Intel Core i5-10210Y vs Intel Core i5-2500S Comparison

The Intel Core i5-10210Y and Intel Core i5-2500S represent two vastly different eras of Intel design, yet they land in the same performance percentile. The data shows a clear, consistent winner in every shared benchmark, though the margins and architectural context reveal why these chips serve entirely different markets. The i5-10210Y is a modern, low-power mobile part, while the i5-2500S is a decade-old desktop processor. Despite the i5-2500S having a much higher base clock, the newer architecture of the i5-10210Y delivers superior results across the board, making it the decisive victor in raw compute performance.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results are unambiguous: the Intel Core i5-10210Y wins all five shared tests, with every victory falling in a remarkably narrow band. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-10210Y scores 350 against the i5-2500S’s 288, a 21.5% advantage. The single-core R15 result is not available for the i5-2500S, but the R20 single-core test shows the i5-10210Y at 206 versus 169, a 21.9% lead. This pattern continues in R23, where the i5-10210Y posts 491 single-core and 3479 multi-core, against 404 and 2867 respectively for the i5-2500S — a 21.5% edge in single-core and a 21.3% edge in multi-core. The R20 multi-core test confirms the trend: 1461 for the i5-10210Y, 1204 for the i5-2500S, a 21.3% difference.

The consistency of these deltas is striking. Across every test, the i5-10210Y holds a lead of roughly 21-22% over the i5-2500S, regardless of workload type. This suggests the performance gap is structural rather than workload-specific, stemming from architectural efficiency rather than a single benchmark quirk. The i5-2500S does have one additional benchmark, Geekbench, where it scores 1511 multi-core and 582 single-core, but the i5-10210Y has no corresponding result in this database, so no direct comparison is possible there.

Given that the i5-10210Y has 8 threads versus the i5-2500S’s 4, one might expect the multi-core gap to be larger than the single-core gap. Yet the deltas are nearly identical across both test types. This indicates that the i5-10210Y’s per-thread efficiency advantage is the primary driver, with the extra threads providing additional, but not overwhelming, throughput. The data shows that in every measurable category, the i5-10210Y is the superior processor, with a 21.5% win in the most recent R23 multi-core test being the headline result.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two CPUs is vast, explaining the performance results. The i5-10210Y is built on the 14 nm process node using the Comet Lake architecture, specifically Comet Lake-Y, while the i5-2500S uses the older 32 nm Sandy Bridge architecture. The transistor count reflects this generational leap: the i5-2500S packs 1,160 million transistors into a 216 mm² die, whereas the i5-10210Y has no disclosed transistor or die size figures in the data. The newer 14 nm process allows for significantly better efficiency, which is evident in the thermal design power: the i5-10210Y has a TDP of just 9 watts, while the i5-2500S consumes 65 watts.

Core and thread counts differ as well. The i5-10210Y offers 4 cores and 8 threads, taking advantage of Hyper-Threading, while the i5-2500S is a 4-core, 4-thread part. Both share the same cache hierarchy on paper: 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. However, the i5-10210Y’s base clock is just 1000 MHz, compared to the i5-2500S’s 2700 MHz. The boost clocks are closer, with the i5-10210Y reaching 4.00 GHz and the i5-2500S reaching 3.70 GHz. This clock deficit at base frequency is more than compensated by the newer architecture’s instruction-level efficiency and the extra threads.

Memory support is identical in type — both support DDR3 — but the i5-2500S features dual-channel memory and PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i5-10210Y has no disclosed memory bus or PCIe details. The integrated graphics differ: the i5-10210Y ships with UHD Graphics, while the i5-2500S has Intel HD 2000. The i5-10210Y is a mobile part on the Intel BGA 1440 socket, whereas the i5-2500S is a desktop chip on Intel Socket 1155. The production statuses are equally telling: the i5-10210Y is listed as Active, while the i5-2500S is End-of-life, with a part number of SR009. Neither chip supports ECC memory, and both have locked multipliers.

