CPU Comparison
Intel Core i3-N300 vs Intel Core i3-N305
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i3-N300 is an ultra-low-power 8-core, 8-thread mobile processor using only Gracemont E-cores with UHD Graphics 770, operating at just 7W TDP for fanless devices, Chromebooks, and tablets.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No dedicated AI acceleration
- AVX-VNNI support exists but performance is minimal at 7W
- Not suitable for any AI workload
- No dedicated AI acceleration hardware
- Gracemont cores include AVX-VNNI but lack the performance for meaningful AI work
- Not suitable for AI or ML tasks
Content Creation
Gaming
- Not designed for gaming
- 7W power budget prevents sustained GPU performance
- Single-channel memory further limits graphics capability
- Only suitable for 2D and very basic 3D applications
- Not designed for gaming
- UHD 770 (32 EUs) is better than UHD 64EU but still far from gaming-capable
- Single-channel memory severely limits graphics performance
- Older titles at lowest settings and resolutions may be marginally playable
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- 7W TDP enables truly fanless designs
- 8 threads provide basic parallel capability
- Full x86 Windows compatibility at tablet-level power
- UHD Graphics 770 at full 1250 MHz clock
- Very low idle power consumption
- Excellent for Chromebook and media streaming use cases
Cons
- 7W severely limits sustained performance
- No P-cores means weak single-threaded response
- Single-channel memory halves available bandwidth
- Only 9 PCIe 3.0 lanes
- 6MB L3 cache for 8 cores is lean
- Will feel slow for any non-trivial Windows workload
Pros
- 8 cores provide good parallel throughput for the price
- Very low power consumption with 9W configurable TDP
- UHD Graphics 770 is better than expected for this tier
- Fully dynamic clock domains for granular power management
- Supports AVX-VNNI instruction extensions
- Enables very affordable mini PCs and Chromebooks
Cons
- No P-cores means weak single-threaded performance
- Single-channel memory halves bandwidth
- Only 9 PCIe 3.0 lanes severely limit expansion
- 6MB L3 cache is small for 8 cores
- Gracemont IPC is significantly lower than Golden Cove
- PCIe 3.0 is a generation behind the 4.0 support on U-series chips
Competitors & Alternatives
Intel Core i3-N300
- AMD Ryzen 3 7320URival
Budget Mobile
- MediaTek Kompanio 1380Rival
Chromebook
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c Gen 2Rival
Always-Connected
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i3-N305Rival
Budget Mini PC
- Intel Celeron N5095Rival
Entry Mini PC
- Intel Pentium Silver N6005Alt
Even lower-cost option for the most basic computing needs.
Intel Core i3-N305
- AMD Ryzen 3 7320URival
Budget Mobile
- AMD Ryzen 5 7520URival
Budget Mobile
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i3-1215URival
Mainstream Mobile
- MediaTek Kompanio 1380Rival
Budget Mobile
- Intel Pentium Silver N6005Rival
Entry Mobile
Same architecture at even lower 7W TDP if maximum efficiency is the priority.
Compare head-to-head- Intel Celeron N5095Alt
Jasper Lake alternative if even lower cost is needed, though with fewer cores.
Our Verdict on Each
An impressive technical achievement in power efficiency, packing 8 E-cores into 7W. However, the combination of no P-cores, single-channel memory, and PCIe 3.0 limits it to the simplest computing tasks where power draw matters more than speed.
Best for: Fanless mini PC or Chromebook purchase where silence, minimal power draw, and adequate basic performance are the primary requirements.
Read the full reviewA unique all-E-core processor that offers 8 threads of parallel performance at very low power, but the absence of any P-cores means single-threaded performance is significantly behind hybrid chips. Best suited for devices where core count marketing and power efficiency matter more than snappy responsiveness.
Best for: Budget mini PC or Chromebook purchase where 8-core parallelism at low power is valued, and single-threaded performance is not critical.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i3-N300 or Intel Core i3-N305?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i3-N305 comes out ahead with a score of 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 uses less power?
The Intel Core i3-N300 has the lowest rated TDP. Power draw across these chips: Intel Core i3-N300 (7 W), Intel Core i3-N305 (15 W).
Do Intel Core i3-N300 and Intel Core i3-N305 use the same socket?
Yes — all of these CPUs use the BGA 1264 socket, so they share compatible motherboards.