Intel Core i5-4210U vs Intel Pentium Silver J5040 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data is remarkably one-sided. The Intel Pentium Silver J5040 wins every single recorded head-to-head comparison, and it does so by a nearly uniform margin of roughly 40 percent. There is no benchmark in the database where the Core i5-4210U comes out ahead.

Starting with Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Pentium Silver J5040 scores 276 against 197 for the Core i5-4210U. That is a 40.1 percent advantage. The gap is essentially identical in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the J5040 posts 1150 points versus 824, a delta of 40.1 percent rounded to 39.6 percent in the recorded data. Single-core performance shows the same story. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the J5040 scores 162 against 116, a 39.6 percent edge. Cinebench R23 multi-core results in 2739 for the J5040 and 1962 for the i5-4210U, again 39.6 percent. Single-core in R23 gives 386 versus 277, a 39.4 percent win.

These are not narrow victories, they are consistent, repeatable margins that point to a fundamental performance class difference. The closest the Core i5-4210U comes to a win is nowhere close at all. The data records zero wins for the i5-4210U across all head-to-head benchmarks.

For context, the average benchmark score in the database places the Pentium Silver J5040 at 801 points, with rivals like the AMD A10-7700K scoring an identical 801, and the Intel Xeon E5530 also at 801. The Core i5-4210U sits at 788 average, with its nearest rival the Intel Core i5-3610ME at 788. The i5-4210U trails its own closest competitors by fractions of a percent, while the J5040 matches its own nearest rivals at parity.

Where Each One Wins

The Pentium Silver J5040 wins every workload category covered by the recorded benchmarks. Multi-threaded rendering is a clear strength. Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests all show the J5040 ahead by roughly 40 percent. That makes it the better choice for any task that scales across cores, such as video encoding, 3D rendering, or batch photo processing.

Single-threaded performance also belongs to the J5040. Cinebench R20 single-core and R23 single-core both show a similar 39 to 40 percent lead. This is important because single-core speed still dominates everyday responsiveness, from web browsing to office applications. The J5040 is simply faster per thread.

The Core i5-4210U has no winning category in this dataset. There are no benchmark results where it posts a higher score. Its only advantage is indirect. It is an older, higher-TDP part, and it has a different feature set, but in measured performance, it loses across the board.

If you need raw compute throughput, the J5040 is the only choice here. If you need the i5-4210U, you are choosing it for reasons other than benchmark performance, such as compatibility with an existing platform or specific integrated graphics capabilities.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different eras and different design philosophies. The Pentium Silver J5040 uses the Goldmont Plus architecture on the Gemini Lake platform. It is built on a 14 nm process at Intel's foundry. The Core i5-4210U uses the Haswell architecture, also from Intel, but on a 22 nm process. That node difference is significant. The newer 14 nm process allows the J5040 to achieve higher performance at a much lower power draw.

The J5040 has four physical cores and four threads. The i5-4210U has two physical cores and four threads via Hyper-Threading. This explains the multi-core results. The J5040 has twice the physical core count, and even with the i5's threading advantage, the J5040 pulls ahead by 40 percent.

Cache configurations also differ. The J5040 has 56 KB of L1 cache per core and 4 MB of shared L2 cache. It has no L3 cache. The i5-4210U has a larger L1 at 64 KB per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 3 MB of shared L3 cache. The i5 has a more traditional cache hierarchy, but the J5040's simpler layout does not hurt it in the recorded benchmarks.

Die size and transistor counts tell a story of design intent. The i5-4210U has 1,400 million transistors on a 118 mm² die. The J5040's transistor count is not recorded in the database, but its die is 93 mm². The J5040 is a smaller, denser part that achieves more performance per unit of silicon. The i5 is a larger, older design with more cache but fewer cores.

Integrated graphics differ as well. The J5040 pairs with UHD Graphics 605, while the i5-4210U ships with Intel HD 4400. The database does not record graphics benchmarks, so direct comparison is not possible, but the architecture generation gap suggests the newer UHD 605 is the more modern solution.

Specification Differences

Several specifications separate these two parts. The most obvious difference is core count. The J5040 has 4 cores, the i5-4210U has 2. Threads are equal at 4 each, but that does not compensate for the missing physical cores in the i5.