The Verdict

The data is unequivocal: the Intel Core i5-10210Y is the faster processor in every shared benchmark, delivering a consistent 21-22% performance advantage over the Intel Core i5-2500S. For users who need raw compute throughput, the i5-10210Y is the clear choice, offering superior single-core and multi-core results in Cinebench R20 and R23. The i5-2500S’s higher base clock cannot overcome its older architecture, fewer threads, and lower efficiency. The i5-10210Y achieves this with a TDP of just 9 watts against the i5-2500S’s 65 watts, making it not only faster but dramatically more power-efficient.

However, the i5-2500S is not without its merits. It is a desktop processor with a larger thermal envelope, which could be relevant for sustained workloads in a desktop chassis, and it supports dual-channel DDR3 memory and PCIe Gen 3, which the i5-10210Y’s mobile platform may not offer. The i5-2500S also has Geekbench scores of 1511 multi-core and 582 single-core, which are respectable for its era, but these are not directly comparable to the i5-10210Y’s results. For anyone building or upgrading a desktop system with an existing Socket 1155 motherboard, the i5-2500S could still serve, but for new purchases, the i5-10210Y’s performance and efficiency make it the superior option. The percentile rankings reflect this: both sit at the 27th percentile among all CPUs, but the i5-10210Y edges out the i5-2500S with an average benchmark score of 1006 versus 1004.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has a higher single-core performance in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core i5-10210Y scores 491 in Cinebench R23 single-core, which is 21.5% higher than the Intel Core i5-2500S’s score of 404.

Q: How do the multi-core scores compare in Cinebench R20?

A: The i5-10210Y achieves 1461 in Cinebench R20 multi-core, beating the i5-2500S’s 1204 by a margin of 21.3%.

Q: What is the difference in thread count between the two processors?

A: The i5-10210Y has 8 threads, while the i5-2500S has 4 threads. Both have 4 physical cores.

Q: Which processor has a lower thermal design power?

A: The i5-10210Y has a TDP of 9 watts, which is significantly lower than the i5-2500S’s 65 watts.

Q: Are these CPUs from the same architecture generation?

A: No. The i5-10210Y uses the Comet Lake architecture on a 14 nm process, while the i5-2500S uses the Sandy Bridge architecture on a 32 nm process.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. Neither the i5-10210Y nor the i5-2500S supports ECC memory, according to the data.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-10210Y wins in every scenario where performance is measured by the shared benchmarks. It takes the top spot in Cinebench R15 multi-core (350 vs 288), R20 multi-core (1461 vs 1204), R20 single-core (206 vs 169), R23 multi-core (3479 vs 2867), and R23 single-core (491 vs 404). For users prioritizing multi-threaded workloads like video encoding, 3D rendering, or compilation, the i5-10210Y’s 8 threads and 21.3% advantage in R23 multi-core make it the definitive pick. Its single-core lead of 21.9% in R20 also makes it superior for lightly-threaded tasks like web browsing, office productivity, and legacy software that relies on a single core.

The i5-2500S, by contrast, wins in no benchmark tests where a direct comparison exists. Its only potential advantage lies in its form factor and platform: it is a desktop processor with a dual-channel memory bus and PCIe Gen 3 support, which could be beneficial for systems that require those features. Its Geekbench scores of 1511 multi-core and 582 single-core are available, but without a corresponding Geekbench result for the i5-10210Y, no direct claim can be made. The i5-2500S also has a higher base clock of 2.70 GHz, which might offer marginally better responsiveness in idle-to-load transitions, but this does not translate into higher benchmark scores. In every measurable performance metric, the i5-10210Y is the winner, making it the recommended choice for any application where compute power is the primary criterion. The i5-2500S remains a viable option only for those with a specific need for its desktop socket, dual-channel memory, or legacy PCIe Gen 3 lanes, accepting a 21% performance penalty in exchange.