
Core i5-10310U vs Core i5-8265U

Core i5-10310U

Core i5-8265U
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. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Core i5-10310U is positioned at rank 566 and the Core i5-8265U is on rank 353, so the Core i5-8265U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-10310U
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-8265U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-10310U | Core i5-8265U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Comet Lake-U (2019−2020) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Whiskey Lake-U (2018−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-10310U | Core i5-8265U |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 i5-10310U and Core i5-8265U

Core i5-10310U
The Core i5-10310U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 13 May 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Comet Lake-U (2019−2020) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 1.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1528. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 5,864 points. Launch price was $149.

Core i5-8265U
The Core i5-8265U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 October 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Whiskey Lake-U (2018−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 1.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1528. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 5,812 points. Launch price was $297.
Processing Power
Both the Core i5-10310U and Core i5-8265U share an identical 4-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-10310U versus 3.9 GHz on the Core i5-8265U — a 12% clock advantage for the Core i5-10310U (base: 1.7 GHz vs 1.6 GHz). The Core i5-10310U uses the Comet Lake-U (2019−2020) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i5-8265U uses Whiskey Lake-U (2018−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-10310U scores 5,864 against the Core i5-8265U's 5,812 — a 0.9% lead for the Core i5-10310U. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,284 vs 1,200, a 6.8% lead for the Core i5-10310U that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 6 MB on the Core i5-10310U vs 6 MB (total) on the Core i5-8265U.
| Feature | Core i5-10310U | Core i5-8265U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 4.4 GHz+13% | 3.9 GHz |
| Base Clock | 1.7 GHz+6% | 1.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB | 6 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB+300% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Comet Lake-U (2019−2020) | Whiskey Lake-U (2018−2019) |
| PassMark | 5,864 | 5,812 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 3,000 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,284+7% | 1,200 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 3,500 |
Memory & Platform
Both processors use the FCBGA1528 socket with PCIe 3.0. Both support up to DDR4-2666 memory speed. Both support up to 64 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes.
| Feature | Core i5-10310U | Core i5-8265U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1528 | FCBGA1528 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2666 | DDR4-2400 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Both support VT-x, VT-d, EPT virtualization. Both include integrated graphics — UHD Graphics for 10th Gen (Core i5-10310U) and Intel UHD Graphics 620 (Core i5-8265U) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-10310U targets Business Laptop, Core i5-8265U targets Mainstream Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i5-10310U rivals Ryzen 5 PRO 4650U.
| Feature | Core i5-10310U | Core i5-8265U |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | UHD Graphics for 10th Gen | Intel UHD Graphics 620 |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | Business Laptop | Mainstream Laptop |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.












