Intel Core i3-3250T vs Intel Core i7-3687U Comparison

The Intel Core i3-3250T and the Intel Core i7-3687U are both 22 nm Ivy Bridge parts, but they target very different corners of the market. One is a low-power desktop chip, the other a mobile processor designed for thin laptops. Despite their different roles and a significant gap in their model naming, the benchmark data shows they land in the same performance tier. Both processors sit at the 21st percentile of all CPUs in the database, and their average benchmark scores are separated by just 2 points: 775 for the i3-3250T versus 773 for the i7-3687U. That is a remarkably tight race for two chips with different sockets, different power envelopes, and different feature sets. The head-to-head results are close enough that the deciding factors for a buyer come down to platform, integration, and specific workload characteristics rather than raw compute dominance.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded benchmark results show a consistent, but very narrow, advantage for the desktop i3-3250T across every test in the comparison. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i3-3250T scores 226 against the i7-3687U’s 224, a lead of 0.9%. That pattern holds in Cinebench R20 multicore, where the i3-3250T posts 945 versus 937 for the i7-3687U, again a 0.9% difference. The margins are so small that they fall well within typical run-to-run variation, but the direction is uniform.

Single-core results tell the same story. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the i3-3250T scores 133, and the i7-3687U scores 132, a 0.8% edge. Cinebench R23 single-core shows the i3-3250T at 318 and the i7-3687U at 315, a 1% advantage. The largest single delta in the entire head-to-head set is that 1% R23 single-core gap, which is still a very slim margin. Multi-core results in R23 are similarly close: 2252 for the i3-3250T versus 2231 for the i7-3687U, a 0.9% difference.

The i3-3250T wins all five recorded comparisons, but the data should be read carefully. A 0.9% or 1% lead is effectively a tie in real-world use. The i7-3687U has a higher boost clock, which likely helps it close the gap that the i3-3250T’s higher base clock opens up. The i7-3687U also has an extra 1 MB of shared L3 cache, yet the benchmark results indicate that cache advantage does not translate into a measurable performance win in these specific tests.

The nearest-rival data reinforces the equivalence. For the i3-3250T, the i7-3687U is listed as a nearest rival with an average score of 773, which is 0.3% lower than the i3-3250T’s 775. For the i7-3687U, the i3-3250T appears as a nearest rival with an average score of 775, which is 0.2% higher than the i7-3687U’s 773. Both processors also sit alongside the Intel Celeron G5920 and the Intel Pentium Silver J5005 in their respective rival lists, with those two parts scoring 775 and 776 respectively. The AMD Athlon X4 760K appears as a rival for the i3-3250T with a score of 777. The i7-3687U’s rival list includes the Intel Core i5-680 at 772. None of these adjacent chips are more than a few points away, meaning both processors occupy a dense cluster of similarly performing hardware.

Geekbench results are available only for the i7-3687U. It scores 1044 in Geekbench multicore and 526 in Geekbench single-core. These numbers sit in the same general performance band as the Cinebench results, reinforcing the i7-3687U’s position in the 21st percentile tier. Without a matching i3-3250T Geekbench run, the database cannot offer a direct comparison on that test, but the Cinebench data is sufficiently consistent to establish the overall relationship.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: The Intel Core i3-3250T wins all recorded multi-core tests, but by very slim margins. It scores 226 versus 224 in Cinebench R15 multicore, 945 versus 937 in R20 multicore, and 2252 versus 2231 in R23 multicore. The largest multi-core lead is 0.9%.

Q: Is the Intel Core i7-3687U faster in single-core tests because it has a boost clock?

A: No. The i3-3250T wins every recorded single-core test despite having no boost clock. It leads by 0.8% in Cinebench R20 single-core (133 versus 132) and by 1% in Cinebench R23 single-core (318 versus 315).

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The i3-3250T has an average benchmark score of 775, and the i7-3687U has an average score of 773. That puts the i3-3250T 0.3% ahead in the database’s overall metric, and both chips sit at the 21st percentile of all CPUs.

Q: Do they use the same manufacturing process?

A: Yes. Both processors are built on Intel’s 22 nm process node and both use the Ivy Bridge architecture. The i3-3250T has a die size of 94 mm², while the i7-3687U has a larger die size of 118 mm².

Q: What are the differences in their memory support?

A: Both support DDR3 memory with a dual-channel memory bus. The i3-3250T has a recorded memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s, while the i7-3687U has no memory bandwidth figure listed in the database. Neither processor supports ECC memory.

Q: Which processor has a higher TDP?

A: The i3-3250T has a TDP of 35 watts, while the i7-3687U has a TDP of 17 watts. The i7-3687U is designed for mobile use with a much lower power envelope.

Architecture Differences

Both processors share the same Ivy Bridge architecture, the same 22 nm process node, and the same Intel foundry. They each have 2 physical cores and 4 threads, so the threading model is identical. The L1 and L2 cache configurations match as well: 64 KB of L1 per core and 256 KB of L2 per core. The differences begin with the L3 cache. The i3-3250T has 3 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i7-3687U has 4 MB of shared L3 cache. That extra 1 MB is a meaningful architectural distinction, though the benchmark data shows it does not overcome the i3-3250T’s clock advantage in the recorded tests.

