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Intel Core i5-3210M vs Intel Core i5-4210U vs Intel Core i5-4260U

Intel Core i5-3210M

► remove from comparison Intel 3210M

The Intel Core i5-3210M is a fast dual-core processor for laptops based on the Ivy Bridge architecture. Due to Hyperthreading, the two cores can handle up to four threads in parallel leading to better utilization of the CPU. Each core offers a base speed of 2.5 GHz but can dynamically increase clock rates with Turbo Boost up to 2.9 GHz (for 2 active cores) and 3.1 GHz (for 1 active core). Turbo-clocks are not confirmed yet. As its Sandy-Bridge-based predecessors, it offers a 3 MB L3-Cache.

Ivy Bridge is an enhanced die shrink of the Sandy Bridge architecture with improvements on both GPU and CPU performance. The CPUs are produced in 22nm (versus 32nm Sandy Bridge CPUs) and are the first to introduce 3D transistors for increased energy efficiency when compared to similarly clocked Sandy Bridge processors. Other new features are integrated PCI Express 3.0 and  DDR3(L)-1600 support.

The performance of the Core i5-3210M is slightly above a similarly clocked Sandy Bridge processor due to the architectural improvements. As a result, overall performance is similar to the old i7-2620M.

The integrated Intel HD Graphics 4000 offers 16 Execution Units (EUs) clocked at 650 MHz up to 1100 MHz with Turbo Boost, making it one of the faster variants.

Just like most other Ivy Bridge dual-cores, the i5-3210M is rated at a TDP of 35 W. Therefore, even smaller laptops can use the Core i5.

Intel Core i5-4210U

► remove from comparison Intel 4210U

The Intel Core i5-4210U is an ULV (ultra low voltage) dual-core processor for ultrabooks launched in Q2 2014. It is based on the Haswell architecture and is manufactured in 22nm. Due to Hyper-Threading, the two cores can handle up to four threads in parallel, leading to better utilization of the CPU. Each core offers a base speed of 1.7 GHz, but can dynamically increase clock rates with Turbo Boost up to 2.7 GHz for 1 active core or 2.4 GHz for 2 active cores. That's exactly 100 MHz more than the i5-4200U.

Architecture

Haswell is the successor to the Ivy Bridge architecture with improvements on both GPU and CPU performance. The CPUs are produced in 22nm and offer an optimized branch prediction as well as additional execution ports, improving performance per clock by almost 10 percent. Furthermore, new features like AVX2 and FMA should increase the performance in future applications.

Performance

The performance of the Core i5-4210U is similar to the old and slightly higher clocked Core i5-3427U. However, when using new instruction sets such as AVX2 the performance can be significantly better. Thus, the CPU has sufficient power for office and multimedia purposes as well as more demanding applications.

Graphics

The integrated HD Graphics 4400 offers 20 Execution Units (EUs) clocked at 200 - 1000 MHz with Turbo Boost, making it somewhat faster than the former HD Graphics 4000 at similar clock speeds. However, the HD 4400 is slightly slower than the HD 5000 found on a number of other ULV models.

Power Consumption

The i5-4210U is rated at a TDP of 15 W including the graphics card, memory controller, VRMs and the integrated chipset. Therefore, the CPU is suited for small ultrabooks 11-inches or greater.

Intel Core i5-4260U

► remove from comparison Intel 4260U

The Intel Core i5-4260U is an ULV (ultra low voltage) dual-core processor for ultrabooks launched in Q2 2014. It is based on the Haswell architecture and is manufactured in 22nm. Due to Hyper-Threading, the two cores can handle up to four threads in parallel, leading to better utilization of the CPU. Each core offers a base speed of 1.4 GHz, but can dynamically increase clock rates with Turbo Boost up to 2.7 GHz for 1 active core or 2.4 GHz for 2 active cores (i5-4250U: 1.3 - 2.6 GHz).

Architecture

Haswell is the successor to the Ivy Bridge architecture with improvements on both GPU and CPU performance. The CPUs are produced in 22nm and offer an optimized branch prediction as well as additional execution ports, improving performance per clock by almost 10 percent. Furthermore, new features like AVX2 and FMA should increase the performance in future applications.

