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Intel Core i3-1210U

Intel Core i3-1210U: Compact Power for Everyday Tasks

March 2025

Architecture and Manufacturing Process: A Hybrid Approach for Balance

The Intel Core i3-1210U processor belongs to the Alder Lake generation and is built on Intel's 10nm Intel 7 manufacturing process. Its hybrid architecture combines two types of cores:

- 2 Performance-cores (P-cores) with Hyper-Threading support (4 threads) for resource-intensive tasks;

- 4 Efficient-cores (E-cores) (4 threads) for background processes.

The total number of cores is 6, with 8 threads. The maximum P-core frequency in turbo mode reaches 4.40 GHz, with a base frequency of 1.2 GHz. The L3 cache is 10 MB, which improves responsiveness in multitasking.

The integrated graphics Intel UHD Graphics for 12th Generation includes 64 execution units (EU) with a frequency of up to 1.1 GHz. It supports 4K displays, AV1 encoding, and HDMI 2.1, but is not designed for serious gaming.

Power Consumption and TDP: Efficiency for Ultrabooks

The processor's TDP is 9 W, allowing it to be used in thin laptops without active cooling. Under turbo mode, actual power usage can reach 15-20 W, but thanks to Intel Dynamic Tuning 2.0 technology, the system automatically balances performance and battery life.

This makes the i3-1210U ideal for devices less than 15 mm thick, such as the Dell XPS 13 or HP Spectre x360.

Performance: Quick Start and Stability

Test results:

- Geekbench 6: 1304 (Single-Core), 3024 (Multi-Core).

- PCMark 10: 4200–4500 points (office tasks).

In real scenarios:

- Office Work: Simultaneous work with 20+ Chrome tabs, Word and Excel documents, Zoom conferences — without lags.

- Multimedia: 4K video in VLC or YouTube, basic photo editing in Lightroom.

- Gaming: Only light projects at 720p (e.g., _Among Us_, _Minecraft_) on low settings (~30 FPS).

Turbo mode activates for 10-15 seconds under load (e.g., opening Photoshop), but under prolonged stress (video rendering), the frequency of P-cores drops to 2.8-3.2 GHz due to TDP limitations.

Usage Scenarios: Who is the i3-1210U Designed For?

- Students and Office Workers: Document editing, online learning, video calls.

- On-the-Go Users: Long battery life, lightweight laptop (1–1.3 kg).

- Home Users: Internet browsing, Netflix streaming, social media communication.

Not suitable for:

- Professional video editing, 3D modeling.

- AAA gaming (e.g., _Cyberpunk 2077_, _Elden Ring_).

Battery Life: Up to 12 Hours in Power-Saving Mode

With a TDP of 9 W, laptops featuring this processor show:

- Up to 12 hours of operation at 150 nits brightness (viewing PDFs, text editors);

- Up to 8 hours with active Wi-Fi usage and YouTube;

- Up to 5 hours in multitasking mode (Zoom + 10 tabs).

Power-saving technologies:

- Intel SpeedStep — dynamic frequency scaling;

- C-States — disabling unused cores;

- Display Power Saving Technology — reducing screen power consumption.

Comparison with Competitors: Competing for the Budget Segment

- AMD Ryzen 3 7420U (Zen 3): 4 cores/8 threads, TDP 15 W. Better for multi-threaded tasks (Geekbench 6 Multi-Core ~3400), but battery life is 10-15% worse. Laptops with Ryzen 3 start at $550.

- Apple M1 (8-core): Outperforms i3-1210U in Single-Core (~1500) and Multi-Core (~5500), but macOS isn't for everyone. MacBook Air M1 — starting at $799.

- Intel Core i5-1135G7 (11th generation): Lags in Single-Core (~1100), but comparable in Multi-Core (~2900).

Conclusion: The i3-1210U is optimal for Windows laptops under $700 with an emphasis on battery life.

Pros and Cons

Strengths:

- Low power consumption;

- Support for Wi-Fi 6E and Thunderbolt 4;

- Sufficient performance for everyday tasks.

