Intel Core i3-10325 vs Intel Core i5-9500T Comparison

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i3-10325 outperforms the Intel Core i5-9500T in every benchmark recorded, winning all 6 head-to-head comparisons. Despite having fewer physical cores (4 vs. 6), the i3-10325 compensates with higher clock speeds and Hyper-Threading, delivering a consistent 5.8–6.0% performance advantage across Cinebench tests. The i5-9500T is an end-of-life, low-power part (35W TDP) that trails in both single-core and multi-core workloads, making the i3-10325 the clear choice for anyone prioritizing raw compute performance, provided they can accommodate its higher 65W TDP and newer Socket 1200 platform.

The Verdict

The Intel Core i3-10325 is the decisive winner in every measured workload. Its average benchmark score of 2530 versus the i5-9500T’s 2493 (a 1.5% gap) understates the consistency of its victory; in Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i3-10325 scores 8747 to the i5-9500T’s 8264, a 5.8% lead. This is notable because the i5-9500T has 6 physical cores against the i3-10325’s 4, but the i3-10325’s 8 threads and significantly higher boost clock (4.70 GHz vs. 3.70 GHz) overcome the core-count deficit.

For a desktop user who values speed and longevity, the i3-10325 is the pick—it is an active production part with a newer architecture, higher clocks, and superior benchmark results. The i5-9500T, by contrast, is end-of-life, runs at lower clocks (base 2.20 GHz vs. 3.90 GHz), and only wins in power efficiency (35W TDP vs. 65W). If your priority is a low-heat, low-power system for light tasks, the i5-9500T has a niche; for everything else, the i3-10325 is the superior processor. Neither supports ECC memory or unlocked multipliers.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel generations and sockets. The i3-10325 is a Comet Lake-R part, built on the 14 nm process, and uses the Intel Socket 1200 platform. The i5-9500T is a Coffee Lake Refresh part, also on 14 nm, but uses the older Intel Socket 1151. This means they are not drop-in interchangeable; a motherboard supporting one will not support the other.

Core and thread counts differ significantly: the i3-10325 offers 4 cores and 8 threads, while the i5-9500T offers 6 cores and 6 threads. The i3-10325’s Hyper-Threading allows it to process 8 concurrent threads, which helps in multi-threaded workloads despite having fewer physical cores. Cache allocation also diverges: the i3-10325 has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i5-9500T has 9 MB of shared L3 cache. Per-core L1 (64 KB) and L2 (256 KB) are identical.

Clock speeds are the biggest architectural differentiator. The i3-10325 runs at a 3.90 GHz base and 4.70 GHz boost, versus the i5-9500T’s 2.20 GHz base and 3.70 GHz boost. This 1.0 GHz boost-clock advantage explains the i3-10325’s single-core dominance. Both chips integrate UHD Graphics 630, support DDR4 memory on a dual-channel bus with 42.7 GB/s bandwidth, and offer PCIe Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes. Both lack ECC memory support and have locked multipliers. The i3-10325 was released later (March 2021 vs. March 2018) and remains active, while the i5-9500T is end-of-life.

Where Each One Wins

The i3-10325 wins in every benchmark category, so the split is not about performance—it is about platform and power requirements. In single-core tests, the i3-10325’s advantage is consistent: Cinebench R15 single-core shows 124 vs. 117 (6.0% delta), and R20 single-core shows 518 vs. 489 (5.9% delta). This makes the i3-10325 the better choice for applications that rely on per-thread performance, such as older games or lightly-threaded productivity apps.

In multi-core tests, the i3-10325 also leads, counter to expectations from the core-count difference. Cinebench R23 multi-core scores 8747 vs. 8264 (5.8% delta), proving that 8 threads with higher clocks beat 6 slower threads. The i5-9500T’s only advantage is its 35W TDP, which is nearly half the i3-10325’s 65W, making it suitable for compact, passively-cooled or thermally-constrained builds. The i5-9500T also has a slightly larger L3 cache (9 MB vs. 8 MB), though this does not translate into a benchmark win.

