CPU Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i5-1230U has 10 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core i3-10105 has 4 cores and 8 threads. The i5-1230U also features a larger shared L3 cache of 12 MB compared to the i3-10105's 6 MB.

Q: How do the two chips compare in single-core performance?

A: The i5-1230U dominates single-core tests. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 1310 versus 992 for the i3-10105, a 32.1% advantage. Geekbench single-core shows a 28.8% lead (1699 vs 1319), and PassMark single-thread is close at 2712 vs 2589, a 4.8% edge.

Q: Which chip wins multi-core workloads?

A: It depends on the benchmark. The i3-10105 wins Cinebench R23 multi-core by 37.4% (7029 vs 4402), but the i5-1230U wins Cinebench R20 multi-core by 32.2% (3903 vs 2952) and Geekbench multi-core by 12.7% (4875 vs 4325). The i5-1230U also takes PassMark multithread by 32% (10881 vs 8241).

Q: What are the power and platform differences?

A: The i5-1230U has a TDP of 9 watts and uses the Intel BGA 1781 socket (mobile platform). The i3-10105 has a TDP of 65 watts and uses the Intel Socket 1200 (desktop platform). The i5-1230U supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the i3-10105 supports only DDR4.

Q: Which processor has better integrated graphics?

A: The i5-1230U features Iris Xe 80EU graphics, whereas the i3-10105 has UHD Graphics 630. The i5-1230U's newer graphics architecture is paired with the 10 nm Alder Lake process, while the i3-10105 uses 14 nm Comet Lake.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The i5-1230U has an average benchmark score of 12559, and the i3-10105 scores 12316. Both sit at the 67th percentile of all CPUs. The i5-1230U is 1.9% ahead of the i3-10105 in the average score, according to the nearestRivals data.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different Intel design eras. The i5-1230U is built on Alder Lake-U, a 10 nm mobile architecture, while the i3-10105 uses Comet Lake-R, a 14 nm desktop design. This process gap explains much of the behavioral divergence seen in the benchmarks.

The i5-1230U pairs 10 cores with 12 threads, indicating a hybrid configuration of performance and efficiency cores. Its per-core L1 cache is 80 KB, and L2 is 1.25 MB per core, while the i3-10105 has 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core. The shared L3 cache also differs substantially: 12 MB on the i5-1230U versus 6 MB on the i3-10105.

Memory support is another dividing line. The i5-1230U accepts both DDR4 and DDR5, while the i3-10105 is limited to DDR4. Both use dual-channel memory buses, but the i3-10105 lists a memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s, a figure not provided for the i5-1230U in the data. PCIe support also differs: the i5-1230U has Gen 4, while the i3-10105 has Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only).

The i5-1230U's integrated graphics are Iris Xe 80EU, which is a newer generation than the UHD Graphics 630 in the i3-10105. The market segments are distinct, the i5-1230U is a mobile part, the i3-10105 is a desktop part, and this is reflected in their sockets: BGA 1781 for the former, Socket 1200 for the latter.

The TDP gap is enormous: 9 watts for the i5-1230U versus 65 watts for the i3-10105. This suggests the i5-1230U is designed for fanless or ultra-low-power laptops, while the i3-10105 targets desktop systems with active cooling. The base clocks also tell the story, the i5-1230U starts at 1.00 GHz, while the i3-10105 starts at 3.70 GHz. Both boost to 4.40 GHz.

The Verdict

The data paints a nuanced picture. The i5-1230U wins 14 of the 19 head-to-head benchmarks, including all single-core tests and many compute-heavy workloads like encryption, prime finding, and floating-point math. The i3-10105 wins only 5 benchmarks, but its victories are concentrated in specific multi-core and memory-intensive tasks.

For users prioritizing single-thread responsiveness, power efficiency, and integrated graphics quality, the i5-1230U is the clear choice. Its single-core leads range from 4.8% (PassMark) to 88.7% (Cinebench R15), and it delivers these results at a fraction of the power draw, 9 watts versus 65 watts.

However, the i3-10105 is the pick for sustained multi-core rendering in Cinebench R23, where it beats the i5-1230U by 37.4%. It also wins in data compression (128464 vs 114042), extended instructions (8648 vs 6282), and random string sorting (15899 vs 12760). These are tasks that benefit from the i3-10105's higher base clock and consistent desktop power delivery.

The average benchmark scores are nearly identical, 12559 for the i5-1230U versus 12316 for the i3-10105, a 1.9% gap. Both sit at the 67th percentile of all CPUs. The i5-1230U's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i3-1215U (0.4% ahead) and the AMD EPYC 9174F (0.2% behind), while the i3-10105's rivals include the Intel Core i7-6700K (0.6% ahead) and the Intel Core i3-12100 (2.2% behind).

