CPU Comparison
Intel Core i3-1005G1 vs Intel Core i3-1115G4 (IPU)
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i3-1005G1 is a 15-watt Ice Lake-U mobile processor featuring two Sunny Cove cores and basic UHD graphics, launched at $281 to bring 10nm to budget-friendly ultrabooks.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Single-app use is fine, but opening multiple browser tabs alongside Office apps will cause noticeable slowdowns.
The 2 cores are adequate for light office tasks. The IPU helps keep the system responsive during video calls, but heavy multitasking will still cause slowdowns.
Gaming
The basic UHD graphics are too weak for any meaningful gaming experience.
Identical to the non-IPU 1115G4. The Iris Xe G4 graphics are not viable for modern gaming.
Virtualization
2 cores and 4 threads are barely enough for the host OS, let alone a virtual machine.
2 cores and 4 threads are fundamentally insufficient for any practical virtualization use.
Efficiency
Good efficiency for a 15W chip, allowing for 6-8 hours of real-world battery life in basic ultrabooks.
The IPU significantly improves efficiency during its target workload (video calls), making this chip very battery-friendly for remote workers.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- DLBoost is supported but the 2-core CPU heavily limits AI workload processing
- IPU 6.0 provides excellent dedicated AI for video and imaging
- General CPU AI inference is limited by 2 cores and 15W TDP
- AVX-512 instructions are present
Content Creation
Gaming
- The basic UHD graphics lack the power for even casual gaming
- CPU will bottleneck any game that relies on more than two threads
- 2 cores and G4 tier graphics preclude gaming
- Identical graphical limitations as the standard 1115G4
- No improvement in frame rates over the non-IPU variant
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- Native Thunderbolt 3 support is excellent for docking stations
- Sunny Cove architecture provides strong single-thread performance for basic tasks
- 15W TDP allows for slim, portable laptop designs
- DDR4 and LPDDR4X memory flexibility
- 10nm process was very efficient for its time
Cons
- Only 2 cores and 4 threads, which is inexcusable at its $281 MSRP
- Basic UHD graphics lack the power of the Iris Plus found on other Ice Lake chips
- No PCIe 4.0 support
- Cannot handle modern multi-tab browsing without stuttering
- L3 cache is limited to 4 MB
Pros
- IPU 6.0 enables smooth AI video features on a budget chip
- High 4.1 GHz boost for snappy single-task performance
- Excellent battery life during video calls due to IPU offload
- Low 15W configurable TDP
- Modern 10nm SuperFin process
Cons
- Only 2 cores and 4 threads severely bottleneck multitasking
- 6MB L3 cache is very small
- Only 4 CPU PCIe 4.0 lanes
- The IPU is useless if you don't use video conferencing
- Same price as the 4-core 1125G4 (IPU) at launch
Competitors & Alternatives
Intel Core i3-1005G1
- AMD Ryzen 3 3200URival
Budget Mobile
- AMD Ryzen 5 3500URival
Mainstream Mobile
- Intel Core i3-1005G4Rival
Better Graphics Ice Lake-U
- Intel Pentium Gold 6405URival
Ultra-Budget Mobile
- AMD Ryzen 3 4300URival
Next-Gen Budget Mobile
A 4-core Ice Lake alternative that solves the multitasking bottleneck.
Compare head-to-head- Intel Core i3-1115G1Alt
The 11th-gen successor with higher clocks and better integrated graphics.
- AMD Ryzen 5 5500UAlt
A modern 6-core laptop CPU that completely outclasses this 2-core chip.
A modern 10-core (hybrid) Intel chip that redefines budget laptop performance.
Compare head-to-head
Intel Core i3-1115G4 (IPU)
- AMD Ryzen 3 5300URival
Mobile
- AMD Ryzen 3 3250URival
Mobile
- Compare head-to-headApple M1Rival
Mobile
- MediaTek Kompanio 500TRival
Mobile
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 7cRival
Mobile
Same price at launch but doubles the cores to 4, vastly improving multitasking while keeping the IPU.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 5500UAlt
6 cores provide a completely different tier of usability for not much more money.
Superior CPU and GPU performance if you can stretch the budget.
Compare head-to-head12th-gen hybrid architecture offers much better background task handling.
Compare head-to-head
Our Verdict on Each
The i3-1005G1 successfully brought 10nm and Thunderbolt 3 to cheap laptops, but its 2-core CPU and stripped-back graphics make it a poor choice for anything beyond light tasks.
Best for: The only scenario where an i3-1005G1 laptop makes sense is if it is being sold at an extreme clearance price (under $100) and you need a disposable machine for a child's schoolwork or a dedicated document viewer. The inclusion of Thunderbolt 3 means it can connect to high-speed docks, which might be useful for legacy office setups.
Read the full reviewA niche 2-core processor that offloads webcam AI tasks to the IPU 6.0, but the severe core count limitation makes it a poor choice for anyone doing more than light office work and video calls.
Best for: Buying a highly discounted laptop specifically for remote work and video conferencing where battery life during calls is the top priority.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i3-1005G1 or Intel Core i3-1115G4 (IPU)?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i3-1115G4 (IPU) 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 i3-1005G1 or Intel Core i3-1115G4 (IPU)?
For gaming, the Intel Core i3-1115G4 (IPU) leads with a gaming performance score of 18/100 among Intel Core i3-1005G1 and Intel Core i3-1115G4 (IPU).
Do Intel Core i3-1005G1 and Intel Core i3-1115G4 (IPU) use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Intel Core i3-1005G1: BGA 1526, Intel Core i3-1115G4 (IPU): BGA 1449), so each needs a compatible motherboard.
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Intel Core i3-1005G1 posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i3-1005G1 (0). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.