For enthusiasts in the DIY PC community, dual-core desktop CPUs may seem like artefacts from the past, yet both Intel and AMD persist in offering entry-level processors with only two cores. The Intel 300, introduced as the successor to the Pentium Gold G7400, is a recent dual-core desktop CPU. Despite the rebranding, gaming benchmarks conducted by PC Watch’s YouTube channel reveal that the Intel 300’s performance is disappointingly similar to its predecessor, the Pentium G7400.
All About the Intel 300 CPU
In gaming tests comparing it to slightly pricier quad-core chips like the Core i3-14100, the Intel 300 falls short. Cinebench 2024 results show the Intel 300 achieving a modest 88 points in the single-core test and 216 points in the multi-core benchmark, comparable to the older G7400’s 84 and 213 points, respectively. These figures significantly lag behind the Core i3-14100, which scored 102 and 490 points on the same tests.
The Intel 300’s gaming performance also lags behind the i3-14100, especially in modern DirectX 12 titles that demand multiple cores. In Call of Duty (1080p, RS100%), the Intel 300 managed an average of 94 frames per second, while the i3-14100 achieved a much smoother 153 fps. In Cyberpunk 2077, the 300 averaged 56 fps, whereas the Core i3-14100 achieved an impressive 127 frames.
This trend extends to other benchmarking tools and applications like CrossMark, UL Procyon for photo editing, and Handbrake. The consistent outcome across various tests reinforces the notion that two cores are insufficient for running most modern applications in the year 2024.
The Intel 300 CPU, a Raptor Lake processor with two Raptor Cove P-cores and four threads, operates at up to 3.9GHz, features 6 MB of L3 cache (3 MB per core), and carries a 46W TDP. Priced between $77 and $87 MSRP, slightly lower than the $125 Core i3-14100F (without integrated graphics), the Intel 300’s serious performance compromises make the quad-core chip a preferable choice, especially for gaming enthusiasts.
