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Intel Core i3-10300T

Intel Core i3-10300T: Review and PC Build Recommendations for 2025

(Relevant for budget systems and energy-efficient solutions)

1. Key Specifications: Architecture and Performance

Code Name and Technology

The Intel Core i3-10300T processor, released in 2020, belongs to the Comet Lake generation and is manufactured on a 14nm process. Despite the age of the architecture, it remains relevant due to its low TDP (35W) and support for hyper-threading (4 cores / 8 threads). The base frequency is 3.0 GHz, with a maximum turbo frequency of 3.9 GHz.

Key Features

- Integrated graphics Intel UHD Graphics 630 (base frequency 350 MHz, maximum 1.15 GHz).

- Supports DDR4-2666 (up to 128 GB).

- Technologies include Hyper-Threading, Intel Optane Memory, and VT-x (virtualization).

Performance

According to Geekbench 6 tests (2025):

- Single-Core: 1313 — comparable to Ryzen 3 3300X, but lower than the current Core i3-13300 (≈1800).

- Multi-Core: 4090 — sufficient for office tasks and light multi-threading.

Practical Example: In a setup for working with documents and a browser (20+ tabs), the processor demonstrates stability without overheating, even in compact cases.

2. Compatible Motherboards

Socket and Chipsets

The processor uses LGA 1200, which limits the selection to motherboards from the 400 and 500 series:

- H410 / B460: Budget options (from $50). Examples: ASUS PRIME H410M-K, Gigabyte B460M DS3H.

- H470 / Z490: Enhanced capabilities (PCIe 3.0 x16, USB 3.2 Gen2). Suitable for upgrading to Core i9-10900K.

Selection Features

- For the i3-10300T, motherboards on H410 will suffice — they lack overclocking support but save on budget.

- If planning to use NVMe SSDs, choose models with an M.2 slot (e.g., MSI B460M-A PRO).

3. Memory Support

Types and Speeds

The processor works with DDR4-2666 (officially), but on H410/B460 chipsets, the frequency may be limited to 2400 MHz. For maximum performance:

- Use dual-channel kits (2×8 GB).

- Recommended modules: Kingston Fury Beast DDR4-2666, Crucial Ballistix.

Tip: On Z490, you can activate XMP profiles for DDR4-3000, but gains in gaming will be no more than 3-5%.

4. Power Supplies

Power Calculation

With a TDP of 35W and no discrete graphics card, a supply of 300-400W will be sufficient. Examples:

- Be Quiet! System Power 10 400W ($45) — quiet and reliable.

- Corsair CV450 ($50) — with an 80+ Bronze certification.

For systems with a graphics card (e.g., GTX 1650):

- Minimum 450W (EVGA 450 BR, $55).

5. Pros and Cons

Strengths:

- Low power consumption — ideal for low-power builds.

- Integrated graphics for office tasks and 4K video.

- Affordable price (new units from $90 in 2025).

Weaknesses:

- Outdated 14nm process — higher heat output than Ryzen on 7nm.

- No PCIe 4.0 — a limitation for modern SSDs and graphics cards.

- Limited L3 cache (8 MB versus 16 MB for Ryzen 3 5300G).

6. Use Cases

Office and Multimedia

- Working with documents, browsers, Zoom.

- Streaming video (Netflix 4K) via HDMI 1.4.

Light Gaming

- CS:GO at medium settings (≈60 FPS at Full HD).

- Minecraft, Dota 2 — up to 90 FPS.

Server Tasks

- NAS or home media server due to low TDP.

7. Comparison with Competitors

AMD Ryzen 3 4300GE (4 cores / 8 threads, TDP 35W, price $110):

- Better integrated graphics with Vega 6.

- Supports PCIe 4.0.

- However: Higher price and less availability in 2025.

Intel Core i3-12100T (Alder Lake, 4 cores / 8 threads, TDP 35W, price $130):

- +30% in single-threaded performance.

