Intel Core i3-4150T vs Intel Core i5-5257U Comparison

The Intel Core i5-5257U and Intel Core i3-4150T are two dual-core, four-thread processors separated by a generation and a market segment. The i5-5257U is a mobile Broadwell part, while the i3-4150T is a desktop Haswell part. Despite these differences, their average benchmark scores are nearly identical—976 for the i5 versus 975 for the i3, a delta of just 0.1%. The i3-4150T wins 5 of 7 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, but the i5-5257U takes the Geekbench tests, including a 3.4% single-core advantage. This is a close contest where architectural efficiency meets raw clock speed.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher base clock speed?

A: The Intel Core i3-4150T has a base clock of 2.90 GHz, which is higher than the 2.70 GHz base clock of the Intel Core i5-5257U.

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-5257U support turbo boosting?

A: Yes, the i5-5257U has a boost clock of 3.10 GHz. The i3-4150T does not have a boost clock, meaning its 2.90 GHz is its maximum operating frequency.

Q: Which CPU has better single-core performance in Geekbench?

A: The Intel Core i5-5257U scores 922 in Geekbench single-core, outperforming the i3-4150T’s 892. This represents a 3.4% advantage for the i5.

Q: What are the thermal design power (TDP) ratings for these chips?

A: The Intel Core i5-5257U has a TDP of 28 watts, making it more power-efficient than the Intel Core i3-4150T, which has a TDP of 35 watts.

Q: Which processor uses a smaller manufacturing process node?

A: The Intel Core i5-5257U uses a 14 nm process node, while the Intel Core i3-4150T uses a larger 22 nm node.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No, neither the Intel Core i5-5257U nor the Intel Core i3-4150T supports ECC memory.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent different architectural generations and design philosophies. The Intel Core i5-5257U is built on the Broadwell architecture, specifically the Broadwell-U codename, and uses a 14 nm process node manufactured by Intel. It integrates 1,900 million transistors on a 133 mm² die. In contrast, the Intel Core i3-4150T is based on the older Haswell architecture, using a 22 nm process node with 1,400 million transistors on a larger 177 mm² die.

These architectural differences extend to the integrated graphics. The i5-5257U features Intel Iris 6100 graphics, while the i3-4150T is equipped with Intel HD 4400. The memory controller also differs: the i5-5257U supports dual-channel DDR3 with a memory bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s, whereas the i3-4150T supports dual-channel DDR3 but has no listed memory bandwidth figure in the data.

The platform and socket choices are fundamentally different. The i5-5257U uses an Intel BGA 1168 socket, indicating a soldered mobile design, while the i3-4150T uses an Intel Socket 1150, a desktop platform. PCIe support also varies: the i5-5257U provides Gen 2 with 12 lanes (CPU only), while the i3-4150T provides Gen 3 without a lane count specified. Both processors share identical cache hierarchies—64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, with 3 MB of shared L3 cache—and both have 2 cores and 4 threads.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data reveals a split based on workload type and metric. The Intel Core i3-4150T wins the majority of the Cinebench tests. It takes the R15 multicore (244 vs. 242), R20 multicore (1018 vs. 1010), R20 single-core (143 vs. 142), R23 multicore (2425 vs. 2406), and R23 single-core (342 vs. 339) tests. Although these wins are narrow—all deltas are under 1%—they are consistent across the Cinebench suite, suggesting a slight but reliable edge in rendering and sustained compute workloads that benefit from its higher base clock.

Conversely, the Intel Core i5-5257U wins both Geekbench tests. Its Geekbench single-core score of 922 beats the i3-4150T’s 892 by 3.4%, and its Geekbench multicore score of 1773 beats the i3’s 1762 by 0.6%. This indicates that the i5-5257U has a stronger per-clock performance advantage, likely stemming from the more modern Broadwell architecture and its higher boost clock of 3.10 GHz. For users prioritizing single-threaded responsiveness or applications that are sensitive to architectural efficiency, the i5-5257U is the better choice.

The i5-5257U also wins on power efficiency, with a 28 W TDP compared to the i3-4150T’s 35 W. This makes the mobile i5 part more suitable for thermally constrained environments, even though the desktop i3 holds a slight performance lead in most benchmarks. The i5-5257U’s superior integrated graphics (Iris 6100 vs. HD 4400) also gives it an edge in scenarios where dedicated graphics are absent.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specification fields. The base clock differs, with the i5-5257U at 2.70 GHz and the i3-4150T at 2.90 GHz. The i5-5257U has a boost clock of 3.10 GHz, while the i3-4150T has no boost clock. TDP also differs: 28 W for the i5 versus 35 W for the i3.

The socket and platform are entirely different, with the i5-5257U using Intel BGA 1168 and the i3-4150T using Intel Socket 1150. The architecture and codename differ (Broadwell/Broadwell-U vs. Haswell/Haswell), as do the process nodes (14 nm vs. 22 nm). Transistor count and die size also differ: 1,900 million transistors on 133 mm² for the i5, versus 1,400 million on 177 mm² for the i3.

Memory bandwidth is listed for the i5-5257U at 29.9 GB/s, but no figure is provided for the i3-4150T. PCIe support differs, with the i5 offering Gen 2, 12 lanes (CPU only) and the i3 offering Gen 3. The integrated graphics differ (Iris 6100 vs. HD 4400), as do the market segments (Mobile vs. Desktop) and release dates (2015-02-28 vs. 2014-04-30). The i5-5257U has a launch MSRP of $315; no launch MSRP is listed for the i3-4150T. Only the i5-5257U has a listed part number (SR26K).

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head comparison shows a near-total sweep by the Intel Core i3-4150T in Cinebench, countered by Intel Core i5-5257U wins in Geekbench. Starting with Cinebench R15 multicore, the i3-4150T scores 244 against the i5-5257U’s 242, a win of 0.8%. This pattern repeats in Cinebench R20 multicore, where the i3 scores 1018 versus 1010, again a 0.8% delta. The single-core Cinebench R20 test shows the i3 ahead with 143 versus 142, a 0.7% margin.

Cinebench R23 continues the trend. In multicore, the i3-4150T scores 2425 versus the i5-5257U’s 2406, a 0.8% lead. In single-core, the i3 scores 342 versus 339, a 0.9% margin. These consistent, albeit small, wins suggest that the i3-4150T’s higher base clock of 2.90 GHz provides a tangible advantage in Cinebench workloads, even against the i5’s boost clock of 3.10 GHz.

The story flips in Geekbench. The i5-5257U posts a Geekbench single-core score of 922, beating the i3-4150T’s 892 by a notable 3.4%. This is the largest delta in the entire head-to-head set. In Geekbench multicore, the i5 scores 1773 versus 1762, a 0.6% win. These results indicate that the Broadwell architecture’s IPC improvements are more pronounced in Geekbench’s test methodology, allowing the i5-5257U to overcome its lower base clock.

Overall, the i3-4150T wins 5 benchmarks to the i5-5257U’s 2. However, the magnitude of the i5’s Geekbench single-core win (3.4%) is larger than any single Cinebench delta (max 0.9%). The average benchmark scores reflect this balance: the i5-5257U averages 976, and the i3-4150T averages 975, a 0.1% difference. Both processors sit at the 26th percentile among all CPUs, and both have near-identical nearest rivals, including the Intel Core i3-4130 and AMD Athlon X4 840, with average scores of 975 and deltas of 0.0% to 0.1%.