Core i3-8109U vs Core i5-10210Y

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.

Core i3-8109U vs Core i5-10210Y FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Core i3-8109U vs Core i5-10210Y: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Core i3-8109U

2018

Why buy it

✅+1.3% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 28W instead of 512W, a 484W reduction.
✅60% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 10) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-10210Y across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Smaller total L3 cache (4 MB vs 6 MB).

Core i5-10210Y

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +10.6% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+50% larger total L3 cache (6 MB vs 4 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (4,131 vs 4,184).
❌1728.6% higher power demand at 512W vs 28W.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i3-8109U better than Core i5-10210Y?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Core i5-10210Y is ahead with a 10.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i3-8109U pulls ahead with 1.3% better PassMark. Core i5-10210Y also has the bigger cache pool with 50% larger total L3 cache (6 MB vs 4 MB).

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i3-8109U is the stronger fit. You are getting 1.3% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 4 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core i3-8109U still makes the most sense overall. Core i3-8109U comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you 1.3% better PassMark.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core i5-10210Y makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2019 vs 2018) and 50% larger total L3 cache (6 MB vs 4 MB). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Core i3-8109U vs Core i5-10210Y Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Core i3-8109U

The Core i3-8109U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 5 April 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-U (2018−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1528. Thermal design power (TDP): 28 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 4,184 points. Launch price was $304.

Core i5-10210Y

The Core i5-10210Y is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 21 August 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Comet Lake-Y (2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 1 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: UTFCBGA1377. Thermal design power (TDP): 7 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 4,131 points. Launch price was $69.

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Processing Power

The Core i3-8109U packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i5-10210Y offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Core i5-10210Y has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.6 GHz on the Core i3-8109U versus 4 GHz on the Core i5-10210Y — a 10.5% clock advantage for the Core i5-10210Y (base: 3 GHz vs 1 GHz). The Core i3-8109U uses the Coffee Lake-U (2018−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i5-10210Y uses Comet Lake-Y (2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-8109U scores 4,184 against the Core i5-10210Y's 4,131 — a 1.3% lead for the Core i3-8109U. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,100 vs 1,079, a 1.9% lead for the Core i3-8109U that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Core i3-8109U vs 6 MB (total) on the Core i5-10210Y.

Feature	Core i3-8109U	Core i5-10210Y
Cores / Threads	2 / 4	4 / 8+100%
Boost Clock	3.6 GHz	4 GHz+11%
Base Clock	3 GHz+200%	1 GHz
L3 Cache	4 MB (total)	6 MB (total)+50%
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	256K (per core)
Process	14 nm	14 nm
Architecture	Coffee Lake-U (2018−2019)	Comet Lake-Y (2019)
PassMark	4,184+1%	4,131
Geekbench 6 Single	1,100+2%	1,079
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	2,380

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Memory & Platform

The Core i3-8109U uses the FCBGA1528 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i5-10210Y uses UTFCBGA1377 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2400 on the Core i3-8109U versus LPDDR3 2133 MHz on the Core i5-10210Y — the Core i3-8109U supports 12.5% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i3-8109U supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 16 GB — 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i3-8109U) vs 10 (Core i5-10210Y) — the Core i3-8109U offers 6 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.

Feature	Core i3-8109U	Core i5-10210Y
Socket	FCBGA1528	UTFCBGA1377
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2400+13%	LPDDR3 2133 MHz
Max RAM Capacity	32 GB+100%	16 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	16+60%	10

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Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i3-8109U) vs true (Core i5-10210Y). Both include integrated graphics — Iris Plus Graphics 655 (Core i3-8109U) and Intel UHD Graphics 615 (Core i5-10210Y) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-8109U targets Performance Laptop, Core i5-10210Y targets Mobile Low Power. Direct competitor: Core i3-8109U rivals Ryzen 3 3200U.

Feature	Core i3-8109U	Core i5-10210Y
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	Iris Plus Graphics 655	Intel UHD Graphics 615
Unlocked	No	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	true
Target Use	Performance Laptop	Mobile Low Power