Intel Core i5-10400 vs Intel Core i7-1250U Comparison

The Intel Core i5-10400 and the Intel Core i7-1250U represent two very different philosophies from the same manufacturer. One is a desktop processor built for sustained throughput, the other is a low-power mobile part designed for efficiency and burst performance. The benchmark data reveals a fascinating split, where each chip dominates in distinct categories, making the choice between them entirely dependent on the intended workload.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result in the comparison is the Cinebench R23 multi-core test. Here, the Intel Core i5-10400 scores 8316, while the Intel Core i7-1250U scores 7069. This gives the desktop chip a 17.6% advantage. This is a significant margin, suggesting that under sustained multi-threaded rendering loads, the i5-10400 has a clear edge. The i7-1250U cannot maintain its peak performance when all cores are stressed, likely due to power and thermal constraints.

However, the single-core results tell a completely different story. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the i7-1250U scores 1574, which is 25.4% higher than the i5-10400's 1174. This pattern repeats across nearly every single-threaded test. In Geekbench single-core, the i7-1250U scores 1661, a 33.3% advantage over the i5-10400's 1108. The i7-1250U also wins the PassMark single-thread test with a score of 2703, compared to 2560 for the i5-10400, a 5.3% margin. The data clearly indicates that the mobile processor has superior per-core performance.

The multi-core results are not uniformly in favor of the desktop chip. For example, in Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i7-1250U scores 1172.94, while the i5-10400 scores 838, giving the mobile chip a 28.6% lead. Similarly, in Cinebench R20 multi-core, the i7-1250U wins with 3983 against 3492, a 12.3% delta. This is surprising, given that the i5-10400 has 6 cores and the i7-1250U has 10 cores, though both have 12 threads. The older Cinebench versions seem to favor the newer architecture of the i7-1250U, while the R23 version, which is more demanding, favors the sustained power delivery of the desktop chip.

The PassMark suite offers a rich set of comparisons. The i5-10400 is the clear winner in data compression, scoring 187207 against 119280, a massive 56.9% difference. It also dominates in random string sorting, with 23206 versus 13593, a 70.7% lead. The extended instructions test shows the i5-10400 ahead by 92.4%, scoring 12501 against 6497. These are all tasks that benefit from sustained multi-core execution and a robust memory subsystem.

Conversely, the i7-1250U wins the data encryption test with 7642 against 4078, a 46.6% margin. This is notable because encryption workloads often benefit from newer instruction sets, which the Alder Lake architecture supports. The i7-1250U also wins in physics simulation (881 vs 669, a 24.1% lead) and prime number finding (58 vs 34, a 41.4% lead). The floating-point math test is nearly a tie, with the i7-1250U scoring 26625 and the i5-10400 scoring 26080, a mere 2% difference.

In integer math, the i5-10400 wins with 41715 against 40328, a 3.4% margin. The PassMark multithread test also goes to the i5-10400, with 12006 versus 11329, a 6% lead. Overall, the i7-1250U wins 13 of the 19 head-to-head tests, while the i5-10400 wins 6. Yet, the wins for the i5-10400 are often by larger margins in specific tasks, while the i7-1250U wins by smaller margins in many general tasks.

The Geekbench multi-core test shows the i7-1250U ahead with 5777 against 4790, a 17.1% lead. This is another surprise, as it contradicts the Cinebench R23 result. It suggests that Geekbench's workload does not stress the i5-10400 as heavily, or that the i7-1250U's hybrid architecture handles the test more efficiently. The average benchmark scores reflect this mixed picture. The i5-10400 has an average benchmark score of 14037, placing it in the 68th percentile of all CPUs. The i7-1250U has an average score of 13351, also in the 68th percentile. They are effectively in the same performance tier, despite their different designs.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in single-core workloads?

A: The Intel Core i7-1250U is consistently faster in single-core tests. It leads by 25.4% in Cinebench R23 single-core (1574 vs 1174), 33.3% in Geekbench single-core (1661 vs 1108), and 5.3% in PassMark single-thread (2703 vs 2560).

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-10400 win in any multi-core test?

A: Yes, the i5-10400 wins the Cinebench R23 multi-core test by 17.6% (8316 vs 7069). It also wins PassMark multithread by 6% (12006 vs 11329) and PassMark integer math by 3.4% (41715 vs 40328).

Q: Why does the Intel Core i7-1250U win some multi-core tests despite having a lower TDP?

A: The i7-1250U has 10 cores, which is 4 more than the i5-10400. In tests like Cinebench R15 and R20 multi-core, the i7-1250U scores higher, with a 28.6% lead in R15 and a 12.3% lead in R20. The newer Alder Lake architecture with its hybrid design appears to handle these specific workloads better.

Q: What kind of workloads favor the Intel Core i5-10400?

A: The i5-10400 excels in tasks like data compression (56.9% lead), random string sorting (70.7% lead), and extended instructions (92.4% lead). These are memory-intensive and sustained workloads where the desktop chip's power delivery and memory bandwidth are beneficial.

Q: Are these processors in the same performance class?

A: Yes, both are in the 68th percentile of all CPUs. The i5-10400 has an average benchmark score of 14037, while the i7-1250U has an average score of 13351, a difference of only about 5%.

Q: Which processor has better single-core performance for everyday tasks?

A: The i7-1250U has the edge in single-core performance, which often translates to snappier response in everyday applications. It leads in Cinebench R15 single-core by 47.8% (226 vs 118), Cinebench R20 single-core by 12.3% (562 vs 493), and Cinebench R23 single-core by 25.4% (1574 vs 1174).

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different architectures. The Intel Core i5-10400 uses the Comet Lake architecture, which is the 10th generation of Core processors. It is built on a 14 nm process node. The Intel Core i7-1250U uses the Alder Lake architecture, which is the 12th generation, and it is built on a 10 nm process node. This newer process node allows for greater transistor density and efficiency.

