Intel Core i3-1210U vs Intel Core i5-9400F Comparison

The Intel Core i5-9400F and Intel Core i3-1210U occupy opposite ends of the Intel lineup, yet their benchmark scores place them within 1.9% of each other in average performance. The i5-9400F is a desktop Coffee Lake part from 2019, while the i3-1210U is a 2022 mobile Alder Lake-U processor. Despite the i3’s lower tier and mobile positioning, it wins 14 of 17 head-to-head benchmarks, while the i5 wins 3. The data tells a story of generational efficiency gains overcoming core-count and thermal disadvantages, but the i5 retains decisive victories in specific workloads that favor its architecture.

Where Each One Wins

The i5-9400F claims its three wins in distinctly different workload categories. Its largest victory comes in PassMark extended instructions, where it scores 11,684 against the i3’s 5,852, a 99.7% advantage. This suggests the Coffee Lake architecture handles certain SIMD or specialized instruction sets far more efficiently. The i5 also wins PassMark data compression with a score of 132,877 versus 102,965, a 29.1% margin, and PassMark random string sorting at 16,298 versus 11,727, a 39% lead. These are memory-intensive, pattern-heavy tasks where the i5’s desktop memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s and generous 9 MB shared L3 cache likely provide the edge.

The i3-1210U wins everywhere else, including all six Cinebench tests. Its margins are consistent but modest in rendering workloads: it leads by 4.4% in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core, and by 4.2% in R15 single-core and 4.4% in R20 and R23 single-core. The i3’s biggest victories come in PassMark integer math (34,445 vs 26,155, a 24.1% lead), PassMark single-thread (3,354 vs 2,428, a 27.6% lead), and PassMark data encryption (6,348 vs 2,902, a 54.3% lead). It also wins PassMark multi-thread (10,228 vs 9,455), physics (781 vs 653), floating-point math (23,815 vs 22,465), and find prime numbers (51 vs 38). The i3’s strength is clear: modern cores, higher clock speeds, and better single-thread execution make it the general-purpose winner.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different eras and design philosophies. The i5-9400F uses the Coffee Lake architecture on a 14 nm process, while the i3-1210U uses Alder Lake on 10 nm. Both have 6 physical cores, but the i3 adds 2 threads via hyperthreading, giving it 8 threads total versus the i5’s 6. Base clocks tell a dramatic story: the i5 runs at 2.90 GHz, while the i3’s base clock is listed at 1000.00 MHz — though its boost clock of 4.40 GHz exceeds the i5’s 4.10 GHz boost. The i3 is a mobile part with a 9 W TDP, while the i5 is a desktop chip rated at 65 W.

Cache configurations differ substantially. The i5 has 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, with 9 MB shared L3. The i3 has 80 KB L1 and 1.25 MB L2 per core, with 10 MB shared L3. The i3’s larger per-core L2 is a hallmark of newer architectures. Memory support also diverges: the i5 supports DDR4 only, while the i3 supports both DDR4 and DDR5. The i5 has a dual-channel memory bus with 42.7 GB/s bandwidth; the i3’s bandwidth is not listed. PCIe connectivity differs, with the i5 offering Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes and the i3 providing Gen 4. The i3 includes integrated UHD Graphics 64EU, while the i5 has no integrated graphics. Sockets are incompatible: the i5 uses Intel Socket 1151, the i3 uses Intel BGA 1781. The i5 is end-of-life, while the i3 remains active.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most lopsided result is PassMark extended instructions, where the i5 leads by 99.7% — a near-doubling of the i3’s score. This is the single largest delta in either direction and suggests the i5’s older architecture has a specialized advantage in extended instruction handling. Conversely, the i3’s largest win is in PassMark data encryption, where it scores 6,348 against 2,902, a 54.3% margin. This points to the i3’s newer cores having native acceleration for cryptographic operations that the i5 lacks.

