of the unusual Kaby Lake G design, versus the modest UHD Graphics 770 in the N305. Release timing frames the comparison: the 8709G shipped in January 2018, the N305 in early January 2023.

The Verdict

For pure CPU throughput per watt and responsiveness, the data favors the i3-N305 without hesitation. It wins 5 of 6 benchmarks, posts a 73.4% single-core lead in Cinebench R15, an 18.3% lead in both Cinebench R20 tests, and a 22.1% multi-core win in R15, all while drawing a fraction of the power at 15 W versus 65 W. Any workload that leans on quick per-thread bursts, from everyday application launches to lightly threaded production tasks, belongs to the N305.

The i7-8709G earns its keep in two scenarios visible in the data. First, sustained multi-threaded rendering: its 6743 Cinebench R23 multi-core score beats the N305's 5092 by 24.5%, showing that its hyper-threaded design and generous power envelope outlast the N305's efficiency cores in long-duration loads. Second, graphics: the Radeon RX Vega M GH integrated graphics dwarf the N305's UHD Graphics 770 in class positioning, making the 8709G the pick where the iGPU carries the workload. Neither chip is unlocked, so tuning is off the table for both.

Buyers choosing between them should weigh sustained multi-core throughput and graphics capability against efficiency and per-core speed. The benchmark record gives the overall edge to the i3-N305.

Specification Differences

| Field | Intel Core i3-N305 | Intel Core i7-8709G |

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

| Cores / Threads | 8 / 8 | 4 / 8 |

| Base Clock | 100.00 | 3.10 |

| Boost Clock | 3.80 GHz | 4.10 GHz |

| TDP | 15 W | 65 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1264 | Intel BGA 2270 |

| Architecture | Gracemont | Kaby Lake |

| Codename | Gracemont | Kaby Lake G |

| Generation | Core i3 (Alder Lake-N) | Core i7 (Kaby Lake-G) |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 14 nm |

| L1 Cache | 96 KB (per core) | 64 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 2 MB (per module) | 256 KB (per core) |

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

| Memory Support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR4 |

| Memory Bus | Single-channel | not recorded |

| Memory Bandwidth | 38.4 GB/s | not recorded |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 9 lanes (CPU only) | not recorded |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 770 | Radeon RX Vega M GH |

| Release Date | 2023-01-02 | 2018-01-31 |

| Launch MSRP | $309 | not recorded |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

Cinebench R15 single-core is the most lopsided result in the dataset: the i3-N305 scores 164.7 against 95 for the i7-8709G, a 73.4% margin that reflects the generational per-core gains of Gracemont on 10 nm over Kaby Lake on 14 nm. The R15 multi-core result follows the same direction, 829 to 679, a 22.1% N305 win achieved with eight physical cores running one thread each.

Cinebench R20 mirrors that pattern. Multi-core goes to the N305 3349 to 2832, an 18.3% lead, and single-core also goes to the N305 472 to 399, again 18.3%. The symmetry of those two margins indicates the N305's advantage in R20 is architectural rather than topology-driven, since it holds in both the single-core and multi-core variants.

Cinebench R23 flips the multi-core script entirely. The i7-8709G scores 6743 against the N305's 5092, a 24.5% win. The R23 run is the longest sustained workload in the set, and the 8709G's 65 W envelope with hyper-threading lets four cores and eight threads outpace eight efficiency cores over time. The same test's single-core result, 995 to 952 for a 4.5% N305 edge, shows the per-thread gap nearly vanishes under sustained load, suggesting clock behavior narrows as the run lengthens.

The aggregate picture: 5 wins for the N305, 1 for the 8709G, average scores of 1979 versus 1950, and both chips sitting at the 44th percentile against the full database. The 8709G's rivals include the Core i5-1035G7 (1948 average, 0.1% delta) and Ryzen 5 PRO 3400GE (1954, -0.2%), while the N305 trades blows with the Core i5-7600K (1976, 0.1%) and Xeon E3-1245 v5 (1973, 0.3%), placing both chips in the same performance tier despite their design differences.

Where Each One Wins

The i3-N305 is the clear choice for efficiency-constrained and bursty workloads. Its 15 W TDP, 10 nm process, and superior single-core scores (73.4% faster in R15, 18.3% faster in R20, 4.5% faster in R23) make it the better fit for thin, thermally limited mobile systems where quick responsiveness matters more than sustained rendering. Its DDR5 support and 38.4 GB/s of single-channel bandwidth also give it a modern memory foundation. Short multi-core bursts favor it too: the R15 and R20 multi-core wins of 22.1% and 18.3% show the eight-core design delivering when the workload finishes quickly.

The i7-8709G wins where sustained throughput and graphics define the experience. Its 24.5% Cinebench R23 multi-core victory demonstrates that hyper-threading plus a 65 W power budget outlasts the N305 in long rendering runs. Its Radeon RX Vega M GH integrated graphics, paired with an 8 MB shared L3 cache, position it for gaming and graphics-driven workloads that the N305's UHD Graphics 770 cannot approach. Systems built around the 8709G trade efficiency for endurance and graphics horsepower.

For everything else the database records, from short bursts to lightly threaded responsiveness, the i3-N305 is the stronger performer, and its 5-to-1 benchmark record makes it the overall winner of this comparison.