Intel Core i3-5020U vs Intel Core i5-3210M Comparison

The Verdict

The Intel Core i5-3210M is the stronger choice for sustained multi-threaded workloads. In every Cinebench test, from R15 through R23, it beats the Intel Core i3-5020U by a consistent margin of roughly 11.7% to 11.8%. If your priority is rendering, video encoding, or any task that leans on all cores for a long time, the i5-3210M is the pick. It also carries the higher base clock speed at 2.50 GHz versus 2.20 GHz, and it offers a boost clock of 3.10 GHz, which the i3 lacks entirely.

The Intel Core i3-5020U wins in Geekbench, and by a large amount. It scores 1379 in Geekbench multicore versus 1116 for the i5-3210M, a 19.1% lead. In Geekbench singlecore, it scores 696 versus 587, a 15.7% lead. So for shorter, bursty workloads, everyday responsiveness, and single-threaded applications, the i3-5020U is the better performer. It also uses drastically less power: 15 W TDP versus 35 W TDP. That makes it the clear choice for fanless or ultraportable designs where battery life and thermals matter more than raw throughput.

The aggregate data is nearly a tie. The i5-3210M has an average benchmark score of 758, and the i3-5020U sits at 757, a delta of just 0.1%. Both are in the 20th percentile of all CPUs in the database. Do not expect a generational leap here. The i3-5020U is newer, but the i5-3210M is a higher-tier part in its own generation, and the benchmarks reflect a trade-off rather than a clear winner.

Architecture Differences

The i5-3210M uses the Ivy Bridge architecture on Intel's 22 nm process node. The i3-5020U uses Broadwell, specifically Broadwell-U, on a smaller 14 nm node. The die size reflects the process shrink: the i5-3210M measures 118 mm², while the i3-5020U is 82 mm². The i3-5020U also packs 1,300 million transistors, a figure not listed for the i5-3210M.

Both chips have 2 cores and 4 threads. L1 cache is 64 KB per core and L2 cache is 256 KB per core on both. L3 cache is identical as well: 3 MB shared. So the memory hierarchy is the same in capacity, though the architecture generation differs.

The i5-3210M is a 35 W part, while the i3-5020U is a 15 W part. That is a massive difference in power budget, and it is the root of the performance split. The i5-3210M runs on the Intel Socket G2 (988B), and the i3-5020U uses Intel BGA 1168, meaning the i3 is soldered and not upgradeable in the traditional sense.

The i3-5020U has explicit memory support for DDR3 with a measured memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s over a dual-channel bus. The i5-3210M also supports dual-channel memory, but the database does not list a bandwidth figure for it. The i3-5020U has PCIe Gen 2 with 12 lanes (CPU only). The i5-3210M has no PCIe information in the database.

Integrated graphics differ: the i5-3210M has Intel HD 4000, and the i3-5020U has Intel HD 5500. The newer HD 5500 is on a more efficient process, and the lower TDP suggests it is designed for lighter, integrated-graphics-only workloads.

The i5-3210M launched in May 2012, and the i3-5020U launched in February 2015. The i3-5020U is marked as end-of-life in the database, while the i5-3210M has no production status listed. The i3-5020U has a launch MSRP of $281. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The i5-3210M wins all five Cinebench tests. In Cinebench R15 multicore, it scores 210 versus 188, an 11.7% lead. In Cinebench R20 multicore, it scores 879 versus 787, again 11.7%. In Cinebench R20 singlecore, it scores 123 versus 110, an 11.8% lead. Cinebench R23 multicore shows 2095 versus 1876, 11.7%. Cinebench R23 singlecore shows 295 versus 264, 11.7%. The consistency of that margin across all Cinebench versions is striking. It is not a case of one test being an outlier; the i5-3210M is uniformly faster in Cinebench.

The i3-5020U wins both Geekbench tests, and by a much larger percentage than the i5's Cinebench wins. Geekbench multicore: 1379 versus 1116, a 19.1% lead for the i3. Geekbench singlecore: 696 versus 587, a 15.7% lead. This is a reversal. The newer Broadwell core clearly has a better single-thread IPC in Geekbench's workload model. The i5-3210M fights back with a higher clock speed, but it cannot close the gap in Geekbench.

