Intel Core i5-10210U vs Intel Core i7-8550U Comparison

The Intel Core i7-8550U and Intel Core i5-10210U are both 4-core, 8-thread mobile processors, but benchmark results show they are not equals. The data reveals a consistent performance advantage for the newer i5-10210U across the vast majority of workloads, while the i7-8550U secures a narrow set of niche victories. Both processors sit at the 64th percentile among all CPUs, indicating they occupy a similar tier in the overall performance landscape, yet their head-to-head deltas tell a story of generational refinement.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core i5-10210U wins 15 of the 17 head-to-head comparisons, establishing a clear and consistent performance lead. The margin of victory, however, is not uniform. In Cinebench tests, the i5-10210U’s advantage is modest but consistent, ranging from a 3.8% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core (5122 vs. 4926) to a 4.2% lead in Cinebench R15 single-core (72 vs. 69). The R20 multi-core result shows a 3.9% delta (2151 vs. 2068), and the R23 single-core test shows a 3.9% delta (723 vs. 695). These numbers indicate a slight but measurable IPC and frequency advantage for the Comet Lake part in both single-threaded and lightly threaded rendering workloads.

The gap widens significantly in PassMark’s integer and floating-point math tests. The i5-10210U scores 22732 in integer math, an 8.6% improvement over the i7-8550U’s 20770. Floating-point math shows an 8.3% delta, with the i5-10210U scoring 13657 against the i7-8550U’s 12523. The extended instructions test shows the largest delta of the entire suite, with the i5-10210U leading by 11.5% (5269 vs. 4665). This pattern suggests the architectural improvements in Comet Lake provide a more substantial boost to AVX and other extended instruction workloads than to basic integer operations.

Memory-related and data-processing tasks also favor the i5-10210U. In data compression, it scores 80157, a 7.4% advantage over the i7-8550U’s 74223. Random string sorting shows a 7.7% delta (10730 vs. 9902), and data encryption shows a 5.2% lead (2051 vs. 1944). The PassMark multi-thread score of 6104 for the i5-10210U is 4.4% higher than the i7-8550U’s 5835, while the single-thread score of 2131 is 5.2% higher than 2021. These results indicate that the i5-10210U’s higher boost clock of 4.20 GHz, compared to 4.00 GHz on the i7-8550U, translates directly into better performance across a broad spectrum of general-purpose tasks.

The Intel Core i7-8550U does manage to win two tests, and these wins are notable for their specificity. The most dramatic is in the PassMark find prime numbers test, where the i7-8550U scores 22, a full 22.2% higher than the i5-10210U’s 18. This is the single largest delta in either direction. The other win is in the PassMark physics test, where the i7-8550U scores 451, a 10% advantage over the i5-10210U’s 410. These two wins suggest that while the i5-10210U has a general performance edge, the i7-8550U retains a specific strength in certain algorithmic workloads that may rely on particular instruction sequences or memory access patterns.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent different generations of Intel’s mobile lineup, and the architectural distinctions explain the benchmark results. The Intel Core i7-8550U is built on the Kaby Lake architecture, specifically the Kaby Lake-R refresh, and uses the Intel BGA 1356 socket. The Intel Core i5-10210U is a Comet Lake part, using the Comet Lake-U codename and the Intel BGA 1440 socket. Both are manufactured on Intel’s 14 nm process node, so the performance difference does not come from a node shrink.

The most significant architectural difference lies in the cache hierarchy. The i7-8550U has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i5-10210U has only 6 MB. Despite having 25% less L3 cache, the i5-10210U still outperforms the i7-8550U in most tests, indicating that its architectural tweaks and higher boost clock more than compensate for the reduced cache capacity. Both processors have the same L1 cache of 64 KB per core and L2 cache of 256 KB per core, so the divergence is purely at the L3 level.

Clock speeds and thermal design power (TDP) also differ. The i7-8550U has a base clock of 1800.00 MHz and a boost clock of 4.00 GHz, with a TDP of 15 watts. The i5-10210U has a lower base clock of 1600.00 MHz but a higher boost clock of 4.20 GHz, and a significantly higher TDP of 25 watts. This higher TDP is a key factor, as it allows the i5-10210U to sustain higher clocks under load, directly contributing to its performance lead in multi-threaded and sustained workloads. The i7-8550U’s lower TDP makes it more power-efficient in theory, but at the cost of peak performance.

