Intel Core i5-3210M vs Intel Core i7-7500U

Processor comparisons 17-03-2021

   For example you have difficulties with the choice of a CPU, you will solve them by reading the full tests Intel Core i5-3210M vs Intel Core i7-7500U and decide which is better for games or normal use for machine learning, rendering, streaming, programming, video editing. Here is useful information from different benchmarks or real streaming and video editing tests. A step-by-step analysis of all the specifications, to make it easier to read, is made by the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of parallel examination in special testing software such as AIDA64, 3DMark, Dolphin Emulator, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Blender, MATLAB, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), Handbrake, UserBenchmark, SuperPi, Gears 5, GeekBench 6, 5.2, Blender, Prime95, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Furmark, WPrime, PassMark, VeraCrypt, 7zip, PCMark 10, RealBench.
   And how good the processors are in games:

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

After looking at the data of parallel benchmarks and videos, you already be able to figure out which CPU is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i7-7500U or Intel Core i5-3210M.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i5-3210M

50%

Core i7-7500U

51%

The number of this parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i7-7500U is 1% better than Core i5-3210M. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i5-3210M

50%

Core i7-7500U

51%

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 play games. Because this processor costs several tens of thousands of dollars. And if it seems to you that the selected CPU has a little game result, look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the summary table below.
List of less popular games in which CPU comparisons were performed: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Control, League of Legends (LOL), Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Half-Life: Alyx, NBA 2K20, Ghostrunner, Battlefield V, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Forza Horizon 4, DOTA 2A, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Metro Exodus, Horizon Zero Dawn, Monster Hunter World, Hitman 3, Microsoft Flight Simulator.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	89.5	90.3
Valorant	101.7	102.6
Cyberpunk 2077	57.0	57.4
Apex Legends	95.6	96.4
Call of Duty Warzone	76.3	76.9
Overwatch	82.4	83.1
Red Dead Redemption 2	70.2	70.8
DOOM Eternal	50.9	51.3
Warzone	79.3	80.0
Assassin's Creed	85.4	86.2
Valheim	84.4	85.1

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 tested computers not only did they have different amounts of RAM and different video cards. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 2K, 4K 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 i5-3210M

66%

Core i7-7500U

215%

To make a finishing resolution 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 i7-7500U is more energy efficient than the Core i5-3210M as it consumes less power: 35W vs. 15W. Power consumption is particularly important for laptops. And TDP should be taken into account when choosing a processor cooling system. It is necessary to count so that the TDP data specified in the cooler specification is greater than the TDP of the compared processor.

Software benchmarks

If you plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for machine learning, video editing or video rendering, programming, streaming, then first of all you need to pay attention to the performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to reach maximum efficiency, the processor includes all cores and threads that it has. You will learn this data from the benchmark tables below. Before you take into account 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 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 i5-3210M	Intel Core i7-7500U
Cinbench 15 Single-core	107	149
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	256	376
Cinbench 20 Single-core	231	354
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	534	739
Cinbench 23 Single-core	576	519
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	1373	2492

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

	Intel Core i5-3210M	Intel Core i7-7500U
Single-Core	1545	1956
Multi-Core	2429	3649

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

	Intel Core i5-3210M	Intel Core i7-7500U
Single-Core	693	971
Multi-Core	1489	2214

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 benefits from the presence of overclocking. When the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS even in the newest games. The savings are obvious! Accordingly, you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	Intel Core i5-3210M	Intel Core i7-7500U
Announcement date	January 01, 2012	October 01, 2016
Type	Laptop	Laptop
Socket	PGA988B	FCBGA1356
Core name	Ivy Bridge	Kaby Lake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	3	7
Turbo Frequency	3.1 MHz	3.5 MHz
Frequency	2.5 MHz	2.7 MHz
Cores	2	2
Threads	4	4
Bus rate	5 GT/s	4 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	22 nm	14 nm
Transistors count	2400 millions	1700 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	35 W	15 W
Memory type	DDR3/L/-RS 1333/1600	DDR4-2133, LPDDR3-1866, DDR3L-1600
Max. Memory	32 Gb	32 Gb
Memory Frequency
Memory bandwidth	25.6 GB/s	34.1 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache
L3 cache	3 MB	4 MB
Overclocking	Yes	Yes
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. Here Core i7-7500U is 7% better than Core i5-3210M in terms of CPU frequency. 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 i5-3210M is better: 3
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i7-7500U is better: 28
Although it should be realized that all the number in the article above do not mean that taking them into account you should completely trust a simple comparison of these numbers. Be sure to watch benchmarks video and read the opinion of real owners of Intel Core i5-3210M and Intel Core i7-7500U before deciding which of the processors to buy for gaming.

• Intel Core i5-3210M specs and review.

• Intel Core i7-7500U specs and review.