In Cinebench, the i3 wins all six tests by margins between 4.2% and 4.4%. R15 multi-core: 847 vs 810 (-4.4%). R15 single-core: 119 vs 114 (-4.2%). R20 multi-core: 3,533 vs 3,376 (-4.4%). R20 single-core: 498 vs 476 (-4.4%). R23 multi-core: 8,413 vs 8,040 (-4.4%). R23 single-core: 1,187 vs 1,135 (-4.4%). These consistent margins indicate the i3’s clock speed advantage and thread count translate directly into rendering performance, but the i5’s six full cores keep it close.

PassMark single-thread shows the i3’s biggest general win: 3,354 vs 2,428, a 27.6% lead. This is mirrored in PassMark integer math (34,445 vs 26,155, 24.1% lead) and PassMark find prime numbers (51 vs 38, 25.5% lead). These results show the i3’s per-core execution efficiency is dramatically better. The i5 fights back in memory-related tasks: data compression (132,877 vs 102,965, 29.1% lead) and random string sorting (16,298 vs 11,727, 39% lead). The i5 also wins extended instructions but loses floating-point math (22,465 vs 23,815, 5.7% deficit) and multi-thread (9,455 vs 10,228, 7.6% deficit). PassMark physics goes to the i3 by 16.4% (781 vs 653). Overall, the i3 wins 14 tests, the i5 wins 3.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The i5-9400F has an average benchmark score of 13,041, while the i3-1210U scores 12,795. The i5 is 1.9% higher, and both sit at the 68th percentile of all CPUs.

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

A: The i3-1210U wins with a score of 8,413 against the i5-9400F’s 8,040, a 4.4% margin. The i3 also wins all other Cinebench tests by similar margins.

Q: What is the biggest single benchmark advantage for either processor?

A: The i5-9400F’s largest win is in PassMark extended instructions, where it leads by 99.7% (11,684 vs 5,852). The i3-1210U’s largest win is PassMark data encryption, with a 54.3% lead (6,348 vs 2,902).

Q: Do both processors have the same number of cores?

A: Yes, both have 6 cores. However, the i3-1210U has 8 threads due to hyperthreading, while the i5-9400F has 6 threads.

Q: Which processor supports faster memory?

A: The i3-1210U supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the i5-9400F supports DDR4 only. The i5 has a listed memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s; the i3’s bandwidth is not listed.

Q: What is the TDP difference?

A: The i5-9400F is rated at 65 W TDP, while the i3-1210U is rated at 9 W TDP. This reflects the i5’s desktop design versus the i3’s mobile design.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear split based on use case. For workloads involving data compression, random string sorting, or extended instruction sets, the i5-9400F is the stronger choice. Its 29.1% lead in compression and 39% lead in string sorting are substantial, and the 99.7% advantage in extended instructions is overwhelming. These are tasks that benefit from the i5’s desktop memory bandwidth and larger shared cache.

For nearly everything else, the i3-1210U is the better performer. It wins all Cinebench rendering tests, all single-thread benchmarks, integer math, encryption, physics, and multi-thread workloads. Its 27.6% single-thread lead and 54.3% encryption lead show the advantage of newer architecture. The i3 also does this at a 9 W TDP versus 65 W, making it far more efficient. Both processors sit at the same 68th percentile, but the i3 achieves parity or superiority in most tests while consuming drastically less power. Users prioritizing raw single-thread speed, encryption, or power efficiency should choose the i3-1210U. Users with specific compression or instruction-heavy workloads should consider the i5-9400F.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-9400F | Intel Core i3-1210U |

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

| Cores | 6 | 6 |

| Threads | 6 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 2.90 GHz | 1000.00 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.10 GHz | 4.40 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 9 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1151 | Intel BGA 1781 |

| Architecture | Coffee Lake | Alder Lake |

| Codename | Coffee Lake | Alder Lake-U |

| Generation | Core i5 (Coffee Lake Refresh) | Core i3 (Alder Lake-U) |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 10 nm |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 80 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 256 KB (per core) | 1.25 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 9 MB (shared) | 10 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 42.7 GB/s | Not listed |

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

| Integrated Graphics | None | UHD Graphics 64EU |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

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

| Release Date | 2019-01-07 | 2022-02-22 |