CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-1030G4 vs Intel Core i5-10310Y
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i5-1030G4 is a quad-core mobile processor belonging to Intel's 10th Generation Ice Lake lineup, specifically the Y-series for ultra-thin and fanless devices. Manufactured on Intel's 10nm process, it utilizes the new Sunny Cove architecture to deliver improved instructions per clock over previous generations. It features four cores and eight threads, with a very low base clock of 700 MHz and a maximum turbo frequency of 3.5 GHz. The 9W TDP allows for passive cooling, making it ideal for premium tablets and compact 2-in-1s. A major upgrade over Comet Lake is the integration of Gen 11 Iris Plus graphics, offering significantly better graphical performance and hardware decoding capabilities. It also supports DDR4 memory and AVX-512 instructions, enhancing its potential for light AI and compute workloads. While the low base clock limits sustained multi-threaded performance, this chip excels in bursty workloads and provides a modern feature set for portable computing.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Good for office tasks, but low base clock limits heavy multitasking.
Slightly better sustained performance than 10210Y for office tasks.
Gaming
Iris Plus graphics allow for light gaming at 720p, a big step up from UHD.
Not suitable for gaming beyond simple 2D applications.
Virtualization
AVX-512 support is nice, but low clocks limit VM performance.
Can handle light VMs but thermal limits restrict usage.
Efficiency
10nm node provides excellent performance per watt.
Exceptional power efficiency for all-day tablet battery life.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- Supports AVX-512 for AI workloads
- DLBoost accelerates inference
- No dedicated AI hardware
- Low frequency limits CPU-based inference
Content Creation
Gaming
- Gen 11 Iris Plus graphics
- Can play older titles at 720p
- Thermal limits restrict sustained GPU boost
- Basic UHD Graphics
- Passive cooling limits GPU boost
- LPDDR3 bandwidth is a bottleneck
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- Modern 10nm manufacturing process
- Iris Plus graphics are a huge upgrade
- Supports LPDDR4 memory
- AVX-512 instruction support
Cons
- Extremely low 700 MHz base clock
- Throttles heavily under sustained load
- Still uses PCIe 3.0
- Hard to find in mainstream devices
Pros
- Fanless, completely silent operation
- Excellent battery life
- Slightly higher clocks than 10210Y
- Good burst performance
Cons
- Low base clock limits sustained work
- Uses older LPDDR3 memory
- Weak integrated graphics
- Expensive when new for the performance offered
Competitors & Alternatives
Intel Core i5-1030G4
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-1030NG7Rival
Mobile (Fanless)
- AMD Ryzen 3 4300URival
Mobile
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-10210YRival
Mobile (Fanless)
- Apple A12Z BionicRival
Mobile (ARM)
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cxRival
Mobile (ARM)
Better 11th gen efficiency and graphics.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 5600UAlt
Far superior CPU performance.
Higher sustained clocks if graphics are less important.
Compare head-to-head- Alt
Better battery life and performance.
Compare head-to-head - Intel Core i3-1210YAlt
Modern hybrid architecture for fanless designs.
Intel Core i5-10310Y
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-10210YRival
Mobile (Fanless)
- Intel Core i7-1060NG7Rival
Mobile (Fanless)
- Intel Core m3-8100YRival
Mobile (Fanless)
- AMD Ryzen 3 4300URival
Mobile
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i3-10110YRival
Mobile (Fanless)
Better graphics and 10nm efficiency.
Compare head-to-headBetter sustained performance if a fan is present.
Compare head-to-head- Alt
Vastly superior performance and battery life.
Compare head-to-head - Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2Alt
Better ARM-based efficiency for tablets.
- Intel Core i5-1230YAlt
Modern Alder Lake architecture for fanless designs.
Our Verdict on Each
A significant architectural leap over Comet Lake, offering better graphics and modern features, though hampered by a very low base clock.
Best for: Buying a used premium tablet that benefits from Iris graphics.
Read the full reviewA marginally faster binned version of the 10210Y, offering slightly better sustained performance in fanless tablets.
Best for: Buying a used premium business tablet for travel.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i5-1030G4 or Intel Core i5-10310Y?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i5-1030G4 comes out ahead with a score of 7/10. 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 i5-1030G4 or Intel Core i5-10310Y?
For gaming, the Intel Core i5-1030G4 leads with a gaming performance score of 45/100 among Intel Core i5-1030G4 and Intel Core i5-10310Y.
Do Intel Core i5-1030G4 and Intel Core i5-10310Y use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Intel Core i5-1030G4: Intel BGA 1377, Intel Core i5-10310Y: Intel BGA 1440), so each needs a compatible motherboard.
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Intel Core i5-1030G4 posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i5-1030G4 (5,800), Intel Core i5-10310Y (5,600). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.