Intel Core i5-3210M vs Intel Core i5-680 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a consistent, albeit narrow, victory for the Intel Core i5-680 across every shared benchmark in the database. In the five Cinebench tests where both processors have recorded scores, the desktop i5-680 wins all five, with margins ranging from 7.1% to 7.6%. The smallest gap appears in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the i5-680 scores 2243 against the i5-3210M's 2095, a 7.1% lead. The same 7.1% delta repeats in Cinebench R23 single-core, with scores of 316 and 295 respectively.

The largest single delta appears in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where the i5-680 posts 226 versus 210 for the mobile chip, a 7.6% advantage. Cinebench R20 tells a similar story: the i5-680 leads by 7.2% in multi-core (942 versus 879) and by 7.3% in single-core (132 versus 123). These deltas are remarkably uniform, suggesting the performance difference stems from a fundamental clock-speed or architectural edge rather than any workload-specific behavior.

It is worth remembering the i5-3210M has two additional Geekbench entries in its benchmark list, but the head-to-head table only includes the five Cinebench tests, and no Geekbench scores exist for the i5-680. Therefore, the official win tally stands at 5 for the i5-680 and 0 for the i5-3210M. While the mobile processor's average benchmark score of 758 sits close to the i5-680's 772, the head-to-head results favor the older desktop part in every measurable shared workload.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-680 wins every shared benchmark, so the use-case split is clear: for any workload represented in the database that both chips have run, the desktop part is faster. The i5-680's advantage is most pronounced in multi-threaded rendering tasks, where its higher base and boost clocks (3.60 GHz and 3.87 GHz respectively) allow it to outpace the i5-3210M's 2.50 GHz base and 3.10 GHz boost. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the 63-point gap (942 versus 879) represents a tangible improvement in render times for short bursts of work.

However, the i5-3210M is not without its own territory. Its recorded Geekbench scores, which the i5-680 lacks, show a multi-core score of 1116 and a single-core score of 587. These numbers cannot be compared directly to the i5-680, but they place the mobile chip in a specific performance class. Additionally, the i5-3210M's 35 W TDP against the i5-680's 73 W TDP indicates a dramatically lower power envelope, making it the clear choice for thermally constrained environments. The i5-3210M also integrates Intel HD 4000 graphics, while the i5-680 packs only the older Intel HD, which could matter for basic display output or light media tasks without a discrete GPU.

The database also shows the i5-3210M sits at the 20th percentile among all CPUs, while the i5-680 sits at the 21st percentile. This near-identical percentile ranking suggests that, despite the i5-680's head-to-head sweep, both chips occupy essentially the same tier of overall performance relative to the broader CPU landscape. For users prioritizing raw compute in a desktop socket, the i5-680 wins. For users needing a low-power mobile solution with newer integrated graphics, the i5-3210M is the only viable option of the two.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher multi-core score in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core i5-680 scores 2243, which is 7.1% higher than the Intel Core i5-3210M's 2095.

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-3210M win any of the shared head-to-head benchmarks?

A: No. The database records 5 wins for the Intel Core i5-680 and 0 wins for the Intel Core i5-3210M in the shared Cinebench tests.

Q: How do the two processors compare in single-core performance?

A: In Cinebench R20 single-core, the i5-680 scores 132 versus 123 for the i5-3210M, a 7.3% lead. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the i5-680 scores 316 versus 295, a 7.1% lead.

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

A: The Intel Core i5-680 has an average benchmark score of 772, while the Intel Core i5-3210M has an average of 758.

Q: Does the i5-3210M have any exclusive benchmark entries?

A: Yes, the i5-3210M has Geekbench multi-core and single-core scores of 1116 and 587 respectively, which are not available for the i5-680 in the database.

Q: Which chip has a lower power draw?

A: The Intel Core i5-3210M has a TDP of 35 W, while the Intel Core i5-680 has a TDP of 73 W.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specification fields. The Intel Core i5-680 uses the Intel Socket 1156, while the Intel Core i5-3210M uses the Intel Socket G2 (988B). Their base clocks diverge significantly: the i5-680 runs at 3.60 GHz, while the i5-3210M runs at 2.50 GHz. Boost clocks follow the same pattern, with the i5-680 reaching 3.87 GHz and the i5-3210M reaching 3.10 GHz. TDP is another major differentiator, with the desktop chip rated at 73 W and the mobile chip at 35 W.

The L3 cache sizes also differ: the i5-680 has 4 MB shared L3, while the i5-3210M has 3 MB shared L3. L1 and L2 caches are identical at 64 KB per core and 256 KB per core respectively. The memory support field lists DDR3 for the i5-680, but the i5-3210M has no recorded memory support entry. The i5-680 specifies a memory bandwidth of 21.3 GB/s, while the i5-3210M has no recorded bandwidth figure. Both use dual-channel memory buses. PCIe information is present only for the i5-680, which lists Gen 2 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i5-3210M has no PCIe entry.

The integrated graphics differ as well: the i5-680 has Intel HD, while the i5-3210M has Intel HD 4000. The market segment separates them into Desktop for the i5-680 and Mobile for the i5-3210M. The production status for the i5-680 is end-of-life, while the i5-3210M has no recorded status. Release dates differ by roughly two years, with the i5-680 released in April 2010 and the i5-3210M in May 2012. The i5-680 carries a launch MSRP of $294; no launch price is recorded for the i5-3210M. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier.

Architecture Differences

The architectural split between these two chips is substantial. The Intel Core i5-680 is built on the Westmere architecture with the Clarkdale codename, while the Intel Core i5-3210M uses the Ivy Bridge architecture with the Ivy Bridge codename. This represents a generational leap: the i5-680 belongs to the Core i5 (Clarkdale) generation, while the i5-3210M belongs to the Core i5 (Ivy Bridge) generation. The process node shrinks from 32 nm on the i5-680 to 22 nm on the i5-3210M, a notable die shrink that contributes to the mobile chip's lower power draw.

The transistor counts and die sizes tell a more complex story. The i5-680 lists 382 million transistors on an 81 mm² die, while the i5-3210M has no recorded transistor count but lists a die size of 118 mm². This means the Ivy Bridge mobile chip uses a larger physical die despite the smaller process node, likely due to the integrated Ivy Bridge graphics and other platform enhancements. The i5-680's smaller die with a higher TDP suggests a more power-hungry design, while the i5-3210M's larger die on a newer node achieves better power efficiency.

Both CPUs have 2 cores and 4 threads, and both use 64 KB L1 cache per core and 256 KB L2 cache per core. The L3 cache differs, with the i5-680 offering 4 MB shared versus 3 MB shared on the i5-3210M. The newer Ivy Bridge architecture does not compensate for its smaller L3 cache in the benchmark results; the i5-680 still leads all shared tests. The i5-3210M's integrated graphics are a generation newer (Intel HD 4000 versus Intel HD), which may offer better media capabilities despite the CPU-side deficit. Neither chip supports ECC memory, and both are locked multipliers. The i5-680 was released in 2010 and is marked end-of-life, while the i5-3210M's production status is not recorded, though its 2012 release makes it the newer design.