Intel Core i5-10210U vs Intel Core i5-8365U Comparison

Both the Intel Core i5-8365U and the Intel Core i5-10210U are end-of-life mobile processors built for thin-and-light laptops, sharing the same core and thread counts. The recorded data, however, shows a clear split in performance characteristics. The Core i5-10210U is the dominant performer in the vast majority of benchmark tests, while the Core i5-8365U manages to secure wins in only two specific workloads. This analysis breaks down where each processor excels, the architectural differences that underpin their behavior, and the exact performance deltas recorded in the database.

Where Each One Wins

The Core i5-10210U is the clear winner in overall computational throughput. It secures victory in 15 out of the 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons. Its wins span the entire Cinebench suite, including both multi-core and single-core tests across R15, R20, and R23 versions. This indicates a consistent advantage in both heavily threaded rendering workloads and lightly threaded tasks. The Core i5-10210U also dominates the PassMark suite, winning tests for data compression, data encryption, extended instructions, floating point math, integer math, multithreading, random string sorting, and single-threaded performance. This broad sweep suggests the Core i5-10210U is the better choice for general productivity, content creation, and any workload that can leverage its higher boost clock.

The Core i5-8365U's wins are narrow and specific. It wins the PassMark find prime numbers test with a score of 19 compared to 18, a 5.6% advantage. It also wins the PassMark physics test with a score of 422 against 410, a 2.9% lead. These are the only two tests where the older processor comes out ahead. The prime number test often benefits from specific instruction scheduling and cache behavior, while the physics test can be sensitive to power delivery and sustained clock behavior. These wins suggest that in very specific, latency-sensitive or single-threaded integer workloads, the Core i5-8365U can hold a slight edge, but the margin is small and the scope is limited.

The overall benchmark averages reflect this split. The Core i5-8365U has an average benchmark score of 8708, placing it in the 65th percentile of all CPUs. The Core i5-10210U has a lower average score of 8344, placing it in the 64th percentile. This is an interesting inversion. Despite winning more individual tests, the Core i5-10210U's average is dragged down by its nearest rival comparisons. The Core i5-8365U sits in a field of rivals with very close average scores, including the Intel Core i9-13900E at 8676 (0.4% delta) and the Intel Core i7-8565U at 8665 (0.5% delta). The Core i5-10210U's rivals, such as the Intel Xeon Gold 5320T at 8316 (0.3% delta) and the Intel Xeon Platinum 8268 at 8315 (0.3% delta), are all clustered at a lower absolute score level. The percentile and average scores show that while the Core i5-10210U wins more head-to-head matchups, the Core i5-8365U is still a very capable processor that sits in a higher overall performance percentile.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent different generations of Intel's low-power mobile lineup, and the database records several key differences. The Core i5-8365U is based on the Whiskey Lake architecture, specifically the Whiskey Lake-U codename, and belongs to the Core i5 (Whiskey Lake) generation. The Core i5-10210U is based on the Comet Lake architecture, specifically Comet Lake-U, and belongs to the Core i5 (Comet Lake-U) generation. This architectural shift is the primary driver of the performance differences.

Both processors are built on the same 14 nm process node at Intel's foundry. They share the same core configuration: 4 cores and 8 threads. The cache hierarchy is also identical. Each core has 64 KB of L1 cache and 256 KB of L2 cache, with a shared 6 MB L3 cache. The base clock for both processors is listed as 1600.00 MHz. The key clock difference is in the boost clock. The Core i5-8365U has a boost clock of 4.10 GHz, while the Core i5-10210U has a slightly higher boost clock of 4.20 GHz. This 100 MHz advantage is a likely contributor to the Core i5-10210U's single-threaded wins.

The thermal design power (TDP) also differs. The Core i5-8365U has a TDP of 15 watts, while the Core i5-10210U has a TDP of 25 watts. This higher power envelope for the Core i5-10210U allows it to sustain higher clocks for longer periods, which is critical for multi-core workloads.

Memory support is another differentiator. The Core i5-8365U supports DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration, with a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The Core i5-10210U supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory, but the database does not record a memory bus configuration or a memory bandwidth figure for it. This makes direct memory performance comparisons impossible from the data.

The socket types differ as well. The Core i5-8365U uses the Intel BGA 1528 socket, while the Core i5-10210U uses the Intel BGA 1440 socket. This means they are not interchangeable on the same motherboard. The integrated graphics also differ in naming: the Core i5-8365U features UHD Graphics 620, while the Core i5-10210U is listed simply with UHD Graphics. The Core i5-8365U also has a recorded PCIe configuration of Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the Core i5-10210U has no PCIe data recorded. The Core i5-8365U has a launch MSRP of $297, while no launch MSRP is recorded for the Core i5-10210U. The release dates are also different: the Core i5-8365U was released on 2019-04-15, and the Core i5-10210U was released later on 2019-08-20.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i5-10210U has a boost clock of 4.20 GHz, which is higher than the 4.10 GHz boost clock of the Intel Core i5-8365U.

