CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-10200H vs Core i5-7300HQ
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i5-10200H is a 10th generation mobile processor targeting budget-friendly gaming laptops. Released in September 2020, it is part of the Comet Lake-H family and is built on the 14nm process. It features 4 cores and 8 threads, providing standard multi-tasking capabilities for entry-level gaming. The base clock is set at 2.4 GHz, with a maximum turbo boost of 4.1 GHz, making it the lowest-binned i5 in the 10th gen mobile H-series. It operates within a 45W TDP, fitting well into thinner budget laptop designs. The chip includes 6 MB of Intel Smart Cache and supports dual-channel DDR4 memory up to 2933 MT/s. It integrates basic Intel UHD Graphics, but is universally paired with dedicated mobile GPUs for actual gaming. With 16 PCIe 3.0 lanes, it provides adequate bandwidth for a discrete GPU and storage, serving as an affordable entry point into mobile gaming.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
4 cores at lower clocks limit multitasking capabilities.
Smooth performance for everyday office applications and web browsing.
Gaming
Struggles with modern CPU-heavy games, but fine for low-end eSports.
Handles older eSports titles like CS:GO and LoL perfectly, but struggles with modern CPU-demanding games.
Virtualization
Not recommended for virtual machines.
Not recommended for virtualization due to lack of Hyper-Threading.
Efficiency
14nm process is inefficient, leading to lower battery life.
High power draw relative to performance by modern mobile standards.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No dedicated AI hardware.
- Low clock speeds make CPU inference very slow.
- No NPU or AI acceleration
- Insufficient threads for AI workloads
Content Creation
Gaming
- Lowest turbo speeds in the 10th gen mobile i5 stack.
- Will bottleneck modern GPUs in CPU-bound games.
- Best suited for GTX 1650 class laptops at 1080p Medium.
- Great for older games and eSports
- Bottlenecks modern GPUs in AAA titles
- 4 cores are a strict limitation today
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- Found in very cheap laptops
- Good enough for basic school work
- Supports DDR4-2933
- Has 8 threads for basic multitasking
Cons
- Lowest clock speeds in the lineup
- 4 cores are outdated for modern gaming
- 14nm process runs warm
- Soldered and non-upgradable
Pros
- Reliable quad-core performance for its era
- Good sustained thermal performance in laptop chassis
- Supports DDR4 memory
- Includes Quick Sync Video for fast media encoding
Cons
- Only 4 cores and 4 threads
- Soldered to motherboard, not upgradeable
- Poor multi-tasking performance by modern standards
- Not supported by Windows 11 officially
Competitors & Alternatives
Intel Core i5-10200H
- AMD Ryzen 5 4600HRival
Mobile Mainstream
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-10300HRival
Mobile Mainstream
- AMD Ryzen 5 3550HRival
Mobile Budget
- Intel Core i5-9300HRival
Previous Gen Mobile
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-10400HRival
Mobile Mainstream
- Intel Core i5-11400HAlt
Better architecture and 6 cores.
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600HAlt
Vastly superior IPC and efficiency.
- Intel Core i3-12100HAlt
Modern 4-core with hyper-threading that beats it.
Core i5-7300HQ
- AMD A10-9620PRival
Mobile
- Intel Core i7-7700HQRival
Mobile
- Intel Core i5-6300HQRival
Mobile
- AMD Ryzen 5 2500URival
Mobile
- Intel Core i5-7200URival
Mobile
- Intel Core i5-9300HAlt
Modern alternative with 8 threads for better multi-threading.
- AMD Ryzen 5 3550HAlt
Better multi-threading and integrated graphics performance.
- Intel Core i5-8300HAlt
Direct successor offering 8 threads on the same tier.
- AMD Ryzen 5 4600HAlt
Vastly superior modern alternative with 6 cores and 12 threads.
Our Verdict on Each
As the lowest-binned 10th gen mobile i5, it offers basic functionality for budget gaming but struggles with modern CPU demands and lacks efficiency.
Best for: Buying a used laptop for under $300 for basic eSports.
Read the full reviewA highly popular mobile CPU that brought affordable quad-core performance to gaming laptops, though its 4-core/4-thread design is heavily outdated for modern workloads.
Best for: Buying a very cheap used laptop for basic retro gaming
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i5-10200H or Core i5-7300HQ?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Core i5-7300HQ comes out ahead with a score of 6.8/10. That said, the best choice depends on your workload — check the spec and performance breakdown above for gaming, productivity and efficiency differences.
Which is faster for gaming, Intel Core i5-10200H or Core i5-7300HQ?
For gaming, the Intel Core i5-10200H leads with a gaming performance score of 65/100 among Intel Core i5-10200H and Core i5-7300HQ.
Do Intel Core i5-10200H and Core i5-7300HQ use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Intel Core i5-10200H: BGA 1440, Core i5-7300HQ: BGA1440), so each needs a compatible motherboard.
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Intel Core i5-10200H posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i5-10200H (8,500). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.