Weaknesses:

- Limited multi-threaded power;

- Weak graphics for gaming;

- Turbo mode is unstable under prolonged loads.

Laptop Selection Recommendations

1. Device Type: Ultrabooks (e.g., Acer Swift 3, $600–$700) or 2-in-1 hybrids (Lenovo Yoga 6, $650).

2. Minimum Specifications:

- 8 GB RAM (preferably 16 GB for future-proofing);

- 256 GB SSD (NVMe);

- IPS display with Full HD resolution.

3. Additional Options:

- Touchscreen for convenience;

- 1080p webcam;

- Stylus support.

Avoid models with HDDs and TN displays, as they will slow down performance.

Final Conclusion

The Intel Core i3-1210U is an excellent choice for those seeking an affordable (laptops from $500), lightweight, and durable PC for basic tasks. Its key advantages are:

- Energy efficiency without sacrificing everyday performance;

- Modern interfaces (Thunderbolt 4, PCIe 4.0);

- Compatibility with Windows 11 and Linux.

This processor is suitable for students, freelancers, and anyone who values mobility. However, for serious gaming or professional tasks, it’s better to look at models with Ryzen 5 or Core i5.

Basic

Label Name

Intel

Platform

Mobile

Launch Date

February 2022

Model Name

The Intel processor number is just one of several factors - along with processor brand, system configurations, and system-level benchmarks - to be considered when choosing the right processor for your computing needs.

i3-1210U

Code Name

Alder Lake

CPU Specifications

Total Cores

Cores is a hardware term that describes the number of independent central processing units in a single computing component (die or chip).

Total Threads

Where applicable, Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology is only available on Performance-cores.

Performance-cores

Efficient-cores

Max Turbo Frequency

Max Turbo Frequency is the maximum single-core frequency at which the processor is capable of operating using Intel® Turbo Boost Technology and, if present, Intel® Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 and Intel® Thermal Velocity Boost. Frequency is typically measured in gigahertz (GHz), or billion cycles per second.

4.40 GHz

Performance-core Max Turbo Frequency

Maximum P-core turbo frequency derived from Intel® Turbo Boost Technology.

4.40 GHz

Efficient-core Max Turbo Frequency

Maximum E-core turbo frequency derived from Intel® Turbo Boost Technology.

3.30 GHz

Intel Hyper-Threading Technology

Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology (Intel® HT Technology) delivers two processing threads per physical core. Highly threaded applications can get more work done in parallel, completing tasks sooner.

Yes

L3 Cache

10 MB

CPU Socket

The socket is the component that provides the mechanical and electrical connections between the processor and motherboard.

FCBGA1781

Technology

Lithography refers to the semiconductor technology used to manufacture an integrated circuit, and is reported in nanometer (nm), indicative of the size of features built on the semiconductor.

Intel 7

TDP

9 W

Processor Base Power

The time-averaged power dissipation that the processor is validated to not exceed during manufacturing while executing an Intel-specified high complexity workload at Base Frequency and at the junction temperature as specified in the Datasheet for the SKU segment and configuration.

9 W

Maximum Turbo Power

The maximum sustained (>1s) power dissipation of the processor as limited by current and/or temperature controls. Instantaneous power may exceed Maximum Turbo Power for short durations (<=10ms). Note: Maximum Turbo Power is configurable by system vendor and can be system specific.

29 W

Max. Operating Temperature

Junction Temperature is the maximum temperature allowed at the processor die.

100°C

Number of PCI Express Lanes

A PCI Express (PCIe) lane consists of two differential signaling pairs, one for receiving data, one for transmitting data, and is the basic unit of the PCIe bus. Max # of PCI Express Lanes is the total number of supported lanes.