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

A: Yes, both the Intel Core i5-8365U and the Intel Core i5-10210U have 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: Are the processors built on the same manufacturing process?

A: Yes, both processors are built on the same 14 nm process node at Intel's foundry.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The Intel Core i5-8365U has a TDP of 15 watts, while the Intel Core i5-10210U has a higher TDP of 25 watts.

Q: Which processor won the PassMark physics test?

A: The Intel Core i5-8365U won the PassMark physics test with a score of 422, compared to the Intel Core i5-10210U's score of 410, a 2.9% margin.

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i5-8365U has a higher average benchmark score of 8708, compared to the Intel Core i5-10210U's average score of 8344.

Specification Differences

The database records several specification differences between the two processors. The most significant are the architecture, boost clock, TDP, socket, and memory support.

• Architecture: The Core i5-8365U is based on Whiskey Lake, while the Core i5-10210U is based on Comet Lake.
• Boost Clock: The Core i5-8365U has a boost clock of 4.10 GHz, while the Core i5-10210U has a boost clock of 4.20 GHz.
• TDP: The Core i5-8365U has a TDP of 15 watts, while the Core i5-10210U has a TDP of 25 watts.
• Socket: The Core i5-8365U uses the Intel BGA 1528 socket, while the Core i5-10210U uses the Intel BGA 1440 socket.
• Memory Support: The Core i5-8365U supports DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus and a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The Core i5-10210U supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory, but has no recorded memory bus or bandwidth data.
• PCIe: The Core i5-8365U has a PCIe configuration of Gen 3 with 16 Lanes (CPU only). The Core i5-10210U has no PCIe data recorded.
• Integrated Graphics: The Core i5-8365U features UHD Graphics 620, while the Core i5-10210U is listed with UHD Graphics.
• Release Date: The Core i5-8365U was released on 2019-04-15, while the Core i5-10210U was released on 2019-08-20.
• Launch MSRP: The Core i5-8365U has a launch MSRP of $297. No launch MSRP is recorded for the Core i5-10210U.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a consistent pattern of the Core i5-10210U outperforming the Core i5-8365U. The smallest margins are in the Cinebench tests. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Core i5-10210U scores 516 against 509, a 1.4% difference. The single-core R15 test shows a similar margin: 72 against 71, also a 1.4% difference. The Cinebench R20 multi-core test shows the Core i5-10210U scoring 2151 against 2121, a 1.4% lead, and the single-core test has it at 303 versus 299, a 1.3% margin. The Cinebench R23 results continue this trend, with the Core i5-10210U taking multi-core at 5122 versus 5050 and single-core at 723 versus 713, both at a 1.4% delta. These are tight races, indicating that in pure rendering workloads, the processors are closely matched.

The PassMark suite reveals larger gaps in favor of the Core i5-10210U. The data compression test shows the Core i5-10210U scoring 80157 against 76239, a 4.9% advantage. This is the largest single-test delta in the entire comparison. Random string sorting also shows a notable gap, with the Core i5-10210U at 10730 versus 10256, a 4.4% difference. The extended instructions test has the Core i5-10210U at 5269 against 5074, a 3.7% lead. Floating point math shows a 4% advantage for the Core i5-10210U, scoring 13657 versus 13110. Integer math is also in favor of the Core i5-10210U at 22732 versus 22021, a 3.1% difference. Data encryption shows a smaller 2.2% lead for the Core i5-10210U, scoring 2051 against 2006. The multithread test has the Core i5-10210U at 6104 versus 5976, a 2.1% margin. The single-thread test shows the Core i5-10210U at 2131 versus 2073, a 2.7% advantage.

The Core i5-8365U's wins are isolated. In the PassMark find prime numbers test, it scores 19 against the Core i5-10210U's 18, a 5.6% margin. This is the largest percentage win for either processor in the entire dataset. In the PassMark physics test, the Core i5-8365U scores 422 against 410, a 2.9% margin. These two wins do not offset the overall trend, but they do show that the Core i5-8365U is not without its strengths in specific niche workloads. The data overall paints the Core i5-10210U as the faster processor, with a wider lead in data-heavy and instruction-intensive workloads, while the Core i5-8365U holds a small edge in specific integer and physics calculations.