- Supports DDR5 (but motherboards are more expensive).

Conclusion: The i3-10300T wins in the budget segment (up to $100).

8. Building Tips

- Case: Mini-ITX (Cooler Master Elite 110) for a compact office PC.

- Cooling: The stock cooler is sufficient, but for quiet operation, replace it with an Arctic Alpine 12 ($15).

- Storage: An SSD is essential (Kingston A400 480 GB, $35) — HDD will be a "bottleneck."

- BIOS: Update before installing the processor (relevant for motherboards from 2020-2021).

9. Final Verdict: Who is Core i3-10300T Suitable For?

This processor is a good choice if:

- Budget up to $300 for the entire build.

- You need a PC for office work, studying, or a media center.

- Priority is low power consumption (e.g., for 24/7 operation).

Alternatives: For gaming or video editing, it's better to add $50-70 and opt for Ryzen 5 5600G or Core i3-13100F.

In 2025, the i3-10300T remains a niche solution, but for its intended tasks, it justifies the investment.

Basic

Label Name

Intel

Platform

Desktop

Launch Date

April 2020

Model Name

The Intel processor number is just one of several factors - along with processor brand, system configurations, and system-level benchmarks - to be considered when choosing the right processor for your computing needs.

i3-10300T

Code Name

Comet Lake

CPU Specifications

Total Cores

Cores is a hardware term that describes the number of independent central processing units in a single computing component (die or chip).

Total Threads

Where applicable, Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology is only available on Performance-cores.

Basic Frequency

3.00 GHz

Max Turbo Frequency

Max Turbo Frequency is the maximum single-core frequency at which the processor is capable of operating using Intel® Turbo Boost Technology and, if present, Intel® Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 and Intel® Thermal Velocity Boost. Frequency is typically measured in gigahertz (GHz), or billion cycles per second.

3.90 GHz

Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 Frequency

3.90 GHz

Intel Turbo Boost Technology

Intel® Turbo Boost Technology dynamically increases the processor's frequency as needed by taking advantage of thermal and power headroom to give you a burst of speed when you need it, and increased energy efficiency when you don’t.

2.0

Intel Hyper-Threading Technology

Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology (Intel® HT Technology) delivers two processing threads per physical core. Highly threaded applications can get more work done in parallel, completing tasks sooner.

Yes

Intel Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0

Intel® Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 identifies the best performing core(s) on a processor and provides increased performance on those cores through increasing frequency as needed by taking advantage of power and thermal headroom.

CPU Socket

The socket is the component that provides the mechanical and electrical connections between the processor and motherboard.

FCLGA1200

Technology

Lithography refers to the semiconductor technology used to manufacture an integrated circuit, and is reported in nanometer (nm), indicative of the size of features built on the semiconductor.

14 nm

TDP

35 W

Max. Operating Temperature

Junction Temperature is the maximum temperature allowed at the processor die.

100°C

PCI Express Version

PCI Express Revision is the supported version of the PCI Express standard. Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (or PCIe) is a high-speed serial computer expansion bus standard for attaching hardware devices to a computer. The different PCI Express versions support different data rates.

3.0

Number of PCI Express Lanes

A PCI Express (PCIe) lane consists of two differential signaling pairs, one for receiving data, one for transmitting data, and is the basic unit of the PCIe bus. Max # of PCI Express Lanes is the total number of supported lanes.

Intel 64

Intel® 64 architecture delivers 64-bit computing on server, workstation, desktop and mobile platforms when combined with supporting software.¹ Intel 64 architecture improves performance by allowing systems to address more than 4 GB of both virtual and physical memory.

