Intel Core i3-10110U vs Intel Core i5-3330S Comparison

The Intel Core i3-10110U and Intel Core i5-3330S represent two very different eras of Intel mobile and desktop design. The data shows a fascinating split: the older i5-3330S, a 2012-era quad-core, dominates in Cinebench workloads, while the newer i3-10110U, a 2019-era dual-core, wins decisively in Geekbench. This divergence highlights how architectural efficiency and raw core count pull in opposite directions, making the choice between them dependent on specific workload priorities rather than a single overall winner.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i3-10110U averages 1131 points, while the Intel Core i5-3330S averages 1128 points, a negligible difference that lands both at the 32nd percentile of all CPUs.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two?

A: The i3-10110U leads by 113.8% in Geekbench single-core, scoring 1174 versus the i5-3330S's 549, representing the most dramatic single-workload advantage in the data.

Q: How do the two compare in multi-core Cinebench R23?

A: The i5-3330S leads in Cinebench R23 multi-core with 3326 points versus 3236 for the i3-10110U, a margin of 2.7%.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: No, the i3-10110U supports both DDR3 and DDR4, whereas the i5-3330S is limited to DDR3 only, with the latter also featuring a dual-channel memory bus.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each?

A: The i3-10110U has 2 cores and 4 threads, while the i5-3330S has 4 cores and 4 threads, meaning the older chip has double the physical cores but no hyper-threading.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The i5-3330S has 6 MB of shared L3 cache, which is 50% more than the 4 MB shared L3 cache found on the i3-10110U.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two chips is vast, spanning seven years of Intel design philosophy. The i3-10110U is built on the Comet Lake architecture, specifically the Comet Lake-U variant, and uses a 14 nm process node. In contrast, the i5-3330S comes from the Ivy Bridge family, fabricated on a smaller 22 nm node. Despite the newer node, the i3-10110U is a mobile part with a 25 W TDP, while the i5-3330S is a desktop chip with a significantly higher 77 W TDP.

The core configurations tell a story of trade-offs. The i3-10110U offers 2 cores and 4 threads, relying on hyper-threading to reach 4 concurrent threads. The i5-3330S provides 4 physical cores but only 4 threads, meaning no hyper-threading. This gives the older chip a raw multi-core advantage in certain workloads, but the newer chip's higher clock speeds — a base of 2.10 GHz boosting to 4.10 GHz versus the i5's 2.70 GHz base and 3.20 GHz boost — compensate in single-threaded tasks. The i3-10110U's boost clock is 0.90 GHz higher than the i5-3330S's maximum, a substantial margin that explains its Geekbench single-core dominance.

Cache hierarchies also differ. Both share 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, but the L3 cache is larger on the i5-3330S at 6 MB shared, versus 4 MB shared on the i3-10110U. The i5-3330S also has a die size of 133 mm², while the i3-10110U's die size is not listed in the data. The socket situation is entirely different: the i3-10110U uses Intel BGA 1440, a soldered mobile socket, while the i5-3330S uses Intel Socket 1155, a desktop LGA socket. The i5-3330S also supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), whereas the i3-10110U's PCIe specifications are not provided.

Integrated graphics differ as well, with the i3-10110U featuring UHD Graphics and the i5-3330S featuring Intel HD 2500. The i3-10110U's memory support extends to DDR4 in addition to DDR3, while the i5-3330S is confined to DDR3. Both are end-of-life products, with the i3-10110U released on 2019-08-20 and the i5-3330S released on 2012-09-02.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results reveal a clear pattern of workload-dependent superiority. The i5-3330S wins in all five Cinebench tests, but by remarkably consistent margins. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 335 versus 326, a 2.7% lead. The same 2.7% margin appears in Cinebench R20 multi-core (1396 vs 1359) and Cinebench R23 multi-core (3326 vs 3236). Single-core Cinebench results follow the same trend: R20 single-core shows 196 vs 191 (2.6% lead), and R23 single-core shows 469 vs 456 (2.8% lead). These are narrow but uniform victories, suggesting the i5-3330S's four physical cores and larger cache provide a consistent edge in Cinebench's rendering workloads, regardless of thread count or clock speed.

