Intel Core i3-10110U vs Intel Core i7-2600S Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark comparison between the Intel Core i7-2600S and the Intel Core i3-10110U is a study in contrasts, with the older desktop chip dominating multi-threaded workloads while the newer mobile chip takes a decisive lead in single-threaded tests. The data shows the Core i7-2600S wins 5 of the 8 recorded benchmarks, while the Core i3-10110U takes 3.

In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Core i7-2600S scores 396 against 326 for the Core i3-10110U, a 21.5% advantage. That same 21.5% margin repeats in Cinebench R20 multicore (1651 vs 1359) and Cinebench R23 multicore (3933 vs 3236). The consistency across three Cinebench versions indicates the Core i7-2600S holds a stable multi-core lead, likely due to its 4 cores and 8 threads versus the Core i3-10110U's 2 cores and 4 threads.

The single-core picture is more dramatic, but in the opposite direction. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the Core i3-10110U scores 162 against just 55 for the Core i7-2600S, a 66% swing in favor of the newer chip. This is the largest delta in the entire head-to-head dataset. The gap narrows considerably in Cinebench R20 single-core, where the Core i7-2600S actually wins 233 to 191, a 22% margin. Then in Cinebench R23 single-core, the Core i7-2600S wins again, 555 to 456, a 21.7% edge.

Geekbench results complicate the narrative further. The Core i3-10110U wins Geekbench multicore with 2143 against 1765, a 17.6% advantage for the mobile chip. In Geekbench single-core, the Core i3-10110U posts 1174 versus 578, a 50.8% lead. These Geekbench results contradict the Cinebench single-core findings, where the Core i7-2600S won in the R20 and R23 versions. The discrepancy likely reflects different workload characteristics, with Geekbench favoring the newer architecture's per-core efficiency while Cinebench R20/R23 respond to the older chip's higher base clock.

The average benchmark scores are nearly identical: the Core i7-2600S averages 1146, while the Core i3-10110U averages 1131, a difference of only 1.3%. Both processors sit at the 32nd percentile among all CPUs in the database, meaning they occupy the same overall performance tier despite their very different strengths.

Where Each One Wins

The Core i7-2600S is the clear choice for multi-threaded rendering workloads. Its 21.5% advantage across all three Cinebench multicore tests (R15, R20, and R23) shows consistent superiority in tasks that scale across cores. The chip also wins Cinebench R20 and R23 single-core, suggesting that for the specific rendering engine used in those tests, the older Sandy Bridge architecture with a 3.80 GHz boost clock outperforms the Comet Lake mobile chip's 4.10 GHz boost.

The Core i3-10110U wins in Geekbench, both single-core and multicore. Its 50.8% single-core advantage and 17.6% multicore advantage in Geekbench indicate that the newer 14 nm Comet Lake architecture delivers substantially better per-clock performance in the integer and floating-point workloads that Geekbench emphasizes. The mobile chip also wins Cinebench R15 single-core by a massive 66%, though this result stands apart from the R20 and R23 single-core outcomes.

For users running Cinebench-style rendering, whether in video production or 3D modeling, the Core i7-2600S provides the better results. For users whose workloads resemble Geekbench's mixed integer and floating-point tests, the Core i3-10110U offers meaningfully better performance. The two chips are close on average, but their strengths are sharply divided by workload type.

Architecture Differences

The Core i7-2600S uses Sandy Bridge architecture on a 32 nm process, built on 1,160 million transistors with a die size of 216 mm². It features 4 cores and 8 threads, with a base clock of 2.80 GHz and a boost clock of 3.80 GHz. The chip carries 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. It supports DDR3 memory in a dual-channel configuration, uses PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, and pairs with the Intel HD 2000 integrated graphics. This is a desktop part on Intel Socket 1155, released in January 2011, and now end-of-life.

