Intel Core i3-10100 vs Intel Core i5-5675C Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark comparison between the Intel Core i5-5675C and the Intel Core i3-10100 reveals a striking split depending on the workload. The most dramatic differences appear in the Cinebench suite, where the i5-5675C dominates every single test by roughly 91%. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i5-5675C scores 495 versus the i3-10100's 258, a 91.9% lead. The R20 multicore test shows a similar gap: 2063 for the i5-5675C against 1076 for the i3-10100, a 91.7% advantage. Even the single-core Cinebench tests, which often favor newer architectures, show the i5-5675C ahead by 91.4% in both R20 and R23.

The i3-10100 does claim a win in Cinebench R15 single-core, scoring 88 versus the i5-5675C's 69, a 21.6% margin. However, this is the only Cinebench test where the i3-10100 comes out on top, and the magnitude of the i5-5675C's multicore victories dwarfs this single result.

Geekbench results tell a different story. In Geekbench multicore, the i3-10100 pulls ahead with 4495 points versus 4159 for the i5-5675C, a 7.5% lead. The single-core Geekbench test goes the other way: the i5-5675C scores 1388 against 1350, a slim 2.8% edge for the older chip.

Across all eight head-to-head benchmarks, the i5-5675C wins six and the i3-10100 wins two. The average benchmark score for the i5-5675C is 1759, while the i3-10100 sits at 1742, a difference of less than 1%. Both processors occupy the 41st percentile among all CPUs in the database, meaning they land in the same overall performance tier despite their very different test-by-test behavior.

Where Each One Wins

The i5-5675C is clearly the stronger candidate for Cinebench-style workloads, which are heavily threaded and reward sustained multicore throughput. Its wins in R15, R20, and R23 multicore tests, all above 91% ahead of the i3-10100, suggest it handles parallel processing tasks with significantly more efficiency in this benchmark family. Interestingly, the i5-5675C also wins the single-core versions of R20 and R23 by the same roughly 91% margin, which points to a consistent advantage in how it executes this particular benchmark workload.

The i3-10100's strengths appear in Geekbench multicore, where it leads by 7.5%, and in Geekbench single-core, where it trails by only 2.8%. The i3-10100 also has a notable edge in Cinebench R15 single-core, winning by 21.6%. For users who rely on Geekbench scores as a proxy for general responsiveness, the i3-10100 looks competitive, especially in multicore scenarios.

The average scores tell a nuanced story: the i5-5675C edges out the i3-10100 by 17 points on average, which is less than 1% of their total scores. This suggests that neither chip has a universal performance advantage; the right choice depends heavily on which applications matter most. The i5-5675C's nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon E3-1241 v3 with an average score of 1756 (0.2% behind), the Intel Xeon E-2224 at 1762 (0.2% ahead), and the AMD Ryzen 5 2400GE at 1766 (0.4% ahead). The i3-10100 sits alongside the AMD Ryzen 3 4300U with an identical average score of 1742, the Intel Core i5-6600 at 1744 (0.1% ahead), and the Intel Core i7-980X at 1746 (0.2% ahead).

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations despite sharing the same 14 nm process node from Intel. The i5-5675C is based on the Broadwell architecture, which was released in May 2015. The i3-10100 uses the Comet Lake architecture and launched in April 2020. Both have four physical cores, but the i3-10100 doubles the thread count with Hyper-Threading, offering 8 threads versus the i5-5675C's 4 threads.

Cache configurations also differ. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core. The L3 cache is where they diverge: the i5-5675C has 4 MB shared, while the i3-10100 has 6 MB shared, a 50% increase in total L3 capacity.

The integrated graphics differ as well. The i5-5675C features Iris Pro Graphics 6200, while the i3-10100 comes with UHD Graphics 630. The i5-5675C also has a larger die size at 182 mm², whereas no die size is recorded for the i3-10100.

Memory support marks a major architectural split. The i5-5675C uses DDR3 memory with a dual-channel bus and a memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s. The i3-10100 uses DDR4 memory, also dual-channel, but with a higher memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. This means the i3-10100 can feed data to the cores faster, which may explain its Geekbench multicore advantage despite the i5-5675C's Cinebench dominance.

Specification Differences

The most obvious specification gap is clock speed. The i5-5675C has a base clock of 3.10 GHz and a boost clock of 3.60 GHz. The i3-10100 starts at 3.60 GHz base and boosts to 4.30 GHz, which is 0.70 GHz higher at boost and 0.50 GHz higher at base. Both have a 65 W TDP.

Sockets differ: the i5-5675C uses Intel Socket 1150, while the i3-10100 uses Intel Socket 1200. This means they are not interchangeable in a motherboard, and any upgrade path requires a board change.

The multiplier situation is also distinct. The i5-5675C has an unlocked multiplier, allowing overclocking, while the i3-10100 has a locked multiplier. The i5-5675C also has a recorded launch MSRP of $276; no launch MSRP is recorded for the i3-10100.

PCIe support is identical: both offer Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. Neither supports ECC memory. Both are listed as Active in production status and target the Desktop market segment.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i3-10100 boosts to 4.30 GHz, while the Intel Core i5-5675C boosts to 3.60 GHz.

Q: Do both processors have the same number of cores?

A: Yes, both have 4 physical cores. However, the i3-10100 supports 8 threads, while the i5-5675C supports 4 threads.

Q: Which CPU wins more head-to-head benchmarks?

A: The Intel Core i5-5675C wins 6 out of 8 head-to-head comparisons, including all Cinebench R20 and R23 tests, plus Cinebench R15 multicore and Geekbench single-core. The i3-10100 wins 2 tests: Cinebench R15 single-core and Geekbench multicore.

Q: How does memory bandwidth compare?

A: The i3-10100 has a memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s with DDR4 support, while the i5-5675C has 25.6 GB/s with DDR3 support. Both use a dual-channel memory bus.

Q: Are these CPUs on the same socket?

A: No. The i5-5675C uses Intel Socket 1150, and the i3-10100 uses Intel Socket 1200.

Q: What is the average benchmark score difference?

A: The i5-5675C has an average benchmark score of 1759, and the i3-10100 has 1742, a difference of 17 points. Both sit at the 41st percentile among all CPUs.

The Verdict

The data suggests two distinct use cases. For users running Cinebench-centric workloads, such as 3D rendering or CPU stress testing, the Intel Core i5-5675C is the clear choice. It beats the i3-10100 by roughly 91% in every Cinebench R20 and R23 test, both single-core and multicore, and its unlocked multiplier offers additional headroom for overclocking.

For users who prioritize Geekbench multicore performance or need the higher thread count for multitasking, the Intel Core i3-10100 is the better fit. It leads in Geekbench multicore by 7.5%, has twice the thread count, a larger L3 cache, faster DDR4 memory bandwidth, and significantly higher base and boost clocks.

The average scores are nearly identical, with the i5-5675C ahead by less than 1%. Both chips occupy the same performance percentile among all CPUs. The deciding factors should be the specific application mix and platform requirements. The i5-5675C requires a Socket 1150 board with DDR3 memory, while the i3-10100 needs a Socket 1200 board with DDR4. Neither is universally superior; the recorded data shows a complementary split between Cinebench dominance and Geekbench competitiveness.