Intel Core i3-1215U vs Intel Core i7-10750H Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark split between these two mobile processors is stark. The Intel Core i7-10750H claims 14 of the 19 head-to-head wins, while the Intel Core i3-1215U takes only 5. This is not a close contest in overall throughput.

The i7-10750H dominates in multi-threaded and compute-heavy workloads. It wins every Cinebench iteration, both R15 and R20 and R23, across single-core and multi-core tests. It also leads in Geekbench multi-core, PassMark integer math, extended instructions, physics, random string sorting, data compression, and prime number finding. The pattern is clear: this is a processor built to grind through sustained workloads.

The i3-1215U, despite its lower 15 W TDP, wins the single-threaded crown in several tests. It takes Geekbench single-core, PassMark single-thread, PassMark floating-point math, and PassMark data encryption. The encryption win is particularly notable, with a 44.2% margin. That suggests the newer architecture brings meaningful efficiency to specific instruction paths.

For everyday use, the data shows the i7-10750H is the stronger all-rounder. Its multithread score of 11616 in PassMark versus 10472 for the i3-1215U is a 10.9% gap. But in short bursts of single-threaded work, the i3-1215U can actually feel snappier, with a PassMark single-thread score of 3218 versus 2625, an 18.4% advantage.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from different Intel generations and design philosophies. The i7-10750H is built on Comet Lake-H, a 14 nm process, while the i3-1215U uses Alder Lake-U on a 10 nm node. That process gap explains much of the efficiency difference.

Core counts are identical at 6, but thread counts differ. The i7-10750H supports 12 threads via Hyper-Threading, while the i3-1215U has 8 threads. This is a hybrid design in the newer chip, with a mix of performance and efficiency cores, though the database does not specify the exact core configuration.

Cache layouts differ substantially. The i7-10750H has 64 KB L1 per core and 256 KB L2 per core, with 12 MB shared L3. The i3-1215U has 80 KB L1 per core and a much larger 1.25 MB L2 per core, but only 10 MB shared L3. The larger per-core L2 on the i3-1215U likely contributes to its single-thread wins.

Memory support diverges too. The i7-10750H supports DDR4 only, with dual-channel memory and a recorded bandwidth of 46.9 GB/s. The i3-1215U supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also dual-channel, though no bandwidth figure is recorded. The newer chip also has PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes, while the older chip is limited to PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes.

Integrated graphics differ as well. The i7-10750H has UHD Graphics, while the i3-1215U has UHD Graphics 64EU. The newer chip's graphics solution is likely more capable, though no direct GPU benchmarks are in the database.

The i7-10750H has a 45 W TDP and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, while the i3-1215U has a 15 W TDP and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. The base clock figures in the database are unusual, with the i3-1215U listed at 1200.00, which appears to be a data entry anomaly rather than a real clock speed. The i7-10750H lists a base clock of 2.60.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The biggest win for the i7-10750H comes in PassMark random string sorting, where it scores 21416 against 13046 for the i3-1215U, a 64.2% margin. That is a massive gap in a memory-heavy workload, suggesting the older chip's larger shared L3 cache pays off in data movement.

Cinebench results are uniformly lopsided. In R15 multi-core, the i7-10750H scores 979 versus 669, a 46.3% advantage. R20 multi-core shows 4081 versus 2790, again 46.3%. R23 multi-core shows 9718 versus 6644, still 46.3%. The consistency of that delta across all three Cinebench versions indicates a structural advantage, likely from the extra threads.

Single-core Cinebench follows the same pattern, with the i7-10750H leading by 46.8% in R15, 46.6% in R20, and 46.3% in R23. This is surprising given the i3-1215U's wins in other single-thread tests, but the older chip clearly has higher peak frequency headroom.

Geekbench splits the two. Multi-core favors the i7-10750H at 5574 versus 4365, a 27.7% margin. Single-core flips, with the i3-1215U at 1485 versus 1417, a 4.6% advantage. That is a modest but real win for the newer architecture.

PassMark data encryption is the i3-1215U's biggest win. It scores 7041 against 3930, a 44.2% margin. This suggests the Alder Lake architecture has dedicated acceleration for cryptographic workloads.

PassMark floating-point math is a narrow win for the i3-1215U at 25379 versus 25070, just 1.2%. PassMark single-thread is more decisive, with 3218 versus 2625, an 18.4% margin.

The i7-10750H also wins PassMark extended instructions by 52.4%, integer math by 11.8%, multithread by 10.9%, physics by 20.1%, prime numbers by 21.9%, and data compression by 43.3%.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: Both have 6 cores. The i7-10750H has 12 threads, while the i3-1215U has 8 threads.

Q: Which chip wins in multi-threaded Cinebench tests?

A: The i7-10750H wins all Cinebench multi-core tests by 46.3% in R15, R20, and R23.

Q: Is the i3-1215U better in any single-threaded test?

A: Yes, it wins Geekbench single-core by 4.6% and PassMark single-thread by 18.4%, but loses all Cinebench single-core tests by roughly 46%.

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

A: The largest margin is 64.2% in PassMark random string sorting, favoring the i7-10750H.

Q: Which chip has better memory support?

A: The i3-1215U supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the i7-10750H supports only DDR4. Both use dual-channel memory.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The i7-10750H has an average benchmark score of 13024, while the i3-1215U has 12604. The i7-10750H sits at the 68th percentile of all CPUs, and the i3-1215U at the 67th.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear split based on workload type. The Intel Core i7-10750H is the processor for sustained, multi-threaded tasks. It wins every Cinebench multi-core test by 46.3%, leads Geekbench multi-core by 27.7%, and dominates data compression, integer math, and random string sorting. Anyone running video encoding, 3D rendering, or heavy compilation should favor this chip.

The Intel Core i3-1215U is the better choice for bursty single-threaded work and specific acceleration paths. Its PassMark single-thread score is 18.4% higher, and it wins floating-point math and data encryption decisively. The 44.2% encryption win is particularly relevant for workloads involving cryptography or secure data handling.

The i7-10750H also holds a slight edge in average benchmark score, 13024 versus 12604, and in percentile ranking, 68 versus 67. But that overall margin is small, driven by the sheer number of tests the older chip wins.

For a laptop buyer, the choice comes down to power budget and workload. The i3-1215U has a 15 W TDP versus 45 W for the i7-10750H, meaning longer battery life and cooler operation in thin-and-light machines. The i7-10750H offers 46.3% more multi-core Cinebench performance, which is a massive difference for content creation.

The database shows the i7-10750H as the performance leader in 14 of 19 head-to-head tests. The i3-1215U wins the remaining 5, but those wins are concentrated in single-thread and specialized workloads. If raw compute is the priority, the i7-10750H is the clear pick. If efficiency and specific single-thread tasks matter more, the i3-1215U has a defined role.