Intel Core i5-7500 vs Intel Core i7-10510U Comparison

The Intel Core i7-10510U and Intel Core i5-7500 represent two distinct design philosophies from Intel: a power-efficient mobile part against a desktop mainstay. The recorded data shows a clear split in performance characteristics, with the i7-10510U dominating in threaded compute workloads while the i5-7500 takes the lead in several single-threaded and memory-sensitive tests. The benchmark database records 12 wins for the i7-10510U and 7 wins for the i5-7500 across 19 head-to-head measurements, highlighting how the newer architecture and Hyper-Threading capability of the mobile chip offset the higher base clocks of the desktop part.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most decisive victory for the Intel Core i7-10510U comes in the PassMark integer math test, where it scores 23441 against the i5-7500’s 15768, a staggering 48.7% advantage. This result is directly attributable to the i7’s 8 threads versus the i5’s 4 threads, allowing it to process more integer operations in parallel. The same pattern appears in the PassMark data encryption test, where the i7-10510U wins with 2151 points versus 1817, a 18.4% delta, and in random string sorting, where the i7 leads by 9.2% with scores of 11068 and 10134.

The Cinebench suite consistently favors the i7-10510U across all versions. In R15 multi-core, the i7 scores 542 against 517, a 4.8% win. The single-core R15 result shows a 5.6% lead for the i7, 76 versus 72. For R20 multi-core, the i7 posts 2262 versus 2155, a 5% improvement, and the single-core R20 test shows 319 versus 304, a 4.9% delta. The R23 multi-core test records 5388 for the i7 against 5133 for the i5, a 5% lead, and the R23 single-core test shows 760 versus 724, also a 5% advantage. The PassMark floating point math test adds another win for the i7-10510U, with 14080 points versus 13174, a 6.9% margin, while the PassMark multi-thread test shows 6450 versus 6028, a 7% lead. The PassMark physics test is nearly a tie, with the i7 winning by 0.2% at 472 versus 471.

The Intel Core i5-7500, however, takes the Geekbench tests decisively. In Geekbench multi-core, the i5 scores 3619 against the i7’s 2648, a 26.8% win for the desktop chip. The Geekbench single-core test shows a 19.2% lead for the i5, with 1277 points versus 1032. This reversal suggests that the i5-7500’s higher base clock of 3.40 GHz and boost clock of 3.80 GHz provide a substantial per-thread advantage that the i7-10510U’s 1.80 GHz base clock cannot match, despite its higher 4.90 GHz boost clock. The PassMark extended instructions test also favors the i5-7500, with 6971 points against 5224, a 25.1% delta, and the find prime numbers test shows the i5 winning with 28 versus 22, a 21.4% margin. The PassMark data compression test is nearly even, with the i5 winning by 0.8% at 83250 versus 82606. In the PassMark single-thread tests, the i5-7500 wins by 0.7% with 2253 points versus 2237 for the i7.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-10510U is the clear winner in multi-threaded workloads that scale with thread count. The data shows it leading in every Cinebench multi-core test, PassMark integer math, encryption, floating point math, multi-thread, random string sorting, and physics. This makes it the superior choice for video rendering, code compilation, data encryption, and any task that can utilize more than 4 threads. Its 8 threads versus the i5’s 4 threads are the primary factor, and the benchmark results indicate that the i7 can deliver between 5% and 48.7% higher performance in these scenarios. The i7-10510U also wins in single-core Cinebench tests, which is notable given its lower base clock, suggesting that its higher boost clock of 4.90 GHz and newer Comet Lake architecture offer better per-core performance when the workload is brief and boost clocks are sustained.

The Intel Core i5-7500 wins in Geekbench tests, both single and multi-core, with margins of 19.2% and 26.8% respectively. This indicates that for legacy applications or software that relies on older benchmark methodologies, the i5-7500’s higher sustained clocks provide a significant advantage. The i5-7500 also dominates in PassMark extended instructions and find prime numbers, which are likely sensitive to specific instruction-level optimizations or single-thread latency rather than raw thread count. The data compression test is a near-tie, but the i5 edges it out, suggesting that compression algorithms may not fully utilize the i7’s extra threads. For users running lightly threaded applications, such as older games or single-threaded productivity tools, the i5-7500’s performance is clearly superior, as evidenced by its Geekbench results.