The core configurations are also very different. The i5-10400 has 6 cores and 12 threads. The i7-1250U has 10 cores and 12 threads. This means the i7-1250U uses a hybrid architecture with a mix of performance and efficiency cores, while the i5-10400 uses a traditional homogeneous design. The cache hierarchy reflects this. The i5-10400 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core. The i7-1250U has 80 KB of L1 cache per core and a much larger 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core. Both have 12 MB of shared L3 cache.

The codenames also differ, with the i5-10400 being "Comet Lake" and the i7-1250U being "Alder Lake-U". The "U" suffix indicates that the i7-1250U is a low-power mobile variant. The integrated graphics are different as well. The i5-10400 features UHD Graphics 630, while the i7-1250U features Iris Xe 96EU. The memory support is another key difference. The i5-10400 supports DDR4 memory, while the i7-1250U supports both DDR4 and DDR5. The i5-10400 has a memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s, while the i7-1250U does not have a recorded bandwidth figure in the database.

The PCIe support also differs. The i5-10400 supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the i7-1250U supports PCIe Gen 4. The market segments are completely different, with the i5-10400 being a Desktop processor and the i7-1250U being a Mobile processor. The sockets are also different, with the i5-10400 using Intel Socket 1200 and the i7-1250U using Intel BGA 1781. The release dates are different, with the i5-10400 released on 2020-04-29 and the i7-1250U released on 2022-02-22. Neither processor has a multiplier unlocked, and neither supports ECC memory.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications. The Intel Core i5-10400 has a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. The Intel Core i7-1250U has a base clock of 1100.00 MHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. The i7-1250U has a higher boost clock, which contributes to its single-core performance advantage.

The TDP is a major difference. The i5-10400 has a TDP of 65 watts, while the i7-1250U has a TDP of 9 watts. This is a massive difference, with the desktop chip consuming over seven times more power at its rated TDP. This explains the sustained performance differences in multi-core workloads, as the i5-10400 has the power budget to maintain high clocks across all cores.

The core and thread counts are different. The i5-10400 has 6 cores and 12 threads. The i7-1250U has 10 cores and 12 threads. This is a unique configuration for the i7-1250U, indicating a hybrid layout. The process node differs, with the i5-10400 on 14 nm and the i7-1250U on 10 nm. The L2 cache differs significantly, with the i5-10400 having 256 KB per core and the i7-1250U having 1.25 MB per core. The L1 cache also differs, with 64 KB per core for the i5-10400 and 80 KB per core for the i7-1250U. The memory support differs, with the i5-10400 supporting only DDR4 and the i7-1250U supporting DDR4 and DDR5. The PCIe support differs, with the i5-10400 on Gen 3 and the i7-1250U on Gen 4. The integrated graphics differ, with UHD Graphics 630 on the i5-10400 and Iris Xe 96EU on the i7-1250U. The market segment, socket, and release date are all different as described above.

The Verdict

The data shows two processors that are evenly matched in overall percentile but completely different in their strengths. The Intel Core i5-10400 is the better choice for sustained, multi-threaded workloads that require high throughput over extended periods. Its 17.6% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core, 56.9% lead in data compression, and 70.7% lead in random string sorting are evidence of its ability to handle demanding computational tasks. The i5-10400 also has a higher average benchmark score of 14037, compared to 13351 for the i7-1250U.

The Intel Core i7-1250U is the better choice for single-threaded performance and efficiency. Its 33.3% lead in Geekbench single-core and 25.4% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core make it superior for applications that rely on per-core speed. The i7-1250U also wins in data encryption by 46.6%, suggesting that its newer architecture handles specific cryptographic workloads better. The i7-1250U achieves this with a 9 watt TDP, making it far more efficient than the 65 watt i5-10400.

The choice depends on the use case. For a desktop system where power consumption is not a concern and sustained multi-core performance is needed, the i5-10400 is the logical pick. For a mobile system where battery life and single-core responsiveness are critical, the i7-1250U is the clear winner. The i5-10400 wins 6 of the 19 head-to-head tests, while the i7-1250U wins 13, but the margins in the i5-10400's victories are often larger. Benchmark results indicate that neither chip is universally superior, and the best choice is dictated by the workload.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-10400 wins in workloads that benefit from sustained multi-core execution and memory bandwidth. This includes Cinebench R23 multi-core (8316 vs 7069), PassMark multithread (12006 vs 11329), PassMark integer math (41715 vs 40328), PassMark data compression (187207 vs 119280), PassMark random string sorting (23206 vs 13593), and PassMark extended instructions (12501 vs 6497). These are tasks like video rendering, software compilation, data processing, and scientific computing that can use all available cores for long periods.

The Intel Core i7-1250U wins in single-threaded and lightly-threaded workloads, as well as some specific multi-threaded tests. This includes Cinebench R15 multi-core (1172.94 vs 838), Cinebench R15 single-core (226 vs 118), Cinebench R20 multi-core (3983 vs 3492), Cinebench R20 single-core (562 vs 493), Cinebench R23 single-core (1574 vs 1174), Geekbench multi-core (5777 vs 4790), Geekbench single-core (1661 vs 1108), PassMark data encryption (7642 vs 4078), PassMark find prime numbers (58 vs 34), PassMark floating point math (26625 vs 26080), PassMark physics (881 vs 669), and PassMark single-thread (2703 vs 2560). These are tasks like web browsing, office applications, light photo editing, and general system responsiveness. The i7-1250U is also the better choice for any scenario where power consumption is a factor, given its 9 watt TDP versus the 65 watt TDP of the i5-10400.