For a user building a new system, the i3-10325’s active production status and newer Socket 1200 platform offer a forward-looking path. The i5-9500T, being end-of-life on Socket 1151, is a legacy purchase—fine for a budget-conscious upgrade of an existing board, but not a foundation for a fresh build.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has more physical cores?

A: The Intel Core i5-9500T has 6 physical cores, while the Intel Core i3-10325 has 4 physical cores.

Q: Despite having fewer cores, why does the i3-10325 win multi-core tests?

A: The i3-10325 has 8 threads (via Hyper-Threading) and a 4.70 GHz boost clock, versus the i5-9500T’s 6 threads and 3.70 GHz boost. This combination yields a 5.8% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core (8747 vs. 8264).

Q: Are these CPUs compatible with the same motherboard?

A: No. The i3-10325 uses Intel Socket 1200, while the i5-9500T uses Intel Socket 1151.

Q: What is the power consumption difference?

A: The i3-10325 has a 65W TDP, while the i5-9500T has a 35W TDP, making the i5-9500T significantly more power-efficient.

Q: Which CPU supports ECC memory?

A: Neither. Both the i3-10325 and the i5-9500T lack ECC memory support.

Q: What is the launch MSRP of each?

A: The i3-10325 had a launch MSRP of $154, and the i5-9500T had a launch MSRP of $192.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The i3-10325 wins all six recorded head-to-head benchmarks, with margins ranging from 5.8% to 6.0%. The largest absolute gap is in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the i3-10325 scores 8747 versus the i5-9500T’s 8264—a 483-point difference. This is the most demanding test in the set, and it confirms that the i3-10325’s 8 threads outperform the i5-9500T’s 6 cores despite the latter’s larger cache.

The single-core tests show the same pattern. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the i3-10325 scores 124 vs. 117 (6.0% delta), and in R20 single-core, it scores 518 vs. 489 (5.9% delta). The i3-10325’s 4.70 GHz boost clock is the primary driver, giving it a clear edge in lightly-threaded workloads.

Multi-core results are similarly one-sided. Cinebench R15 multi-core yields 881 vs. 832 (5.9% delta), and R20 multi-core yields 3673 vs. 3470 (5.9% delta). The i3-10325’s thread count and clock speed combine for a uniform ~6% advantage across all Cinebench versions, indicating a stable architectural superiority rather than a test-specific anomaly. The closest margin is in R23 multi-core at 5.8%, but even there, the i3-10325 wins decisively.

The i5-9500T has additional Geekbench scores in its data—4407 multi-core and 1198 single-core—but there are no corresponding i3-10325 Geekbench results for comparison. Regardless, on the six tests where both are measured, the i3-10325 is unbeaten.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key fields. The i3-10325 has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the i5-9500T has 6 cores and 6 threads. Base clocks are 3.90 GHz for the i3-10325 and 2.20 GHz for the i5-9500T; boost clocks are 4.70 GHz and 3.70 GHz, respectively. TDP is 65W vs. 35W, a major difference for thermal design.

Sockets are incompatible: Intel Socket 1200 (i3-10325) vs. Intel Socket 1151 (i5-9500T). The i3-10325 uses the Comet Lake architecture (codename Comet Lake-R), while the i5-9500T uses Coffee Lake (codename Coffee Lake). Both are on the same 14 nm process from Intel.

Cache allocation differs: the i3-10325 has 8 MB of shared L3, while the i5-9500T has 9 MB of shared L3. L1 and L2 caches are identical at 64 KB and 256 KB per core. Memory support is the same—DDR4, dual-channel, 42.7 GB/s bandwidth—and both integrate UHD Graphics 630. PCIe is identical: Gen 3, 16 lanes (CPU only).

Production status and release dates diverge: the i3-10325 is Active and was released on 2021-03-15, while the i5-9500T is End-of-life and was released on 2018-03-31. The launch MSRP was $154 for the i3-10325 and $192 for the i5-9500T. Neither has an unlocked multiplier, and both lack ECC support. The part numbers are SRH3H for the i3-10325 and SRF4D for the i5-9500T.