Die size differs substantially. The i3-3250T measures 94 mm², while the i7-3687U measures 118 mm². The larger die on the mobile part likely reflects the additional L3 cache and the integrated graphics configuration. The integrated graphics also differ: the i3-3250T carries Intel HD 2500, while the i7-3687U carries Intel HD 4000. The HD 4000 is the higher-tier graphics solution, which is typical for a Core i7 mobile part.

Clock behavior is another major architectural difference. The i3-3250T has a base clock of 3.00 GHz and no boost clock, meaning it runs at a fixed frequency. The i7-3687U has a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 3.30 GHz. The i7-3687U therefore relies on dynamic frequency scaling to reach its performance ceiling, while the i3-3250T maintains its full clock at all times. This explains why the i7-3687U can keep pace despite a 0.90 GHz lower base clock: when the workload allows, it can boost past the i3-3250T’s fixed frequency, although the recorded benchmarks still favor the i3-3250T.

The platform differences are stark. The i3-3250T uses Intel Socket 1155 and is classified as a desktop part. It supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The i7-3687U uses Intel BGA 1023, meaning it is soldered to the motherboard, and no PCIe lane configuration is listed in the database. The i3-3250T has a market segment of Desktop, while the i7-3687U is listed as Mobile. The i3-3250T is marked as end-of-life in its production status, while no production status is recorded for the i7-3687U.

The generation labels reflect their respective product lines: the i3-3250T is listed under Core i3 (Ivy Bridge), and the i7-3687U is listed under Core i7 (Ivy Bridge). Both are from the same process generation, but they sit in different tiers of Intel’s model stack. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier. The i3-3250T part number is SR0YW, and the i7-3687U part number is SR0XH. Neither has a recorded launch MSRP in the database.

The Verdict

The data points to a simple conclusion: these two processors are performance equals in the recorded benchmarks, with the i3-3250T holding a razor-thin edge across the board. The i3-3250T wins all five head-to-head comparisons, but the margins range from 0.8% to 1%. That is not a performance class difference; it is a statistical tie. The average benchmark scores confirm this, with 775 for the i3-3250T and 773 for the i7-3687U.

The choice between them should therefore be driven by platform and power requirements, not by raw compute. The i3-3250T is the better fit for a desktop build using Intel Socket 1155. It has a 35 watt TDP, which is low for a desktop chip, and it offers PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes for the CPU. It also has a higher base clock at 3.00 GHz, which makes it the more straightforward choice for fixed-frequency workloads. Its end-of-life production status means it is an older platform, but it remains competitive in this performance tier.

The i7-3687U is the better fit for a mobile system. Its 17 watt TDP is less than half that of the i3-3250T, making it suitable for thin laptops with limited cooling. It has a boost clock of 3.30 GHz, which gives it a higher peak frequency than the i3-3250T’s fixed 3.00 GHz, even if the recorded benchmarks do not show that translating into a win. It also has 4 MB of L3 cache, 1 MB more than the i3-3250T, and the higher-tier Intel HD 4000 integrated graphics. For a user buying into a mobile platform, the i7-3687U is the obvious pick. For a desktop user, the i3-3250T offers the same level of compute performance with a conventional socket and PCIe support.

Neither processor is a winner by a meaningful margin. The database records the i3-3250T as the winner in every head-to-head test, so a strict reading of the numbers favors the desktop part. But the i7-3687U’s lower TDP, higher boost clock, larger cache, and better integrated graphics make it the more versatile part for its intended mobile segment. The 21st percentile ranking for both chips places them in the entry-level tier, so buyers should not expect high-end performance from either. They are firmly entry-level parts that happen to deliver nearly identical compute results.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specification fields. The i3-3250T has a base clock of 3.00 GHz with no boost clock, while the i7-3687U has a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 3.30 GHz. TDP differs significantly: 35 watts for the i3-3250T versus 17 watts for the i7-3687U. The socket is different, with the i3-3250T using Intel Socket 1155 and the i7-3687U using Intel BGA 1023.

Die size differs, with the i3-3250T at 94 mm² and the i7-3687U at 118 mm². L3 cache differs, with 3 MB shared on the i3-3250T and 4 MB shared on the i7-3687U. Integrated graphics differ, with Intel HD 2500 on the i3-3250T and Intel HD 4000 on the i7-3687U. The i3-3250T has a recorded memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s, while the i7-3687U has no memory bandwidth listed. The i3-3250T lists PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i7-3687U has no PCIe specification recorded.

Market segment differs: Desktop for the i3-3250T, Mobile for the i7-3687U. Production status is recorded as end-of-life for the i3-3250T, with no status recorded for the i7-3687U. Release dates differ, with the i3-3250T released later than the i7-3687U. The part numbers are also different, SR0YW for the i3-3250T and SR0XH for the i7-3687U. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, and neither supports ECC memory. Both use Dual-channel DDR3 memory, 2 cores, 4 threads, and identical L1 and L2 cache configurations of 64 KB per core and 256 KB per core respectively.