Performance

The performance of the Core i5-4260U is similar to the old and slightly higher clocked Core i5-3427U. However, when using new instruction sets such as AVX2 the performance can be significantly better. Thus, the CPU has sufficient power for office and multimedia purposes as well as more demanding applications.

Graphics

The integrated HD Graphics 5000 offers 40 Execution Units (EUs) clocked at 200 - 1000 MHz with Turbo Boost, making it significantly faster than the HD Graphics 4000. However, the performance is often limited by the memory bandwidth and just slightly above the HD 4400 (20 EUs).

Power Consumption

The i5-4260U is rated at a TDP of 15 W including the graphics card, memory controller, VRMs and the integrated chipset. Therefore, the CPU is suited for small ultrabooks 11-inches or greater.

ModelIntel Core i5-3210MIntel Core i5-4210UIntel Core i5-4260U
CodenameIvy BridgeHaswellHaswell
SeriesIntel Core i5Intel Core i5Intel Core i5
Series: Core i5 Haswell
Intel Core i5-3380M2.9 - 3.6 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-3360M2.8 - 3.5 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-3340M2.7 - 3.4 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-3320M2.6 - 3.3 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-3230M2.6 - 3.2 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-3210M « 2.5 - 3.1 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-3437U1.9 - 2.9 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-3427U1.8 - 2.8 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-3337U1.8 - 2.7 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-3317U1.7 - 2.6 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-3439Y1.5 - 2.3 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-3339Y1.5 - 2 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-4340M2.9 - 3.6 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-4210H2.9 - 3.5 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-4330M2.8 - 3.5 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-4200H2.8 - 3.4 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-4308U2.8 - 3.3 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-4310M2.7 - 3.4 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-4400E2.7 - 3.3 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-4300M2.6 - 3.3 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-4210M2.6 - 3.2 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-4288U2.6 - 3.1 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-4278U2.6 - 3.1 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-4200M2.5 - 3.1 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-4258U2.4 - 2.9 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-4310U2 - 3 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-4360U1.5 - 3 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-4300U1.9 - 2.9 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-4350U1.4 - 2.9 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-4210U « 1.7 - 2.7 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-4260U1.4 - 2.7 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-4402E1.6 - 2.7 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-4200U1.6 - 2.6 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-4250U1.3 - 2.6 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-4300Y1.6 - 2.3 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-4302Y1.6 - 2.3 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-4202Y1.6 - 2 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-4220Y1.6 - 2 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-4210Y1.5 - 1.9 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-4200Y1.4 - 1.9 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-4340M2.9 - 3.6 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-4210H2.9 - 3.5 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-4330M2.8 - 3.5 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-4200H2.8 - 3.4 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-4308U2.8 - 3.3 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-4310M2.7 - 3.4 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-4400E2.7 - 3.3 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-4300M2.6 - 3.3 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-4210M2.6 - 3.2 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-4288U2.6 - 3.1 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-4278U2.6 - 3.1 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-4200M2.5 - 3.1 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-4258U2.4 - 2.9 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-4310U2 - 3 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-4360U1.5 - 3 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-4300U1.9 - 2.9 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-4350U1.4 - 2.9 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-4210U1.7 - 2.7 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-4260U « 1.4 - 2.7 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-4402E1.6 - 2.7 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-4200U1.6 - 2.6 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-4250U1.3 - 2.6 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-4300Y1.6 - 2.3 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-4302Y1.6 - 2.3 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-4202Y1.6 - 2 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-4220Y1.6 - 2 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-4210Y1.5 - 1.9 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-4200Y1.4 - 1.9 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Clock2500 - 3100 MHz1700 - 2700 MHz1400 - 2700 MHz
L1 Cache128 KB128 KB128 KB
L2 Cache512 KB512 KB512 KB
L3 Cache3 MB3 MB3 MB
Cores / Threads2 / 42 / 42 / 4
TDP35 Watt15 Watt15 Watt
Technology22 nm22 nm22 nm
max. Temp.105 °C100 °C100 °C
SocketFCPGA988BGABGA
FeaturesHD Graphics 4000 (650-1100MHz), DDR3-1600 Memory Controller, HyperThreading, AVX, Quick Sync, VirtualizationHD Graphics 4400 (200 - 1000 MHz), DDR3(L)-1600 Memory Controller, HyperThreading, AVX, AVX2, Quick Sync, Virtualization, AES-NIHD Graphics 5000 (200 - 1000 MHz), DDR3(L)-1600 Memory Controller, HyperThreading, AVX, AVX2, Quick Sync, Virtualization, AES-NI
iGPUIntel HD Graphics 4000 (650 - 1100 MHz)Intel HD Graphics 4400 (200 - 1000 MHz)Intel HD Graphics 5000 (200 - 1000 MHz)
Architecturex86x86x86
$225 U.S.$281 U.S.$325 U.S.
Announced
Manufacturerark.intel.comark.intel.comark.intel.com
Transistors1300 Million
Die Size181 mm2

