Core i3-N300 vs Core i5-10400H
Core i3-N300
Core i5-10400H
Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Core i3-N300 is positioned at rank 761 and the Core i5-10400H is on rank 652, so the Core i5-10400H offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-N300
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-10400H
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-N300 | Core i5-10400H |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($309) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Alder Lake-N (2023) / Intel 7 nm) | ✨ Modern (Comet Lake-H (2020) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-N300 | Core i5-10400H |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($309) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core i3-N300 and Core i5-10400H
Core i3-N300
The Core i3-N300 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 January 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-N (2023) architecture. It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 0.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per module). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1264. Thermal design power (TDP): 7 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200, DDR5-4800, LPDDR5-4800. Passmark benchmark score: 8,283 points. Launch price was $309.
Core i5-10400H
The Core i5-10400H is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 April 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Comet Lake-H (2020) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1440. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 8,246 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Core i3-N300 packs 8 cores / 8 threads, while the Core i5-10400H offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Core i3-N300 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.8 GHz on the Core i3-N300 versus 4.6 GHz on the Core i5-10400H — a 19% clock advantage for the Core i5-10400H (base: 0.1 GHz vs 2.6 GHz). The Core i3-N300 uses the Alder Lake-N (2023) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core i5-10400H uses Comet Lake-H (2020) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-N300 scores 8,283 against the Core i5-10400H's 8,246 — a 0.4% lead for the Core i3-N300. Both processors carry 6 MB (total) of L3 cache.
| Feature | Core i3-N300 | Core i5-10400H |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 8+100% | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3.8 GHz | 4.6 GHz+21% |
| Base Clock | 0.1 GHz | 2.6 GHz+2500% |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB (total) | 6 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB (per module)+700% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | Intel 7 nm-50% | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Alder Lake-N (2023) | Comet Lake-H (2020) |
| PassMark | 8,283 | 8,246 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 1,391 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-N300 uses the FCBGA1264 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Core i5-10400H uses BGA1440 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i3-N300 | Core i5-10400H |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1264 | BGA1440 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0+67% | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR4-2933 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 128 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Core i3-N300) / VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-10400H). The Core i5-10400H includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630), while the Core i3-N300 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-10400H targets Performance Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i5-10400H rivals Ryzen 5 4600H.
| Feature | Core i3-N300 | Core i5-10400H |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | UHD Graphics 630 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | — | Performance Laptop |
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