Intel Core i3-10105F vs Intel Core i7-1250U Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark record splits this pairing into two distinct personalities. The Intel Core i7-1250U claims 15 of 19 head-to-head tests, while the Intel Core i3-10105F secures four. That asymmetry hides the real story: the i7-1250U dominates compute-heavy, latency-sensitive workloads, whereas the i3-10105F excels in specific throughput-oriented tasks where raw sustained output matters more than architectural efficiency.

The i7-1250U wins across the Cinebench R15 and R20 suites, including a 54.5% margin in multi-core R15 and a 111.2% blowout in single-core R15. It also takes Geekbench single and multi-core, plus PassMark integer math, floating point math, encryption, prime finding, physics, and multithread tests. Its single-thread PassMark advantage is narrow at 2.1%, but its encryption lead is massive at 151%. These results point to a processor that handles varied instruction mixes with high per-thread efficiency and strong parallel scaling up to its 12 threads.

The i3-10105F counters in four specific areas: Cinebench R23 multi-core (6.2% ahead), PassMark data compression (8.7% ahead), extended instructions (25.8% ahead), and random string sorting (17.2% ahead). This pattern suggests the desktop part sustains heavy, predictable workloads better, likely because its higher 65W power envelope allows continuous boosting. The i7-1250U, with its 9W TDP, may throttle sooner under sustained all-core loads, which explains why the i3 pulls ahead in longer rendering and compression tests despite losing in shorter or more bursty benchmarks.

Both processors sit near the same overall performance tier. The i7-1250U holds a 68th percentile against all CPUs, while the i3-10105F sits at 67th. Their average benchmark scores differ by roughly 5.6% (13351 versus 12644). The nearest rivals for the i7-1250U include the Core i7-7700K (0.5% ahead) and Core i5-9500 (0.7% behind), while the i3-10105F's rivals include the Core i3-1215U (0.3% behind) and Core i5-1230U (0.7% behind). This places both chips in the same performance neighborhood, but with very different routes to get there.

Architecture Differences

The two CPUs come from different Intel design eras. The i7-1250U uses Alder Lake-U architecture on a 10nm process, while the i3-10105F uses Comet Lake-R on 14nm. This generational gap explains much of the performance split. The i7-1250U has 10 cores and 12 threads, whereas the i3-10105F has 4 cores and 8 threads. The i7's core count advantage is substantial, but its base clock of 1.10 GHz is far below the i3's 3.70 GHz. The i7 boosts to 4.70 GHz, while the i3 boosts to 4.40 GHz. Those clock differences combine with core counts to produce the mixed benchmark results.

Cache hierarchies differ sharply. The i7-1250U offers 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 12 MB shared L3. The i3-10105F has 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and only 6 MB shared L3. The i7's larger per-core L2 is notable, potentially improving data locality for single-threaded workloads. The i3's L3 is half the size, which may hurt in cache-sensitive tasks.

Memory support also diverges. The i7-1250U accepts both DDR4 and DDR5, while the i3-10105F is limited to DDR4. Both use dual-channel memory buses. The i3 lists a memory bandwidth figure of 42.7 GB/s; the i7 does not have a recorded bandwidth number. The i7 runs PCIe Gen 4, while the i3 runs PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The i7 includes integrated Iris Xe graphics with 96 execution units; the i3 has no integrated graphics at all, requiring a discrete GPU.

Market positioning differs completely. The i7-1250U is a mobile part on Intel BGA 1781, while the i3-10105F is a desktop chip on Intel Socket 1200. The i7's TDP is 9W, a fraction of the i3's 65W. The i3 launched in March 2021 with a launch MSRP of $97; the i7 launched in February 2022 with no recorded MSRP. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier. The i3 has a part number (SRH8V); the i7 does not.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The biggest single-thread gap appears in Cinebench R15, where the i7-1250U scores 226 versus the i3's 107, a 111.2% advantage. That is more than double the performance. The R20 single-core test shows a smaller but still clear 26% lead (562 versus 446). In R23 single-core, the i7 leads by 47.9% (1574 versus 1064). Geekbench single-core shows a 13% edge (1661 versus 1470). PassMark single-thread is nearly tied: 2703 versus 2647, just 2.1% apart. These results indicate the i7's per-core efficiency is superior in most lightweight workloads, but the gap narrows in PassMark's particular single-thread mix.