Benchmarks

Cinebench R15 - Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64 Bit
100%
1 4210U +
min: 215     avg: 234.4     median: 237 (1%)     max: 243 Points
101%
1 4260U +
239 Points (2%)
Cinebench R15 - Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64 Bit
100%
1 4210U +
min: 82     avg: 99.3     median: 102 (28%)     max: 106 Points
103%
1 4260U +
105 Points (29%)
Cinebench R11.5 - Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64 Bit
min: 2.42     avg: 2.9     median: 2.9 (4%)     max: 2.91 Points
min: 2.11     avg: 2.5     median: 2.6 (3%)     max: 2.62 Points
2.6 Points (3%)
Cinebench R11.5 - Cinebench R11.5 CPU Single 64 Bit
min: 0.97     avg: 1.2     median: 1.3 (30%)     max: 1.28 Points
min: 0.89     avg: 1.1     median: 1.2 (28%)     max: 1.2 Points
1.2 Points (29%)
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Single (32bit)
min: 3826     avg: 4163     median: 4168.5 (25%)     max: 4287 Points
min: 3191     avg: 3809     median: 3843 (23%)     max: 3992 Points
3951 Points (24%)
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Multi (32bit)
min: 8605     avg: 8899     median: 8936 (6%)     max: 9046 Points
min: 6763     avg: 7689     median: 7799 (6%)     max: 8073 Points
7913 Points (6%)
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Multi (64bit)
min: 8914     avg: 10834     median: 10977.5 (7%)     max: 11195 Points
min: 7554     avg: 9880     median: 10185.5 (7%)     max: 10445 Points
10033 Points (6%)
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Single (64bit)
min: 4168     avg: 5215     median: 5265 (6%)     max: 5389 Points
min: 3812     avg: 4993     median: 5114.5 (6%)     max: 5178 Points
5186 Points (6%)
wPrime 2.10 - wPrime 2.0 1024m *
100%
1 3210M +
min: 533     avg: 586     median: 578.5 (7%)     max: 755 s
86%
1 4210U +
min: 633     avg: 688     median: 675 (8%)     max: 879 s
wPrime 2.10 - wPrime 2.0 32m *
100%
1 3210M +
min: 16.8     avg: 19.2     median: 18.6 (4%)     max: 32.93 s
87%
1 4210U +
min: 19.88     avg: 22.2     median: 21.2 (4%)     max: 28.42 s
WinRAR - WinRAR 4.0
100%
1 3210M +
min: 2301     avg: 2453     median: 2486 (4%)     max: 2544 Points
93%
1 4210U +
min: 2229     avg: 2309     median: 2318 (4%)     max: 2372 Points
X264 HD Benchmark 4.0 - x264 Pass 2
100%
1 3210M +
min: 16.21     avg: 16.4     median: 16.4 (0%)     max: 16.59 fps
92%
1 4210U +
min: 14     avg: 15     median: 15.1 (0%)     max: 15.31 fps
X264 HD Benchmark 4.0 - x264 Pass 1
100%
1 3210M +
min: 85     avg: 87     median: 86.6 (2%)     max: 90 fps
92%
1 4210U +
min: 72     avg: 79.4     median: 79.8 (2%)     max: 81.9 fps
TrueCrypt - TrueCrypt Serpent
100%
1 3210M +
min: 0.136     avg: 0.1     median: 0.2 (4%)     max: 0.151 GB/s
85%
1 4210U +
min: 0.125     avg: 0.1     median: 0.1 (4%)     max: 0.128 GB/s
TrueCrypt - TrueCrypt Twofish
100%
1 3210M +
min: 0.213     avg: 0.2     median: 0.3 (4%)     max: 0.259 GB/s
88%
1 4210U +
min: 0.219     avg: 0.2     median: 0.2 (4%)     max: 0.228 GB/s
TrueCrypt - TrueCrypt AES
100%
1 3210M +
min: 1.3     avg: 1.4     median: 1.4 (4%)     max: 1.4 GB/s
3DMark 06 - CPU - 3DMark 06 - CPU
min: 3044     avg: 3523     median: 3553 (8%)     max: 3679 Points
min: 2808     avg: 3150     median: 3200 (7%)     max: 3229 Points
3222 Points (7%)
Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 1M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 1M *
100%
1 3210M +
min: 12     avg: 12.7     median: 12.7 (3%)     max: 14.1 s
88%
1 4210U +
min: 13.92     avg: 14.6     median: 14.5 (3%)     max: 16.75 s
Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 2M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 2M *