The Core i3-10110U uses Comet Lake architecture on a 14 nm process, part of Intel's 10th generation Core series. It has 2 cores and 4 threads, with a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. The cache layout is 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. It supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory, uses Intel BGA 1440 socket, and includes UHD Graphics. This is a mobile part designed for laptops, released in August 2019, also end-of-life.

The transistor count and die size for the Core i3-10110U are not recorded in the database, so direct comparison on those metrics is unavailable. What the data does show is a generational shift: the Core i7-2600S compensates for its older 32 nm process with more cores, more threads, and triple the L3 cache (8 MB versus 4 MB). The Core i3-10110U counters with a newer 14 nm process and a 0.30 GHz higher boost clock. Neither chip supports ECC memory, and both have locked multipliers.

The memory support differs: the Core i7-2600S is limited to DDR3, while the Core i3-10110U accepts both DDR3 and DDR4, giving the mobile chip flexibility in system designs. The Core i7-2600S has explicit PCIe Gen 3 support with 16 lanes, while the Core i3-10110U's PCIe configuration is not recorded in the database.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmarks overall?

A: The Core i7-2600S wins 5 of the 8 recorded head-to-head benchmarks, while the Core i3-10110U wins 3.

Q: How large is the Core i7-2600S's multi-core advantage?

A: The Core i7-2600S leads by exactly 21.5% in Cinebench R15 multicore (396 vs 326), Cinebench R20 multicore (1651 vs 1359), and Cinebench R23 multicore (3933 vs 3236).

Q: Where does the Core i3-10110U achieve its biggest win?

A: The largest margin for the Core i3-10110U is in Cinebench R15 single-core, where it scores 162 versus 55, a 66% advantage over the Core i7-2600S.

Q: Do the two processors have similar overall performance?

A: Yes, the average benchmark scores are nearly identical: the Core i7-2600S averages 1146, and the Core i3-10110U averages 1131. Both sit at the 32nd percentile among all CPUs.

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

A: The Core i7-2600S has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Core i3-10110U has 2 cores and 4 threads.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Core i3-10110U boosts to 4.10 GHz, compared to 3.80 GHz for the Core i7-2600S.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear split decision. Users who prioritize multi-threaded rendering workloads should choose the Intel Core i7-2600S. It delivers a consistent 21.5% advantage across all three Cinebench multicore tests, and it also wins Cinebench R20 and R23 single-core by roughly 22%. Its 4 cores and 8 threads provide the parallel throughput that rendering engines exploit, and its 8 MB of L3 cache gives it a memory hierarchy advantage over the Core i3-10110U's 4 MB.

Users who prioritize Geekbench-style performance should choose the Intel Core i3-10110U. It wins Geekbench multicore by 17.6% and Geekbench single-core by 50.8%, demonstrating that its newer Comet Lake architecture delivers substantially better per-core efficiency in those workloads. The 66% win in Cinebench R15 single-core is an outlier compared to the R20 and R23 results, but it reinforces the mobile chip's single-thread strength in at least one rendering test.

The average benchmark scores are close enough (1146 vs 1131) that neither chip can claim overall superiority. The decision rests entirely on the intended workload. For a fixed desktop system running heavily threaded rendering tasks, the Core i7-2600S is the stronger pick. For a mobile system where Geekbench-style responsiveness matters more, the Core i3-10110U is the better option. Both processors are end-of-life, so availability and platform constraints will likely dictate the practical choice.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-2600S | Intel Core i3-10110U |

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

| Cores | 4 | 2 |

| Threads | 8 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 2.80 GHz | 2.10 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.80 GHz | 4.10 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 25 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1155 | Intel BGA 1440 |

| Architecture | Sandy Bridge | Comet Lake |

| Process Node | 32 nm | 14 nm |

| Transistors | 1,160 million | Not recorded |

| Die Size | 216 mm² | Not recorded |

| L3 Cache | 8 MB (shared) | 4 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR3 | DDR3, DDR4 |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Not recorded |

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

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 2000 | UHD Graphics |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Release Date | 2011-01-08 | 2019-08-20 |

| Part Number | SR00E | Not recorded |