Quick Verdict
A highly efficient chip for passive cooling, but its very low base clock makes it unsuitable for sustained workloads.
Overview
Launch
2019
Status
ActiveGeneration
10th Gen (Comet Lake-Y)
Market
Mobile
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 i5-10210Y brings quad-core performance to the Y-series lineup. With a 1.0GHz base clock and 4.
0GHz turbo, it is built for bursty workloads on fanless tablets. It uses LPDDR3 memory to save power, though this limits overall memory bandwidth compared to DDR4 alternatives.
Specifications
Performance
Good for basic office tasks, but throttles under heavy loads.
Not recommended due to low base clock and thermal limits.
Only capable of running very old or simple 2D games.
Outstanding power efficiency for all-day battery life.
- •UHD Graphics are too weak for 3D gaming
- •Thermal throttling limits sustained GPU performance
- •Memory bandwidth is restricted by LPDDR3
- •No AI acceleration hardware
- •Low base clock limits inference speed
Architecture
14nm
Process Node
Comet Lake-Y
Codename
4C / 8T
Core Config
6 MB
L3 Cache
9 W
TDP
Architecture Overview
Built on the Comet Lake-Y architecture, the Core i5-10210Y shares its fundamental design with the Comet Lake-U series but is heavily optimized for extreme power efficiency. Intel utilized the 14nm process node to pack four cores and eight threads into a 9W thermal envelope. The architecture supports 64KB of L1 cache and 256KB of L2 cache per core, along with a shared 6MB L3 cache. Unlike its U-series counterpart, the Y-series officially supports LPDDR3 memory, which consumes less power than DDR4, albeit with lower bandwidth. The integrated UHD Graphics utilize Intel's Gen 9.5 architecture, providing adequate performance for video playback and basic graphical user interfaces. To maintain the 9W TDP, the processor relies heavily on aggressive dynamic frequency scaling, dropping to its 1.0GHz base clock during sustained loads to prevent thermal throttling, while briefly spiking to 4.0GHz for quick, bursty tasks and application launches.
CPU Design
4 cores, 8 threads optimized for a 9W passive thermal envelope.
Memory Subsystem
Dual-channel LPDDR3 memory controller for minimal power draw.
PCIe & I/O
16 PCIe 3.0 lanes for fast storage and peripherals.
Overclocking
Locked multiplier, strictly designed for efficiency.
- Doubled core count from 2 to 4
- Higher maximum turbo frequency
Key Highlights
- Allows for fanless, silent operation
- Excellent battery life
- Quad-core multitasking in a tablet form factor
- Snappy burst performance
- Very low 1.0GHz base clock
- Throttles quickly under sustained load
- Uses older LPDDR3 memory
- Weak integrated graphics
History
The Core i5-10210Y launched in August 2019 as part of Intel's 10th generation mobile processor family. It succeeded the Amber Lake Y-series processors, such as the Core i5-8200Y, by doubling the core count from two to four. This release was highly significant for the tablet and 2-in-1 market, as it brought Hyper-Threading and quad-core capabilities to fanless designs for the first time in Intel's Y-series lineup.
During this period, Intel was aggressively segmenting its mobile lineup, offering Comet Lake for high-clock efficiency and Ice Lake for advanced graphics on 10nm. The 10210Y served as the budget-friendly, low-power alternative, allowing manufacturers to create iPad-competing Windows tablets without active cooling. Although overshadowed by Apple's ARM-based chips in subsequent years, the 10210Y marked a pivotal moment in bringing true multi-core processing to ultra-mobile form factors, bridging the gap between basic tablets and full-fledged laptops.
Improvements over Previous Generation
- Doubled core count from 2 to 4
- Higher maximum turbo frequency
Alternatives & Competitors
Should You Buy It?
Not Recommended for the right buyer
Buying a used Windows tablet for reading and media.
Avoid if…
- You need sustained performance
- You want to play games
- You plan to run heavy applications
Use Cases
Interesting Facts
It doubled the core count compared to the previous generation Y-series.
It runs on a mere 9 Watts of power.
The 'Y' suffix originally stood for 'Extreme' low power.
It is soldered to the motherboard using a BGA 1440 package.
Despite being 10th Gen, it uses 14nm technology.
LPDDR3 memory maxes out at 1866 MT/s on this chip.
It can boost to 4.0GHz, but only for very short bursts.
The integrated GPU is identical to the U-series but clocked lower.
It was commonly found in premium Microsoft Surface clones.
The chip's max temperature is limited to 72°C.
People Also Ask
Is the Core i5-10210Y good for gaming?
No, it lacks the graphics power and sustained CPU performance for gaming.
What is the TDP of the i5-10210Y?
It has a very low TDP of 9 Watts.
Is the i5-10210Y fanless?
Yes, its 9W TDP allows for completely fanless device designs.
What memory does the i5-10210Y support?
It supports low-power LPDDR3 memory.
What is the base clock of the i5-10210Y?
The base clock is quite low at 1.0 GHz.
Does the i5-10210Y have Hyper-Threading?
Yes, it features 4 cores and 8 threads.
Can the i5-10210Y run Windows 11?
It can run it, but is not officially on the supported CPU list.
What is the difference between 10210Y and 10210U?
The 10210Y has a lower TDP (9W vs 25W) and lower base clocks.
Is the i5-10210Y unlocked?
No, the multiplier is locked.
What devices use the i5-10210Y?
It is primarily used in ultra-thin 2-in-1 tablets and detachables.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I overclock the i5-10210Y?
No, the processor features a locked multiplier.
Does it support DDR4 memory?
No, it only supports LPDDR3 memory.
What is the max turbo frequency?
It can turbo boost up to 4.0 GHz.
Does it support AVX-512?
No, AVX-512 is not supported on this architecture.
What socket does it use?
It uses the Intel BGA 1440 socket.
Is it good for video editing?
No, the low base clock and weak graphics make it unsuitable for video editing.
Does it have VT-d virtualization support?
Yes, it supports VT-x and VT-d.
How much L3 cache does it have?
It has 6MB of L3 cache.
What generation is this processor?
It is a 10th Generation Intel Core processor.
Can it run heavy applications like Photoshop?
It can run them, but performance will be heavily throttled under load.