100%
1 3210M +
min: 28     avg: 29.1     median: 29 (1%)     max: 31.05 s
89%
1 4210U +
min: 31.42     avg: 32.8     median: 32.5 (1%)     max: 37.11 s
Super Pi Mod 1.5 XS 32M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 32M *
100%
1 3210M +
min: 648     avg: 675     median: 674 (3%)     max: 735 s
93%
1 4210U +
min: 703     avg: 730     median: 724 (3%)     max: 809 s
SiSoft Sandra Dhrystone (MIPS) - SiSoft Sandra Dhrystone (MIPS)
100%
1 3210M +
min: 57.1     avg: 45909     median: 49310 (23%)     max: 57900 MIPS
86%
1 4210U +
42270 MIPS (20%)
SiSoft Sandra Whetstone (MFLOPS) - SiSoft Sandra Whetstone (MFLOPS)
100%
1 3210M +
min: 36.75     avg: 32843     median: 36410 (28%)     max: 36760 MFLOPS
85%
1 4210U +
31000 MFLOPS (24%)
Windows 7 Experience Index - Win7 CPU
100%
1 3210M +
min: 6.9     avg: 7.1     median: 7.1 (91%)     max: 7.1 Points
3DMark Vantage - 3DM Vant. Perf. CPU no Physx
100%
1 3210M +
min: 4195     avg: 9352     median: 9673 (7%)     max: 10001 Points
89%
1 4210U +
min: 8067     avg: 8492     median: 8585 (7%)     max: 8714 Points
3DMark 11 - 3DM11 Performance Physics
min: 1676     avg: 3612     median: 3651 (9%)     max: 4129 Points
min: 619     avg: 3092     median: 3181 (8%)     max: 3423 Points
3182 Points (8%)
3DMark - 3DMark Ice Storm Physics
100%
1 3210M +
min: 12328     avg: 27990     median: 29048 (24%)     max: 35036 Points
95%
1 4210U +
min: 92.5     avg: 26482     median: 27728.5 (23%)     max: 29898 Points
3DMark - 3DMark Ice Storm Extreme Physics
100%
1 4210U +
min: 24564     avg: 26681     median: 26680.5 (22%)     max: 28797 Points
107%
1 4260U +
28512 Points (23%)
3DMark - 3DMark Ice Storm Unlimited Physics
100%
1 4210U +
29464 Points (24%)
102%
1 4260U +
29963 Points (24%)
3DMark - 3DMark Cloud Gate Physics
min: 2596     avg: 2787     median: 2808.5 (7%)     max: 2888 Points
min: 7.91     avg: 2375     median: 2462 (6%)     max: 2547 Points
2495 Points (6%)
3DMark - 3DMark Fire Strike Standard Physics
100%
1 3210M +
min: 3802     avg: 3965     median: 3986.5 (7%)     max: 4136 Points
87%
1 4210U +
min: 2225     avg: 3430     median: 3463 (6%)     max: 3593 Points
Geekbench 3 - Geekbench 3 32 Bit Multi-Core
100%
1 4210U +
min: 4595     avg: 4716     median: 4653 (8%)     max: 4993 Points
Geekbench 3 - Geekbench 3 32 Bit Single-Core
100%
1 4210U +
min: 2333     avg: 2425     median: 2391 (31%)     max: 2606 Points
Geekbench 2 - 32 Bit - Geekbench Stream
100%
1 3210M +
5255 Points (28%)
142%
1 4210U +
min: 7409     avg: 7453     median: 7453 (39%)     max: 7497 Points
Geekbench 2 - 32 Bit - Geekbench Memory
100%
1 3210M +
5219 Points (36%)
123%
1 4210U +
min: 6368     avg: 6437     median: 6436.5 (44%)     max: 6505 Points
Geekbench 2 - 32 Bit - Geekbench Floating Point
100%
1 3210M +
6294 Points (12%)
90%
1 4210U +
min: 5668     avg: 5688     median: 5687.5 (11%)     max: 5707 Points
Geekbench 2 - 32 Bit - Geekbench Integer
100%
1 3210M +
5788 Points (12%)
88%
1 4210U +
min: 5067     avg: 5097     median: 5097 (10%)     max: 5127 Points
Geekbench 2 - 32 Bit - Geekbench Total Score
100%
1 3210M +
5797 Points (15%)
100%
1 4210U +
min: 5771     avg: 5807     median: 5806.5 (15%)     max: 5842 Points
Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Kraken 1.1 Total Score *
100%
1 4210U +
min: 1609     avg: 2316     median: 2618 (3%)     max: 2823 ms
Sunspider - Sunspider 1.0 Total Score *
100%
1 4210U +
min: 111     avg: 147.3     median: 122 (1%)     max: 209.6 ms
Octane V2 - Octane V2 Total Score
100%
1 4210U +
min: 10986     avg: 13243     median: 12144 (9%)     max: 22007 Points

