Intel Core 5 210H vs Intel Core 7 360 Comparison

The Intel Core 5 210H and Intel Core 7 360 represent two distinct philosophies within Intel's mobile lineup. The Core 5 210H is a Raptor Lake-H part, built for higher power envelopes, while the Core 7 360 is a Wildcat Lake part designed for efficiency. The benchmark data reveals a fascinating split, where the older architecture wins on raw multi-threaded workloads but the newer design takes the lead in single-threaded and specific compute tasks.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result is the divergence in Cinebench scores. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the Intel Core 7 360 scores 13634, which is 13.2% ahead of the Core 5 210H's 11830. This is a significant victory for the newer chip, suggesting its architectural efficiency overcomes its lower core count. However, the older Core 5 210H dominates the earlier Cinebench versions. It wins Cinebench R15 multicore with a 27.9% lead (1757 vs 1374) and Cinebench R20 multicore with a 13.6% lead (6504 vs 5726). This inconsistency across Cinebench versions is curious, indicating that the Core 7 360's strengths are specifically leveraged in the R23 workload.

Single-core performance tells a clearer story. The Core 7 360 wins Cinebench R23 singlecore with a score of 1924, an 8% advantage over the Core 5 210H's 1771. The Passmark single-thread test confirms this trend, with the Core 7 360 scoring 4274, which is 17.2% higher than the Core 5 210H's 3539. The Core 5 210H does manage to win Cinebench R15 singlecore by 28% (247 vs 193) and Cinebench R20 singlecore by 13.6% (918 vs 808), but the newer architecture shows a clear edge in the more recent and Passmark measurements.

The Passmark suite reveals the Core 5 210H's multi-threaded prowess. Its biggest win comes in integer math, where it scores 61503 against 34238, a massive 79.6% advantage. Data compression also heavily favors the Core 5 210H, with a 52.4% lead (217805 vs 142877). Random string sorting goes to the Core 5 210H by 33% (23451 vs 17636), and the multithread test shows a 17.4% lead (18252 vs 15544). The Core 5 210H also wins data encryption by 9.2% (12187 vs 11164) and extended instructions by 7.9% (13370 vs 12390). Floating point math is essentially a tie, with the Core 5 210H winning by a razor-thin 0.2% (45057 vs 44963).

The Core 7 360 takes two notable Passmark victories. It wins find prime numbers by a massive 55.8% (120 vs 53), a result that highlights a specific computational strength. It also wins the physics test by 14.3% (1213 vs 1040), which is interesting given its lower core count. Overall, the Core 5 210H wins 11 of the 17 head-to-head benchmarks, while the Core 7 360 takes 6.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two processors is substantial and explains the benchmark results. The Intel Core 5 210H uses the Raptor Lake-H architecture on a 10 nm process node, while the Intel Core 7 360 uses the Wildcat Lake architecture on a much smaller 3 nm process node. The Core 5 210H has 8 cores and 12 threads, whereas the Core 7 360 has 6 cores and 6 threads, meaning it has no hyperthreading.

Cache configurations also differ significantly. The Core 5 210H has an 80 KB per core L1 cache and a 2 MB per core L2 cache, while the Core 7 360 has a much larger 192 KB per core L1 and 2.5 MB per core L2. The shared L3 cache, however, is larger on the Core 5 210H at 12 MB, compared to 6 MB on the Core 7 360. These cache hierarchies point to different design targets: the Core 5 210H prioritizes shared cache for multi-threaded work, while the Core 7 360 focuses on per-core resources for single-thread efficiency.

The processors are built for different sockets, with the Core 5 210H using Intel BGA 1744 and the Core 7 360 using Intel BGA 1516. Their power envelopes are also very different, with the Core 5 210H having a 45 TDP and the Core 7 360 having a 15 TDP. This large difference in power consumption is a key factor in their performance profiles. Memory support differs as well: the Core 5 210H supports DDR4 and DDR5 over a dual-channel bus, while the Core 7 360 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X over a single-channel bus, with a recorded memory bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s. PCIe support also differs, with the Core 5 210H offering Gen 5 with 8 lanes and the Core 7 360 offering Gen 4 with 6 lanes. The integrated graphics are different too, with the Core 5 210H using Iris Xe Graphics 48EU and the Core 7 360 using Intel Xe3 Graphics (2 Xe).

