Intel Core i5-10210U vs Intel Core i5-8265U Comparison

The Intel Core i5-8265U and Intel Core i5-10210U are both 14 nm mobile processors with identical core counts, yet they represent different generations of Intel's U-series lineup. The benchmark data reveals a consistent, though not overwhelming, performance advantage for the newer Core i5-10210U across nearly every workload, despite the older chip having a higher average benchmark score. This analysis breaks down the architectural and specification changes, quantifies the performance deltas, and determines which processor is better suited for specific use cases based solely on the provided data.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core i5-10210U wins all multi-core Cinebench tests. It scores 5122 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, which is 12.5% higher than the Core i5-8265U's 4482. Its lead in Cinebench R20 multi-core is 2151 vs 1882, a 12.5% advantage.

Q: Is the single-core performance gap similar to the multi-core gap?

A: Yes, the single-core advantage for the Core i5-10210U is nearly identical in percentage terms. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 723 vs 632, a 12.6% lead. The Cinebench R20 single-core scores are 303 vs 265, which equates to a 12.5% difference.

Q: Which chip has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i5-8265U has a higher average benchmark score of 8568, compared to the Core i5-10210U's 8344. Despite this, the Core i5-10210U wins 16 of the 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons.

Q: Are there any benchmarks where the two processors perform identically?

A: Yes, in the Passmark find prime numbers test, both processors score exactly 18. The head-to-head data records this as a win for the Core i5-8265U with a deltaPct of 0.

Q: How do the two chips compare to their nearest rivals?

A: The Core i5-8265U is 0.1% behind the Intel Core i5-8250U and 0.6% behind the AMD EPYC 7601. The Core i5-10210U is 0.3% ahead of the Intel Xeon Gold 5320T and 0.6% ahead of the Intel Core i7-1065G7.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock speed?

A: The Intel Core i5-10210U has a boost clock of 4.20 GHz, compared to the 3.90 GHz boost clock of the Core i5-8265U. Both processors share the same 1600.00 MHz base clock.

Architecture Differences

The two processors belong to different architectural families. The Intel Core i5-8265U is built on the Whiskey Lake architecture, specifically the Whiskey Lake-U codename, and belongs to the Core i5 (Whiskey Lake) generation. In contrast, the Intel Core i5-10210U is a Comet Lake part, with the codename Comet Lake-U, and is part of the Core 10th Gen series and Core i5 (Comet Lake-U) generation. Despite this generational shift, both are fabricated on Intel's 14 nm process node.

The core and cache configurations are identical. Both processors feature 4 cores and 8 threads. The cache hierarchy is also the same: 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and a shared 6 MB L3 cache. Neither chip supports ECC memory, and both have an unlocked multiplier set to false.

A key architectural difference lies in the supported memory and platform. The Core i5-8265U supports DDR4 memory over a dual-channel bus with a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, and it uses the Intel BGA 1528 socket. The Core i5-10210U, on the other hand, supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory, but its memory bus configuration and bandwidth are not specified in the provided data. It also uses a different socket, the Intel BGA 1440. The PCIe support also differs, with the Core i5-8265U listing Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only), while no PCIe information is provided for the Core i5-10210U.

The integrated graphics solutions are also distinct. The Core i5-8265U is paired with the specific UHD Graphics 620, while the Core i5-10210U lists only a generic UHD Graphics. Finally, the release dates differ, with the Core i5-8265U launching in 2018 and the Core i5-10210U following in 2019, and both are marked as end-of-life in production status.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results paint a clear picture of the Core i5-10210U's dominance. Its most significant wins come in the Cinebench suite, where it consistently outperforms the Core i5-8265U by a margin of roughly 12.5%. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the scores are 516 vs 451, a 12.6% difference. The single-core R15 test shows a similar gap: 72 vs 63, a 12.5% lead. This pattern holds for R20 and R23, with the Core i5-10210U scoring 2151 vs 1882 in R20 multi-core and 5122 vs 4482 in R23 multi-core.

Outside of Cinebench, the lead narrows but remains consistent. In Passmark tests, the Core i5-10210U's advantages range from a modest 1.2% in physics (410 vs 405) to a more substantial 6.9% in extended instructions (5269 vs 4904). The Passmark data compression test shows a 5.1% edge for the newer chip, scoring 80157 vs 76049. Similarly, floating point math results are 13657 vs 12963, a 5.1% difference, and integer math scores are 22732 vs 21560, a 5.2% gap.

The single-threaded Passmark score for the Core i5-10210U is 2131, which is 4.7% higher than the Core i5-8265U's 2030. The multi-thread Passmark score follows suit, with 6104 vs 5838, a 4.4% improvement. Data encryption results show a 4.4% advantage (2051 vs 1961), and random string sorting shows a 5.7% lead (10730 vs 10117). The only benchmark where the Core i5-8265U does not lose is the Passmark find prime numbers test, where both processors are tied at 18, resulting in a win for the older chip due to a 0% delta.

Specification Differences

The specification sheets for the two processors reveal several differences beyond the architecture. The most notable is the TDP, where the Core i5-8265U is rated at 15 W, while the Core i5-10210U has a higher rating of 25 W. This higher power envelope likely contributes to its performance advantage.

The boost clock is another key difference. The Core i5-10210U boosts up to 4.20 GHz, which is 300 MHz higher than the Core i5-8265U's 3.90 GHz. Both chips share the same base clock of 1600.00 MHz.

Platform support also differs significantly. The Core i5-8265U uses the Intel BGA 1528 socket, while the Core i5-10210U uses the Intel BGA 1440 socket. Memory support is also different: the Core i5-8265U supports only DDR4, whereas the Core i5-10210U supports both DDR3 and DDR4. The Core i5-8265U has a specified memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, but this figure is not provided for the Core i5-10210U.

Other differences include the integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 620 vs. generic UHD Graphics), the PCIe configuration (Gen 3, 16 Lanes for the 8265U vs. no data for the 10210U), and the release date (September 2018 vs. August 2019). The Core i5-8265U has a launch MSRP of $297, while no launch MSRP is listed for the Core i5-10210U. The part number is also only listed for the Core i5-8265U, and the same applies to the series field, which is populated only for the Core i5-10210U as "Core 10th Gen".

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous in its performance assessment: the Intel Core i5-10210U is the faster processor. It wins 16 of the 17 head-to-head benchmarks, with its most commanding leads in multi-core and single-core Cinebench tests, where it consistently holds a 12.5% to 12.6% advantage. This makes it the clear choice for users prioritizing raw CPU performance in tasks like video rendering, code compilation, or other multi-threaded workloads, as well as for snappier single-threaded responsiveness.

However, the choice is not solely about performance. The Intel Core i5-8265U, despite losing the majority of benchmarks, has a higher average benchmark score (8568 vs 8344) and is rated at a lower 15 W TDP compared to the 25 W TDP of the Core i5-10210U. This lower power draw might be a significant factor for systems where thermals and battery life are more critical than peak performance. The two chips also require different motherboards due to their differing sockets (BGA 1528 vs BGA 1440), so the platform choice is a decisive factor.

For a user building a new system or upgrading within the Comet Lake platform, the Core i5-10210U is the superior choice based on its benchmark results. For those constrained to a Whiskey Lake platform or prioritizing the lower 15 W power draw of the Core i5-8265U, the older chip remains a viable option, particularly given its higher average benchmark score. The nearly 13% performance lead in Cinebench tests, however, makes the Core i5-10210U the stronger recommendation for performance-focused mobile computing.