Yes

Instruction Set

The instruction set is a hard program stored inside the CPU that guides and optimizes CPU operations. With these instruction sets, the CPU can run more efficiently. There are many manufacturers that design CPUs, which results in different instruction sets, such as the 8086 instruction set for the Intel camp and the RISC instruction set for the ARM camp. x86, ARM v8, and MIPS are all codes for instruction sets. Instruction sets can be extended; for example, x86 added 64-bit support to create x86-64. Manufacturers developing CPUs that are compatible with a certain instruction set need authorization from the instruction set patent holder. A typical example is Intel authorizing AMD, enabling the latter to develop CPUs compatible with the x86 instruction set.

64-bit

PCI Express Configurations

PCI Express (PCIe) Configurations describe the available PCIe lane configurations that can be used to link to PCIe devices.

Up to 1x16 | 2x8 | 1x8+2x4

Memory Specifications

Memory Type

Intel® processors come in four different types: Single Channel, Dual Channel, Triple Channel, and Flex Mode. Maximum supported memory speed may be lower when populating multiple DIMMs per channel on products that support multiple memory channels.

DDR4-2666

Max Memory Size

Max memory size refers to the maximum memory capacity supported by the processor.

128 GB

Memory Channels

The number of memory channels refers to the bandwidth operation for real world application.

Bus Speed

8 GT/s

Max Memory Bandwidth

Max Memory bandwidth is the maximum rate at which data can be read from or stored into a semiconductor memory by the processor (in GB/s).

41.6 GB/s

ECC Memory Supported

ECC Memory Supported indicates processor support for Error-Correcting Code memory. ECC memory is a type of system memory that can detect and correct common kinds of internal data corruption. Note that ECC memory support requires both processor and chipset support.

GPU Specifications

Integrated Graphics Model

An integrated GPU refers to the graphics core that is integrated into the CPU processor. Leveraging the processor's powerful computational capabilities and intelligent power efficiency management, it delivers outstanding graphics performance and a smooth application experience at a lower power consumption.

Intel® UHD Graphics 630

Graphics Base Frequency

Graphics Base frequency refers to the rated/guaranteed graphics render clock frequency in MHz.

350 MHz

Graphics Frequency

Graphics max dynamic frequency refers to the maximum opportunistic graphics render clock frequency (in MHz) that can be supported using Intel® HD Graphics with Dynamic Frequency feature.

1.10 GHz

Graphics Video Max Memory

64 GB

4K Support

Yes | at 60Hz

DirectX Support

DirectX* Support indicates support for a specific version of Microsoft’s collection of APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) for handling multimedia compute tasks.

Max Resolution (HDMI)

Max Resolution (HDMI) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor via the HDMI interface (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your system.

4096 x 2160@30Hz

Max Resolution (DP)

Max Resolution (DP) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor via the DP interface (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your system.

4096 x 2304@60Hz

Max Resolution (eDP - Integrated Flat Panel)

Max Resolution (Integrated Flat Panel) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor for a device with an integrated flat panel (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your device.

4096 x 2304@60Hz

Number of Displays Supported

Miscellaneous

Intel Virtualization Technology (VT-x)

Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x) allows one hardware platform to function as multiple “virtual” platforms. It offers improved manageability by limiting downtime and maintaining productivity by isolating computing activities into separate partitions.

Yes

Intel Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)

Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d) continues from the existing support for IA-32 (VT-x) and Itanium® processor (VT-i) virtualization adding new support for I/O-device virtualization. Intel VT-d can help end users improve security and reliability of the systems and also improve performance of I/O devices in virtualized environments.

Yes

Intel Standard Manageability (ISM)

Intel® Standard Manageability is the manageability solution for Intel vPro® Essentials platforms and is a subset of Intel® AMT with out-of-band management over Ethernet and Wi-Fi, but no KVM or new life cycle management features.

Intel® SSE4.1 | Intel® SSE4.2 | Intel® AVX2

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology is an advanced means of enabling high performance while meeting the power-conservation needs of mobile systems. Conventional Intel SpeedStep® Technology switches both voltage and frequency in tandem between high and low levels in response to processor load. Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology builds upon that architecture using design strategies such as Separation between Voltage and Frequency Changes, and Clock Partitioning and Recovery.

