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.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Core i5-1038NG7

2020

Why buy it

✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Iris Plus Graphics G7, while Processor U300 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (8,823 vs 8,897).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (6 MB vs 8 MB).
❌86.7% higher power demand at 28W vs 15W.
❌Older platform position on FCBGA1344 with DDR4, while Processor U300 moves to FCBGA1744 and DDR5.

Processor U300

2023

Why buy it

✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 6 MB).
✅Draws 15W instead of 28W, a 13W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FCBGA1744 with DDR5 support instead of FCBGA1344 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $193 MSRP, while Core i5-1038NG7 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-1038NG7 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i5-1038NG7

2020

Processor U300

2023

Why buy it

✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Iris Plus Graphics G7, while Processor U300 needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 6 MB).
✅Draws 15W instead of 28W, a 13W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FCBGA1744 with DDR5 support instead of FCBGA1344 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (8,823 vs 8,897).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (6 MB vs 8 MB).
❌86.7% higher power demand at 28W vs 15W.
❌Older platform position on FCBGA1344 with DDR4, while Processor U300 moves to FCBGA1744 and DDR5.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $193 MSRP, while Core i5-1038NG7 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-1038NG7 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Processor U300 better than Core i5-1038NG7?

Yes. Processor U300 is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 2.4% average FPS lead across 46 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.8% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Processor U300 is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 2.4% more average FPS across 46 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Processor U300 is the better fit. You are getting 0.8% better PassMark, backed by 5 cores and 6 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 33.3% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 6 MB).

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Processor U300 is the smarter buy today. Processor U300 is at an unclear MSRP at $193 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 2.4% average FPS lead across 46 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (46.1 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Processor U300 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2020), a healthier platform with FCBGA1744 and DDR5 instead of FCBGA1344, 33.3% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 6 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 5 cores / 6 threads instead of 4/8. That should give you a better long-term upgrade path for motherboard, RAM, and future CPU swaps.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

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.

Core i5-1038NG7 Benchmark Check

Processor U300 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-1038NG7	Processor U300
1080p
low	166 FPS	183 FPS
medium	134 FPS	150 FPS
high	106 FPS	122 FPS
ultra	83 FPS	100 FPS
1440p
low	144 FPS	150 FPS
medium	116 FPS	118 FPS
high	90 FPS	96 FPS
ultra	71 FPS	78 FPS
4K
low	68 FPS	84 FPS
medium	59 FPS	72 FPS
high	46 FPS	57 FPS
ultra	36 FPS	45 FPS

Open Core i5-1038NG7 Open Processor U300

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-1038NG7	Processor U300
1080p
low	125 FPS	166 FPS
medium	106 FPS	137 FPS
high	97 FPS	126 FPS
ultra	77 FPS	110 FPS
1440p
low	107 FPS	146 FPS
medium	93 FPS	123 FPS
high	86 FPS	115 FPS
ultra	70 FPS	99 FPS
4K
low	83 FPS	113 FPS
medium	75 FPS	98 FPS
high	63 FPS	85 FPS
ultra	48 FPS	72 FPS

Open Core i5-1038NG7 Open Processor U300

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-1038NG7	Processor U300
1080p
low	221 FPS	222 FPS
medium	221 FPS	222 FPS
high	221 FPS	222 FPS
ultra	221 FPS	222 FPS
1440p
low	221 FPS	222 FPS
medium	221 FPS	222 FPS
high	221 FPS	222 FPS
ultra	221 FPS	222 FPS
4K
low	221 FPS	222 FPS
medium	221 FPS	222 FPS
high	221 FPS	206 FPS
ultra	221 FPS	163 FPS

Open Core i5-1038NG7 Open Processor U300

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-1038NG7	Processor U300
1080p
low	221 FPS	222 FPS
medium	221 FPS	222 FPS
high	221 FPS	222 FPS
ultra	221 FPS	222 FPS
1440p
low	221 FPS	222 FPS
medium	221 FPS	222 FPS
high	221 FPS	222 FPS
ultra	221 FPS	222 FPS
4K
low	221 FPS	222 FPS
medium	221 FPS	222 FPS
high	221 FPS	222 FPS
ultra	221 FPS	222 FPS

Open Core i5-1038NG7 Open Processor U300

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-1038NG7 and Processor U300

Core i5-1038NG7

The Core i5-1038NG7 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 May 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Ice Lake-U (2019−2020) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1344. Thermal design power (TDP): 28 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200, LPDDR4-3733. Passmark benchmark score: 8,823 points. Launch price was $320.

Processor U300

The Processor U300 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 January 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Raptor Lake-U (2023) architecture. It features 5 cores and 6 threads. Base frequency is 1.2 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1744. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 8,897 points. Launch price was $193.

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Processing Power

The Core i5-1038NG7 packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Processor U300 offers 5 cores / 6 threads — the Processor U300 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 3.8 GHz on the Core i5-1038NG7 versus 4.4 GHz on the Processor U300 — a 14.6% clock advantage for the Processor U300 (base: 2 GHz vs 1.2 GHz). The Core i5-1038NG7 uses the Ice Lake-U (2019−2020) architecture (10 nm), while the Processor U300 uses Raptor Lake-U (2023) (10 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-1038NG7 scores 8,823 against the Processor U300's 8,897 — a 0.8% lead for the Processor U300. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Core i5-1038NG7 vs 8 MB (total) on the Processor U300.

Feature	Core i5-1038NG7	Processor U300
Cores / Threads	4 / 8	5 / 6+25%
Boost Clock	3.8 GHz	4.4 GHz+16%
Base Clock	2 GHz+67%	1.2 GHz
L3 Cache	6 MB (total)	8 MB (total)+33%
L2 Cache	256 kB (per core)	1.25 MB (per core)+400%
Process	10 nm	10 nm
Architecture	Ice Lake-U (2019−2020)	Raptor Lake-U (2023)
PassMark	8,823	8,897
Geekbench 6 Single	1,250	—

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Memory & Platform

The Core i5-1038NG7 uses the FCBGA1344 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Processor U300 uses FCBGA1744 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i5-1038NG7	Processor U300
Socket	FCBGA1344	FCBGA1744
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 5.0+67%
Max RAM Speed	LPDDR4-3733	—
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	16	—

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-1038NG7) / not specified (Processor U300). The Core i5-1038NG7 includes integrated graphics (Iris Plus Graphics G7), while the Processor U300 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-1038NG7 targets Premium Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i5-1038NG7 rivals Ryzen 7 4800U.