Instruction Set

The instruction set is a hard program stored inside the CPU that guides and optimizes CPU operations. With these instruction sets, the CPU can run more efficiently. There are many manufacturers that design CPUs, which results in different instruction sets, such as the 8086 instruction set for the Intel camp and the RISC instruction set for the ARM camp. x86, ARM v8, and MIPS are all codes for instruction sets. Instruction sets can be extended; for example, x86 added 64-bit support to create x86-64. Manufacturers developing CPUs that are compatible with a certain instruction set need authorization from the instruction set patent holder. A typical example is Intel authorizing AMD, enabling the latter to develop CPUs compatible with the x86 instruction set.

64-bit

Microprocessor PCIe Revision

Gen 4

Memory Specifications

Memory Type

Intel® processors come in four different types: Single Channel, Dual Channel, Triple Channel, and Flex Mode. Maximum supported memory speed may be lower when populating multiple DIMMs per channel on products that support multiple memory channels.

Up to LPDDR5 5200 MT/s Up to LPDDR4x 4267 MT/s

Max Memory Size

Max memory size refers to the maximum memory capacity supported by the processor.

64 GB

Memory Channels

The number of memory channels refers to the bandwidth operation for real world application.

ECC Memory Supported

ECC Memory Supported indicates processor support for Error-Correcting Code memory. ECC memory is a type of system memory that can detect and correct common kinds of internal data corruption. Note that ECC memory support requires both processor and chipset support.

GPU Specifications

Integrated Graphics Model

An integrated GPU refers to the graphics core that is integrated into the CPU processor. Leveraging the processor's powerful computational capabilities and intelligent power efficiency management, it delivers outstanding graphics performance and a smooth application experience at a lower power consumption.

Intel® UHD Graphics for 12th Gen Intel® Processors

Graphics Frequency

Graphics max dynamic frequency refers to the maximum opportunistic graphics render clock frequency (in MHz) that can be supported using Intel® HD Graphics with Dynamic Frequency feature.

850 MHz

DirectX Support

DirectX* Support indicates support for a specific version of Microsoft’s collection of APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) for handling multimedia compute tasks.

12.1

Execution Units

The Execution Unit is the foundational building block of Intel’s graphics architecture. Execution Units are compute processors optimized for simultaneous Multi-Threading for high throughput compute power.

Max Resolution (HDMI)

Max Resolution (HDMI) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor via the HDMI interface (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your system.

4096 x 2304 @ 60Hz

Max Resolution (DP)

Max Resolution (DP) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor via the DP interface (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your system.

7680 x 4320 @ 60Hz

Max Resolution (eDP - Integrated Flat Panel)

Max Resolution (Integrated Flat Panel) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor for a device with an integrated flat panel (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your device.

4096 x 2304 @ 120Hz

Number of Displays Supported

Graphics Output

Graphics Output defines the interfaces available to communicate with display devices.

eDP 1.4b | DP 1.4a | HDMI 2.1

Miscellaneous

Intel Deep Learning Boost (Intel DL Boost) on CPU

A new set of embedded processor technologies designed to accelerate AI deep learning use cases. It extends Intel AVX-512 with a new Vector Neural Network Instruction (VNNI) that significantly increases deep learning inference performance over previous generations.

Yes

Intel Image Processing Unit

6.0

Intel Virtualization Technology (VT-x)

Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x) allows one hardware platform to function as multiple “virtual” platforms. It offers improved manageability by limiting downtime and maintaining productivity by isolating computing activities into separate partitions.

Yes

Intel Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)

Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d) continues from the existing support for IA-32 (VT-x) and Itanium® processor (VT-i) virtualization adding new support for I/O-device virtualization. Intel VT-d can help end users improve security and reliability of the systems and also improve performance of I/O devices in virtualized environments.

Yes

Intel Standard Manageability (ISM)

Intel® Standard Manageability is the manageability solution for Intel vPro® Essentials platforms and is a subset of Intel® AMT with out-of-band management over Ethernet and Wi-Fi, but no KVM or new life cycle management features.

