Aspects include computing devices, systems, and methods for selecting preferred processor core combinations for a state of a computing device. In an aspect, a state of a computing device containing the multi-core processor may be determined. A number of current leakage ratios may be determined by comparing current leakages of the processor cores to current leakages of the other processor cores. The ratios may be compared to boundaries for the state of the computing device in respective inequalities. A processor core associated with a number of boundaries may be selected in response to determining that the respective inequalities are true. The boundaries may be associated with a set of processor cores deemed preferred for an associated state of the computing device. The processor core present in the set of processor cores for each boundary of a true inequality may be the selected processor core.