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 i7-3770K

2012

Why buy it

✅+1.4% higher PassMark.
✅Costs $77 less on MSRP ($332 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
✅Delivers 24.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 19.6 vs 15.7 PassMark/$ ($332 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-10510U across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌413.3% higher power demand at 77W vs 15W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-10510U can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i7-10510U

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +14.3% higher average FPS across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 15W instead of 77W, a 62W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics, while Core i7-3770K needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (6,408 vs 6,495).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 15.7 vs 19.6 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $332 MSRP).

Core i7-3770K

2012

Core i7-10510U

2019

Why buy it

✅+1.4% higher PassMark.
✅Costs $77 less on MSRP ($332 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
✅Delivers 24.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 19.6 vs 15.7 PassMark/$ ($332 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +14.3% higher average FPS across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 15W instead of 77W, a 62W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics, while Core i7-3770K needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-10510U across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌413.3% higher power demand at 77W vs 15W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-10510U can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (6,408 vs 6,495).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 15.7 vs 19.6 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $332 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-10510U better than Core i7-3770K?

It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, Core i7-10510U is ahead with a 14.3% average FPS lead across 3 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-3770K pulls ahead with 1.4% better PassMark.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-3770K is the better fit. You are getting 1.4% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 8 threads.

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

Core i7-10510U is the smarter buy by a wide margin for a fresh build. Core i7-10510U is 23.2% more expensive on MSRP at $409 MSRP versus $332 MSRP, and it gives you a 14.3% average FPS lead across 3 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i7-3770K only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that is mostly used-market pricing on an obsolete 2012 platform. Even with 24.9% better value on paper (19.6 vs 15.7 PassMark/$), 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 i7-10510U is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2019 vs 2012). That makes it the safer long-term pick.

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 i7-3770K Benchmark Check

Core i7-10510U Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-3770K	Core i7-10510U
1080p
low	162 FPS	160 FPS
medium	146 FPS	160 FPS
high	116 FPS	160 FPS
ultra	92 FPS	160 FPS
1440p
low	150 FPS	160 FPS
medium	122 FPS	160 FPS
high	96 FPS	153 FPS
ultra	75 FPS	135 FPS
4K
low	67 FPS	160 FPS
medium	58 FPS	132 FPS
high	46 FPS	102 FPS
ultra	36 FPS	90 FPS

Open Core i7-3770K Open Core i7-10510U

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-3770K	Core i7-10510U
1080p
low	162 FPS	160 FPS
medium	162 FPS	149 FPS
high	162 FPS	138 FPS
ultra	130 FPS	119 FPS
1440p
low	162 FPS	152 FPS
medium	157 FPS	128 FPS
high	143 FPS	120 FPS
ultra	116 FPS	103 FPS
4K
low	141 FPS	115 FPS
medium	128 FPS	99 FPS
high	105 FPS	86 FPS
ultra	79 FPS	71 FPS

Open Core i7-3770K Open Core i7-10510U

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-3770K	Core i7-10510U
1080p
low	162 FPS	160 FPS
medium	162 FPS	160 FPS
high	162 FPS	160 FPS
ultra	162 FPS	160 FPS
1440p
low	162 FPS	160 FPS
medium	162 FPS	160 FPS
high	162 FPS	160 FPS
ultra	162 FPS	160 FPS
4K
low	162 FPS	160 FPS
medium	162 FPS	160 FPS
high	162 FPS	160 FPS
ultra	162 FPS	160 FPS

Open Core i7-3770K Open Core i7-10510U

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-3770K	Core i7-10510U
1080p
low	162 FPS	160 FPS
medium	162 FPS	160 FPS
high	162 FPS	160 FPS
ultra	162 FPS	160 FPS
1440p
low	162 FPS	160 FPS
medium	162 FPS	160 FPS
high	162 FPS	160 FPS
ultra	162 FPS	160 FPS
4K
low	162 FPS	160 FPS
medium	162 FPS	160 FPS
high	162 FPS	160 FPS
ultra	162 FPS	160 FPS

Open Core i7-3770K Open Core i7-10510U

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-3770K and Core i7-10510U

Core i7-3770K

The Core i7-3770K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 29 April 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 77 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 6,495 points. Launch price was $294.

Core i7-10510U

The Core i7-10510U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 21 August 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Comet Lake-U (2019−2020) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 1.8 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1528. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 6,408 points. Launch price was $409.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Core i7-3770K and Core i7-10510U share an identical 4-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.9 GHz on the Core i7-3770K versus 4.9 GHz on the Core i7-10510U — a 22.7% clock advantage for the Core i7-10510U (base: 3.5 GHz vs 1.8 GHz). The Core i7-3770K uses the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture (22 nm), while the Core i7-10510U uses Comet Lake-U (2019−2020) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-3770K scores 6,495 against the Core i7-10510U's 6,408 — a 1.3% lead for the Core i7-3770K. Both processors carry 8 MB (total) of L3 cache.

Feature	Core i7-3770K	Core i7-10510U
Cores / Threads	4 / 8	4 / 8
Boost Clock	3.9 GHz	4.9 GHz+26%
Base Clock	3.5 GHz+94%	1.8 GHz
L3 Cache	8 MB (total)	8 MB (total)
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	256K (per core)
Process	22 nm	14 nm-36%
Architecture	Ivy Bridge (2012−2013)	Comet Lake-U (2019−2020)
PassMark	6,495+1%	6,408
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	3,866
Geekbench 6 Single	—	1,300
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	3,300

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-3770K uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-10510U uses FCBGA1528 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i7-3770K	Core i7-10510U
Socket	LGA1155	FCBGA1528
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	—	DDR4-2666
Max RAM Capacity	—	64 GB
RAM Channels	—	2
ECC Support	—	No
PCIe Lanes	—	16

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Core i7-3770K) / VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-10510U). The Core i7-10510U includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics), while the Core i7-3770K requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-10510U targets Productivity. Direct competitor: Core i7-10510U rivals Ryzen 7 3700U.

Feature	Core i7-3770K	Core i7-10510U
Integrated GPU	—	Yes
IGPU Model	—	UHD Graphics
Unlocked	—	No
AVX-512	—	No
Virtualization	—	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	—	Productivity

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i7-3770K launched at $332 MSRP, while the Core i7-10510U debuted at $409. On MSRP ($332 vs $409), the Core i7-3770K is $77 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-3770K delivers 19.6 pts/$ vs 15.7 pts/$ for the Core i7-10510U — making the Core i7-3770K the 22.1% better value option.