CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-10210U vs Intel Core i5-1030G4
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i5-10210U is a quad-core mobile processor from Intel's 10th Generation Comet Lake lineup, designed primarily for thin-and-light laptops. Operating with a base frequency of 1.6 GHz and boosting up to 4.2 GHz, it utilizes Intel's trusted 14nm manufacturing process. With 8 threads and 6MB of L3 cache, it provides a balanced approach to everyday productivity, multitasking, and light content creation. While it lacks the advanced 10nm Sunny Cove architecture found in Intel's Ice Lake chips, the i5-10210U makes up for it with higher peak clock speeds and broad DDR4 and LPDDR3 memory support. This CPU is commonly found in mainstream business and consumer ultrabooks, offering reliable performance for office tasks, web browsing, and media consumption. Its 25W TDP ensures a good balance between battery life and thermal output, making it a practical choice for budget-conscious mobile users who need consistent multi-threaded capability without breaking the bank.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Highly capable for office suites, heavy browsing, and daily multitasking.
Good for office tasks, but low base clock limits heavy multitasking.
Gaming
Limited to very light or older games due to basic UHD Graphics.
Iris Plus graphics allow for light gaming at 720p, a big step up from UHD.
Virtualization
Can handle light VMs for development, but limited by 4 cores.
AVX-512 support is nice, but low clocks limit VM performance.
Efficiency
Mature 14nm process offers decent, though not class-leading, battery life.
10nm node provides excellent performance per watt.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No dedicated AI hardware
- Relies on CPU AVX2 instructions
- Supports AVX-512 for AI workloads
- DLBoost accelerates inference
Content Creation
Gaming
- Relies on Intel UHD Graphics
- Only suitable for 2D or highly optimized older games
- Lacks hardware support for modern DirectX 12 Ultimate features
- Gen 11 Iris Plus graphics
- Can play older titles at 720p
- Thermal limits restrict sustained GPU boost
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- Reliable performance for everyday tasks
- High boost clock of 4.2 GHz
- Good multitasking with 8 threads
- Wide compatibility with DDR4 and LPDDR3
Cons
- Built on aging 14nm process
- Weak integrated graphics
- No support for PCIe 4.0
- End-of-life status
Pros
- Modern 10nm manufacturing process
- Iris Plus graphics are a huge upgrade
- Supports LPDDR4 memory
- AVX-512 instruction support
Cons
- Extremely low 700 MHz base clock
- Throttles heavily under sustained load
- Still uses PCIe 3.0
- Hard to find in mainstream devices
Competitors & Alternatives
Intel Core i5-10210U
- AMD Ryzen 5 3500URival
Mobile
- AMD Ryzen 7 3700URival
Mobile
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i7-10510URival
Mobile
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-1035G1Rival
Mobile
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-8265URival
Mobile
Better efficiency and graphics on 10nm.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 5500UAlt
More cores and better performance.
Cheaper alternative for basic tasks.
Compare head-to-head- Alt
Vastly superior battery life and performance.
Compare head-to-head - AMD Ryzen 3 4300UAlt
Budget-friendly with modern Vega graphics.
Intel Core i5-1030G4
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-1030NG7Rival
Mobile (Fanless)
- AMD Ryzen 3 4300URival
Mobile
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-10210YRival
Mobile (Fanless)
- Apple A12Z BionicRival
Mobile (ARM)
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cxRival
Mobile (ARM)
Better 11th gen efficiency and graphics.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 5600UAlt
Far superior CPU performance.
Higher sustained clocks if graphics are less important.
Compare head-to-head- Alt
Better battery life and performance.
Compare head-to-head - Intel Core i3-1210YAlt
Modern hybrid architecture for fanless designs.
Our Verdict on Each
A dependable 14nm processor that delivered solid value in 2019 laptops, though it lacks the graphical prowess of Intel's 10nm counterparts.
Best for: Purchasing a heavily discounted used laptop for basic office work.
Read the full reviewA significant architectural leap over Comet Lake, offering better graphics and modern features, though hampered by a very low base clock.
Best for: Buying a used premium tablet that benefits from Iris graphics.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i5-10210U or Intel Core i5-1030G4?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i5-10210U comes out ahead with a score of 7.5/10. That said, the best choice depends on your workload — check the spec and performance breakdown above for gaming, productivity and efficiency differences.
Which is faster for gaming, Intel Core i5-10210U or Intel Core i5-1030G4?
For gaming, the Intel Core i5-1030G4 leads with a gaming performance score of 45/100 among Intel Core i5-10210U and Intel Core i5-1030G4.
Which uses less power?
The Intel Core i5-1030G4 has the lowest rated TDP. Power draw across these chips: Intel Core i5-10210U (25 W), Intel Core i5-1030G4 (9 W).
Do Intel Core i5-10210U and Intel Core i5-1030G4 use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Intel Core i5-10210U: Intel BGA 1440, Intel Core i5-1030G4: Intel BGA 1377), so each needs a compatible motherboard.
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Intel Core i5-10210U posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i5-10210U (8,540), Intel Core i5-1030G4 (5,800). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.