Intel Core i3-10325 vs Intel Core i5-8600 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i3-10325 wins every single recorded Cinebench test against the Core i5-8600. Across six head-to-head comparisons, the i3-10325 takes all six wins, with margins ranging from 3% to 3.3%. The most substantial lead appears in the Cinebench R15 single-core test, where the i3-10325 scores 124 against 120, a 3.3% advantage. In every other test, the delta sits at exactly 3% or 3.1%, indicating a consistent performance edge rather than a workload-specific anomaly.

Looking at the multi-core results, the i3-10325 posts 881 in Cinebench R15 multicore versus 855 for the i5-8600. The margin is similar in R20, with 3673 against 3564, and in R23, with 8747 versus 8486. These are modest but repeatable leads. The single-core results follow the same pattern: 518 against 503 in R20 single-core, and 1234 against 1198 in R23 single-core. The consistency of the 3% delta across both single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads suggests the i3-10325 holds a genuine architectural or clock-based advantage that scales across the board.

The average benchmark scores reinforce this picture. The i3-10325 averages 2530 across its benchmark suite, while the i5-8600 averages 2454. That is a raw difference of 76 points, roughly a 3.1% gap. In the broader database, the i3-10325 sits at the 49th percentile among all CPUs, while the i5-8600 rests at the 48th percentile. The i3-10325's nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon E-2244G (average score 2527, delta of 0.1%) and the Intel Xeon E5-1650 v3 (average score 2545, delta of -0.6%). The i5-8600's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i3-1125G4 (average score 2451, delta of 0.1%) and the Intel Xeon D-1541 (average score 2447, delta of 0.3%). These placements show both chips operating in a similar performance tier, but the i3-10325 consistently edges ahead.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different generations and sockets, which explains much of the performance gap. The Intel Core i3-10325 belongs to the Core 10th Gen series, built on the Comet Lake architecture with the Comet Lake-R codename. It uses the 14 nm process node from Intel and fits the Intel Socket 1200. The Intel Core i5-8600, meanwhile, is a Coffee Lake part, also on the 14 nm node, but it uses the older Intel Socket 1151. Both chips share the same foundry (Intel) and the same process node, so the differences come down to design choices rather than manufacturing technology.

Core and thread counts differ significantly. The i3-10325 is a 4-core, 8-thread processor, while the i5-8600 has 6 cores and 6 threads. The i3-10325 relies on Hyper-Threading to reach 8 threads, whereas the i5-8600 runs one thread per core. Despite having two fewer physical cores, the i3-10325 still manages to outperform the i5-8600 in multi-threaded benchmarks, which indicates that its higher clock speeds and newer architecture more than compensate for the core deficit.

Clock speeds are a major differentiator. The i3-10325 has a base clock of 3.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. The i5-8600 starts at 3.10 GHz base and boosts to 4.30 GHz. That is an 800 MHz base clock advantage and a 400 MHz boost clock advantage for the i3-10325. These higher frequencies directly explain the single-core performance lead, and they also help in multi-threaded workloads where the i5-8600's extra cores cannot fully overcome the clock deficit.

Cache configurations also differ. The i3-10325 has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i5-8600 has 9 MB of shared L3 cache. The i5-8600 actually holds a 1 MB L3 advantage, which is notable given its lower performance. Both chips feature 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, so the per-core cache structure is identical. The die size is only recorded for the i5-8600 at 154 mm²; no die size is listed for the i3-10325.

Memory support is identical on paper: both support DDR4, use dual-channel memory buses, and offer 42.7 GB/s of memory bandwidth. Neither supports ECC memory. Both use PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. Both integrate UHD Graphics 630. The i3-10325 was released on March 15, 2021, and remains in active production, while the i5-8600 was released on February 13, 2018, and is now end-of-life.

Where Each One Wins

Given that the i3-10325 wins all six recorded benchmarks, the use-case split is straightforward. The i3-10325 is the stronger choice for any workload captured by Cinebench, which includes both single-threaded and multi-threaded rendering tasks. Its higher base and boost clocks give it an edge in lightly threaded applications, where the extra cores of the i5-8600 go unused. For users running older software that relies on high per-core performance, the i3-10325's 4.70 GHz boost clock is the decisive factor.

The i5-8600 still has a theoretical advantage in scenarios that scale with physical core count, but the recorded data does not show this advantage in Cinebench. With 6 cores versus 4, the i5-8600 could be expected to win in heavily parallel workloads, yet it trails the i3-10325 even in multi-core Cinebench tests. This suggests that the i3-10325's 8 threads, combined with its clock advantage, deliver better real-world multi-threading performance than the i5-8600's 6 physical cores.

