Intel Core i3-N305
Intel processor specifications and benchmark scores
Integrated GPUAt a Glance
IntelIntel Core i3-N305 Specifications
Core i3-N305 Core Configuration
Processing cores and threading
The Intel Core i3-N305 features 8 physical cores and 8 threads, which directly impacts multi-threaded performance in CPU benchmarks. More cores allow the processor to handle parallel workloads efficiently, improving performance in video editing, 3D rendering, and multitasking scenarios. Thread count determines how many simultaneous tasks the CPU can process, with higher thread counts benefiting productivity applications and content creation workflows.
i3-N305 Clock Speeds
Base and boost frequencies
Clock speed is a critical factor in Core i3-N305 benchmark performance, measured in GHz. The base clock represents the guaranteed operating frequency, while the boost clock indicates maximum single-core performance under optimal conditions. Higher clock speeds translate to faster single-threaded performance, which is essential for gaming and applications that don't fully utilize multiple cores. The Core i3-N305 by Intel can dynamically adjust its frequency based on workload and thermal headroom.
Intel's Core i3-N305 Cache Hierarchy
L1, L2, L3 cache sizes
Cache memory is ultra-fast storage built directly into the i3-N305 processor die. L1 cache provides the fastest access for frequently used data, while L2 and L3 caches offer progressively larger storage with slightly higher latency. Larger cache sizes significantly improve CPU benchmark scores by reducing memory access times. The Core i3-N305's cache configuration is optimized for both gaming performance and productivity workloads, minimizing data fetch delays during intensive computations.
Gracemont Architecture & Process
Manufacturing and design details
The Intel Core i3-N305 is built on Intel's 10 nm manufacturing process, which determines power efficiency and thermal characteristics. Smaller process nodes allow for more transistors in the same space, enabling higher performance per watt. The architecture defines how the processor handles instructions and manages data flow, directly impacting benchmark results across different workload types. Modern CPU architectures like the one in i3-N305 incorporate advanced branch prediction and out-of-order execution for optimal performance.
Gracemont Instruction Set Features
Supported CPU instructions and extensions
The Core i3-N305 by Intel supports various instruction set extensions that enable optimized performance for specific workloads. SIMD instructions like SSE and AVX accelerate multimedia, scientific computing, and AI workloads by processing multiple data points simultaneously. Features like AES-NI provide hardware-accelerated encryption, while AVX-512 (if supported) enables advanced vector processing for data centers and high-performance computing. These instruction sets are critical for software compatibility and performance in modern applications.
i3-N305 Power & Thermal
TDP and power specifications
The Intel Core i3-N305 has a TDP (Thermal Design Power) of 15W, indicating the cooling solution required for sustained operation. TDP affects both system power consumption and the type of cooler needed. Lower TDP processors are ideal for compact builds and laptops, while higher TDP chips typically offer better sustained performance in demanding CPU benchmarks. Understanding power requirements helps ensure your system can deliver consistent performance without thermal throttling.
Intel BGA 1264 Platform & Socket
Compatibility information
The Core i3-N305 uses the Intel BGA 1264 socket, which determines motherboard compatibility. Choosing the right platform is essential for building a system around this processor. The socket type also influences available features like PCIe lanes, memory support, and upgrade paths. When comparing CPU benchmarks, ensure you're looking at processors compatible with your existing or planned motherboard to make informed purchasing decisions.
Intel BGA 1264 Memory Support
RAM compatibility and speeds
Memory support specifications for the i3-N305 define which RAM types and speeds are compatible. Faster memory can significantly improve CPU benchmark performance, especially in memory-intensive applications and gaming. The memory controller integrated into the Core i3-N305 determines maximum supported speeds and channels. Dual-channel or quad-channel memory configurations can double or quadruple memory bandwidth, providing noticeable performance gains in content creation and scientific workloads.
Intel's Core i3-N305 Integrated Graphics
Built-in GPU specifications
The Intel Core i3-N305 includes integrated graphics, eliminating the need for a dedicated GPU in basic computing scenarios. Integrated graphics are ideal for office productivity, video playback, and light gaming. While not designed for demanding GPU benchmarks, the iGPU in the i3-N305 provides hardware video encoding and decoding capabilities. This makes the processor suitable for compact builds, HTPCs, and systems where power efficiency is prioritized over gaming performance.
Core i3-N305 Product Information
Release and pricing details
The Intel Core i3-N305 is manufactured by Intel and represents their commitment to delivering competitive CPU performance. Understanding the release date and pricing helps contextualize benchmark comparisons with other processors from the same generation. Launch pricing provides a baseline for evaluating value, though street prices often differ. Whether you're building a new system or upgrading, the Core i3-N305 by Intel offers a specific balance of performance, features, and cost within Intel's product lineup.
