Quick Verdict
A significant architectural leap over Comet Lake, offering better graphics and modern features, though hampered by a very low base clock.
Overview
Launch
2019
Status
ActiveGeneration
10th Gen (Ice Lake-Y)
Market
Mobile
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 i5-1030G4 introduces Intel's 10nm Sunny Cove architecture to the Y-series. It features 4 cores and 8 threads, but its standout feature is the Gen 11 Iris Plus graphics. While the 700MHz base clock is extremely low, the chip can burst to 3.
5GHz and handles modern workloads far more efficiently than 14nm predecessors.
Specifications
Performance
Good for office tasks, but low base clock limits heavy multitasking.
AVX-512 support is nice, but low clocks limit VM performance.
Iris Plus graphics allow for light gaming at 720p, a big step up from UHD.
10nm node provides excellent performance per watt.
- •Gen 11 Iris Plus graphics
- •Can play older titles at 720p
- •Thermal limits restrict sustained GPU boost
- •Supports AVX-512 for AI workloads
- •DLBoost accelerates inference
Architecture
10nm
Process Node
Ice Lake-Y
Codename
4C / 8T
Core Config
6 MB
L3 Cache
9 W
TDP
Architecture Overview
The Core i5-1030G4 is built on the Sunny Cove microarchitecture, marking a significant departure from the older Skylake-derived designs. Manufactured on Intel's 10nm process, it features 80KB of L1 cache per core, an increase over previous generations, alongside 256KB of L2 cache and a 6MB shared L3 cache. The architecture introduces support for AVX-512 instructions, accelerating specialized compute workloads. Unlike Comet Lake-Y, this processor supports LPDDR4 memory at 3733 MT/s, providing substantially higher memory bandwidth. The most notable architectural feature is the integrated Gen 11 Iris Plus graphics, which dramatically outperform the older UHD Graphics. With 48 execution units, it handles light gaming and video editing far more capably. The Sunny Cove design focuses on reducing latency and improving execution port utilization, meaning it does more work per clock cycle. However, the low 700MHz base clock is a deliberate choice to stay within the 9W thermal envelope, prioritizing efficiency over sustained output.
CPU Design
4 cores, 8 threads on the 10nm Sunny Cove architecture.
Memory Subsystem
Dual-channel LPDDR4 controller at 3733 MT/s.
PCIe & I/O
16 PCIe 3.0 lanes.
Overclocking
Locked multiplier.
- Move to 10nm process
- Massive upgrade to Gen 11 graphics
- Introduction of AVX-512
Key Highlights
- Modern 10nm manufacturing process
- Iris Plus graphics are a huge upgrade
- Supports LPDDR4 memory
- AVX-512 instruction support
- Extremely low 700 MHz base clock
- Throttles heavily under sustained load
- Still uses PCIe 3.0
- Hard to find in mainstream devices
History
The Core i5-1030G4 was released in August 2019 as part of Intel's highly anticipated Ice Lake lineup. This launch was monumental for Intel, as it represented the first true high-volume deployment of their 10nm process node in mobile processors after years of delays. Ice Lake was designed to compete directly with AMD's Ryzen series by offering a modern architecture and significantly upgraded integrated graphics.
The 1030G4 specifically targeted the ultra-mobile segment, aiming to bring desktop-class features like AVX-512 and Gen 11 graphics to fanless tablets. Despite the architectural advancements, the 10nm node initially struggled with clock speeds, resulting in the low 700MHz base frequency. This highlighted the growing pains of Intel's new manufacturing process.
Nevertheless, the 1030G4 laid the foundation for future generations of efficient Intel processors, proving that the company could deliver substantial IPC gains and graphical improvements when moving away from the aging 14nm node.
Improvements over Previous Generation
- Move to 10nm process
- Massive upgrade to Gen 11 graphics
- Introduction of AVX-512
Alternatives & Competitors
Should You Buy It?
Not Recommended for the right buyer
Buying a used premium tablet that benefits from Iris graphics.
Avoid if…
- You need high sustained CPU performance
- You want PCIe 4.0
- You are buying a new laptop
Use Cases
Interesting Facts
It is one of the first processors built on Intel's 10nm node.
The base clock is only 700 MHz to preserve the 9W TDP.
It features 48 Execution Units in its Iris Plus graphics.
The chip supports AVX-512 and DLBoost for AI acceleration.
It uses a different socket (BGA 1377) than Comet Lake.
OEMs can configure the TDP up to 12W for more performance.
It supports quad-channel LPDDR4 memory configurations.
The Sunny Cove architecture significantly improves IPC.
It was released slightly before the Comet Lake Y-series chips.
The graphics can dynamically boost up to 1050 MHz.
People Also Ask
Is the i5-1030G4 good for gaming?
It can handle light 720p gaming thanks to Iris Plus graphics, unlike UHD models.
What architecture is the i5-1030G4?
It uses the 10nm Sunny Cove architecture.
Why is the base clock of the i5-1030G4 so low?
The 700MHz base clock is necessary to stay within the strict 9W TDP.
Does the i5-1030G4 support AVX-512?
Yes, it supports AVX-512 instructions.
What memory does the i5-1030G4 support?
It supports LPDDR4 memory at 3733 MT/s.
Is the i5-1030G4 better than the 10210Y?
It has much better graphics and features, but lower CPU base clocks.
Can the i5-1030G4 run fanless?
Yes, it is designed for fanless tablet and 2-in-1 designs.
What is the max TDP of the i5-1030G4?
OEMs can configure it up to 12W.
Does it support PCIe 4.0?
No, it supports PCIe 3.0.
How many graphics execution units does it have?
It has 48 Execution Units.
Frequently Asked Questions
What socket does the i5-1030G4 use?
It uses the Intel BGA 1377 socket.
Does it have Hyper-Threading?
Yes, 4 cores and 8 threads.
What is the L3 cache size?
It has 6MB of L3 cache.
Is the i5-1030G4 unlocked?
No, the multiplier is locked.
What generation is it?
It is a 10th Generation Intel Core processor.
Does it support Thunderbolt?
Yes, it supports Thunderbolt 3.
What is the max turbo frequency?
It can boost up to 3.5 GHz.
Is it good for video editing?
It can handle basic 1080p editing thanks to Iris graphics.
Does it support DDR4 memory?
It supports LPDDR4, not standard DDR4.
Can it run Windows 11?
It can run it, but is not officially supported.