CPU Comparison

Intel Core i3-1000G1 vs Intel Core i3-1000G4

A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i3-1000G1 is an ultra-low-power 2-core mobile processor representing Intel's first major step into the 10nm manufacturing process with the Ice Lake architecture, designed for tablets and fanless 2-in-1 devices.

Intel · Core i3
Intel Core i3-1000G1
2C / 4T3.2 GHz9 W
3.5
Full review
Top pick
Intel · Core i3
Intel Core i3-1000G4
2C / 4T3.2 GHz9 W
4.5
Full review

The Bottom Line

Overview & Launch

Brand
Intel
Intel
Market
Mobile
Mobile
Segment
Mobile
Mobile
Generation
10th Gen (Ice Lake)
10th Gen (Ice Lake)
Launched
2019
2019
Status
End-of-life
End-of-life
Codename
Ice Lake-Y
Ice Lake-Y
Series
Core i3
Core i3
Family
Ice Lake-Y
Ice Lake-Y
Predecessor
Intel Pentium Gold 5405Y
Intel Pentium Gold 5405Y
Successor
Intel Core i3-1110G4
Intel Core i3-1110G4

Specifications Compared

Cores & Clocks
Cores
2
2
Threads
4
4
Base Clock
1.1 GHz
1.1 GHz
Boost Clock
3.2 GHz
3.2 GHz
Cache & Power
L3 Cache
4 MB
4 MB
TDP
9 W
9 W
Architecture
Architecture
Ice Lake-Y (Sunny Cove)
Ice Lake-Y (Sunny Cove)
Process Node
10nm
10nm
Memory
Memory Type
LPDDR4
LPDDR4
Memory Speed
LPDDR4-3733
LPDDR4-3733
Memory Channels
Dual (2)
Dual (2)
Max Memory
32 GB
32 GB
Platform & I/O
Socket
BGA 1377
BGA 1377
PCIe Version
PCIe 3.0
PCIe 3.0
Integrated GPU
Yes
Yes
Unlocked
No
No

Performance Compared

Productivity

Intel Core i3-1000G120

Modern office suites will run, but heavy multitasking or large spreadsheets will severely slow down the system.

Intel Core i3-1000G4Best25

Basic office tasks run fine, but the 2-core CPU will choke on heavy Excel sheets or multiple browser tabs.

Gaming

Intel Core i3-1000G15

The 32EU UHD Graphics can only handle very old 2D games or simple indie titles at low resolutions.

Intel Core i3-1000G4Best15

The 48EU Iris Plus can actually run older e-sports titles like CS:GO or League of Legends at 720p/1080p low, a novelty for a 9W chip.

Virtualization

Intel Core i3-1000G15

Two cores and four threads are completely insufficient for any practical virtual machine hosting.

Intel Core i3-1000G45

Virtually impossible to run useful virtual machines on 2 cores and a 9W power limit.

Efficiency

Intel Core i3-1000G1Best95

Exceptional power efficiency that allows for all-day battery life in tablet form factors.

Intel Core i3-1000G492

Outstanding efficiency that allows for all-day battery life in premium ultrabooks.

Specialized Performance

AI / ML

Intel Core i3-1000G1Minimal
  • Supports DLBoost for basic AI tasks, but the 2-core CPU limits practical application
Intel Core i3-1000G4Minimal
  • DLBoost provides basic AI acceleration, but the 2-core CPU limits practical applications

Content Creation

Intel Core i3-1000G1Not Applicable
Intel Core i3-1000G4Minimal
Light Photo CroppingBasic Video TrimmingWeb Graphic Design

Gaming

Intel Core i3-1000G1Not Applicable
  • This chip was not designed for gaming
  • Lacks the graphics horsepower and CPU core count for any modern game
  • Suitable only for basic casual mobile games from the Windows Store
Intel Core i3-1000G4Minimal
  • Can handle older e-sports titles at low settings thanks to the 48EU GPU
  • The 2-core CPU will bottleneck heavily in any CPU-intensive game scene
  • Not suitable for modern AAA gaming

Industry Impact

Gaming
None
None
Workstations
None
None
Content Creation
None
None
Virtualization
None
None

