CPU Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data reveals a clear split between these two Intel parts, with the desktop-oriented Core i3-10105F dominating in six tests and the mobile Core i5-1230U taking thirteen. The most dramatic difference appears in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the i3-10105F scores 7537 against the i5-1230U’s 4402, a 71.2% advantage. That is the single largest margin in either direction across the entire head-to-head set. The same trend shows in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where the i3 leads 759 to 514, a 47.7% gap. However, the i5-1230U flips the script in Cinebench R20 multi-core, scoring 3903 versus 3165, an 18.9% win.

Single-core performance belongs almost entirely to the i5-1230U. In Cinebench R15 single-core, it posts 186.8 against the i3’s 107, a 42.7% margin. Cinebench R20 single-core shows 550 versus 446 (18.9% ahead), Cinebench R23 single-core shows 1310 versus 1064 (18.8% ahead), and Geekbench single-core shows 1699 versus 1470 (13.5% ahead). The only single-thread test where the i5 does not dominate is PassMark single-thread, where it wins narrowly at 2712 versus 2647, just 2.4% ahead.

The i3-10105F’s wins are concentrated in legacy or specific workloads. It leads in PassMark data compression by 14.6% (130647 versus 114042), extended instructions by 39.3% (8753 versus 6282), and random string sorting by 28.6% (16414 versus 12760). Geekbench multi-core is nearly a tie, with the i3 ahead by only 0.9% (4920 versus 4875). The i5-1230U counters with substantial leads in PassMark data encryption, where it scores 7176 against 3045, a 57.6% gap, and in find prime numbers (55 versus 25, a 54.5% margin). It also wins PassMark floating point math by 28.3% (25340 versus 18166), integer math by 24.7% (38401 versus 28921), physics by 31% (828 versus 571), and multithread by 17.9% (10881 versus 8930).

The overall averages are remarkably close. The i3-10105F has an average benchmark score of 12644, while the i5-1230U sits at 12559. That puts the i3 just 0.7% ahead in the aggregate, and both CPUs land in the 67th percentile of all CPUs. The nearest-rival data reinforces this parity: the i3’s rivals include the i5-1230U at a 0.7% delta, the AMD EPYC 7502 at -0.5%, and the Intel Atom x7809C at 0.3%. The i5’s rivals include the i3 at -0.7%, the AMD EPYC 9174F at 0.2%, and the i3-1215U at -0.4%.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel generations and manufacturing nodes. The i3-10105F is a Comet Lake-R part built on a 14 nm process, while the i5-1230U is Alder Lake-U on a 10 nm node. This node difference explains much of the efficiency gap. The i3 has a 65 TDP and a base clock of 3.70 GHz, boosting to 4.40 GHz. The i5 has a dramatically lower 9 TDP and a base clock listed at 1000.00 MHz, but the same 4.40 GHz boost clock. The i5’s lower base clock and TDP reflect its mobile BGA 1781 socket, versus the i3’s desktop Intel Socket 1200.

Core and thread counts diverge sharply. The i3 offers 4 cores and 8 threads, while the i5 packs 10 cores and 12 threads. That hybrid arrangement is typical of Alder Lake, though the fact pack does not specify performance versus efficiency core types. Cache hierarchies also differ. The i3 has 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 6 MB shared L3. The i5 has 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 12 MB shared L3, double the L3 capacity of the i3.

Memory support separates them further. The i3 supports only DDR4, dual-channel, with a memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. The i5 supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also dual-channel, though no bandwidth figure is listed. PCIe capability differs by generation: the i3 has Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i5 has Gen 4. The i5 also includes integrated Iris Xe graphics with 80 execution units, whereas the i3 has no integrated graphics. Neither supports ECC memory, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

Production status is active for both. Release dates show the i3 launched on 2021-03-15, while the i5 followed on 2022-02-22. The i3 has a launch MSRP of $97; no MSRP is listed for the i5. The i3’s part number is SRH8V, while the i5’s is not listed.