The Geekbench results flip the script dramatically. The i3-10110U wins Geekbench multi-core with 2143 against 1625, a 31.9% advantage. Even more striking is Geekbench single-core, where the i3-10110U scores 1174 versus 549, a massive 113.8% lead. This indicates that the i3-10110U's architecture, despite having fewer cores, is vastly more efficient in Geekbench's specific workload patterns, likely benefiting from its newer design and much higher boost clock. The i3-10110U's 4.10 GHz boost clock appears to be a decisive factor in single-threaded performance, nearly doubling the i5-3330S's score in that test.

The win count favors the i5-3330S at 5 wins versus 2 for the i3-10110U, but the magnitude of the i3's Geekbench victories far outweighs the i5's narrow Cinebench margins. The i5's largest win is just 2.8%, while the i3's smallest win is 31.9%. This asymmetry suggests that for applications resembling Geekbench (often integer and floating-point operations with memory access patterns), the i3-10110U is overwhelmingly superior, while for Cinebench-like rendering tasks, the i5-3330S holds a slight but consistent edge.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i3-10110U | Intel Core i5-3330S |

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

| Cores | 2 | 4 |

| Threads | 4 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 2.10 GHz | 2.70 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.10 GHz | 3.20 GHz |

| TDP | 25 W | 77 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1440 | Intel Socket 1155 |

| Architecture | Comet Lake | Ivy Bridge |

| Codename | Comet Lake-U | Ivy Bridge |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 22 nm |

| Die Size | Not listed | 133 mm² |

| L3 Cache | 4 MB (shared) | 6 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR3, DDR4 | DDR3 |

| Memory Bus | Not listed | Dual-channel |

| PCIe | Not listed | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics | Intel HD 2500 |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Release Date | 2019-08-20 | 2012-09-02 |

| Part Number | Not listed | SR0RR |

Where Each One Wins

The i5-3330S is the clear winner in Cinebench-based workloads. Its four physical cores, despite being older, deliver a consistent 2.6–2.8% advantage across R15, R20, and R23 multi-core and single-core tests. This makes it the better choice for rendering tasks, 3D modeling, or any application that scales with raw core count and cache size. The larger 6 MB L3 cache likely contributes to this edge, providing more on-die storage for frequently accessed data. For users running video encoding, batch processing, or CPU-intensive rendering, the i5-3330S offers a reliable, if modest, performance boost.

The i3-10110U dominates in Geekbench, with a 31.9% lead in multi-core and an extraordinary 113.8% lead in single-core. This suggests it is far better suited for everyday desktop applications, office productivity, web browsing, and tasks that rely on rapid single-threaded execution. The 4.10 GHz boost clock is a clear differentiator, as is the newer Comet Lake architecture's improved instruction handling. For users who prioritize responsiveness in general-purpose computing, the i3-10110U is the superior choice despite having half the physical cores.

The market segment difference is also telling. The i5-3330S is a desktop part, while the i3-10110U is mobile. In a desktop context, the i5's higher TDP is less of a concern, allowing it to sustain its performance. In a mobile context, the i3's 25 W TDP is a major advantage, enabling thinner laptops with longer battery life. The i3-10110U's support for DDR4 memory also gives it an edge in modern system builds, while the i5-3330S is locked to DDR3. Users building new systems should favor the i3-10110U for its memory flexibility and lower power draw.

The Verdict

From the data, the choice comes down to workload type. The Intel Core i5-3330S is the pick for users running Cinebench-style rendering workloads where its four cores and larger cache deliver a narrow but consistent lead across all tested versions. It is also the only option for those limited to a Socket 1155 desktop platform with DDR3 memory and PCIe Gen 3 support. Its 77 W TDP is high, but acceptable for a desktop build where power consumption is not a primary concern.

The Intel Core i3-10110U is the better choice for general-purpose computing, based on its overwhelming Geekbench advantages. A 113.8% single-core lead and a 31.9% multi-core lead are far more impactful for typical user applications like browsing, document editing, and light productivity than the i5's marginal Cinebench wins. Its lower 25 W TDP makes it ideal for mobile systems, and its support for DDR4 gives it a modern memory pathway. The i3-10110U also carries the newer Comet Lake architecture, which is reflected in its superior efficiency per clock. For most users, the i3-10110U's strengths in single-threaded and Geekbench-style tasks will be more noticeable in daily use, even if the i5-3330S wins more benchmark categories overall.