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Intel Core i3-7300T

Intel Core i3-7300T: Review and Relevance in 2025

Architecture, Compatibility, and Use Cases for Budget Systems

Key Specifications: Kaby Lake in Detail

The Intel Core i3-7300T processor, released in 2017, belongs to the Kaby Lake generation (7th series). Despite its age, it retains niche popularity due to its low TDP and compatibility with outdated systems.

Architecture and Process Technology

- Codename: Kaby Lake.

- Process Technology: 14 nm — outdated by 2025, but energy-efficient for its time.

- Cores/Threads: 2 cores, 4 threads (Hyper-Threading).

- Cache: L3 — 4 MB.

- Base Clock: 3.5 GHz (without Turbo Boost).

- TDP: 35 W — a key feature for compact and quiet systems.

Performance

- Geekbench 6:

- Single-Core: 1158;

- Multi-Core: 2413.

For comparison, the contemporary Intel Core i3-13100 (2023) scores about ~2400/8800 in the same tests. The i3-7300T is suitable for basic tasks but lags behind in multi-threaded scenarios.

Key Features

- Integrated Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 630 — supports 4K@60Hz via HDMI 1.4 or DisplayPort. Suitable for media centers.

- Hardware Decoding Support: H.265/HEVC and VP9 — relevant for streaming.

- Technologies: Intel Virtualization, SSE4.1/4.2, but lacks AI acceleration (no AVX-512).

Compatible Motherboards: What to Choose in 2025?

The processor uses the LGA 1151 (version v2) socket, which limits motherboard options.

Chipsets

- H110, B250, H270, Q270: Basic models supporting DDR4-2400.

- Z270: For memory overclocking, but the i3-7300T does not support overclocking.

Selection Tips

- New Boards: In 2025, new boards for LGA 1151 are virtually nonexistent. Prices for remaining stock are around $60-100 (e.g., ASUS Prime B250M-K).

- Used Market: The optimal option. Check the condition of VRM modules and ports.

- Limitations: No support for USB 3.2 Gen 2 or PCIe 4.0 — consider this when connecting modern drives.

Supported Memory: DDR4 and Its Nuances

- Type: DDR4-2133/2400 (officially).

- Maximum Capacity: 64 GB (depending on the motherboard).

- Modes: Dual-channel — use two identical modules for a +15% performance boost.

Example: A pair of DDR4-2400 8 GB modules (total cost ~$40) will provide sufficient resources for Windows 11 and office applications.

Power Supplies: Power Calculation

With a TDP of 35 W, the processor does not require a powerful power supply, but it is essential to consider other components:

- Integrated Graphics: A 300 W power supply is sufficient (e.g., be quiet! SFX Power 3 300W, $45).

- Discrete Graphics Card: For NVIDIA GTX 1650 (TDP 75 W), a 450 W power supply is needed (Corsair CX450, $55).

- Tip: Avoid cheap noname power supplies — unstable power can damage components.

Pros and Cons: Who Should Consider It?

Advantages

- Energy Efficiency: Ideal for mini-PCs (e.g., in offices or kiosks).

- Low Price: New processors on the market — $50-70 (remaining stock).

- Quiet Operation: Passive cooling is sufficient under load.

Disadvantages

- 2 Cores: Multitasking is limited — a browser with 20 tabs + a background task may cause stuttering.

- Outdated Platform: No support for PCIe 4.0, DDR5, USB4.

- Weak Upgrades: The maximum for the LGA 1151 socket is the Core i7-7700K, which is also outdated.

Use Case Scenarios: Where Is the i3-7300T Relevant?

Office Tasks

- Working with documents, emails, and video conferencing (Zoom, Teams).

- Example: A system based on the i3-7300T + 8 GB DDR4 + 256 GB SSD will handle typical small business workloads.

Multimedia

- Media center based on Kodi/Plex: hardware decoding for 4K HDR.

- Life Hack: Connect an Android TV box for streaming Netflix — the processor does not support modern DRM standards.

Gaming

- Integrated Graphics: League of Legends (60 FPS on low settings), CS:2 (30-40 FPS).

- With Discrete Graphics: GTX 1650 + i3-7300T — comfortable gaming in Fortnite on medium settings (1080p).