Average Benchmarks Intel Core i5-3210M → 100% n=9

Average Benchmarks Intel Core i5-4210U → 91% n=9

Average Benchmarks Intel Core i5-4260U → 92% n=9

- Range of benchmark values for this graphics card
red legend - Average benchmark values for this graphics card
* Smaller numbers mean a higher performance
1 This benchmark is not used for the average calculation

v1.33
log 30. 14:58:21

#0 ran 0s before starting gpusingle class +0s ... 0s

#1 checking url part for id 3084 +0s ... 0s

#2 checking url part for id 5861 +0s ... 0s

#3 checking url part for id 5862 +0s ... 0s

#4 redirected to Ajax server, took 1759237101s time from redirect:0 +0s ... 0s

#5 did not recreate cache, as it is less than 5 days old! Created at Mon, 29 Sep 2025 12:06:34 +0200 +0s ... 0s

#6 composed specs +0.008s ... 0.008s

#7 did output specs +0s ... 0.008s

#8 getting avg benchmarks for device 3084 +0.001s ... 0.008s

#9 got single benchmarks 3084 +0.042s ... 0.05s

#10 getting avg benchmarks for device 5861 +0.001s ... 0.051s

#11 got single benchmarks 5861 +0.03s ... 0.081s

#12 getting avg benchmarks for device 5862 +0.001s ... 0.082s

#13 got single benchmarks 5862 +0.003s ... 0.085s

#14 got avg benchmarks for devices +0s ... 0.085s

#15 min, max, avg, median took s +0.04s ... 0.124s

#16 return log +0s ... 0.124s

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Benchmarks / Tech > Processor Comparison - Head 2 Head
Redaktion, 2017-09- 8 (Update: 2023-07- 1)