Core i3-1210U vs Core i5-8500
Core i3-1210U
Core i5-8500
Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. The Core i3-1210U is positioned at rank #317 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Lower cost-benefit for your build. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-1210U
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-8500
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-1210U | Core i5-8500 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($80) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Alder Lake-U (2022) / Intel 7 nm) | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake-S (2017−2018) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-1210U | Core i5-8500 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($80) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core i3-1210U and Core i5-8500
Core i3-1210U
The Core i3-1210U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 23 February 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-U (2022) architecture. It features 6 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 1 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 10 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1781. Thermal design power (TDP): 9 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 9,438 points. Launch price was $149.
Core i5-8500
The Core i5-8500 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 February 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-S (2017−2018) architecture. It features 6 cores and 6 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 4.1 GHz. L3 cache: 9 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 9,521 points. Launch price was $202.
Processing Power
The Core i3-1210U packs 6 cores / 8 threads, matching the Core i5-8500's 6 cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i3-1210U versus 4.1 GHz on the Core i5-8500 — a 7.1% clock advantage for the Core i3-1210U (base: 1 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Core i3-1210U uses the Alder Lake-U (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core i5-8500 uses Coffee Lake-S (2017−2018) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-1210U scores 9,438 against the Core i5-8500's 9,521 — a 0.9% lead for the Core i5-8500. L3 cache: 10 MB (total) on the Core i3-1210U vs 9 MB (total) on the Core i5-8500.
| Feature | Core i3-1210U | Core i5-8500 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 8 | 6 / 6 |
| Boost Clock | 4.4 GHz+7% | 4.1 GHz |
| Base Clock | 1 GHz | 3 GHz+200% |
| L3 Cache | 10 MB (total)+11% | 9 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core)+400% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | Intel 7 nm-50% | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Alder Lake-U (2022) | Coffee Lake-S (2017−2018) |
| PassMark | 9,438 | 9,521 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 2,040 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-1210U uses the FCBGA1781 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Core i5-8500 uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i3-1210U | Core i5-8500 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1781 | LGA1151 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0+67% | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | LPDDR5-5200 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 14 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i3-1210U) / not specified (Core i5-8500). The Core i3-1210U includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics for 12th Gen (64 EU)), while the Core i5-8500 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-1210U targets Thin & Light Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i3-1210U rivals Ryzen 3 5425U.
| Feature | Core i3-1210U | Core i5-8500 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | UHD Graphics for 12th Gen (64 EU) | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | — |
| Target Use | Thin & Light Laptop | — |
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