Clock speeds favor the J5040 across the board. Base clock is 2000 MHz for the J5040 versus 1700 MHz for the i5. Boost clock is 3.20 GHz versus 3. The J5040 boosts 500 MHz higher than the i5's boost of 2.70 GHz. Given that the J5040 also wins single-core benchmarks by 39 percent, the clock speed advantage translates directly into measurable single-thread performance.

TDP is a major differentiator. The J5040 runs at 10 watts, the i5 at 15 watts. The J5040 delivers more performance at two-thirds of the power draw. That is a significant efficiency advantage for fanless or low-noise systems. The i5-4210U needs more power and still loses every benchmark.

Memory support differs completely. The J5040 supports DDR4 memory in dual-channel configuration, with a recorded memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The i5-4210U supports DDR3 memory, and the database records no memory bus width or memory bandwidth for this part. ECC memory is not supported on either part.

The J5040, the i5-4210U also does not support buffered memory.

The J5040 has PCIe Gen 2 with 6 lanes, CPU only. The i5-4210U has no PCIe information recorded in the database. Socket compatibility also differs. The J5040 fits Intel BGA 1090, the i5-4210U uses Intel BGA 1168. They are not interchangeable.

Release dates are far apart. The J5040 launched in November 2019, while the i5-4210U launched in April 2014. The J5040 is marked end-of-life in the database. The i5-4210U has no production status recorded. The J5040 has a launch MSRP of $161. The i5-4210U has no MSRP recorded.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Pentium Silver J5040 scores 2739 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, compared to 1962 for the Intel Core i5-4210U. That is a 39.6 percent advantage for the J5040.

Q: Does the Core i5-4210U win any benchmark in the head-to-head data?

A: No. The database records 5 head-to-head benchmark wins for the Pentium Silver J5040 and 0 wins for the Core i5-4210U.

Q: How do their power requirements compare?

A: The J5040 has a TDP of 10 watts, while the i5-4210U has a TDP of 15 watts. The J5040 delivers higher benchmark scores while drawing less power.

Q: How many cores does each processor have?

A: The Pentium Silver J5040 has 4 cores and 4 threads. The Core i5-4210U has 2 cores and 4 threads.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each?

A: The J5040 has an average benchmark score of 801, and the i5-4210U has an average benchmark score of 788. Both sit at the 21st percentile of all CPUs in the database.

Q: Can these two processors be swapped in the same motherboard?

A: No. The J5040 uses Intel BGA 1090, and the i5-4210U uses Intel BGA 1168. They are different sockets and are not compatible with each other's platforms.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous. The Intel Pentium Silver J5040 outperforms the Intel Core i5-4210U in every recorded benchmark, with a consistent 39 to 40 percent lead across single-core and multi-core tests. It does so at a lower TDP of 10 watts versus 15 watts, and it supports newer DDR4 memory with a recorded bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The J5040 also has twice the physical core count, which explains its multi-core dominance.

The Core i5-4210U is not without merit. It has a larger L3 cache, a higher L1 and L2 per core, and its Haswell architecture was a strong design in its day. But in measured performance, it cannot compete. The i5-4210U is also built on an older 22 nm process, while the J5040 uses 14 nm. That node advantage shows in both performance and efficiency.

Who should pick the Pentium Silver J5040? Anyone building a low-power system that needs real compute performance. The 10-watt TDP makes it viable for compact, quiet, or fanless designs. Its 4 cores and 3.2 GHz boost clock handle multi-threaded workloads well. The 38.4 GB/s dual-channel DDR4 support is a modern foundation for a small form factor PC. The launch MSRP of $161 positions it as a well-defined product in its segment.

Who should pick the Core i5-4210U? Only someone with an existing BGA 1168 platform who cannot swap processors. The i5-4210U supports DDR3 memory, which may be an advantage if you already own DDR3 modules. Its 15-watt TDP is still modest. But there is no performance reason to choose it. The database shows zero wins for the i5-4210U, and its 788 average score places it below the J5040's 801.

In short, the J5040 is the faster, more efficient, and more modern processor. The i5-4210U is a legacy part that has been outclassed. If the choice is between these two, the benchmark data points to the Pentium Silver J5040 without reservation.