Home / Intel Core i5 / Intel Core i5-1030G4: Performance and Specs

Intel Core i5-1030G4

Intel Core i5-1030G4: Review of the Processor for Ultrabooks in 2025

Codename: Ice Lake

Manufacturing Process: 10 nm

Cores/Threads: 4/8

Base Frequency: 0.7 GHz

Max Turbo Frequency: 3.5 GHz

L3 Cache: 6 MB

TDP: 9 W

Integrated Graphics: Intel Iris Plus G4

Architecture and Process Technology: Ice Lake at 10 nm

The Intel Core i5-1030G4, introduced in 2025 as part of the ultrabook lineup, is based on the Sunny Cove architecture. This marks the first generation of Intel processors fully transitioning to a 10 nm manufacturing process, allowing for reduced power consumption and increased transistor density.

- 4 Cores and 8 Threads enable smooth multitasking: managing dozens of browser tabs, office applications, and light video editing.

- Integrated Iris Plus G4 Graphics with 48 Execution Units (EUs) supports 4K displays, H.265 video decoding, and basic gaming. For instance, in CS:GO at low settings, it achieves 40-50 FPS.

- Support for Technologies: Wi-Fi 6, Thunderbolt 3 (up to 4 ports), PCIe 3.0.

Power Consumption and TDP: A Balance Between Power and Battery Life

With a TDP of 9 W, the processor is designed for devices where quiet operation and long battery life are key factors.

- Passive Cooling: Some ultrabooks (e.g., Dell XPS 13 2-in-1) operate without fans, eliminating noise.

- Dynamic Frequency Management: Intel Dynamic Tuning technology automatically adjusts performance based on workload. For example, while working in Word, the frequency drops to 1.2 GHz, reducing heat output.

Performance: From Office Tasks to Light Gaming

Office Tasks

- Microsoft Office + 30 Chrome Tabs: No delays, thanks to Hyper-Threading.

- Video Conferences in Zoom: Integration with AI accelerator Gaussian & Neural Accelerator (GNA) reduces CPU load, maintaining smoothness even during background data processing.

Multimedia

- 4K Video in DaVinci Resolve: Rendering a 10-minute video takes about 25 minutes—acceptable for occasional tasks.

- Streaming: Support for AV1 decoder reduces CPU load when watching YouTube in 4K.

Gaming

- The Sims 4 (1080p, low settings): 50-60 FPS.

- Dota 2 (720p, medium settings): 40-45 FPS.

Important: In turbo mode (up to 3.5 GHz), the processor can handle peak loads for 10-15 minutes, after which the frequency drops to 2.8-3.0 GHz due to TDP limitations.

Usage Scenarios: Who Might Benefit from the i5-1030G4?

- Students and Office Workers: Lightweight laptops (1-1.3 kg) with 10-14 hours of battery life.

- Digital Nomads: Support for Thunderbolt 3 allows external GPU connections for occasional tasks in Photoshop or Premiere Pro.

- Not Suitable For: Gamers (discrete graphics required), engineers (CAD applications), video bloggers (extended rendering).

Battery Life: How to Extend Operating Time?

- Average Battery Life: 12 hours at a screen brightness of 150 nits (web surfing, text work).

- Power-Saving Technologies:

- Intel SpeedShift: Fast switching between P-states to minimize delays.

- Adaptive Brightness: Sensors adjust brightness automatically.

- Tip: Disable Turbo Boost in Windows power settings to extend battery life by 15-20%.

Comparison with Competitors: AMD, Apple, and Previous Generations

- AMD Ryzen 5 5500U (7 nm): 6 cores/12 threads, TDP 15 W. Better in multi-threaded tasks (rendering is 30% faster), but lower battery life (~8 hours). Laptop prices: $700-1000.

- Apple M1: Higher performance per watt (up to 18 hours of operation), but limited compatibility with Windows applications. Price for MacBook Air: $999.

- Intel Core i5-10210U (Comet Lake, 14 nm): Outdated manufacturing process, higher thermal output, but cheaper (laptops starting from $550).

Pros and Cons

Pros:

- Ideal for portable devices.

- Support for modern interfaces (Thunderbolt 3, Wi-Fi 6).

- Sufficient graphics for casual gaming.

Cons:

- Limited performance under prolonged loads.

- By 2025, competitors offer better price/performance ratios.

Recommendations for Laptop Selection

- Device Type: Ultrabook with a 13-14 inch screen (e.g., Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 or HP Spectre x360).

- What to Check:

- RAM: At least 16 GB LPDDR4X.

- Storage: NVMe SSD of 512 GB.

- Display: IPS matrix with Full HD resolution and 90% sRGB coverage.

- Price: $700-900 for new models in 2025.

Final Conclusion

The Intel Core i5-1030G4 is a successful choice for those who value mobility and quiet operation. It can handle office work, streaming videos, and light gaming, but will lag behind more powerful CPUs in professional tasks. If your budget is capped at $800 and battery life is critical—this processor is worth considering. However, for future-proofing, look into the new generations of Intel Core Ultra or AMD Ryzen 7000 series.

Basic

Label Name

Intel

Platform

Laptop

Launch Date

August 2019

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.

i5-1030G4

Code Name

Ice 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.

Performance-cores

Performance-core Base Frequency

0.7 GHz

Performance-core Max Turbo Frequency

Maximum P-core turbo frequency derived from Intel® Turbo Boost Technology.

3.5 GHz

L1 Cache

64K per core

L2 Cache

256K per core

L3 Cache

6MB shared

Bus Frequency

100MHz

Multiplier

Unlocked Multiplier

CPU Socket

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

BGA-1440

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.

10 nm

TDP

9 W

Max. Operating Temperature

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

100 °C

PCIe Version

PCI Express is a high-speed serial computer expansion bus standard used for connecting high-speed components, replacing older standards such as AGP, PCI, and PCI-X. It has gone through multiple revisions and improvements since its initial release. PCIe 1.0 was first introduced in 2002, and in order to meet the growing demand for higher bandwidth, subsequent versions have been released over time.

3.0

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.

x86-64

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.

LPDDR4-3733

Max Memory Size

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

32GB

Memory Channels

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

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).

58.3 GB/s

ECC Memory 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.

True

GPU Max Dynamic Frequency

1050 MHz

Miscellaneous

Extended Instruction Set

SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX-2, AVX-512

Benchmarks

Geekbench 5

Single Core Score

1064

Geekbench 5

Multi Core Score

2757

Compared to Other CPU

Geekbench 5 Single Core

Xeon E3-1245 v6

1108 +4.1%

Xeon W-2125

1085 +2%

Core i5-1030G4

1064

Ryzen 7 PRO 2700X

1040 -2.3%

Pentium Gold G6600

1019 -4.2%

Geekbench 5 Multi Core

Xeon X5647

3043 +10.4%

Ryzen 3 4300U

2886 +4.7%

Core i5-1030G4

2757

Xeon X5677

2627 -4.7%

Ryzen 5 2500U

2495 -9.5%