Intel Core i3-1210U vs Intel Core i5-1240U

Processor comparisons   10-01-2022
   For example you are thinking about choosing a CPU, you will be able to make a choice after reading the full tests Intel Core i3-1210U vs Intel Core i5-1240U and understand which is better for games or normal use for streaming, rendering, programming, machine learning, video editing. Here is all information from real video editing and streaming tests or several benchmarks. A thorough analysis of all the specifications, so that it can be easier to read, is presented in the form of the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of parallel examination in software tests such as VeraCrypt, Handbrake, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, DaVinci Resolve Studio, WPrime, GeekBench 6, 5.2, PCMark 10, Dolphin Emulator, SuperPi, MATLAB, Furmark, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), AIDA64, 3DMark, Blender, PassMark, UserBenchmark, Blender, Gears 5, 7zip, RealBench, Prime95.
   Gaming performance of CPUs in:

Fallout 76
Watch Dogs Legion
Call of Duty: Warzone and Modern Warfare
World of Warcraft: Shadowlands
Valheim
Overwatch
Death Stranding
Rainbow Six Siege
Cyberpunk 2077
Valorant
Borderlands 3
Apex Legends
Assassin's Creed Valhalla
Fortnite
Red Dead Redemption 2
Last Man Standing
Grand Theft Auto V
DOOM: Eternal
Halo Infinite

After reading the results of parallel benchmarks and videos, you already be able to understand which CPU is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i5-1240U or Intel Core i3-1210U.

Summary benchmark results

As a percentage of the maximum value based on a sample from the entire base of all processors
Processor Benchmark

Core i3-1210U

54%

Core i5-1240U

55%

This value shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i5-1240U is 1% better than Core i3-1210U. The data source is several popular tests. More detailed information of the benchmarks is below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i3-1210U

53%

Core i5-1240U

53%

The maximum result in this parameter is 100 percent, which is the performance of the most powerful processor at the moment. And of course, this is a server processor, on which no one will run games. Because the cost of this processor reaches several tens of thousands of dollars. And if it seems to you that the selected CPU has a low game result, just look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the final table below.
List of less popular games in which CPU comparisons were performed: Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Ghostrunner, League of Legends (LOL), Hitman 3, Microsoft Flight Simulator, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, NBA 2K20, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Forza Horizon 4, Half-Life: Alyx, Battlefield V, Metro Exodus, Monster Hunter World, DOTA 2A, Control, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Horizon Zero Dawn.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	94.3	94.7
Valorant	107.1	107.7
Cyberpunk 2077	60.0	60.3
Apex Legends	100.7	101.2
Call of Duty Warzone	80.3	80.7
Overwatch	86.8	87.2
Red Dead Redemption 2	73.9	74.3
DOOM Eternal	53.6	53.8
Warzone	83.6	84.0
Assassin's Creed	90.0	90.4
Valheim	88.9	89.4

The numbers in this table indicate the maximum FPS that was received on the device with the corresponding processor. Depending on the configuration of the computer (RAM size and Video Card) and graphics quality settings (Ultra, Medium, Normal), the results may differ quite significantly. We recommend that you better study the results of the Cinebench, GeekBench and Passmark becnmarks.
The computers participating in the comparisons not only were the equipped with different amounts of RAM and different video cards. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 4K, 2K or FullHD. Therefore, the game benchmark data is approximate. But all video cards met the average system requirements of games. To be sure exactly how much performance the processor will be in games, if you get acquainted with the benchmarks that are made with the same video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Core i3-1210U

409%

Core i5-1240U

440%

To make a finishing choice on which processor is better, you should also consider the generation of its core. The newer the processor generation, the better its performance in games and benchmarks, as well as its energy efficiency. In this case the Core i5-1240U is more energy efficient than the Core i3-1210U as it consumes less power: 9W vs. 9W. Power consumption is particularly important for laptops. And TDP should be taken into account when choosing a processor cooling system. You need to buy a cooler that has the TDP data specified in the specification was greater than the TDP of the compared processor.

Software benchmarks

Let's say you want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for video editing or video rendering, machine learning, streaming, programming, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to achieve maximum performance, the processor turns on all threads and cores that it has. You will find out this data from the benchmark tables below. Before using the data from these tests, be sure to make sure that the software that you are going to use on your computer can work in multi-threaded mode. Because there are still many programs that can use only one core to work, and all the benefit of multi-core mode turns out to be unnecessary.
Cinebench 23, 20 an 15
The results of this benchmark show Single-threaded and Multi-threaded CPU performance

	Intel Core i3-1210U	Intel Core i5-1240U
Cinbench 15 Single-core	204	218
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	1495	1607
Cinbench 20 Single-core	490	527
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	3395	3649
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1147	1233
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	11189	12029

Passmark
This popular benchmark displays Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	Intel Core i3-1210U	Intel Core i5-1240U
Single-Core	2684	2885
Multi-Core	15665	16840

GeekBench 6, 5.2
This benchmark shows Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	Intel Core i3-1210U	Intel Core i5-1240U
Single-Core	1106	1189
Multi-Core	6143	6604

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the processor release date and overclocking capability will be the most helpful. The later the processor is released, the longer it will last you. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system later. The same can be said about overclocking. If the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce maximum FPS in new games. It turns out that you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The economy are obvious!

	Intel Core i3-1210U	Intel Core i5-1240U
Announcement date	January 07, 2022	January 07, 2022
Type	Laptop	Laptop
Socket	FCBGA1744	FCBGA1744
Core name	Alder Lake-U	Alder Lake-U
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	12	12
Turbo Frequency	4.4 MHz	4.4 MHz
Frequency	1 MHz	1 MHz
Cores	6	10
Threads	8	12
Bus rate	8 GT/s	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	10 nm	10 nm
Transistors count	9800 millions	9800 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	9 W	9 W
Memory type	Up to DDR5 4800 MT/s Up to DDR4 3200 MT/s Up to LPDDR5 5200 MT/s Up to LPDDR4x 4267 MT/s	Up to DDR5 4800 MT/s Up to DDR4 3200 MT/s Up to LPDDR5 5200 MT/s Up to LPDDR4x 4267 MT/s
Max. Memory	64 Gb	64 Gb
Memory Frequency
Memory bandwidth	45.8 GB/s	45.8 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache
L3 cache	24 MB	24 MB
Overclocking	No	No
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Another difference is that Core i5-1240U has 4 more core than Core i3-1210U. Also keep in mind that high CPU frequency affects battery life through power consumption (relevant for laptops).

Result:
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i3-1210U is better: 0
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i5-1240U is better: 23
However, it should be understood that all the data in the text above do not mean that taking them into account you should totally trust a simple comparison of these numbers. Better to watch the video tests and read the opinion of of people who bought Intel Core i3-1210U and Intel Core i5-1240U before deciding which processor to buy for gaming and which not.

Intel Core i3-1210U - all data

• Cinebench r15 score
• Cinebench r20 score
• Cinebench r23 score
• GeekBench 6, 5.2 score

• Intel Core i3-1210U specs and review.

Intel Core i5-1240U - all data

• Cinebench r15 score
• Cinebench r20 score
• Cinebench r23 score
• GeekBench 6, 5.2 score

• Intel Core i5-1240U specs and review.