The decision hinges on workload and platform. The i5-1230U is a mobile chip that wins the overall benchmark count; the i3-10105 is a desktop chip that wins specific rendering and data tasks. Neither is a universal victor.

Specification Differences

| Field | Intel Core i5-1230U | Intel Core i3-10105 |

|-------|---------------------|---------------------|

| Cores | 10 | 4 |

| Threads | 12 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 1.00 GHz | 3.70 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.40 GHz | 4.40 GHz |

| TDP | 9 W | 65 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1781 | Intel Socket 1200 |

| Architecture | Alder Lake | Comet Lake |

| Codename | Alder Lake-U | Comet Lake-R |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 14 nm |

| L1 Cache | 80 KB (per core) | 64 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core) | 256 KB (per core) |

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

| Memory Support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR4 |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not listed | 42.7 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 4 | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Iris Xe 80EU | UHD Graphics 630 |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Release Date | 2022-02-22 | 2021-03-15 |

| Launch MSRP | Not listed | $122 |

| Part Number | Not listed | SRH3P |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data reveals a lopsided rivalry. The i5-1230U wins 14 of 19 tests, but the i3-10105's wins are decisive in their categories.

Single-core dominance: The i5-1230U's biggest win is Cinebench R15 single-core, where it scores 186.8 versus 99 for the i3-10105, an 88.7% advantage. Cinebench R20 single-core shows a 32.2% lead (550 vs 416), and R23 single-core is nearly identical at 32.1% (1310 vs 992). Geekbench single-core adds a 28.8% margin (1699 vs 1319). PassMark single-thread is closer: 2712 vs 2589, a 4.8% edge.

Multi-core split: The i3-10105 wins Cinebench R15 multi-core by 27.4% (708 vs 514) and Cinebench R23 multi-core by 37.4% (7029 vs 4402). But the i5-1230U flips the script in Cinebench R20 multi-core, winning by 32.2% (3903 vs 2952). Geekbench multi-core also favors the i5-1230U at 4875 vs 4325, a 12.7% margin. PassMark multithread goes to the i5-1230U by 32% (10881 vs 8241).

Compute workloads: The i5-1230U shows massive wins in PassMark data encryption (7176 vs 2723, up 163.5%), find prime numbers (55 vs 20, up 175%), floating-point math (25340 vs 17949, up 41.2%), and integer math (38401 vs 28577, up 34.4%). Physics also favors the i5-1230U by 77.3% (828 vs 467).

i3-10105's territories: The i3-10105 wins data compression (128464 vs 114042, down 11.2% for the i5), extended instructions (8648 vs 6282, down 27.4%), and random string sorting (15899 vs 12760, down 19.7%). These are the only PassMark tests where the i3-10105 comes out ahead, aside from Cinebench R15 and R23 multi-core.

Where Each One Wins

The i5-1230U wins for:

• Single-threaded applications: Every single-core benchmark goes to the i5-1230U, with leads from 4.8% to 88.7%. This suggests better responsiveness in everyday tasks like web browsing, office apps, and light productivity.
• Encryption and security workloads: The 163.5% lead in data encryption is the largest margin outside of prime numbers. This indicates strong AES and crypto capabilities, likely benefiting from the newer architecture.
• Math-heavy compute: Floating-point math (41.2% ahead) and integer math (34.4% ahead) show the i5-1230U's execution units are more efficient per clock.
• Power-sensitive mobile use: At 9 watts TDP with 10 cores, the i5-1230U delivers high performance in a low-power envelope, making it suitable for thin-and-light laptops.

The i3-10105 wins for:

• Sustained multi-core rendering: Cinebench R23 multi-core shows a 37.4% advantage (7029 vs 4402). This is the largest single multi-core win and suggests better long-duration rendering performance, likely due to the higher base clock (3.70 GHz) and desktop power delivery.
• Data compression and sorting: Wins in data compression (128464 vs 114042) and random string sorting (15899 vs 12760) indicate strengths in memory-bound data manipulation, possibly aided by the 42.7 GB/s memory bandwidth.
• Extended instruction workloads: The 8648 vs 6282 score in extended instructions shows the i3-10105 handles AVX-like workloads better, despite its older architecture.
• Legacy desktop upgrades: As a Socket 1200 part with a $122 launch MSRP, the i3-10105 fits existing desktop motherboards, though the data does not compare upgrade costs.

The verdict from the data: The i5-1230U is the more versatile performer, winning 74% of head-to-head tests. The i3-10105 is a specialist in rendering and data streaming. For a mobile user, the i5-1230U is the obvious pick; for a desktop user running Cinebench R23 or compression tasks, the i3-10105 holds a clear edge. The 1.9% average score difference (12559 vs 12316) is negligible, but the distribution of wins is not.