Intel Core i5-1035G4 vs i3-1005G1 – the i5-1035G4 is a bargain for its money

It’s time to compare the junior Ice Lake CPU and the mid-range one. Core i5-1035G4 and i3-1005G1 will help us find which one is the better choice – the entry-level i3-1005G1 or the much beefier i5-1035G4.

Quick Specs

Intel is selling the i5-1035G4 for $309 and i3-1005G1 for $281 – even at the beginning of this article, the i5-1035G4 looks like a bargain. The manufacturing process is 10nm for both. The Core i5-1035G4 has a more powerful iGP – Intel Iris Plus Graphics G4 while i3-1005G1 is equipped with a more modest one – Intel UHD Graphics G1. This G1 model is a new integrated graphics too (a cut-down version with 32EUs and lower frequencies) and you can find it in budget CPUs. The more powerful Intel Iris Plus Graphics G4 is available for the i5-1035G4 with 48 EUs and higher frequencies.

Now, lets have a look at the standard CPU specs. Core i5-1035G4 has a double count of cores and threads and 2MB bigger cache size. The base frequencies of the two CPUs are close – 1.10 GHz for the i5-1035G4 and 1.20 GHz for i3-1005G1. The i5-1035G4 boosts a bit higher – 3.70 GHz while i3-1005G1 can go up to 3.40 GHz. The CPUs have similar TDP levels and their supported memory frequencies are equal (DDR4-3200, LPDDR4-3733).

Detailed specs: Core i5-1035G4 / Core i3-1005G1.

This is our table for more clear specs comparison.

Intel Core i5-1035G4Intel Core i3-1005G1
Cores / Threads4 / 82 / 4
Base / Max frequency1.10 – 3.70 GHz1.20 – 3.40 GHz
Cache6 MB Intel Smart Cache4 MB Intel Smart Cache
TDP / up / down15W / 25W / 12W15W / – / 13W
Memory supportDDR4-3200, LPDDR4-3733DDR4-3200, LPDDR4-3733

 

CPU Benchmarks

Lenovo Yoga C940 and Acer Swift 3 (SF314-57) are on the test bench for more clear results about CPU and GPU performance.  The Core i5-1035G4 got 47% better result than i3-1005G1.

Results are from the Cinebench 20 CPU test (the higher the score, the better)

Results are from our Photoshop benchmark test (the lower the score, the better)


GPU Benchmarks

As expected, Intel Iris Plus G4 is faster again with 34% higher GPU score in 3DMark Fire Strike.

Results are from the 3DMark: Fire Strike (Graphics) benchmark (higher the score, the better)

Results are from the Unigine Superposition benchmark (higher the score, the better)


Gaming tests

Now, let’s have a look at some real-life tests. The Intel Iris Plus G4 is significantly faster than Intel UHD G1. For example, you can play CS:GO and DOTA2 at 1080p (low settings) with 69 FPS and 97 FPS respectively. These are pretty impressive results for an integrated graphics card. The performance of Intel UHD G1 is not bad too because the entry-level iGPU is faster than UHD 620, but again, much slower than Iris Plus G4.

cs-go-benchmarks

CS:GOHD 1080p, Low (Check settings)HD 1080p, Medium (Check settings)HD 1080p, MAX (Check settings)
Intel Iris Plus Graphics G469 fps37 fps22 fps
Intel UHD Graphics G151 fps34 fps20 fps

DOTA 2HD 1080p, Low (Check settings)HD 1080p, Normal (Check settings)HD 1080p, High (Check settings)
Intel Iris Plus Graphics G497 fps46 fps28 fps
Intel UHD Graphics G161 fps37 fps21 fps

Is it clear?

We think that the Core i5-1035G4 is the best allrounder (at least for now) from the Ice Lake line up. Let’s take for example today’s case – for $28 more (10%) you will have two more cores and threads, bigger cache size, 47% more CPU performance, and 34% faster iGPU. Not a bad deal for its money.

Core i5-1035G4 will be faster in every situation compared to the i3-1005G1. The little higher price tag is an investment in the future – its performance will last more time.

All laptops with Core i5-1035G4:


All laptops with Core i3-1005G1:

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