Intel Core i3-4030U

Laptop CPUIntel

Also called intel core i3-4030u, core i3-4030u, i3-4030u, core-i3-4030u

IntelLaptop CPUHaswell

Intel Core i3 laptop processor on Haswell, with 2 cores and 4 threads and 3 MB L3 at 15 W TDP on a 22 nm process addressing up to 16 GB and Intel HD Graphics 4400.

What you need to know

Intel Core i3-4030U is a legacy laptop cpu.

Intel Core i3-4030U launched in April 1, 2014., It has 2 cores and 4 threads on Haswell, dropping into the FCBGA1168 socket. Treat the spec table as the facts. Age alone does not tell you to throw it out.

Still good?: Only if the workload is light
Product age: 12 years old
Upgrade pressure: Moderate

Feex says

Laptop SKUs are power-limited. The name on the lid is not the same chip you would get on a desktop board.

What this hardware means today

Age and usefulness are not the same number. This page keeps them separate.

Performance today: Modest. Laptop performance depends on the OEM power limit as much as this SKU name.
Product age 12 years old: Legacy. Launched April 1, 2014. Newer platforms exist. That does not make this chip unusable by itself.
Support status: Supported. Current Windows and current applications still run on this class of CPU. Platform BIOS support depends on the motherboard or laptop vendor.
Upgrade pressure: Moderate. Upgrade pressure comes from platform features and specific CPU-bound work, not from the chip being unusable.

Where does it sit?

Haswell sits on Intel's recent Core timeline. Later desktop branding moved toward Core Ultra.

11th Gen

12th Gen

13th Gen

14th Gen

Core Ultra

Performance context

These are qualitative readings, not a fake 8.7 out of 10. Workload still wins.

Gaming: Good

Fine when the laptop GPU is the limit. CPU names on thin laptops often are not.

Productivity: Modest

2 cores cover office, browser, and compile work in this class.

Multithreaded workloads: Average

4 threads. Heavy encodes still scale further on higher-core parts.

General use: Good

Everyday Windows use is not where most people notice this SKU first.

Efficiency: Depends on the laptop

The same SKU in two laptops can draw very different power. Read the device, not the CPU name alone.

Should you upgrade?

Probably not based on CPU performance alone.

Upgrade makes more sense if

Your workload is strongly CPU limited
You need a newer platform for memory, I/O, or chipset features
You need substantially more multicore performance
You are buying a whole new laptop anyway

Upgrade makes less sense if

The GPU is the real bottleneck
Current applications are already responsive
The CPU rarely limits your workload

Specifications

Figures below follow the Feex Hardware Database record for this SKU. Fields without a recorded value are omitted.

Processor

Intel Core i3-4030U is built on Haswell using a 22 nm process.

Intel Core i3-4030U specifications: Processor
Manufacturer	Intel
Family	Core i3
Architecture	Haswell
Generation	4th Generation Intel Core i3 Processors
Manufacturing process	22 nm
Segment	Laptop

Cores and threads

Intel Core i3-4030U has 2 cores and 4 threads.

Intel Core i3-4030U specifications: Cores and threads
Cores	2
Threads	4

Clock speeds

Base clock is 1.9 GHz.

Intel Core i3-4030U specifications: Clock speeds
Base frequency	1.9 GHz

Cache

Cache on this sheet is 3 MB L3.

Intel Core i3-4030U specifications: Cache
L3 cache	3 MB
Total cache	3 MB

Memory

Intel Core i3-4030U addresses 16 GB across 2 memory channels.

Intel Core i3-4030U specifications: Memory
Supported types	LPDDR3
Max capacity	16 GB
Channels	2

Package and power

Intel Core i3-4030U uses the FCBGA1168 socket and a 15 W TDP.

Intel Core i3-4030U specifications: Package and power
Socket	FCBGA1168
TDP	15 W
PCIe	Revision 2.0, 12 lanes

Integrated graphics

Intel Core i3-4030U includes Intel HD Graphics 4400.

Intel Core i3-4030U specifications: Integrated graphics
Integrated graphics	Intel HD Graphics 4400

Market

Intel Core i3-4030U launched April 1, 2014.

Intel Core i3-4030U specifications: Market
Launch date	April 1, 2014
Model	i3-4030U

Features

Intel Core i3-4030U records 4 instruction sets on this sheet.

Intel Core i3-4030U specifications: Features
Instruction sets	AVX264-bit (x86-64)SSE4.1SSE4.2
Security	Hardware RNG
Virtualization	Extended Page Tables (EPT)VT-d (DMA Remapping)VT-x (Hardware Virtualization)

Compatibility

Compatibility
Socket	FCBGA1168
Board	A shared socket is not automatic compatibility. Check the motherboard CPU list and BIOS revision.
Memory	LPDDR3, up to 16 GB
Graphics	Intel HD Graphics 4400

A shared socket is not automatic compatibility. Boards often need a BIOS update before a newer chip in the same socket will post.

Laptop power limits, cooling, and the OEM firmware matter as much as the model name.

Read the memory list on the board. The CPU can list more standards than one motherboard will accept.

No post after a CPU swap

Clear CMOS only after you confirm the board list includes this SKU and the BIOS is new enough. A supported name on a box is not the same as a flashed board.

Sources and verification

Reviewed by Feex editorial. Last verified August 2026 Status: Partially Verified. How we research.

Feex Hardware Database · Specification source used for this sheet. CC BY 4.0.

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