Intel Core i7-10610U vs Intel Core i7-8560U Comparison

The Intel Core i7-8560U and Intel Core i7-10610U are nearly identical in benchmark performance, but the data consistently favors the older Whiskey Lake chip. Across every single test in the head-to-head comparison, the i7-8560U posts higher scores, albeit by very slim margins. The i7-10610U counters with a higher boost clock and a higher TDP, but these advantages do not translate into benchmark victories. For users deciding between these two end-of-life mobile processors, the choice comes down to whether the newer platform features of the Comet Lake part justify a marginal performance deficit.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-8560U wins every benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, making it the straightforward performance pick. It takes all six tests, with deltas ranging from 1.2% to 1.3% over its rival. This consistency across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23—both single-core and multi-core—indicates that the i7-8560U holds a small but uniform advantage in raw compute tasks. The largest win is a 1.3% margin in Cinebench R20 multi-core, while the smallest is a 1.2% margin in Cinebench R15 multi-core and R20 single-core.

The Intel Core i7-10610U, in contrast, does not win any benchmark in this matchup. Its 4.90 GHz boost clock is higher than the i7-8560U’s 4.60 GHz, and its 25 W TDP is larger than the 15 W of the older chip, yet these specifications do not produce a single test victory. The data shows that the i7-10610U’s architectural refinements are not enough to overcome the i7-8560U’s benchmark lead, even in single-threaded workloads where clock speed typically matters most. For example, in Cinebench R23 single-core, the i7-8560U scores 796 against 786 for the i7-10610U, a 1.3% difference.

This result means that the i7-8560U is the better choice for any application relying on the tested Cinebench workloads. The i7-10610U offers no measurable performance advantage in this dataset, so its utility must come from other features, such as its newer Comet Lake architecture and different socket compatibility, rather than raw speed.

Architecture Differences

Both processors share the same fundamental design: 4 cores, 8 threads, 14 nm process node, and an identical cache layout of 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 8 MB shared L3. They also both support DDR3 and DDR4 memory over a dual-channel bus and lack ECC support. The similarities end there, as the two chips come from different architectural generations.

The i7-8560U is built on Whiskey Lake, specifically the Whiskey Lake-U codename, and belongs to the Core i7 (Whiskey Lake) generation. It was released on 2018-09-30 and uses the Intel BGA 1528 socket. Its integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 620, and it supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only).

The i7-10610U is a Comet Lake part, with the Comet Lake-U codename, and is part of the Core 10th Gen series. It was released on 2020-04-01, about 18 months later, and uses the Intel BGA 1440 socket. Its integrated graphics are listed simply as UHD Graphics, without the 620 designation, and its PCIe support is Gen 3 without a specified lane count. The i7-10610U also has a higher TDP of 25 W compared to the i7-8560U’s 15 W, and its boost clock reaches 4.90 GHz versus 4.60 GHz. Notably, the i7-10610U’s memory bandwidth is not listed in the data, while the i7-8560U has a specified 38.4 GB/s.

The process node is identical (14 nm, Intel foundry), and both chips have a production status of end-of-life. Neither has an unlocked multiplier. The key architectural takeaways are the socket change, the graphics branding difference, and the TDP increase in the newer part, none of which alter the benchmark outcomes.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data is remarkably consistent, with the i7-8560U winning every test by a narrow margin. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i7-8560U scores 568 against 561 for the i7-10610U, a 1.2% difference. The single-core test in R15 shows a similar pattern: 80 versus 79, a 1.3% delta. Moving to Cinebench R20, the multi-core result is 2369 for the i7-8560U and 2338 for the i7-10610U, a 1.3% gap, while the single-core test is 334 versus 330, a 1.2% difference.

The most recent Cinebench R23 tests follow the same trend. In multi-core, the i7-8560U scores 5641, beating the i7-10610U’s 5569 by 1.3%. In single-core, the i7-8560U scores 796 against 786, again a 1.3% margin. The largest absolute difference is in R23 multi-core, where the i7-8560U leads by 72 points; the smallest absolute difference is in R15 single-core, where it leads by just 1 point.

These results show that the i7-8560U’s advantage is neither workload-specific nor clock-dependent. It wins by the same small percentage in both single- and multi-threaded tests across three generations of Cinebench. The i7-10610U’s higher 4.90 GHz boost clock does not help it close the gap, suggesting that other factors, such as sustained power delivery or microarchitectural efficiency, favor the older chip in this specific comparison.

