Intel Core i5-10210Y vs Intel Core i5-2405S Comparison

The Intel Core i5-10210Y and the Intel Core i5-2405S represent two very different eras of Intel design, one aimed at ultra-mobile efficiency and the other at desktop mainstream performance from a decade prior. The recorded data places both processors at the 27th percentile among all CPUs, yet their benchmark profiles and architectural foundations diverge sharply. The i5-10210Y, a Comet Lake-Y part with a 9 W TDP, consistently outperforms the older Sandy Bridge-based i5-2405S in every shared Cinebench test, despite the latter’s much higher 65 W TDP and higher base clock. This analysis draws exclusively from the database measurements to compare their architecture, head-to-head results, and specification deltas.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher multi-core score in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core i5-10210Y scores 3479 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, while the Intel Core i5-2405S scores 2890. The i5-10210Y leads by 20.4%.

Q: How do the two chips compare in single-core performance?

A: In Cinebench R23 single-core, the i5-10210Y records 491 points versus 408 for the i5-2405S, a 20.3% advantage. Similarly, in Cinebench R20 single-core, the i5-10210Y scores 206 against 171, a 20.5% lead.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The Intel Core i5-10210Y has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Intel Core i5-2405S also has 4 cores but only 4 threads, meaning it lacks Hyper-Threading.

Q: Are there benchmark results where the i5-2405S wins?

A: No. Across all five head-to-head benchmark comparisons (Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 variants), the i5-10210Y wins every test. The wins tally is 5 for the i5-10210Y and 0 for the i5-2405S.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each processor?

A: The i5-10210Y has an average benchmark score of 1006, while the i5-2405S has an average score of 991. The i5-10210Y’s score is matched by the Intel Core i7-880 and AMD FX-9830P, both at 1006.

Q: Which processor supports a newer PCIe version?

A: The Intel Core i5-2405S supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The database does not list a PCIe specification for the Intel Core i5-10210Y.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from entirely different architectural lineages. The Intel Core i5-10210Y is built on the Comet Lake architecture, specifically the Comet Lake-Y codename, using a 14 nm process node. It is part of Intel’s Core 10th Gen series and targets the mobile market segment. In contrast, the Intel Core i5-2405S uses the Sandy Bridge architecture on a 32 nm process node, with a die size of 216 mm² and 1,160 million transistors. This older design was released in 2011 and is now marked as end-of-life, while the i5-10210Y remains active.

A key distinction lies in threading. The i5-10210Y supports 8 threads across its 4 cores, enabling simultaneous multi-threading. The i5-2405S, despite also having 4 cores, is limited to 4 threads, effectively halving its logical processor count. This affects multi-threaded workloads directly, as seen in the benchmark disparities.

The integrated graphics also differ. The i5-10210Y features UHD Graphics, while the i5-2405S comes with Intel HD 3000. Both are integrated solutions, but the newer UHD Graphics is tied to the Comet Lake platform. Process node improvements, from 32 nm to 14 nm, contribute to the i5-10210Y’s drastically lower TDP of 9 W versus the i5-2405S’s 65 W.

The memory support is identical in type (DDR3), but the i5-2405S explicitly lists dual-channel memory bus support, while the i5-10210Y does not have a memory bus field in the database. ECC memory is not supported by either processor. The sockets are incompatible: the i5-10210Y uses Intel BGA 1440, a soldered mobile socket, whereas the i5-2405S uses Intel Socket 1155, a desktop LGA socket.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data shows a consistent and sweeping victory for the Intel Core i5-10210Y across all five recorded Cinebench tests. The smallest margin is 20.3%, and the largest is 20.5%, indicating a uniform performance gap regardless of workload type.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-10210Y scores 350 against the i5-2405S’s 291, a 20.3% advantage. This test, while older, reflects sustained multi-threaded performance. The i5-10210Y’s 8 threads clearly give it an edge over the i5-2405S’s 4 threads, even though the latter has a higher base clock of 2.50 GHz versus 1.00 GHz.

Moving to Cinebench R20 multi-core, the i5-10210Y records 1461 points, while the i5-2405S manages 1213, a 20.4% difference. The single-core version of R20 sees the i5-10210Y at 206 and the i5-2405S at 171, a 20.5% lead. This single-core advantage is notable because it cannot be attributed to threading; it reflects the newer architecture’s superior instructions-per-clock and higher boost clock of 4.00 GHz versus 3.30 GHz.

