Core 5 210H vs 120U: Minimal Upgrades in H-Series Processor

Key Takeaways

1. Intel’s Core-H CPUs generally outperform Core-U CPUs, with the Core i7-13700H showing 30-60% higher performance in multi-thread tasks compared to the Core i7-1355U.

2. The performance gap between the Core 5 210H and Core 5 120U is less significant, with the 210H being only about 10% faster in multi-threaded tasks.

3. The Core 5 120U has better single-thread performance and superior integrated graphics compared to the Core 5 210H.

4. Both CPU models have similar power consumption, around 38 W when fully utilized, making performance-per-watt a non-distinguishing factor.

5. For budget-conscious buyers, the Core 5 120U may be the better choice, as the Core 5 210H does not offer significant advantages in performance.

Typically, Intel’s Core-H CPUs are much quicker than their Core-U counterparts from the same generation. For instance, the Raptor Lake-H Core i7-13700H delivers up to 30 to 60 percent higher performance in multi-thread tasks compared to the Raptor Lake-U Core i7-1355U. Sadly, this performance gap isn’t clear-cut when comparing the Raptor Lake-H Core 5 210H and the Raptor Lake-U Core 5 120U, which makes it hard to distinguish between the H-series and U-series.

Performance Comparison

Our comparison data indicates that the Core 5 210H is just about 10 percent quicker than the Core 5 120U regarding multi-threaded tasks. On the other hand, the Core 5 120U has a slight edge in single-thread performance and even outperforms in integrated graphics as well.

Power Consumption

The power usage of these CPUs is nearly the same, sitting at approximately 38 W each when fully utilized or during gaming sessions. Thus, performance-per-watt doesn’t really stand out as a key factor between the two processors. Although the Core 5 210H might achieve higher Turbo Boost clock speeds than the Core 5 120U, it is typically found in lower-end laptop models that aren’t designed to handle significant Turbo Boost performance to begin with.

If you’re planning to buy a laptop with either the Core 5 210H or Core 5 120U, it may be wise to lean towards the more affordable Core 5 120U, since the Core 5 210H doesn’t provide any significant advantages.

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