Intel Core i5-2450P vs Intel Core i7-10510Y Comparison

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i5-2450P outperforms the Intel Core i7-10510Y across every single measured workload, winning all five head-to-head comparisons. Despite the newer architecture and higher model number of the i7-10510Y, the older desktop i5-2450P delivers consistently higher scores, with margins ranging from 12.6% to 13.0% depending on the test. The i7-10510Y’s only advantages lie in power efficiency and integrated graphics, not raw compute performance.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The i5-2450P’s dominance is complete and consistent. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-2450P scores 366 against the i7-10510Y’s 319, a 12.8% advantage. This pattern repeats in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the i5-2450P posts 1525 versus 1332, a 12.7% lead. The single-core results tell the same story: in Cinebench R20 single-core, the i5-2450P scores 215 compared to 187 for the i7-10510Y, a 13.0% gap. The i5-2450P also wins in Cinebench R23 multi-core with 3632 over 3173, a 12.6% margin, and in Cinebench R23 single-core with 512 versus 447, a 12.7% advantage.

Notably, the i5-2450P has additional benchmark data beyond the Cinebench suite. It scores 1796 in Geekbench multi-core and 590 in Geekbench single-core, results that reinforce its overall standing. The i7-10510Y, by contrast, has no Geekbench scores recorded in the data, leaving its performance profile less complete.

The average benchmark scores place both CPUs at essentially the same overall level, with the i7-10510Y at 1092 and the i5-2450P at 1086. This near parity in average score is somewhat misleading, as it includes different benchmark sets for each processor. The head-to-head comparisons, which use identical tests, show a clear and uniform advantage for the i5-2450P in every case.

Both CPUs sit at the 30th percentile among all CPUs tracked, indicating that neither is a high-performance part by modern standards. The i7-10510Y’s nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-4600M (average score 1093, delta -0.1%) and the Intel Core i7-4610M (1094, delta -0.2%), while the i5-2450P’s closest competitors include the Intel Core i3-6320 (1085, delta 0.1%) and the Intel Core i5-3350P (1088, delta -0.1%). These rival relationships confirm that both processors occupy a similar mid-range tier in the broader CPU landscape.

Where Each One Wins

The i5-2450P wins in every computational benchmark recorded in the head-to-head data. This includes all multi-core and single-core Cinebench tests, making it the clear choice for any CPU-bound workload. The largest margin is 13.0% in Cinebench R20 single-core, while the smallest is 12.6% in Cinebench R23 multi-core. For users prioritizing raw processing speed, whether in threaded applications or single-threaded tasks, the i5-2450P is the superior part.

The i7-10510Y’s wins are not in performance but in other characteristics. It has a TDP of 9 watts compared to the i5-2450P’s 95 watts, making it dramatically more power-efficient. It also includes integrated graphics with UHD Graphics, whereas the i5-2450P has no integrated graphics at all. These differences matter for specific use cases, particularly mobile or low-power systems, but they do not translate into benchmark victories.

The i7-10510Y does have a higher boost clock of 4.50 GHz versus the i5-2450P’s 3.50 GHz, and it supports 8 threads compared to 4. Yet these specification advantages do not yield performance gains in the tested workloads. The i5-2450P’s higher base clock of 3.20 GHz versus 1.20 GHz appears to be a more significant factor, as does its desktop-class design with a 95-watt TDP enabling sustained performance.

Architecture Differences

The two CPUs come from different eras and design philosophies. The i7-10510Y uses the Comet Lake architecture, specifically Comet Lake-Y, built on a 14 nm process. It has 4 cores and 8 threads, with a base clock of 1.20 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz. Its cache configuration includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. It supports DDR3 memory and uses the Intel BGA 1440 socket. This is a mobile-focused part, as indicated by its market segment designation.