Comparison with Competitors

AMD Ryzen 3 2200G (2018)

- Pros: 4 cores, Vega 8 (2x more powerful than HD 630).

- Cons: TDP 65 W, more expensive in 2025 (~$80-90).

- Conclusion: Better for gaming and multitasking.

Intel Core i5-7500 (2017)

- Pros: 4 cores, higher performance in multi-threaded tasks.

- Cons: TDP 65 W, price ~$90.

- Conclusion: A choice for those needing more power without switching to a new platform.

Practical Assembly Tips

1. Motherboard: Look for models with M.2 NVMe (e.g., ASUS Prime B250M-A) for fast SSD storage.

2. Cooling: A cooler with TDP 35-65 W will suffice (Deepcool GAMMAXX 200T, $15).

3. Storage: SSD is a must (Crucial MX500 500 GB, $45) — an HDD will slow down the system.

4. Case: Mini-ITX (Fractal Design Node 202) for a compact media center.

5. Security: Install Windows 11 using third-party patchers (the processor is not officially supported).

Final Conclusion: Who Is the i3-7300T Suitable For in 2025?

This processor should only be considered in specific cases:

- Upgrade for Old Systems: Replacing Pentiums in office PCs.

- Budget Builds: If you need a PC for $200-300 for basic tasks.

- Energy-Efficient Solutions: For NAS or home servers based on Proxmox/TrueNAS.

Alternative: For $150-200, you can build a system based on Ryzen 3 3200G (4 cores, DDR4-2933), which will be faster and more future-proof.

The Intel Core i3-7300T is a relic of the past, but it can still be useful for niche tasks. However, in 2025, investments in more modern platforms (AM5, LGA 1700) will yield better long-term support and performance.

Basic

Label Name

Intel

Platform

Desktop

Launch Date

January 2017

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.

i3-7300T

Code Name

Kaby 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

3.50 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.

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

L3 Cache

4 MB

CPU Socket

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

FCLGA1151

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.

92°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.

DDR4-2133/2400 | DDR3L-1333/1600 @ 1.35V

Max Memory Size

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

64 GB

Memory Channels

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

Bus Speed

8 GT/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.

Yes

GPU Specifications

GPU Name

Intel® HD 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.

4096x2304@24Hz

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.

4096x2304@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.

4096x2304@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.

4 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

1158

Geekbench 6

Multi Core Score

2413

Geekbench 5

Single Core Score

914

Geekbench 5

Multi Core Score

1988

Passmark CPU

Single Core Score

2136

Passmark CPU

Multi Core Score

4211

Compared to Other CPU

Geekbench 6 Single Core

Core i7-4770

1225 +5.8%

Ryzen 3 2300X

1187 +2.5%

Core i3-7300T

1158

Xeon Gold 6128

1119 -3.4%

Xeon Silver 4210

1083 -6.5%

Geekbench 6 Multi Core

Ryzen 5 2400GE

2918 +20.9%

Ryzen 5 3580U Microsoft Surface Edition

2625 +8.8%

Core i3-7300T

2413

Xeon E5-1607 v3

2158 -10.6%

Core i7-6560U

1976 -18.1%

Geekbench 5 Single Core

Xeon E3-1505M v6

945 +3.4%

Xeon Platinum 8256

929 +1.6%

Core i3-7300T

914

Core i5-10500T

894 -2.2%

Core i5-8259U

878 -3.9%

Geekbench 5 Multi Core

Xeon E3-1235

2299 +15.6%

Ryzen 5 3500C

2128 +7%

Core i3-7300T

1988

Opteron 4332 HE

1873 -5.8%

EPYC 9554P

1715 -13.7%

Passmark CPU Single Core

Celeron G5905

2192 +2.6%

Xeon Gold 6148

2163 +1.3%

Core i3-7300T

2136

Xeon E3-1226 v3

2114 -1%

EPYC 7702

2086 -2.3%

Passmark CPU Multi Core

Core i5-4430

4653 +10.5%

Xeon E5-1603 v3

4428 +5.2%

Core i3-7300T

4211

Core i5-7260U

3978 -5.5%

Core i7-7560U

3773 -10.4%