Where Each One Wins

The data paints a clear picture of two distinct use-case champions. The Intel Core 5 210H is the clear winner for heavily multi-threaded, integer-heavy workloads. Its 79.6% lead in integer math and 52.4% lead in data compression make it well-suited for tasks like code compilation, data processing, and file archiving. The 17.4% lead in the Passmark multithread test reinforces its strength in applications that can use all available cores and threads. Its larger 12 MB L3 cache and 12 threads give it a distinct advantage in these parallel scenarios.

The Intel Core 7 360, on the other hand, is the winner for single-threaded performance and specific computational tasks. Its 17.2% lead in Passmark single-thread and 8% lead in Cinebench R23 singlecore point to a strong advantage in applications that rely on a single core, such as many games and legacy software. Its dominance in find prime numbers with a 55.8% lead suggests a particular strength in certain mathematical or scientific calculations. The 14.3% win in the physics test is also notable, as physics simulations often benefit from strong per-core performance.

The Core 7 360's win in Cinebench R23 multicore is the most intriguing data point. Despite having fewer cores and no hyperthreading, it scores 13.2% higher than the Core 5 210H. This suggests that the Wildcat Lake architecture is significantly more efficient at this specific workload, potentially due to its 3 nm process node and larger per-core caches. This result indicates that core count is not the only factor in modern multi-threaded performance.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core 5 210H has a higher average benchmark score of 24872, compared to 18374 for the Intel Core 7 360. The Core 5 210H also has a higher percentile ranking at 77 versus 72 for the Core 7 360.

Q: How do the two processors compare in single-threaded performance?

A: The Intel Core 7 360 is the clear winner in the most recent single-thread tests. It scores 4274 in Passmark single-thread, which is 17.2% higher than the Core 5 210H's 3539. It also wins Cinebench R23 singlecore by 8% (1924 vs 1771).

Q: Is the Intel Core 5 210H faster in all multi-core benchmarks?

A: No. While the Core 5 210H wins Cinebench R15 multicore by 27.9% and Cinebench R20 multicore by 13.6%, the Core 7 360 wins Cinebench R23 multicore by 13.2% (13634 vs 11830).

Q: What is the difference in process node between the two?

A: The Intel Core 5 210H is built on a 10 nm process node, while the Intel Core 7 360 is built on a 3 nm process node. This is a major architectural difference that contributes to the Core 7 360's efficiency.

Q: Which CPU has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core 5 210H has 8 cores and 12 threads. The Intel Core 7 360 has 6 cores and 6 threads, so it does not support hyperthreading.

Q: What are the launch MSRPs of these two processors?

A: The Intel Core 5 210H has a launch MSRP of $342, and the Intel Core 7 360 has a launch MSRP of $426.

The Verdict

The data indicates a clear split in strengths. The Intel Core 5 210H is the choice for users who need maximum throughput in integer-heavy, multi-threaded applications. Its massive leads in integer math (79.6%) and data compression (52.4%), along with its higher average benchmark score (24872), make it the stronger candidate for content creation, software development, and data-intensive tasks. Its 11 wins out of 17 head-to-head benchmarks confirm its overall dominance in the measured suite.

The Intel Core 7 360 is the better option for users who prioritize single-threaded responsiveness and energy efficiency. Its 17.2% lead in Passmark single-thread, 8% lead in Cinebench R23 singlecore, and 14.3% lead in the physics test make it attractive for general productivity, gaming, and workloads that depend on a single fast core. Its 15 TDP, compared to the Core 5 210H's 45 TDP, suggests it is intended for thinner, lighter laptops where battery life and heat are primary concerns. The Core 7 360's surprising win in Cinebench R23 multicore also shows that its architectural efficiency can overcome its core deficit in specific scenarios.

Specification Differences

The key specification differences between the two processors are as follows:

| Specification | Intel Core 5 210H | Intel Core 7 360 |

| :--- | :--- | :--- |

| Cores | 8 | 6 |

| Threads | 12 | 6 |

| Base Clock | 2.20 GHz | 1.50 GHz |

| TDP | 45 W | 15 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1744 | Intel BGA 1516 |

| Codename | Raptor Lake-H | Wildcat Lake |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 3 nm |

| L1 Cache | 80 KB (per core) | 192 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 2 MB (per core) | 2.5 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 12 MB (shared) | 6 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR5, LPDDR5X |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Single-channel |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 8 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 4, 6 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Iris Xe Graphics 48EU | Intel Xe3 Graphics (2 Xe) |

| Release Date | 2024-12-17 | 2026-04-15 |

| Launch MSRP | $342 | $426 |