The win count is 5 for the i5-3210M and 2 for the i3-5020U. But the Geekbench wins are larger in percentage terms. The average benchmark score puts them within 0.1% of each other. So the head-to-head is not a clean sweep; it is a textbook example of workload-dependent performance.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher clock speed?

A: The Intel Core i5-3210M has a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 3.10 GHz. The Intel Core i3-5020U has a base clock of 2.20 GHz and no boost clock listed.

Q: Are these CPUs equivalent in overall performance?

A: The average benchmark scores are nearly identical: 758 for the i5-3210M and 757 for the i3-5020U, a delta of 0.1%. Both sit in the 20th percentile of all CPUs in the database.

Q: Which chip is better for Cinebench rendering?

A: The i5-3210M wins every Cinebench test. In R23 multicore, it scores 2095 versus 1876, an 11.7% advantage. The margin is the same across R15, R20, and R23.

Q: Which chip wins in Geekbench?

A: The i3-5020U wins Geekbench multicore with 1379 versus 1116, a 19.1% lead, and Geekbench singlecore with 696 versus 587, a 15.7% lead.

Q: What is the TDP difference?

A: The i5-3210M has a TDP of 35 W, and the i3-5020U has a TDP of 15 W. The i3 is designed for much lower power consumption.

Q: Do they have the same cache?

A: Yes. Both have 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 3 MB of shared L3.

Where Each One Wins

The i5-3210M wins in any sustained, multi-threaded compute scenario that resembles Cinebench. The data shows a consistent 11.7% to 11.8% lead across R15, R20, and R23, both single-core and multi-core. That suggests a real advantage in rendering, video transcoding, compiling, or any long-running batch task. The higher base clock and the presence of a boost clock help it sustain performance when all cores are active. If the workload is CPU-bound and runs for minutes, the i5-3210M is the safer bet.

The i3-5020U wins in Geekbench-style workloads. The 19.1% multicore lead and 15.7% singlecore lead are large. Geekbench tends to model shorter, more diverse tasks, including encryption, image processing, and memory operations. The i3-5020U also has the advantage of a smaller 14 nm process and a much lower 15 W TDP. In a thin-and-light laptop, that means less heat, longer battery life, and potentially quieter operation. For general desktop use, web browsing, office work, and light media tasks, the i3-5020U is the better choice despite its lower clock speed.

The i3-5020U also has a defined memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s and PCIe Gen 2 with 12 lanes, which the database does not list for the i5-3210M. It supports DDR3 memory explicitly. If you value a modern feature set at the platform level, the i3-5020U has more documented capabilities.

In short: pick the i5-3210M for raw rendering grunt and sustained multi-core performance. Pick the i3-5020U for efficiency, Geekbench-heavy workloads, and a newer architecture that does more with less power.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-3210M | Intel Core i3-5020U |

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

| Base clock | 2.50 GHz | 2.20 GHz |

| Boost clock | 3.10 GHz | None listed |

| TDP | 35 W | 15 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket G2 (988B) | Intel BGA 1168 |

| Architecture | Ivy Bridge | Broadwell |

| Codename | Ivy Bridge | Broadwell-U |

| Generation | Core i5 (Ivy Bridge) | Core i3 (Broadwell-U) |

| Process node | 22 nm | 14 nm |

| Die size | 118 mm² | 82 mm² |

| Transistors | Not listed | 1,300 million |

| Memory support | Not listed | DDR3 |

| Memory bandwidth | Not listed | 25.6 GB/s |

| PCIe | Not listed | Gen 2, 12 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated graphics | Intel HD 4000 | Intel HD 5500 |

| Release date | 2012-05-31 | 2015-02-28 |

| Launch MSRP | Not listed | $281 |

| Part number | SR0MZ | SR240 |

| Production status | Not listed | End-of-life |

Both chips have 2 cores, 4 threads, 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, 3 MB shared L3, dual-channel memory bus, no ECC support, and no unlocked multiplier. The i5-3210M has a boost clock, the i3-5020U does not. The i3-5020U is the only one with a recorded launch MSRP, at $281.