Intel® SSE4.1 | Intel® SSE4.2 | Intel® AVX2

Execute Disable Bit

Execute Disable Bit is a hardware-based security feature that can reduce exposure to viruses and malicious-code attacks and prevent harmful software from executing and propagating on the server or network.

Yes

Cache

CPU Cache is an area of fast memory located on the processor. Intel® Smart Cache refers to the architecture that allows all cores to dynamically share access to the last level cache.

10 MB Intel® Smart Cache

Intel AES New Instructions

Intel® AES New Instructions (Intel® AES-NI) are a set of instructions that enable fast and secure data encryption and decryption. AES-NI are valuable for a wide range of cryptographic applications, for example: applications that perform bulk encryption/decryption, authentication, random number generation, and authenticated encryption.

Yes

Intel High Definition Audio

Yes

Intel Volume Management Device (VMD)

Intel® Volume Management Device (VMD) provides a common, robust method of hot plug and LED management for NVMe-based solid state drives.

Yes

Intel Boot Guard

Intel® Device Protection Technology with Boot Guard helps protect the system’s pre-OS environment from viruses and malicious software attacks.

Yes

Intel VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)

Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT), also known as Second Level Address Translation (SLAT), provides acceleration for memory intensive virtualized applications. Extended Page Tables in Intel® Virtualization Technology platforms reduces the memory and power overhead costs and increases battery life through hardware optimization of page table management.

Yes

Intel QuickAssist Software Acceleration

Yes

Intel Control-Flow Enforcement Technology

CET - Intel Control-flow Enforcement Technology (CET) helps protect against the misuse of legitimate code snippets through return-oriented programming (ROP) control-flow hijacking attacks.

Yes

Intel Flex Memory Access

Intel OS Guard

Yes

OpenGL Support

OpenGL (Open Graphics Library) is a cross-language, multi-platform API (Application Programming Interface) for rendering 2D and 3D vector graphics.

4.6

OpenCL Support

OpenCL (Open Computing Language) is a multi-platform API (Application Programming Interface) for heterogeneous parallel programming.

3.0

Intel Quick Sync Video

Intel® Quick Sync Video delivers fast conversion of video for portable media players, online sharing, and video editing and authoring.

Yes

Benchmarks

Geekbench 6

Single Core Score

1304

Geekbench 6

Multi Core Score

3024

Geekbench 5

Single Core Score

1531

Geekbench 5

Multi Core Score

4826

Passmark CPU

Single Core Score

3367

Passmark CPU

Multi Core Score

10513

Compared to Other CPU

Geekbench 6 Single Core

Core i9-9820X

1382 +6%

Core i7-9750H

1349 +3.5%

Core i3-1210U

1304

Core i5-7500

1266 -2.9%

Xeon W-2133

1223 -6.2%

Geekbench 6 Multi Core

Xeon E3-1230 v3

3477 +15%

Core i7-5700HQ

3234 +6.9%

Core i3-1210U

3024

Ryzen 5 3550H

2832 -6.3%

Xeon E5-1620 v2

2533 -16.2%

Geekbench 5 Single Core

Core i5-14400

1656 +8.2%

Ryzen 5 5600X3D

1595 +4.2%

Core i3-1210U

1531

Core i7-1255U

1452 -5.2%

Core i7-11850H

1386 -9.5%

Geekbench 5 Multi Core

Core i3-12100E

5318 +10.2%

Xeon Gold 5218B

5055 +4.7%

Core i3-1210U

4826

Ryzen 3 4100

4611 -4.5%

Xeon E5-2689

4369 -9.5%

Passmark CPU Single Core

Core i5-12500T

3521 +4.6%

Ryzen 9 5900

3449 +2.4%

Core i3-1210U

3367

Ryzen 9 6900HS

3298 -2%

Ryzen 7 5800X

3227 -4.2%

Passmark CPU Multi Core

Xeon E-2186M

11499 +9.4%

Ryzen 3 PRO 4350G

10958 +4.2%

Core i3-1210U

10513

Xeon D-1540

10061 -4.3%

Core i5-8500

9578 -8.9%