The i5-8600 does offer a larger L3 cache at 9 MB versus 8 MB, which could provide a minor benefit in cache-sensitive workloads, but no benchmark in the database confirms this. The i5-8600 also has a larger die size (154 mm²), which is a physical characteristic with no direct performance implication in the recorded data. For virtually all measured tasks, the i3-10325 is the superior processor.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU wins in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Core i3-10325 scores 8747, while the Intel Core i5-8600 scores 8486. The i3-10325 leads by 3.1%.

Q: How do the single-core scores compare?

A: The i3-10325 wins every single-core test. In Cinebench R15 single-core, it scores 124 against 120, a 3.3% lead. In R20, it scores 518 against 503, and in R23, it scores 1234 against 1198, both 3% leads.

Q: Does the i5-8600 have more cores?

A: Yes, the i5-8600 has 6 physical cores and 6 threads, while the i3-10325 has 4 physical cores and 8 threads. Despite fewer cores, the i3-10325 still wins all multi-core benchmarks.

Q: What is the average benchmark score difference?

A: The i3-10325 has an average benchmark score of 2530, while the i5-8600 averages 2454. The i3-10325 is approximately 3.1% higher.

Q: Are both CPUs on the same process node?

A: Yes, both use the 14 nm process node from Intel. The i3-10325 uses the Comet Lake architecture, and the i5-8600 uses Coffee Lake.

Q: Which CPU has a higher boost clock?

A: The i3-10325 has a boost clock of 4.70 GHz, while the i5-8600 boosts to 4.30 GHz. The i3-10325 also has a higher base clock at 3.90 GHz versus 3.10 GHz.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i3-10325 | Intel Core i5-8600 |

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

| Series | Core 10th Gen | Not listed |

| Cores | 4 | 6 |

| Threads | 8 | 6 |

| Base Clock | 3.90 GHz | 3.10 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.70 GHz | 4.30 GHz |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1200 | Intel Socket 1151 |

| Architecture | Comet Lake | Coffee Lake |

| Codename | Comet Lake-R | Coffee Lake |

| Generation | Core i3 (Comet Lake) | Core i5 (Coffee Lake) |

| Die Size | Not listed | 154 mm² |

| L3 Cache | 8 MB (shared) | 9 MB (shared) |

| Production Status | Active | End-of-life |

| Release Date | 2021-03-15 | 2018-02-13 |

| Launch MSRP | $154 | $213 |

| Part Number | SRH3H | SR3X0 |

| Average Benchmark Score | 2530 | 2454 |

| Percentile vs All CPUs | 49 | 48 |

The two CPUs share several specifications: both are manufactured by Intel, use the 14 nm process node, support DDR4 memory with dual-channel buses, offer 42.7 GB/s memory bandwidth, lack ECC support, use PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, integrate UHD Graphics 630, target the desktop segment, have 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, and are not multiplier-unlocked. The differences listed above are the only recorded distinctions.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear conclusion: the Intel Core i3-10325 outperforms the Intel Core i5-8600 across every measured benchmark. With six wins out of six head-to-head tests, the i3-10325 holds a 3% to 3.3% advantage in both single-core and multi-core Cinebench workloads. It achieves this despite having fewer physical cores, relying instead on higher clock speeds and Hyper-Threading to deliver superior results.

Users who prioritize raw performance in rendering and CPU-intensive tasks should choose the i3-10325. Its active production status means it remains available, while the i5-8600 is end-of-life. The i3-10325 also has a lower launch MSRP of $154 compared to $213 for the i5-8600, though the i5-8600 is an older part that may be found at different street prices. The i3-10325's higher base clock (3.90 GHz versus 3.10 GHz) and boost clock (4.70 GHz versus 4.30 GHz) make it the better choice for any workload where clock speed matters.

The i5-8600 offers two additional physical cores and 1 MB more L3 cache, but these advantages do not translate into benchmark wins. In the recorded data, the i5-8600 trails in every test and sits at a lower percentile (48th versus 49th) among all CPUs. Its only potential edge is in workloads not captured by Cinebench, but no evidence in the database supports that claim.

For anyone deciding between these two processors, the verdict is simple: the i3-10325 is the faster chip in every measured scenario. Its combination of higher clocks, more threads, and newer architecture outweighs the i5-8600's core count and cache size. The i5-8600 remains a capable processor, but the data shows it is clearly behind the i3-10325 in performance.