The average benchmark scores reinforce this picture. The i7-8560U has an average benchmark score of 1631, while the i7-10610U sits at 1611. Both chips are in the 39th percentile of all CPUs, indicating they are mid-range performers overall. The i7-8560U’s nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon E5-2623 v3 (1630, +0.1%), the Intel Pentium Gold G7400T (1628, +0.2%), and the Intel Core i3-9100T (1620, +0.7%), with the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 2200G slightly ahead at 1640 (-0.6%). The i7-10610U’s rivals include the Intel Core i7-970 (1613, -0.1%), the Intel Xeon E3-1240L v5 (1609, +0.1%), and the Intel Core i3-9100E (1605, +0.4%), with the same Intel Core i3-9100T ahead at 1620 (-0.6%). These rival comparisons show that both chips sit in a tightly clustered performance band, with the i7-8560U holding a slight edge.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core i7-8560U wins every multi-core test. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 5641 versus 5569 for the i7-10610U, a 1.3% advantage.

Q: Does the i7-10610U have a higher boost clock, and does it matter?

A: Yes, the i7-10610U boosts to 4.90 GHz compared to 4.60 GHz for the i7-8560U. However, this does not produce a benchmark win; the i7-8560U still leads in single-core tests, such as 796 versus 786 in Cinebench R23 single-core.

Q: Are the cache sizes different between the two CPUs?

A: No. Both have 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 8 MB shared L3 cache.

Q: What are the socket requirements for each chip?

A: The i7-8560U uses Intel BGA 1528, while the i7-10610U uses Intel BGA 1440. They are not socket-compatible.

Q: Which chip has a higher TDP?

A: The i7-10610U has a TDP of 25 W, while the i7-8560U has a TDP of 15 W.

Q: Do both CPUs support the same memory types?

A: Yes, both support DDR3 and DDR4 memory over a dual-channel bus. The i7-8560U has a listed memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, while the i7-10610U’s bandwidth is not specified in the data.

Specification Differences

The following fields differ between the two processors:

• Boost Clock: i7-8560U at 4.60 GHz, i7-10610U at 4.90 GHz
• TDP: i7-8560U at 15 W, i7-10610U at 25 W
• Socket: i7-8560U uses Intel BGA 1528, i7-10610U uses Intel BGA 1440
• Architecture: i7-8560U is Whiskey Lake, i7-10610U is Comet Lake
• Codename: i7-8560U is Whiskey Lake-U, i7-10610U is Comet Lake-U
• Generation: i7-8560U is Core i7 (Whiskey Lake), i7-10610U is Core i7 (Comet Lake-U)
• Integrated Graphics: i7-8560U has UHD Graphics 620, i7-10610U has UHD Graphics
• PCIe: i7-8560U has Gen 3 with 16 Lanes (CPU only), i7-10610U has Gen 3 with no lane count specified
• Memory Bandwidth: i7-8560U is 38.4 GB/s, i7-10610U is not listed
• Release Date: i7-8560U on 2018-09-30, i7-10610U on 2020-04-01
• Part Number: i7-8560U is SRGML, i7-10610U is not listed
• Series: i7-8560U is null, i7-10610U is Core 10th Gen

Identical fields include cores (4), threads (8), base clock (1800.00 MHz), process node (14 nm), foundry (Intel), all cache levels, memory support (DDR3, DDR4), memory bus (Dual-channel), ECC memory (false), market segment (Mobile), production status (End-of-life), and multiplier unlock (false).

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i7-8560U is the faster processor in this comparison, winning all six head-to-head benchmarks with margins between 1.2% and 1.3%. Its average benchmark score of 1631 exceeds the i7-10610U’s 1611, and both sit at the 39th percentile overall. The i7-8560U achieves this despite a lower boost clock (4.60 GHz vs. 4.90 GHz) and a lower TDP (15 W vs. 25 W), which makes its performance lead even more notable from an efficiency standpoint.

The i7-10610U’s main advantages are its newer Comet Lake architecture, a later release date (2020-04-01 vs. 2018-09-30), and a different socket (BGA 1440 vs. BGA 1528). These factors matter for platform compatibility, but they do not translate into better benchmark results. For users who prioritize raw Cinebench scores, the i7-8560U is the clear pick. For those who need the specific Comet Lake platform features or the BGA 1440 socket, the i7-10610U remains a viable option, but the performance data offers no reason to prefer it on speed alone. In this matchup, the older Whiskey Lake chip outperforms its newer Comet Lake rival across the board.