Intel Core i3-N300

Laptop CPUIntel

Also called intel core i3-n300, core i3-n300, i3-n300, core-i3-n300

IntelLaptop CPUAlder Lake

Intel Core i3 laptop processor on Alder Lake, with 8 cores and 8 threads and 2048 KB L2, 6 MB L3 at 7 W TDP on a 10 nm process addressing up to 16 GB and Intel UHD Graphics.

What you need to know

Still a capable laptop cpu.

Intel Core i3-N300 launched in January 1, 2023., It has 8 cores and 8 threads on Alder Lake, dropping into the FCBGA1264 socket. It is no longer the newest SKU in every store, but the chip is still useful when the rest of the PC keeps up.

Still good?: Yes, for most work this class is sold for
Product age: 3 years old
Upgrade pressure: Low to 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: Very Good. Laptop performance depends on the OEM power limit as much as this SKU name.
Product age 3 years old: Previous generation. Launched January 1, 2023. 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: Low to moderate. Upgrade pressure comes from platform features and specific CPU-bound work, not from the chip being unusable.

Where does it sit?

Alder Lake 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: Very Good

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

Productivity: Very Good

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

Multithreaded workloads: Average

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

General use: Excellent

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-N300 is built on Alder Lake using a 10 nm process.

Intel Core i3-N300 specifications: Processor
Manufacturer	Intel
Family	Core i3
Architecture	Alder Lake
Codename	Alder Lake-N
Generation	Intel Core Processor N-series
Manufacturing process	10 nm
Segment	Laptop

Cores and threads

Intel Core i3-N300 has 8 cores and 8 threads.

Intel Core i3-N300 specifications: Cores and threads
Cores	8
P-cores	8
Threads	8

Clock speeds

Base clock is 800 MHz. Boost reaches 3.8 GHz.

Intel Core i3-N300 specifications: Clock speeds
Base frequency	800 MHz
Max boost	3.8 GHz

Cache

Cache on this sheet is 6 MB L3.

Intel Core i3-N300 specifications: Cache
L2 cache	2048 KB
L3 cache	6 MB
Total cache	8 MB

Memory

Intel Core i3-N300 addresses 16 GB across 1 memory channels.

Intel Core i3-N300 specifications: Memory
Supported types	DDR4, DDR5, LPDDR5
Max capacity	16 GB
Channels	1

Package and power

Intel Core i3-N300 uses the FCBGA1264 socket and a 7 W TDP.

Intel Core i3-N300 specifications: Package and power
Socket	FCBGA1264
TDP	7 W
PCIe	Revision 3.0, 9 lanes

Integrated graphics

Intel Core i3-N300 includes Intel UHD Graphics.

Intel Core i3-N300 specifications: Integrated graphics
Integrated graphics	Intel UHD Graphics

Market

Intel Core i3-N300 launched January 1, 2023.

Intel Core i3-N300 specifications: Market
Launch date	January 1, 2023
Model	i3-N300

Features

Intel Core i3-N300 records 3 instruction sets on this sheet.

Intel Core i3-N300 specifications: Features
Instruction sets	AVX2SSE4.1SSE4.2
Security	Control-flow Enforcement (CET)Boot GuardOS GuardMode-Based Execute Control
Virtualization	Extended Page Tables (EPT)VT-d (DMA Remapping)VT-x (Hardware Virtualization)
AI acceleration	Gaussian Neural Accelerator

Compatibility

Compatibility
Socket	FCBGA1264
Board	A shared socket is not automatic compatibility. Check the motherboard CPU list and BIOS revision.
Memory	DDR4, DDR5, LPDDR5, up to 16 GB
Graphics	Intel UHD Graphics

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.
Photo: Intel Free Press · CC BY 2.0

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