The i5-2450P uses the Sandy Bridge architecture, built on a 32 nm process. It has 4 cores and 4 threads, with a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 3.50 GHz. Its cache includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. It supports DDR3 memory with a dual-channel memory bus and uses the Intel Socket 1155. The i5-2450P includes PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only) and has a transistor count of 1,160 million with a die size of 216 mm². It is a desktop part.

The process node difference is notable: 14 nm versus 32 nm. The newer 14 nm process allows the i7-10510Y to achieve a much higher boost clock and far lower power consumption. However, the i5-2450P’s higher base clock and desktop power envelope (95 watts) allow it to sustain higher performance in benchmarks. The i5-2450P also has a larger die and more transistors, reflecting its older, less dense manufacturing process.

Memory support is identical in type (DDR3), but the i5-2450P specifies a dual-channel memory bus while the i7-10510Y’s memory bus details are not provided. Neither CPU supports ECC memory. The i7-10510Y includes integrated UHD Graphics, while the i5-2450P has no integrated graphics, meaning a discrete GPU is mandatory for the desktop chip.

The Verdict

The data indicates that the Intel Core i5-2450P is the faster processor in every benchmark where both were tested. If raw compute performance is the sole criterion, the i5-2450P is the clear choice, offering 12.6% to 13.0% higher scores across Cinebench tests. This is true despite the i7-10510Y being released seven years later and carrying a higher generation designation.

The i7-10510Y’s strengths are elsewhere. Its 9-watt TDP makes it suitable for fanless or low-power designs, and its integrated UHD Graphics removes the need for a separate GPU in basic systems. It also has 8 threads versus 4, which could benefit heavily multithreaded workloads, though the benchmark data does not show such an advantage. The i7-10510Y is a mobile processor, while the i5-2450P is a desktop processor, and that distinction is fundamental.

For a desktop user building or upgrading a system where a discrete GPU is already present, the i5-2450P is the better performer. For a mobile or embedded application where power consumption is critical and integrated graphics are required, the i7-10510Y is the appropriate choice. Neither processor is a high-end part, with both at the 30th percentile, but within this pairing, the i5-2450P wins on performance decisively.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: The Intel Core i5-2450P is faster in all multi-core tests. It scores 366 versus 319 in Cinebench R15, 1525 versus 1332 in R20, and 3632 versus 3173 in R23, representing margins of 12.6% to 12.8%.

Q: Does the Intel Core i7-10510Y win any benchmark?

A: No. In the head-to-head benchmark data, the i7-10510Y loses all five comparisons to the i5-2450P. The wins tally is 0 for the i7-10510Y and 5 for the i5-2450P.

Q: What is the TDP difference between these two CPUs?

A: The i7-10510Y has a TDP of 9 watts, while the i5-2450P has a TDP of 95 watts. This makes the i7-10510Y far more power-efficient.

Q: Do both CPUs have integrated graphics?

A: No. The i7-10510Y includes UHD Graphics, while the i5-2450P has no integrated graphics. A discrete GPU is required for the i5-2450P.

Q: What are the core and thread counts?

A: Both have 4 cores, but the i7-10510Y has 8 threads while the i5-2450P has 4 threads. The i7-10510Y supports hyper-threading, the i5-2450P does not.

Q: How do their cache sizes compare?

A: Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core. The i7-10510Y has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i5-2450P has 6 MB of shared L3 cache.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-10510Y | Intel Core i5-2450P |

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

| Cores | 4 | 4 |

| Threads | 8 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 1.20 GHz | 3.20 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.50 GHz | 3.50 GHz |

| TDP | 9 W | 95 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1440 | Intel Socket 1155 |

| Architecture | Comet Lake | Sandy Bridge |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 32 nm |

| Transistors | Not specified | 1,160 million |

| Die Size | Not specified | 216 mm² |

| L3 Cache | 8 MB (shared) | 6 MB (shared) |

| Memory Bus | Not specified | Dual-channel |

| PCIe | Not specified | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics | None |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Part Number | Not specified | SR0G1 |