Multi-core results are more varied. Cinebench R15 multi-core gives the i7 a 54.5% win (1172.94 versus 759). R20 multi-core gives a 25.8% win (3983 versus 3165). Geekbench multi-core gives a 17.4% win (5777 versus 4920). PassMark multithread gives a 26.9% win (11329 versus 8930). However, Cinebench R23 multi-core flips: the i3 wins 7537 versus 7069, a 6.2% margin. This is the only multi-core test the i3 takes, suggesting that the longer R23 render duration allows the desktop chip's sustained power delivery to overcome the i7's core count.

The PassMark suite reveals where each chip excels. The i7 wins integer math by 39.4% (40328 versus 28921), floating point math by 46.6% (26625 versus 18166), physics by 54.3% (881 versus 571), encryption by 151% (7642 versus 3045), and prime finding by 132% (58 versus 25). The i3 wins data compression by 8.7% (130647 versus 119280), extended instructions by 25.8% (8753 versus 6497), and random string sorting by 17.2% (16414 versus 13593). The encryption and prime number gaps are enormous, indicating the i7's newer instruction set and higher boost clock provide outsized benefits in algorithmic workloads. The i3's wins in compression and sorting suggest its higher sustained clocks help with memory-bound, repetitive operations.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-1250U | Intel Core i3-10105F |

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

| Cores | 10 | 4 |

| Threads | 12 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 1.10 GHz | 3.70 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.70 GHz | 4.40 GHz |

| TDP | 9W | 65W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1781 | Intel Socket 1200 |

| Architecture | Alder Lake | Comet Lake |

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

| Process Node | 10nm | 14nm |

| 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 recorded | 42.7 GB/s |

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

| Integrated Graphics | Iris Xe 96EU | None |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

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

| Launch MSRP | Not recorded | $97 |

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has better single-thread performance?

A: The i7-1250U wins every single-thread benchmark in the head-to-head set. Its Cinebench R15 lead is 111.2%, R20 lead is 26%, R23 lead is 47.9%, Geekbench lead is 13%, and PassMark single-thread lead is 2.1%.

Q: Does the i3-10105F ever beat the i7-1250U?

A: Yes, in four tests: Cinebench R23 multi-core (6.2% ahead), PassMark data compression (8.7% ahead), PassMark extended instructions (25.8% ahead), and PassMark random string sorting (17.2% ahead).

Q: How large is the core count difference?

A: The i7-1250U has 10 cores and 12 threads, while the i3-10105F has 4 cores and 8 threads. The i7 has 6 more cores and 4 more threads.

Q: Which chip supports faster memory?

A: The i7-1250U supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the i3-10105F supports only DDR4. Both use dual-channel memory buses. The i3 has a recorded memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s; the i7 has no recorded bandwidth figure.

Q: Does either chip have integrated graphics?

A: The i7-1250U includes Iris Xe graphics with 96 execution units. The i3-10105F has no integrated graphics, so it requires a discrete GPU for display output.

Q: How do their overall performance percentiles compare?

A: The i7-1250U sits at the 68th percentile against all CPUs, while the i3-10105F sits at the 67th percentile. Their average benchmark scores are 13351 and 12644, respectively.

The Verdict

The data points to two different buyers. The i7-1250U is the stronger all-around processor for single-threaded responsiveness, cryptographic workloads, and bursty parallel tasks. Its encryption lead of 151% and prime number finding lead of 132% are decisive. Anyone running scientific calculations, encryption, or physics simulations would see substantial gains from the i7. Its 10 cores and 12 threads provide headroom for moderate parallel workloads, and its 12 MB L3 cache helps with data-heavy tasks.

The i3-10105F is the choice for sustained, throughput-oriented workloads where power draw is not a constraint. Its 65W TDP allows it to maintain higher clocks under load, which explains its wins in Cinebench R23 multi-core, data compression, extended instructions, and string sorting. The 25.8% margin in extended instructions is particularly notable for workloads like media encoding or complex mathematical libraries. Its 42.7 GB/s memory bandwidth also gives it a concrete advantage in memory-bound scenarios.

For mobile or power-constrained environments, the i7-1250U is clearly superior. Its 9W TDP versus 65W means it can operate in thin laptops while still delivering competitive performance. For desktop builds with adequate cooling and a discrete GPU, the i3-10105F offers a different tradeoff: fewer cores but higher sustained clocks, winning in specific long-running tasks. The overall percentile gap is small (68th versus 67th), so neither chip dominates globally. The choice hinges on workload duration, power budget, and whether the task benefits from the i7's architectural efficiency or the i3's sustained clock speed. The i7 wins 15 of 19 tests, but the i3 wins the longer render test, suggesting that sustained workloads favor the desktop part while bursty and short tasks favor the mobile chip.