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.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Core i5-2310

2011

Why buy it

✅Draws 95W instead of 512W, a 417W reduction.
✅60% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 10) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i7-10510Y.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (565 vs 1,270).
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (1,740 vs 2,960).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (6 MB vs 8 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $177 MSRP, while Core i7-10510Y mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Core i7-10510Y

2019

Why buy it

✅+124.8% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 6 MB).

Trade-offs

❌438.9% higher power demand at 512W vs 95W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-2310.

Core i5-2310

2011

Core i7-10510Y

2019

Why buy it

✅Draws 95W instead of 512W, a 417W reduction.
✅60% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 10) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i7-10510Y.

Why buy it

✅+124.8% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 6 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (565 vs 1,270).
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (1,740 vs 2,960).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (6 MB vs 8 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $177 MSRP, while Core i7-10510Y mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Trade-offs

❌438.9% higher power demand at 512W vs 95W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-2310.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-10510Y better than Core i5-2310?

Yes. Core i7-10510Y is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 1.1% average FPS lead across 2 shared CPU game tests in our data, 70.1% better Geekbench multi-core, and the stronger long-term platform, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i7-10510Y is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 1.1% more average FPS across 2 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-10510Y is the better fit. You are getting 70.1% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 4 cores and 8 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 33.3% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 6 MB).

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

Core i7-10510Y is the smarter buy by a wide margin for a fresh build. Core i7-10510Y is at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $177 MSRP, and it gives you a 1.1% average FPS lead across 2 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-2310 only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that is mostly used-market pricing on an obsolete 2011 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (20.7 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a very cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on LGA1155.

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

Core i7-10510Y is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2019 vs 2011), 33.3% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 6 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 4 cores / 8 threads instead of 4/4. That extra compute headroom should age better as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

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.

Core i5-2310 Benchmark Check

Core i7-10510Y Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-2310	Core i7-10510Y
1080p
low	92 FPS	91 FPS
medium	92 FPS	91 FPS
high	92 FPS	91 FPS
ultra	83 FPS	91 FPS
1440p
low	92 FPS	91 FPS
medium	92 FPS	91 FPS
high	86 FPS	91 FPS
ultra	69 FPS	79 FPS
4K
low	62 FPS	84 FPS
medium	55 FPS	72 FPS
high	43 FPS	57 FPS
ultra	34 FPS	45 FPS

Open Core i5-2310 Open Core i7-10510Y

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-2310	Core i7-10510Y
1080p
low	92 FPS	91 FPS
medium	92 FPS	91 FPS
high	92 FPS	91 FPS
ultra	92 FPS	91 FPS
1440p
low	92 FPS	91 FPS
medium	92 FPS	91 FPS
high	92 FPS	91 FPS
ultra	87 FPS	91 FPS
4K
low	92 FPS	91 FPS
medium	92 FPS	91 FPS
high	71 FPS	85 FPS
ultra	50 FPS	71 FPS

Open Core i5-2310 Open Core i7-10510Y

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-2310	Core i7-10510Y
1080p
low	92 FPS	91 FPS
medium	92 FPS	91 FPS
high	92 FPS	91 FPS
ultra	92 FPS	91 FPS
1440p
low	92 FPS	91 FPS
medium	92 FPS	91 FPS
high	92 FPS	91 FPS
ultra	92 FPS	91 FPS
4K
low	92 FPS	91 FPS
medium	92 FPS	91 FPS
high	92 FPS	91 FPS
ultra	92 FPS	91 FPS

Open Core i5-2310 Open Core i7-10510Y

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-2310	Core i7-10510Y
1080p
low	92 FPS	91 FPS
medium	92 FPS	91 FPS
high	92 FPS	91 FPS
ultra	92 FPS	91 FPS
1440p
low	92 FPS	91 FPS
medium	92 FPS	91 FPS
high	92 FPS	91 FPS
ultra	92 FPS	91 FPS
4K
low	92 FPS	91 FPS
medium	92 FPS	91 FPS
high	92 FPS	91 FPS
ultra	92 FPS	91 FPS

Open Core i5-2310 Open Core i7-10510Y

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-2310 and Core i7-10510Y

Core i5-2310

The Core i5-2310 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 22 May 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,664 points. Launch price was $150.

Core i7-10510Y

The Core i7-10510Y 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 1.2 GHz, with boost up to 4.5 GHz. L3 cache: 8 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: 3,631 points. Launch price was $69.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-2310 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, matching the Core i7-10510Y's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the Core i5-2310 versus 4.5 GHz on the Core i7-10510Y — a 33.8% clock advantage for the Core i7-10510Y (base: 2.9 GHz vs 1.2 GHz). The Core i5-2310 uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i7-10510Y uses Comet Lake-Y (2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-2310 scores 3,664 against the Core i7-10510Y's 3,631 — a 0.9% lead for the Core i5-2310. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 565 vs 1,270, a 76.8% lead for the Core i7-10510Y that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 1,740 vs 2,960 (51.9% advantage for the Core i7-10510Y). L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Core i5-2310 vs 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-10510Y.

Feature	Core i5-2310	Core i7-10510Y
Cores / Threads	4 / 4	4 / 8
Boost Clock	3.2 GHz	4.5 GHz+41%
Base Clock	2.9 GHz+142%	1.2 GHz
L3 Cache	6 MB (total)	8 MB (total)+33%
L2 Cache	256 kB (per core)	256K (per core)
Process	32 nm	14 nm-56%
Architecture	Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)	Comet Lake-Y (2019)
PassMark	3,664	3,631
Geekbench 6 Single	565	1,270+125%
Geekbench 6 Multi	1,740	2,960+70%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-2310 uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i7-10510Y uses UTFCBGA1377 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1333 memory speed. The Core i5-2310 supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 16 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i5-2310) vs 10 (Core i7-10510Y) — the Core i5-2310 offers 6 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H61,P67,Z68,Z77 (Core i5-2310) and Comet Lake-Y (Core i7-10510Y).

Feature	Core i5-2310	Core i7-10510Y
Socket	LGA1155	UTFCBGA1377
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 3.0+50%
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1333	LPDDR3-2133
Max RAM Capacity	32 GB+100%	16 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	16+60%	10

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization support: Yes (Core i5-2310) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-10510Y). Both include integrated graphics — Intel HD Graphics 2000 (Core i5-2310) and Intel UHD Graphics 617 (Core i7-10510Y) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-10510Y targets Ultrabook/Tablet.

Feature	Core i5-2310	Core i7-10510Y
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	Intel HD Graphics 2000	Intel UHD Graphics 617
Unlocked	—	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	Yes	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	—	Ultrabook/Tablet