Core i3-N305 Benchmark Scores
cinebench_cinebench_r15_multicoreSource
Cinebench R15 multi-core renders a complex 3D scene using all CPU threads simultaneously. This test reveals how Intel Core i3-N305 performs in parallel rendering workloads.
Top 5 Performers
Top 5 PerformersNearby Performers
Nearby Performerscinebench_cinebench_r15_singlecoreSource
Cinebench R15 single-core measures the speed of one CPU thread rendering 3D geometry. This score indicates how Intel Core i3-N305 handles tasks that can't be parallelized.
Top 5 Performers
Nearby Performers
cinebench_cinebench_r20_multicoreSource
Cinebench R20 multi-core uses a scene requiring 4x more computational power than R15. This test better reflects modern CPU capabilities for professional rendering on Intel Core i3-N305. The more demanding workload provides better differentiation between current-generation processors. Content creators and 3D artists use this benchmark to estimate real-world render performance.
Top 5 Performers
Nearby Performers
cinebench_cinebench_r20_singlecoreSource
Cinebench R20 single-core tests one thread against a more demanding scene than R15. This reveals the true single-thread rendering capability of Intel Core i3-N305. The increased complexity provides more accurate performance differentiation between modern CPUs. Single-thread performance remains critical for gaming and applications with serial bottlenecks.
Top 5 Performers
Nearby Performers
cinebench_cinebench_r23_multicoreSource
Cinebench R23 multi-core is the current standard for CPU rendering benchmarks with a 10-minute minimum runtime. This extended test reveals sustained performance of Intel Core i3-N305 after thermal limits kick in. The longer duration exposes cooling limitations that shorter benchmarks miss. Professional users rely on R23 scores to predict real-world rendering performance under sustained workloads.
Top 5 Performers
Nearby Performers
cinebench_cinebench_r23_singlecoreSource
Cinebench R23 single-core measures sustained single-thread performance over 10 minutes. This reveals how Intel Core i3-N305 maintains boost clocks under continuous load. The extended runtime shows whether thermal throttling affects single-core performance. This score is particularly important for understanding real-world responsiveness beyond initial boost behavior.
Top 5 Performers
Nearby Performers
About Intel Core i3-N305
The Intel Core i3-N305 is a mobile processor built on Intel’s Gracemont architecture, released on 2023-01-02 with a launch MSRP of $309. It has 8 cores and 8 threads, a 3.80 GHz boost clock, integrated UHD Graphics 770, and a 15 W TDP. The benchmark database places it at the 50th percentile among all CPUs, with an average score of 2376. Its nearest rivals are separated from it by deltaPct values of +0.4, -0.4, +0.7, and -0.9, making this an unusually tight cluster of mid-pack results.
Benchmark Performance
The i3-N305’s Cinebench results show a consistent mid-range position. In Cinebench R15, it scores 828 multi-core and 116 single-core. In Cinebench R20, it scores 3450 multi-core and 487 single-core. In Cinebench R23, it scores 8216 multi-core and 1160 single-core. The single-core scores are modest in absolute terms, while the multi-core scores benefit from the 8-core, 8-thread configuration.
The aggregate picture is defined by the average benchmark score of 2376 and the 50th percentile ranking. Against its four nearest rivals, the margins are very small. The i3-N305 sits 0.4% above the AMD Ryzen 3 5300U’s average score of 2367, and 0.7% above the AMD Ryzen 5 2500X’s average score of 2361. It sits 0.4% below the Intel Core i5-1155G7’s 2387 and 0.9% below the Intel Core i5-8600T’s 2398. The largest gap in this group is the 0.9% delta with the i5-8600T, which is still a narrow margin.
What this means in practice is that the benchmark results place the i3-N305 in the middle of the current CPU distribution. It is not a high-end performer, but it is also not far off several established processors. The Cinebench multi-core numbers, especially the R23 score of 8216, show that the chip can carry parallel workloads without collapsing into the low end of the database.
Who Should Consider It
For everyday office use, the single-core scores are the relevant part of the data. The Cinebench R15 single-core score of 116, the R20 score of 487, and the R23 score of 1160 indicate a processor that handles common single-threaded desktop tasks without the need for especially high sustained clock speeds. The 15 W TDP and mobile segment further suggest a machine designed around portability and quiet operation.
For content creation, the multi-core scores are more useful. The Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 8216 and the R20 multi-core score of 3450 show meaningful parallel throughput from the 8 cores. This makes the processor a plausible fit for occasional Cinebench-style rendering or other multi-threaded creation tasks on a thin-and-light mobile system. It is not a creator flagship; the 50th percentile ranking makes that clear. But within its power class, the multi-core results are much stronger than the single-core results.