Yes

Execute Disable Bit

Execute Disable Bit is a hardware-based security feature that can reduce exposure to viruses and malicious-code attacks and prevent harmful software from executing and propagating on the server or network.

Yes

Cache

CPU Cache is an area of fast memory located on the processor. Intel® Smart Cache refers to the architecture that allows all cores to dynamically share access to the last level cache.

8 MB Intel® Smart Cache

Intel AES New Instructions

Intel® AES New Instructions (Intel® AES-NI) are a set of instructions that enable fast and secure data encryption and decryption. AES-NI are valuable for a wide range of cryptographic applications, for example: applications that perform bulk encryption/decryption, authentication, random number generation, and authenticated encryption.

Yes

Intel Boot Guard

Intel® Device Protection Technology with Boot Guard helps protect the system’s pre-OS environment from viruses and malicious software attacks.

Yes

Intel Clear Video HD Technology

Intel® Clear Video HD Technology, like its predecessor, Intel® Clear Video Technology, is a suite of image decode and processing technologies built into the integrated processor graphics that improve video playback, delivering cleaner, sharper images, more natural, accurate, and vivid colors, and a clear and stable video picture. Intel® Clear Video HD Technology adds video quality enhancements for richer color and more realistic skin tones.

Yes

Intel Clear Video Technology

Yes

Intel VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)

Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT), also known as Second Level Address Translation (SLAT), provides acceleration for memory intensive virtualized applications. Extended Page Tables in Intel® Virtualization Technology platforms reduces the memory and power overhead costs and increases battery life through hardware optimization of page table management.

Yes

Intel InTru 3D Technology

Yes

Intel OS Guard

Yes

OpenGL Support

OpenGL (Open Graphics Library) is a cross-language, multi-platform API (Application Programming Interface) for rendering 2D and 3D vector graphics.

4.5

Intel Quick Sync Video

Intel® Quick Sync Video delivers fast conversion of video for portable media players, online sharing, and video editing and authoring.

Yes

Benchmarks

Geekbench 6

Single Core Score

1313

Geekbench 6

Multi Core Score

4090

Geekbench 5

Single Core Score

982

Geekbench 5

Multi Core Score

3671

Passmark CPU

Single Core Score

2371

Passmark CPU

Multi Core Score

8036

Compared to Other CPU

Geekbench 6 Single Core

Core i9-9920X

1389 +5.8%

Xeon E3-1260L v5

1356 +3.3%

Core i3-10300T

1313

Core i7-5950HQ

1272 -3.1%

Core i5-8265U

1230 -6.3%

Geekbench 6 Multi Core

Core i7-8750H

4597 +12.4%

Xeon E3-1270 v5

4315 +5.5%

Core i3-10300T

4090

Core i5-10200H

3860 -5.6%

Xeon E3-1225 v6

3615 -11.6%

Geekbench 5 Single Core

Core i5-8400

1026 +4.5%

Ryzen 5 2600

1006 +2.4%

Core i3-10300T

982

Xeon E3-1225 v5

962 -2%

Core i5-8269U

941 -4.2%

Geekbench 5 Multi Core

Core i3-10105

3994 +8.8%

Core i7-1165G7

3810 +3.8%

Core i3-10300T

3671

Core i5-7600

3553 -3.2%

Xeon E5-4650L

3407 -7.2%

Passmark CPU Single Core

EPYC 7513

2442 +3%

Ryzen 5 4600HS

2409 +1.6%

Core i3-10300T

2371

Ryzen 5 3400G

2340 -1.3%

Core i5-9300H

2306 -2.7%

Passmark CPU Multi Core

Core i3-10100F

8774 +9.2%

Xeon E3-1270 v5

8363 +4.1%

Core i3-10300T

8036

Xeon E5-2440

7655 -4.7%

Core i5-9300HF

7419 -7.7%