Intel Core i3-4330 vs Intel Core i5-10210Y Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data splits these two processors cleanly along generational and form-factor lines. The Intel Core i5-10210Y wins every recorded head-to-head benchmark, taking all five comparisons in the database. The Intel Core i3-4330 does not log a single win in the shared test suite. That is a decisive sweep, but the margins are consistent rather than overwhelming, with the i5-10210Y leading by roughly 15 percent across every workload.

The use-case split is straightforward. The i5-10210Y is the choice for anyone prioritizing multi-threaded throughput and modern single-core responsiveness. Its four cores and eight threads give it a structural advantage over the i3-4330's two cores and four threads. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i5-10210Y scores 3479 against 2966 for the i3-4330, a gap that reflects the extra physical cores and the newer Comet Lake architecture. For rendering, video encoding, or any parallel workload, the i5-10210Y is the clear pick.

The i3-4330, by contrast, is a desktop part with a 54 watt TDP and a 3.50 GHz base clock. Its strength lies in its fixed, high base frequency and its Haswell-era efficiency at that clock speed. It sits in the 28th percentile of all CPUs in the database, while the i5-10210Y sits in the 27th percentile. The i3-4330 also has a slightly higher average benchmark score of 1020 versus 1006 for the i5-10210Y, though that aggregate measure includes a broader set of workloads beyond the head-to-head Cinebench runs. For a legacy desktop system with DDR3 memory and Socket 1150, the i3-4330 remains serviceable, but the data does not show it winning any of the shared Cinebench tests.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from different Intel eras and target different market segments. The i3-4330 is a Haswell desktop processor, built on a 22 nm process with 1,400 million transistors and a die size of 177 mm². It uses the Intel Socket 1150 and supports DDR3 memory in a dual-channel configuration. Its integrated graphics are Intel HD 4600. The i5-10210Y is a Comet Lake-Y mobile part, built on a 14 nm process, using the Intel BGA 1440 socket. It also supports DDR3 memory, though the database does not list a memory bus width for it. Its integrated graphics are UHD Graphics.

Core counts differ significantly. The i3-4330 has two cores and four threads, while the i5-10210Y has four cores and eight threads. The i5-10210Y doubles the thread count, which directly explains its multi-core benchmark advantage. Cache configurations also differ. Both chips have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, but the i3-4330 has 4 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i5-10210Y has 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The larger L3 on the i5-10210Y helps with data-heavy workloads and contributes to its single-core lead.

Clock speeds tell a different story. The i3-4330 runs at a fixed 3.50 GHz base clock with no boost clock listed. The i5-10210Y has a 1000 MHz base clock and a 4.00 GHz boost clock. The i5-10210Y's base clock is very low, typical for a low-power mobile chip, but its boost capability reaches 4.00 GHz, which is higher than the i3-4330's fixed clock. The TDP difference is stark: the i3-4330 draws 54 watts, while the i5-10210Y draws only 9 watts. That makes the i5-10210Y far more suitable for fanless or ultra-portable designs, though its sustained performance depends on cooling and power limits.

The i3-4330 uses PCIe Gen 3, while the database does not list a PCIe generation for the i5-10210Y. Neither chip supports ECC memory, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. The i3-4330 was released in August 2013, while the i5-10210Y was released in August 2019, a six-year gap that explains the architectural improvements. The i5-10210Y is marked as Active in production status, while the i3-4330 has no listed production status.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database records five Cinebench comparisons, and the i5-10210Y wins all of them. The margins are tightly clustered, ranging from 14.7 percent to 15.0 percent. This consistency suggests the i5-10210Y's advantage is architectural and not workload-specific.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-10210Y scores 350 against 298 for the i3-4330, a delta of 14.9 percent. This is the oldest benchmark in the set, and the i5-10210Y still leads by the same margin as in newer tests. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the i5-10210Y scores 1461 against 1245, a delta of 14.8 percent. The single-core R20 test shows the i5-10210Y at 206 versus 175, a delta of 15.0 percent. Single-core performance is particularly telling, as it isolates the architectural improvements in the Comet Lake core design versus the older Haswell core.

In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i5-10210Y scores 3479 against 2966, a delta of 14.7 percent. This is the largest absolute gap in the set, with the i5-10210Y leading by 513 points. The R23 single-core test shows the i5-10210Y at 491 versus 418, a delta of 14.9 percent. The single-core margins are nearly identical to the multi-core margins, which suggests that the i5-10210Y's advantage is not solely due to its extra cores. The newer architecture delivers better per-thread performance as well.

The i3-4330's closest rivals in the database include the Intel Pentium Gold G5600, which scores 1022 on average against 1020 for the i3-4330, a delta of 0.2 percent. The i5-10210Y's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-880 and AMD FX-9830P, both scoring 1006, with zero delta, and the Intel Core i7-2630QM at 1005, a delta of 0.1 percent. These rival comparisons place both chips in the same performance tier overall, despite the i5-10210Y winning every head-to-head Cinebench test.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i5-10210Y is the faster processor in every recorded benchmark. It wins all five Cinebench tests, with consistent 15 percent margins in both single-core and multi-core workloads. Its four cores and eight threads, combined with a 4.00 GHz boost clock and 6 MB of L3 cache, give it a clear performance edge over the i3-4330's two cores, four threads, fixed 3.50 GHz clock, and 4 MB of L3 cache.

Anyone choosing between these two parts should consider the i5-10210Y first, provided the mobile form factor and BGA 1440 socket are acceptable. The 9 watt TDP makes it suitable for thin-and-light laptops or passively cooled systems, and its performance in Cinebench R23 multi-core at 3479 is respectable for such a low-power part. The i3-4330, with its 54 watt TDP and Socket 1150, is a desktop part that cannot match the i5-10210Y in any shared test. Its only advantages are its higher fixed base clock of 3.50 GHz and its slightly higher average benchmark score of 1020, but that aggregate score includes tests beyond the Cinebench suite and does not translate into a head-to-head win.

For a new system build, the i5-10210Y is the data-backed choice. For an existing Socket 1150 desktop, the i3-4330 remains functional, but the benchmark results show no scenario where it outperforms the i5-10210Y in the tested workloads. The i5-10210Y's 27th percentile ranking versus the i3-4330's 28th percentile is a statistical tie, but the head-to-head results are not a tie. The i5-10210Y is the winner.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: The Intel Core i5-10210Y wins all multi-core Cinebench tests. It scores 350 in R15 multi-core versus 298 for the i3-4330, 1461 in R20 multi-core versus 1245, and 3479 in R23 multi-core versus 2966.

Q: Does the i3-4330 win any benchmark against the i5-10210Y?

A: No. The database records five head-to-head Cinebench tests, and the i5-10210Y wins all five. The i3-4330 does not record a single win in the shared test suite.

Q: How do their core and thread counts compare?

A: The i3-4330 has 2 cores and 4 threads, while the i5-10210Y has 4 cores and 8 threads. The i5-10210Y doubles the core count and thread count of the i3-4330.

Q: What is the difference in single-core performance?

A: The i5-10210Y leads in both single-core tests. In Cinebench R20 single-core, it scores 206 versus 175 for the i3-4330, a delta of 15.0 percent. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 491 versus 418, a delta of 14.9 percent.

Q: Which processor has the lower power draw?

A: The i5-10210Y has a TDP of 9 watts, while the i3-4330 has a TDP of 54 watts. The i5-10210Y is designed for mobile use, while the i3-4330 is a desktop part.

Q: How do their cache sizes compare?

A: Both have 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, but the i3-4330 has 4 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i5-10210Y has 6 MB of shared L3 cache.