Intel Core i5-10600KF vs Intel Core i5-1235U Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher multicore score in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core i5-10600KF leads in Cinebench R23 multicore with a score of 12003, while the Intel Core i5-1235U scores 9774, a delta of -18.6% for the mobile chip.

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-1235U win in any benchmark category?

A: Yes, the i5-1235U wins 6 out of 19 head-to-head tests. Its most notable victories include PassMark data encryption (9347 vs 4832, a 93.4% advantage), PassMark find prime numbers (954 vs 45, a 2020% advantage), and PassMark floating point math (43303 vs 29521, a 46.7% advantage).

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

A: The results are mixed. The i5-10600KF wins Cinebench R23 singlecore (1694 vs 1379) and Geekbench singlecore (1671 vs 1609), but the i5-1235U wins PassMark single thread (3151 vs 2908, an 8.4% advantage). The delta in Geekbench singlecore is only -3.7% for the i5-1235U.

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

A: The Intel Core i5-1235U has 10 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core i5-10600KF has 6 cores and 12 threads. Both support 12 threads, but the i5-1235U uses a hybrid core arrangement.

Q: Which processor has a higher base clock speed?

A: The Intel Core i5-10600KF has a base clock of 4.10 GHz, compared to the i5-1235U's 1.30 GHz. The boost clocks are closer: 4.80 GHz for the i5-10600KF versus 4.40 GHz for the i5-1235U.

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

A: The Intel Core i5-1235U has an average benchmark score of 16770, and the Intel Core i5-10600KF has an average of 16228. Both sit at the 70th percentile among all CPUs.

The Verdict

The data paints a clear picture for different use cases. The Intel Core i5-10600KF wins 13 of 19 head-to-head benchmarks, with decisive margins in Cinebench R20 multicore (5041 vs 4105) and Geekbench multicore (7633 vs 5308). This desktop chip, with its higher clock speeds and 95W TDP, is the choice for sustained multicore workloads like rendering and video encoding, as indicated by its 18.6% lead in Cinebench R23 multicore.

The Intel Core i5-1235U, despite being a mobile processor with a 15W TDP, carves out its own territory. It wins in specific mathematical workloads, including floating point math (46.7% ahead) and data encryption (93.4% ahead). Its PassMark single thread score of 3151 also edges out the i5-10600KF's 2908, suggesting efficiency in certain lightly threaded tasks.

For users prioritizing raw multicore throughput, the i5-10600KF is the stronger candidate. The i5-1235U appeals to those who need a low-power mobile processor with integrated graphics (Iris Xe 80EU) and specific computational strengths. The data shows that the i5-1235U's 10-core Alder Lake architecture delivers competitive results in math-heavy workloads, while the i5-10600KF's higher clocks dominate in rendering and general productivity.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The biggest single win for the i5-10600KF comes in Geekbench multicore, where it scores 7633 against the i5-1235U's 5308, a 30.5% advantage. PassMark extended instructions shows a 42.3% lead for the desktop chip (14167 vs 8176), and PassMark random string sorting favors it by 35.7% (26532 vs 17050). Data compression also goes decisively to the i5-10600KF: 211643 vs 147450, a 30.3% margin.

The i5-1235U counters with its own notable victories. PassMark find prime numbers shows an extraordinary delta of 2020% (954 vs 45). Data encryption sees the mobile chip at 9347 versus 4832, a 93.4% improvement. Floating point math favors it by 46.7% (43303 vs 29521), and integer math is nearly a tie with a 2.2% edge (48553 vs 47508). PassMark single thread goes to the i5-1235U by 8.4% (3151 vs 2908).

The Cinebench suite is uniformly in favor of the i5-10600KF. R15 multicore: 1209 vs 985 (-18.5%), R15 singlecore: 170 vs 138 (-18.8%), R20 multicore: 5041 vs 4105 (-18.6%), R20 singlecore: 711 vs 579 (-18.6%), R23 multicore: 12003 vs 9774 (-18.6%), and R23 singlecore: 1694 vs 1379 (-18.6%). PassMark multithread shows a smaller gap at -8.8% (14169 vs 12923), while physics favors the desktop chip by 15.3% (810 vs 686).

Specification Differences

The Intel Core i5-1235U operates with a base clock of 1.30 GHz and boosts to 4.40 GHz, while the i5-10600KF starts at 4.10 GHz and boosts to 4.80 GHz. The mobile chip has 10 cores versus the desktop chip's 6 cores, though both offer 12 threads. TDP differs substantially: 15W for the i5-1235U versus 95W for the i5-10600KF.

Sockets are incompatible: Intel BGA 1744 for the i5-1235U versus Intel Socket 1200 for the i5-10600KF. Memory support shows the i5-1235U accepting both DDR4 and DDR5, while the i5-10600KF is limited to DDR4. PCIe versions differ, with the i5-1235U supporting Gen 4 (20 lanes) and the i5-10600KF using Gen 3 (16 lanes). The i5-1235U includes integrated Iris Xe 80EU graphics; the i5-10600KF has no integrated graphics. The i5-10600KF has an unlocked multiplier; the i5-1235U does not. Release dates are 2022-02-22 for the i5-1235U and 2020-04-29 for the i5-10600KF.

Architecture Differences

The i5-1235U is built on Intel's Alder Lake architecture using a 10nm process, while the i5-10600KF uses the older Comet Lake architecture on 14nm. The i5-1235U's cache layout includes 80 KB L1 per core and 1.25 MB L2 per core, with 12 MB shared L3. The i5-10600KF has 64 KB L1 per core and 256 KB L2 per core, also with 12 MB shared L3. The Alder Lake chip benefits from a newer process node and hybrid core design, which explains its efficiency at lower clocks. The i5-10600KF relies on higher clock speeds and a more straightforward architecture. The i5-1235U supports a memory bandwidth unspecified in the database, while the i5-10600KF lists 42.7 GB/s for DDR4.

Where Each One Wins

The i5-10600KF wins in rendering and productivity workloads. Cinebench R23 multicore (12003 vs 9774) and Geekbench multicore (7633 vs 5308) confirm its strength in multithreaded applications like video editing and 3D modeling. PassMark data compression (211643 vs 147450) and random string sorting (26532 vs 17050) show advantages in file archiving and data manipulation. Extended instructions (14167 vs 8176) point to better performance in SIMD-heavy tasks.

The i5-1235U wins in specialized mathematical computations. PassMark floating point math (43303 vs 29521) and data encryption (9347 vs 4832) highlight strengths in scientific calculations and cryptographic workloads. Find prime numbers (954 vs 45) is an outlier that suggests a fundamentally different execution approach. Its PassMark single thread score (3151 vs 2908) indicates better performance in certain lightweight, single-threaded tasks despite lower clock speeds.

For gaming, the i5-10600KF's higher boost clock and desktop-class performance in physics (810 vs 686) and multithread (14169 vs 12923) make it the preferred choice from the recorded data. The i5-1235U's integrated graphics and low TDP suit mobile productivity and battery-conscious workflows, but the benchmark results show it trailing in most general-purpose tests. Users needing encryption speed or floating point throughput should consider the i5-1235U; those prioritizing rendering, compression, or overall multicore power should pick the i5-10600KF.