Best CPU by Use Case

Media Streaming
Adequate
Document Viewing
Adequate
Web Browsing (Simple Sites)
Adequate
Light E-reading
Excellent
Modern Web Apps
Poor
4K Media Consumption
Excellent
Light Casual Gaming
Adequate
Basic Photo Editing
Adequate
Office Web Apps
Adequate
Modern Heavy Multitasking
Poor

Target Audience

Gamers
Content Creators
Developers
Workstation Users
Streamers
Office / Productivity
Students

Strengths & Weaknesses

Intel Core i3-1000G1

Pros

  • Extremely low 9 W power draw enables fanless designs
  • 10nm process provided industry-leading efficiency in 2019
  • Integrated DLBoost for early AI workloads
  • Sufficient for basic local media playback

Cons

  • Only 2 cores and 4 threads, severely limiting multitasking
  • Reduced 32EU graphics are very weak by modern standards
  • No PCIe 4.0 support
  • Completely obsolete for modern operating systems
  • Low 1.1 GHz base clock causes sluggishness under any load
Intel Core i3-1000G4

Pros

  • 48EU Iris Plus graphics are surprisingly capable for a 9W chip
  • True fanless operation is possible, resulting in zero noise
  • 10nm process provides excellent idle battery life
  • Can drive multiple 4K external displays
  • Supports hardware-accelerated video encoding

Cons

  • Only 2 CPU cores make modern Windows 11 feel incredibly sluggish
  • Base clock of 1.1 GHz is too low for snappy UI responsiveness
  • Limited to PCIe 3.0
  • Completely obsolete for any modern productivity workflow
  • Soldered RAM and CPU mean no upgrade path

Competitors & Alternatives

Intel Core i3-1000G1

  • AMD Ryzen 3 3200U

    Budget Mobile

    Rival
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx

    Always Connected PC

    Rival
  • Apple A12X Bionic

    Premium Tablet

    Rival
  • Intel Pentium Gold 5405Y

    Ultra-Low Power

    Rival
  • AMD Ryzen 5 3500U

    Mainstream Mobile

    Rival
  • Offers double the graphics Execution Units (48EU) for better media performance in the same power envelope.

    Compare head-to-head
  • Intel N100
    Alt

    A vastly superior modern low-power chip with 4 efficiency cores for basic computing.

  • A 15W U-series chip that provides slightly better sustained performance in a traditional laptop.

    Compare head-to-head
  • If choosing a tablet or ultra-thin laptop, the M1 offers exponentially better performance and efficiency.

    Compare head-to-head
  • AMD Ryzen 5 5500U
    Alt

    A modern 6-core mobile processor that redefines budget laptop performance.

Intel Core i3-1000G4

Our Verdict on Each

While historically significant as Intel's first 10nm chip, the 2-core, 32EU configuration of the i3-1000G1 is entirely inadequate for modern computing tasks and should be avoided.

Best for: You should only acquire the i3-1000G1 if you are repairing a legacy tablet or 2-in-1 device that uses this specific BGA 1377 chip, and the replacement cost is nearly zero. It can serve as a dedicated media consumption screen or a basic digital picture frame.

Read the full review

The i3-1000G4 offered a compelling graphics upgrade over the G1 for ultra-thin Windows devices in 2019, but its 2-core CPU severely limits its usefulness today.

Best for: Consider a laptop with the i3-1000G4 only if it is being given away for free or costs under $50, and you need a disposable machine for basic word processing or playing old 2D games. The 48EU graphics are genuinely capable for legacy gaming, which might appeal to retro gamers looking for a silent, portable machine.

Read the full review

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, Intel Core i3-1000G1 or Intel Core i3-1000G4?

Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i3-1000G4 comes out ahead with a score of 4.5/10. 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 i3-1000G1 or Intel Core i3-1000G4?

For gaming, the Intel Core i3-1000G4 leads with a gaming performance score of 15/100 among Intel Core i3-1000G1 and Intel Core i3-1000G4.

Do Intel Core i3-1000G1 and Intel Core i3-1000G4 use the same socket?

Yes — all of these CPUs use the BGA 1377 socket, so they share compatible motherboards.