Intel Core i3-1215U vs Intel Core i5-1235U

Processor comparisons 10-01-2022

   If you can't decide which CPU to buy, you can make a choice by looking at the Intel Core i3-1215U vs Intel Core i5-1235U tests and understand which is better for games or simple use for rendering, machine learning, streaming, video editing, programming. Here is useful information from many benchmarks or real video editing and streaming tests. A thorough analysis of all the specifications, so that it can be easier to understand, is made by the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of parallel examination in software tests such as GeekBench 6, 5.2, VeraCrypt, PCMark 10, AIDA64, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), Furmark, UserBenchmark, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Blender, DaVinci Resolve Studio, RealBench, MATLAB, Gears 5, PassMark, WPrime, SuperPi, Dolphin Emulator, Handbrake, 7zip, Blender, 3DMark, Prime95.
   And how good the processors are in games:

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

After looking at the data of all benchmarks and videos, you already be able to know which CPU is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i5-1235U or Intel Core i3-1215U.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i3-1215U

54%

Core i5-1235U

55%

This shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i5-1235U is 1% better than Core i3-1215U. The data source is several popular tests. More detailed information of the benchmarks is below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i3-1215U

53%

Core i5-1235U

53%

The maximum result in this parameter is 100 percent, which is the performance of the most powerful processor currently available. 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. Therefore, if you think that the selected CPU has a little 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 processors were compared: League of Legends (LOL), Hitman 3, Forza Horizon 4, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Control, DOTA 2A, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Monster Hunter World, Horizon Zero Dawn, Half-Life: Alyx, Metro Exodus, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Battlefield V, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Ghostrunner, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, NBA 2K20.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	94.3	94.8
Valorant	107.2	107.7
Cyberpunk 2077	60.0	60.3
Apex Legends	100.8	101.3
Call of Duty Warzone	80.4	80.8
Overwatch	86.8	87.3
Red Dead Redemption 2	74.0	74.3
DOOM Eternal	53.6	53.9
Warzone	83.6	84.0
Assassin's Creed	90.0	90.5
Valheim	89.0	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 that were in the comparisons not only did they have different amounts of RAM and different video cards. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 4K, 2K or FullHD. So the game benchmark data is approximate. But all video cards met the average system requirements of games. You will get more accurate information about how powerful 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 i3-1215U

248%

Core i5-1235U

266%

To make a finishing decision 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 i5-1235U is more energy efficient than the Core i3-1215U since it has less power consumption: 15W vs. 15W. Power consumption is particularly important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, it will be useful to know its TDP. It is necessary to calculate so that the TDP data specified in the cooler specification is greater than the TDP of the compared processor.

Software benchmarks

Let's say you plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for programming, video editing or video rendering, streaming, machine learning, then first of all you need to pay attention to the performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to reach maximum performance, the CPU turns on all cores and threads that it has. You will learn this data from the benchmark tables below. Before using the data from these tests, be sure to check whether the software you are going to use on your computer supports multi-threaded mode. Because there are still many programs that use only one core to work, and all the advantages of multi-core mode are unused.

Cinebench 23, 20 an 15
The results of this benchmark show Single-threaded and Multi-threaded CPU performance

	Intel Core i3-1215U	Intel Core i5-1235U
Cinbench 15 Single-core	206	221
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	1510	1624
Cinbench 20 Single-core	495	532
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	3429	3687
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1159	1246
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	11302	12153

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

	Intel Core i3-1215U	Intel Core i5-1235U
Single-Core	2711	2915
Multi-Core	15823	17014

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

	Intel Core i3-1215U	Intel Core i5-1235U
Single-Core	1117	1201
Multi-Core	6205	6672

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the processor release date and overclocking capability will be the most helpful. The newer the processor, 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, thereby increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce maximum FPS even in new games. It turns out that there is no longer a need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The savings are obvious!

	Intel Core i3-1215U	Intel Core i5-1235U
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	1.3 MHz	1.3 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)	15 W	15 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 i5-1235U has 4 more core than Core i3-1215U. 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 i3-1215U is better: 0
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i5-1235U is better: 23
However, it should be realized that all the number that you have looked at here do not mean that taking them into account you should totally trust a simple quantitative comparison. Be sure to watch benchmarks video and read the reviews of of people who bought Intel Core i3-1215U and Intel Core i5-1235U before making a decision which of the processors to buy for gaming.

Intel Core i3-1215U - all data

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

• Intel Core i3-1215U specs and review.

Intel Core i5-1235U - all data

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

• Intel Core i5-1235U specs and review.