Intel Core i5-1030NG7 vs Intel Core i5-6500TE Comparison

The Intel Core i5-6500TE and Intel Core i5-1030NG7 are two end-of-life processors from different eras and market segments. The i5-6500TE is a 35 W desktop chip based on Skylake, while the i5-1030NG7 is a 10 W mobile chip based on Ice Lake. In the database's head-to-head benchmark suite, the i5-1030NG7 wins all six Cinebench tests, with the i5-6500TE trailing by roughly 10% in each case. This analysis walks through the recorded measurements, the architectural differences, and the specification gaps between the two.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are unambiguous. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-6500TE scores 428 against 479 for the i5-1030NG7, a delta of -10.6%. The single-core R15 test shows 60 versus 67, a -10.4% gap. Moving to Cinebench R20, the multi-core scores are 1787 for the i5-6500TE and 1998 for the i5-1030NG7, again -10.6%. The R20 single-core test yields 252 versus 281, a -10.3% difference. In Cinebench R23, the multi-core result is 4255 against 4759 (-10.6%), and the single-core result is 600 against 671 (-10.6%). Across all six tests, the i5-1030NG7 leads by a consistent margin of roughly 10.3% to 10.6%.

This uniformity is notable. The i5-1030NG7 has 8 threads versus 4 on the i5-6500TE, which explains part of the multi-core advantage. However, the single-core tests also show a clear lead for the i5-1030NG7, indicating a per-core performance advantage from the newer Ice Lake architecture and a higher boost clock (3.50 GHz versus 3.30 GHz). The i5-6500TE does have Geekbench results in the database (multi-core 2749, single-core 1062), but the i5-1030NG7 has no Geekbench scores recorded, so the head-to-head comparison is limited to the Cinebench suite.

The Verdict

Based on the recorded head-to-head data, the Intel Core i5-1030NG7 is the faster processor in every measured Cinebench test. The i5-6500TE does have a slightly higher average benchmark score (1399 vs 1376) and a marginally higher percentile (37th vs 36th), but those figures are drawn from different benchmark sets, as the i5-6500TE includes Geekbench results while the i5-1030NG7 does not. When directly compared on the same six tests, the i5-1030NG7 leads by about 10% across the board. Therefore, for users who prioritize raw Cinebench performance, the i5-1030NG7 is the clear choice. However, the i5-6500TE offers a desktop socket (Intel Socket 1151) and support for both DDR3 and DDR4 memory, which may be relevant for platform compatibility.

Where Each One Wins

The i5-1030NG7 wins all six head-to-head benchmarks: Cinebench R15 multi-core (479 vs 428), R15 single-core (67 vs 60), R20 multi-core (1998 vs 1787), R20 single-core (281 vs 252), R23 multi-core (4759 vs 4255), and R23 single-core (671 vs 600). The i5-6500TE does not win any of the head-to-head tests. In terms of recorded benchmarks outside the head-to-head, the i5-6500TE has Geekbench multi-core and single-core scores (2749 and 1062) that are not available for the i5-1030NG7, but these are not direct comparisons. The i5-6500TE also has a higher average benchmark score (1399 vs 1376) and a higher percentile (37 vs 36), though again these are based on different test sets. For use cases, the i5-1030NG7's lower TDP (10 W vs 35 W) makes it more suitable for power-constrained mobile designs, while the i5-6500TE's desktop socket and dual memory support (DDR3 and DDR4) target traditional desktop builds.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core i5-1030NG7 scores 671 in Cinebench R23 single-core, while the Intel Core i5-6500TE scores 600, a difference of -10.6% for the i5-6500TE.

Q: How many threads does each CPU have?

A: The i5-6500TE has 4 threads, while the i5-1030NG7 has 8 threads. Both have 4 cores.

Q: What is the TDP difference?

A: The i5-6500TE has a TDP of 35 W, while the i5-1030NG7 has a TDP of 10 W.

Q: Which CPU supports DDR3 memory?

A: The i5-6500TE supports both DDR3 and DDR4, while the i5-1030NG7 supports only DDR4.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth of each?

A: The i5-6500TE has a memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s, while the i5-1030NG7 has 51.2 GB/s.

Q: Which CPU has a higher boost clock?

A: The i5-1030NG7 has a boost clock of 3.50 GHz, while the i5-6500TE has a boost clock of 3.30 GHz.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built by Intel, but they come from different architectural generations. The i5-6500TE is based on Skylake, a 14 nm design, while the i5-1030NG7 uses Ice Lake (Sunny Cove-Y) on a 10 nm process. The die sizes are nearly identical: 122 mm² for the i5-6500TE and 123 mm² for the i5-1030NG7. The i5-6500TE has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the i5-1030NG7 has 4 cores and 8 threads, thanks to Hyper-Threading. L1 cache differs: 64 KB per core for the i5-6500TE versus 80 KB per core for the i5-1030NG7. L2 cache is the same at 256 KB per core, and both share 6 MB of L3. Memory support: the i5-6500TE accepts DDR3 and DDR4, while the i5-1030NG7 only supports DDR4. Memory bandwidth is higher on the i5-1030NG7 (51.2 GB/s vs 34.1 GB/s). The integrated graphics differ: HD Graphics 530 on the i5-6500TE versus Iris Plus (64EU) on the i5-1030NG7. The i5-6500TE uses Intel Socket 1151, while the i5-1030NG7 uses Intel BGA 1044. The i5-6500TE is a desktop part, the i5-1030NG7 is mobile. The i5-6500TE was released in 2015, the i5-1030NG7 in 2020. The i5-6500TE has a launch MSRP of $192; the i5-1030NG7 has no recorded launch MSRP.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-6500TE | Intel Core i5-1030NG7 |

|----------------|----------------------|------------------------|

| Threads | 4 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 2.30 | 1100.00 |

| Boost Clock | 3.30 | 3.50 |

| TDP | 35 W | 10 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1151 | Intel BGA 1044 |

| Architecture | Skylake | Ice Lake |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 10 nm |

| Die Size | 122 mm² | 123 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 80 KB (per core) |

| Memory Support | DDR3, DDR4 | DDR4 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 34.1 GB/s | 51.2 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 16 Lanes(CPU only) | Gen 3 |

| Integrated Graphics | HD Graphics 530 | Iris Plus (64EU) |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Release Date | 2015-10-10 | 2020-03-17 |

| Launch MSRP | $192 | null |

| Part Number | SR2LR | SRGM7 |