Architecture Differences

The two processors differ fundamentally in their architecture and target platforms. The Intel Core i7-10510U is based on the Comet Lake architecture, specifically the Comet Lake-U codename, and is built on a 14 nm process node. It uses the Intel BGA 1440 socket, indicating a mobile design, and has a thermal design power (TDP) of 25 watts. The i7-10510U has 4 cores and 8 threads, enabled by Hyper-Threading, with a base clock of 1800 MHz and a boost clock of 4900 MHz. Its cache hierarchy includes 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. It supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory, and its integrated graphics are UHD Graphics. The production status is end-of-life, with a release date of August 20, 2019.

The Intel Core i5-7500 is based on the Kaby Lake architecture, also on a 14 nm process node, but uses the Intel Socket 1151 for desktop systems. Its TDP is 65 watts, reflecting a higher power envelope. It has 4 cores and 4 threads, meaning no Hyper-Threading, with a base clock of 3400 MHz and a boost clock of 3800 MHz. The cache hierarchy is smaller in L3, with 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. It supports only DDR4 memory, with a dual-channel memory bus and a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. Its PCIe support is Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), and the integrated graphics are HD 630. The production status is active, and its release date is January 2, 2017. The i5-7500 has a part number of SR335.

These differences explain the benchmark results. The i7-10510U’s 8 threads and larger 8 MB L3 cache give it an edge in multi-threaded and cache-sensitive workloads. The i5-7500’s higher base clock, 65-watt TDP, and dedicated desktop socket allow it to sustain higher clocks for longer periods, which is visible in the Geekbench and PassMark single-thread tests. The i5-7500’s memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s is explicitly recorded, while the i7-10510U’s memory bandwidth is not listed, suggesting a potential limitation in memory throughput for the mobile chip.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-10510U has 8 threads, while the Intel Core i5-7500 has 4 threads. The i7 uses Hyper-Threading to double its core count.

Q: What is the performance difference in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The i7-10510U scores 5388, while the i5-7500 scores 5133, giving the i7 a 5% advantage in this multi-threaded test.

Q: Why does the i5-7500 win the Geekbench multi-core test despite having fewer threads?

A: The i5-7500 scores 3619 versus 2648 for the i7-10510U, a 26.8% margin. This is due to the i5’s higher base clock of 3.40 GHz and boost clock of 3.80 GHz, which provide superior per-thread performance that outweighs the i7’s thread advantage in this benchmark.

Q: What are the TDP differences between these two CPUs?

A: The i7-10510U has a TDP of 25 watts, while the i5-7500 has a TDP of 65 watts. This reflects the mobile versus desktop design split.

Q: Which CPU has a larger L3 cache?

A: The i7-10510U has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i5-7500 has 6 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: Are both processors built on the same process node?

A: Yes, both are built on a 14 nm process node, but they use different architectures: Comet Lake for the i7-10510U and Kaby Lake for the i5-7500.

Specification Differences

The key specification differences between the Intel Core i7-10510U and Intel Core i5-7500 are as follows:

• Threads: The i7-10510U has 8 threads, the i5-7500 has 4 threads.
• Base Clock: The i7-10510U has a base clock of 1800 MHz, the i5-7500 has a base clock of 3400 MHz.
• Boost Clock: The i7-10510U has a boost clock of 4.90 GHz, the i5-7500 has a boost clock of 3.80 GHz.
• TDP: The i7-10510U has a TDP of 25 watts, the i5-7500 has a TDP of 65 watts.
• Socket: The i7-10510U uses Intel BGA 1440, the i5-7500 uses Intel Socket 1151.
• Architecture: The i7-10510U is Comet Lake, the i5-7500 is Kaby Lake.
• L3 Cache: The i7-10510U has 8 MB shared, the i5-7500 has 6 MB shared.
• Memory Support: The i7-10510U supports DDR3 and DDR4, the i5-7500 supports only DDR4.
• Memory Bus: The i7-10510U has no listed memory bus, the i5-7500 has a dual-channel bus.
• Memory Bandwidth: The i7-10510U has no listed bandwidth, the i5-7500 has 38.4 GB/s.
• PCIe: The i7-10510U has no listed PCIe support, the i5-7500 has Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only).
• Integrated Graphics: The i7-10510U has UHD Graphics, the i5-7500 has HD 630.
• Market Segment: The i7-10510U is mobile, the i5-7500 is desktop.
• Production Status: The i7-10510U is end-of-life, the i5-7500 is active.
• Release Date: The i7-10510U was released on August 20, 2019, the i5-7500 on January 2, 2017.
• Part Number: The i7-10510U has no listed part number, the i5-7500 has part number SR335.