CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-10210Y vs Intel Core i5-1030G4
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i5-10210Y is an ultra-low power mobile processor designed for fanless tablets, 2-in-1 detachables, and extremely thin laptops. Released in August 2019, it operates on the 14nm Comet Lake-Y architecture, featuring four cores and eight threads. With a base frequency of just 1.0 GHz and a maximum turbo boost of 4.0 GHz, it prioritizes power efficiency over sustained performance. The processor has a remarkably low 9W TDP, allowing it to run completely passively cooled in many devices. It includes 6MB of L3 cache and supports LPDDR3 memory, ensuring minimal power draw during routine tasks. While its base clock is quite low, making it sluggish under heavy continuous loads, the high boost clock allows it to handle bursty workloads like web browsing and document editing smoothly. It is an ideal chip for highly portable devices where battery life and thermal constraints outweigh raw computing power and space limitations.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Good for basic office tasks, but throttles under heavy loads.
Good for office tasks, but low base clock limits heavy multitasking.
Gaming
Only capable of running very old or simple 2D games.
Iris Plus graphics allow for light gaming at 720p, a big step up from UHD.
Virtualization
Not recommended due to low base clock and thermal limits.
AVX-512 support is nice, but low clocks limit VM performance.
Efficiency
Outstanding power efficiency for all-day battery life.
10nm node provides excellent performance per watt.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No AI acceleration hardware
- Low base clock limits inference speed
- Supports AVX-512 for AI workloads
- DLBoost accelerates inference
Content Creation
Gaming
- UHD Graphics are too weak for 3D gaming
- Thermal throttling limits sustained GPU performance
- Memory bandwidth is restricted by LPDDR3
- 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
- Allows for fanless, silent operation
- Excellent battery life
- Quad-core multitasking in a tablet form factor
- Snappy burst performance
Cons
- Very low 1.0GHz base clock
- Throttles quickly under sustained load
- Uses older LPDDR3 memory
- Weak integrated graphics
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 i5-10210Y
- Intel Core m3-8100YRival
Mobile (Fanless)
- AMD Ryzen 3 4300URival
Mobile
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-10310YRival
Mobile (Fanless)
- Intel Core i5-8500YRival
Mobile (Fanless)
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cxRival
Mobile (ARM)
Better graphics and 10nm efficiency.
Compare head-to-head- Apple A12X BionicAlt
Superior ARM-based performance for tablets.
- Intel Core i5-1230YAlt
Modern hybrid architecture with better efficiency.
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600UAlt
Vastly more powerful if a fan is present.
- Intel Pentium Silver N6000Alt
Budget alternative for basic tablet tasks.
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 highly efficient chip for passive cooling, but its very low base clock makes it unsuitable for sustained workloads.
Best for: Buying a used Windows tablet for reading and media.
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 i5-10210Y or Intel Core i5-1030G4?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i5-1030G4 comes out ahead with a score of 7/10. 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 i5-10210Y or Intel Core i5-1030G4?
For gaming, the Intel Core i5-1030G4 leads with a gaming performance score of 45/100 among Intel Core i5-10210Y and Intel Core i5-1030G4.
Do Intel Core i5-10210Y and Intel Core i5-1030G4 use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Intel Core i5-10210Y: 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 i5-1030G4 posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i5-10210Y (5,200), Intel Core i5-1030G4 (5,800). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.