In Cinebench R23, the newest test in the dataset, the i5-10210Y scores 3479 multi-core and 491 single-core. The i5-2405S scores 2890 and 408, respectively. Both deltas are 20.4% and 20.3%, reinforcing the pattern. The i5-10210Y’s wins tally is 5, with zero wins for the i5-2405S.

The average benchmark scores further contextualize this: the i5-10210Y sits at 1006, while the i5-2405S is at 991. In the database’s nearest rival lists, the i5-10210Y is directly compared to the Intel Core i7-880 and AMD FX-9830P, both with an average score of 1006 and a delta of 0%. It also trails the Intel Processor N100 by only 0.1% (1007 versus 1006) and edges out the Intel Core i7-2630QM by 0.1% (1005). The i5-2405S, meanwhile, is grouped with much older parts: the Intel Core i7-960, i7-965, and Xeon W3565 all score 993, giving a delta of -0.2% against the i5-2405S’s 991. This places the i5-2405S slightly below its nearest competitors, whereas the i5-10210Y is essentially tied with its nearest peers.

Specification Differences

The database records several direct specification differences between the two processors:

• Base Clock: The i5-10210Y runs at 1000.00 MHz, while the i5-2405S runs at 2500.00 MHz. The i5-2405S has a 1500 MHz higher base clock.
• Boost Clock: The i5-10210Y boosts to 4.00 GHz, versus 3.30 GHz for the i5-2405S, a 700 MHz advantage for the newer chip.
• TDP: The i5-10210Y is rated at 9 W, while the i5-2405S is rated at 65 W. The i5-2405S consumes over seven times the power budget.
• Socket: The i5-10210Y uses Intel BGA 1440; the i5-2405S uses Intel Socket 1155.
• Process Node: The i5-10210Y is on 14 nm; the i5-2405S is on 32 nm.
• Transistors: The i5-2405S has 1,160 million transistors; the i5-10210Y has no listed transistor count.
• Die Size: The i5-2405S has a die size of 216 mm²; the i5-10210Y has no listed die size.
• Threads: The i5-10210Y has 8 threads; the i5-2405S has 4 threads.
• Integrated Graphics: The i5-10210Y uses UHD Graphics; the i5-2405S uses Intel HD 3000.
• Memory Bus: The i5-2405S lists dual-channel memory bus; the i5-10210Y does not list a memory bus.
• PCIe: The i5-2405S supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only); the i5-10210Y has no listed PCIe support.
• Market Segment: The i5-10210Y is Mobile; the i5-2405S is Desktop.
• Production Status: The i5-10210Y is Active; the i5-2405S is End-of-life.
• Release Date: The i5-10210Y was released on 2019-08-20; the i5-2405S on 2011-05-21.
• Part Number: The i5-2405S has part number SR0BB; the i5-10210Y has no listed part number.

Both share 4 cores, 64 KB L1 cache per core, 256 KB L2 cache per core, and 6 MB shared L3 cache. Both support DDR3 memory and do not support ECC memory. Neither has an unlocked multiplier.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i5-10210Y is the superior performer in every measured benchmark. It wins all five head-to-head tests with margins between 20.3% and 20.5%, covering both single-core and multi-core Cinebench workloads. For users prioritizing raw performance in applications that rely on Cinebench-style rendering, the i5-10210Y is the clear choice, despite its lower base clock and far lower TDP.

The i5-2405S, with its 65 W TDP and 2.50 GHz base clock, cannot match the newer architecture’s efficiency or throughput. Its lack of Hyper-Threading, with only 4 threads versus 8, is a decisive disadvantage in multi-threaded tests. The i5-2405S’s only advantages lie in its explicit dual-channel memory bus and PCIe Gen 3 support, which the database does not attribute to the i5-10210Y. However, these features do not translate into any benchmark win.

For a desktop user with an existing Socket 1155 platform, the i5-2405S might serve as a drop-in upgrade, but the performance ceiling is low. The i5-10210Y, despite being a mobile part, delivers a 20% improvement across the board, making it the better processor for compute-heavy tasks if the platform allows. The i5-2405S’s end-of-life status and 2011 release date further underscore its obsolescence. Those seeking the highest Cinebench scores from this pair should select the i5-10210Y; those constrained to the older desktop socket will find the i5-2405S adequate but clearly behind.