The Verdict

The data tells a story of workload-dependent choice. For multi-threaded rendering workloads that scale with sustained power delivery, the i3-10105F is the stronger pick. Its 71.2% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 47.7% lead in Cinebench R15 multi-core are decisive. However, the i5-1230U wins Cinebench R20 multi-core by 18.9%, which complicates a simple "desktop wins for multi-core" narrative. The i5’s wins in PassMark multithread (17.9%), integer math (24.7%), and floating point math (28.3%) suggest that its 10 cores and 12 threads handle diverse parallel workloads better, except for the specific Cinebench versions that appear to favor the i3’s higher sustained clocks.

For single-threaded performance, the i5-1230U is clearly superior in nearly every test. Its 13.5% to 42.7% margins across Cinebench and Geekbench single-core tests indicate a substantial architectural advantage from the newer Alder Lake design. The i5 also dominates in data encryption, with a 57.6% lead, and prime number finding (54.5% lead), which points to stronger cryptographic and integer throughput capabilities.

The i3-10105F wins in data compression (14.6%), extended instructions (39.3%), and random string sorting (28.6%). These are specific, memory-latency-sensitive workloads where the i3’s higher base clock and lower core count may reduce scheduling overhead. The Geekbench multi-core result is essentially a tie at 0.9% for the i3, meaning synthetic mixed workloads do not separate these CPUs meaningfully.

The verdict depends on the platform. For a desktop user with a discrete GPU, the i3-10105F offers competitive multi-core scores and specific wins in compression and string sorting. For a mobile user needing integrated graphics, lower power draw, and better single-thread performance, the i5-1230U is the data-backed choice. The 67th percentile ranking for both, and the near-identical average scores (12644 versus 12559), indicate that neither is categorically faster, the right answer is workload-specific.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has a higher multi-core score in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core i3-10105F scores 7537 versus the i5-1230U’s 4402, a 71.2% advantage.

Q: How large is the single-core performance gap in Geekbench?

A: The i5-1230U scores 1699 in Geekbench single-core, while the i3-10105F scores 1470, giving the i5 a 13.5% lead.

Q: Which processor supports DDR5 memory?

A: Only the Intel Core i5-1230U supports both DDR4 and DDR5. The i3-10105F supports DDR4 exclusively.

Q: What is the difference in core counts?

A: The i5-1230U has 10 cores and 12 threads, while the i3-10105F has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: Does either CPU include integrated graphics?

A: The i5-1230U includes Iris Xe graphics with 80 execution units. The i3-10105F has no integrated graphics.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The i3-10105F averages 12644, which is 0.7% higher than the i5-1230U’s 12559. Both sit in the 67th percentile of all CPUs.

Where Each One Wins

The i3-10105F wins in six head-to-head tests. Its largest margins are in Cinebench R23 multi-core (71.2% ahead), Cinebench R15 multi-core (47.7% ahead), and PassMark extended instructions (39.3% ahead). It also takes PassMark random string sorting (28.6% ahead), data compression (14.6% ahead), and Geekbench multi-core by a narrow 0.9%. These wins align with sustained multi-threaded rendering, legacy instruction workloads, and memory-bandwidth-sensitive tasks like compression and sorting.

The i5-1230U wins in thirteen tests. Its decisive margins come in PassMark data encryption (57.6% ahead), find prime numbers (54.5% ahead), Cinebench R15 single-core (42.7% ahead), and PassMark physics (31% ahead). It also leads in floating point math (28.3%), integer math (24.7%), and multithread (17.9%). Across Cinebench R20 multi-core and single-core, it wins by 18.9% each. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it is 18.8% ahead, and in Geekbench single-core, 13.5% ahead. The narrowest win is PassMark single-thread at 2.4%.

The use-case split is clear. Choose the i3-10105F for desktop builds where rendering in older Cinebench versions, extended instruction workloads, or data compression matter more than power efficiency. Choose the i5-1230U for mobile systems or scenarios requiring encryption throughput, prime-number computation, floating-point math, and superior single-thread responsiveness. The i5’s integrated graphics and support for DDR5 make it the more flexible platform option, though the i3’s raw multi-core scores in specific tests are unmatched. For mixed synthetic workloads, the Geekbench multi-core near-tie (0.9%) and the 67th percentile ranking for both suggest either will serve adequately; the deciding factors are the specific benchmarks above and the platform constraints of socket and power.