For gaming, the data is limited. The processor has a 3.80 GHz boost clock and integrated UHD Graphics 770, but no gaming benchmark appears in the fact pack. Buyers should treat gaming conclusions as unproven from this database. The CPU side of the chip is capable in aggregate, but the integrated GPU is the graphics path, and no game scores are available to quantify it.
Platform and Compatibility
The i3-N305 uses Socket Intel BGA 1264 and belongs to the Core i3 (Alder Lake-N) generation. It is fabricated on Intel’s 10 nm process node. The cache hierarchy is structured as 96 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per module, and 6 MB of shared L3.
Memory support includes DDR4 and DDR5 over a single-channel memory bus, with a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. ECC memory is not supported. The processor provides PCIe Gen 3 with 9 lanes, CPU only. Integrated graphics is UHD Graphics 770. The integrated GPU removes the need for a separate display adapter in basic configurations.
The platform is explicitly a mobile design: the market segment is Mobile, the production status is Active, and the part number is SRMDQ. The multiplier is not unlocked, so user-controlled overclocking is not supported. The BGA 1264 socket indicates a board-mounted mobile package, which means platform compatibility is fixed at the time the board is chosen rather than through a desktop-style socketed upgrade. The combination of single-channel memory, 9 PCIe lanes, and no ECC makes this platform more suited to compact mainstream laptops than to high-expansion workstation builds.
FAQ
Q: How many cores and threads does the Intel Core i3-N305 have?
A: It has 8 cores and 8 threads.
Q: What memory does it support?
A: It supports DDR4 and DDR5 over a single-channel memory bus with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth. ECC memory is not supported.
Q: What integrated graphics does it include?
A: It includes UHD Graphics 770.
Q: What are the Cinebench R23 scores?
A: It scores 8216 multi-core and 1160 single-core in Cinebench R23.
Q: Is the CPU multiplier unlocked?
A: No. The multiplierUnlocked field is false.
Q: What is the release date and production status?
A: It was released on 2023-01-02 and has an Active production status.
Power and Thermals
The i3-N305 has a TDP of 15 W, which places it in the low-power mobile tier. This is a small power envelope for an 8-core processor, and the thermal implications are modest. A low-power mobile design does not require the kind of cooling solution associated with desktop high-core-count parts. The 10 nm process node is consistent with a compact, efficient platform.
The integrated UHD Graphics 770 shares the same package, so the thermal load includes both CPU and GPU on one die. The 3.80 GHz boost clock is the headline frequency, but the processor remains within the 15 W class. For system builders, the data indicates that the cooling priority is chassis airflow and quiet operation rather than high-capacity heatsinks. The 50th percentile average score, combined with 15 W power, suggests a predictable thermal profile rather than an extreme one.
Single-Thread vs Multi-Thread Behavior
The Cinebench results reveal a clear split between single-thread and multi-thread performance. In Cinebench R15, the single-core score is 116 and the multi-core score is 828. In Cinebench R20, the single-core score is 487 and the multi-core score is 3450. In Cinebench R23, the single-core score is 1160 and the multi-core score is 8216.
The multi-core scores are far above the single-core scores, which reflects the 8-core, 8-thread configuration. Workloads that can use all cores will extract a much higher result than workloads limited to one core. Single-threaded applications, by contrast, will rely on the lower single-core scores and the 3.80 GHz boost clock. This makes the processor well matched to mixed-use mobile systems where users alternate between light single-threaded tasks and parallel creation workloads. The data does not show single-core dominance; it shows a core-count-driven multi-core advantage within a low-power envelope.
How It Compares
Compared with the AMD Ryzen 3 5300U, the i3-N305 has an average score of 2376 against 2367, with a deltaPct of +0.4. That is effectively a tie. The N305 is slightly ahead, but the margin is small enough that benchmark position is not distinguishable from parity.
Compared with the Intel Core i5-1155G7, the i3-N305 is behind. The i5-1155G7 averages 2387, while the N305 averages 2376, a deltaPct of -0.4. Again, the gap is tiny; the ranking is essentially the same performance class.
Compared with the AMD Ryzen 5 2500X, the i3-N305 is ahead by a deltaPct of +0.7, with the Ryzen 5 2500X averaging 2361. The N305’s higher average score is still within a narrow band, but the direction of the comparison favors the Intel part.
Compared with the Intel Core i5-8600T, the i3-N305 trails by the largest margin among the listed rivals. The i5-8600T averages 2398, and the deltaPct is -0.9. Even the biggest competitor gap in this group is under a full point, so the overall conclusion is that the i3-N305 sits in a very tight mid-pack cluster.
The AMD Equivalent of Core i3-N305
Looking for a similar processor from AMD? The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 7330U offers comparable performance and features in the AMD lineup.
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