Memory support also differs. The i7-8550U supports only DDR4 memory, while the i5-10210U supports both DDR3 and DDR4. This gives the i5-10210U greater flexibility for system designers, though the benchmark data does not specify which memory type was used. The integrated graphics differ as well, with the i7-8550U featuring the UHD 620 and the i5-10210U featuring a more generically named UHD Graphics. The production status also differs, with the i7-8550U listed as Active and the i5-10210U listed as End-of-life, suggesting the older part is still in production while the newer one has been phased out.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i7-8550U has a higher average benchmark score of 8407, compared to the Intel Core i5-10210U’s 8344. However, the i5-10210U wins 15 of the 17 direct head-to-head comparisons, indicating its average is pulled down by a few specific tests.

Q: Why does the i7-8550U win the prime numbers test by such a large margin?

A: The i7-8550U scores 22 in the PassMark find prime numbers test, a 22.2% lead over the i5-10210U’s 18. This is the largest delta in either direction and suggests a specific algorithmic advantage for the Kaby Lake architecture in this particular workload.

Q: Is the i5-10210U’s higher TDP a disadvantage?

A: The i5-10210U has a TDP of 25 watts, compared to the i7-8550U’s 15 watts. While this means it draws more power, the data shows it also delivers higher performance in most tests, indicating the extra power budget is used for higher sustained clocks.

Q: Does the i7-8550U’s larger L3 cache help it in any benchmarks?

A: The i7-8550U has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i5-10210U has 6 MB. Despite this 2 MB advantage, the i7-8550U only wins two head-to-head tests (prime numbers and physics), suggesting the larger cache is not a decisive factor in most workloads.

Q: Which processor is better for single-threaded performance?

A: The i5-10210U is better for single-threaded performance. It leads in Cinebench R15 single-core (72 vs. 69), Cinebench R20 single-core (303 vs. 291), Cinebench R23 single-core (723 vs. 695), and PassMark single-thread (2131 vs. 2021). Its higher 4.20 GHz boost clock gives it a clear edge.

Q: Are these processors comparable in overall market position?

A: Yes, both processors are at the 64th percentile among all CPUs. The i7-8550U’s nearest rival is the i5-10210U itself, with a delta of 0.7%, and the i5-10210U’s nearest rival is the Intel Xeon Gold 5320T, with a delta of 0.3%. This places them in a very similar performance tier.

The Verdict

The benchmark data clearly favors the Intel Core i5-10210U for users prioritizing raw performance. It wins 15 of 17 head-to-head tests, with leads ranging from 3.8% in Cinebench R23 multi-core to 11.5% in PassMark extended instructions. Its higher 4.20 GHz boost clock and 25-watt TDP deliver tangible benefits in single-threaded, multi-threaded, and data-intensive workloads. For rendering, general productivity, and extended instruction tasks, the i5-10210U is the stronger choice.

The Intel Core i7-8550U is not without merit, but its wins are niche. It dominates the prime numbers test by 22.2% and leads the physics test by 10%, suggesting a specific strength in certain algorithmic or physics-simulation workloads. Its lower 15-watt TDP also implies better power efficiency, which could be a consideration for fanless or ultra-portable designs. However, its lower boost clock and older architecture result in a consistent performance deficit elsewhere.

For most users, the i5-10210U is the superior processor. Its performance lead is broad and consistent, and its support for both DDR3 and DDR4 memory offers more design flexibility. The i7-8550U should be chosen only if the specific workload in question matches its two strengths, or if the lower TDP is a critical system requirement. The data does not support choosing the i7-8550U for general-purpose performance.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications, with the most impactful being clock speeds and TDP. The Intel Core i7-8550U has a base clock of 1800.00 MHz and a boost clock of 4.00 GHz, while the Intel Core i5-10210U has a base clock of 1600.00 MHz and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz. The TDP differs significantly, with the i7-8550U rated at 15 watts and the i5-10210U rated at 25 watts.

The socket and architecture also differ. The i7-8550U uses the Intel BGA 1356 socket and the Kaby Lake architecture (codename Kaby Lake-R), while the i5-10210U uses the Intel BGA 1440 socket and the Comet Lake architecture (codename Comet Lake-U). The L3 cache differs, with the i7-8550U having 8 MB shared and the i5-10210U having 6 MB shared. Memory support is broader on the i5-10210U, which supports both DDR3 and DDR4, while the i7-8550U supports only DDR4. The integrated graphics differ, with the i7-8550U featuring UHD 620 and the i5-10210U featuring UHD Graphics. Production status also differs, with the i7-8550U listed as Active and the i5-10210U as End-of-life. The release dates are different, with the i7-8550U released in August 2017 and the i5-10210U in August 2019.