Intel Core i3-4350 vs Intel Core i5-5287U Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i5-5287U records an average benchmark score of 1072, while the Intel Core i3-4350 records 1058. The i5 leads by a narrow margin of 14 points.

Q: Which processor wins in multi-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i3-4350 wins every multi-core benchmark in the head-to-head comparison. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 3076 versus 2596 for the i5-5287U, a 15.6% advantage.

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-5287U have a higher clock speed?

A: No. The i5-5287U has a base clock of 2.90 GHz with a boost clock of 3.30 GHz, while the i3-4350 runs at a fixed 3.60 GHz with no boost capability. The i3-4350 has the higher base frequency.

Q: Which chip has a smaller manufacturing process?

A: The Intel Core i5-5287U uses a 14 nm process, while the Intel Core i3-4350 uses a 22 nm process. The i5 also has a smaller die size at 133 mm² versus 177 mm² for the i3.

Q: What is the difference in integrated graphics?

A: The i5-5287U features Intel Iris 6100 graphics, while the i3-4350 uses Intel HD 4600. Both support DDR3 memory, but the i5 has a specified memory bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s.

Q: Which chip has a wider CPU socket compatibility?

A: The i3-4350 uses Intel Socket 1150, while the i5-5287U uses Intel BGA 1168 (a mobile socket). The i3 is a desktop part, the i5 is a mobile part.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i3-4350 wins every single head-to-head test. It outperforms the i5-5287U across all five Cinebench workloads, with deltas ranging from -15.5% to -15.9%. The i3-4350 is the faster processor in both single-core and multi-core rendering scenarios.

The Intel Core i5-5287U, however, does not win any benchmark in this comparison. Its advantage lies elsewhere: it is a mobile chip with a 28 W TDP, whereas the i3-4350 is a desktop chip with a 54 W TDP. The i5-5287U also has a smaller die size (133 mm²) and a newer 14 nm process, which suggests better power efficiency per unit of performance. It also carries Intel Iris 6100 graphics, which is a more capable integrated GPU than the HD 4600 on the i3-4350.

For a use-case split: the i3-4350 is the pick for compute-heavy tasks like Cinebench rendering, where it leads by roughly 15% in every test. The i5-5287U is the pick for a slim, power-sensitive mobile chassis, where the lower TDP and newer process matter more than raw score.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations. The i5-5287U is based on Broadwell (Broadwell-U), built on a 14 nm process. The i3-4350 is based on Haswell, built on a 22 nm process. This is a significant generational leap: the i5-5287U packs 1,900 million transistors into a 133 mm² die, while the i3-4350 packs 1,400 million transistors into a larger 177 mm² die.

Both chips feature 2 cores and 4 threads, so core count is identical. The i5-5287U has a shared 3 MB L3 cache, while the i3-4350 has a larger shared 4 MB L3 cache. L1 and L2 caches are the same: 64 KB per core L1 and 256 KB per core L2.

Memory support is DDR3 for both, and both use dual-channel memory. The i5-5287U specifies a memory bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s, while the i3-4350 does not have a listed memory bandwidth figure. PCIe support differs: the i5-5287U runs Gen 2 with 12 CPU lanes, while the i3-4350 supports PCIe Gen 3.

Integrated graphics differ in tier: the i5-5287U has Intel Iris 6100, the i3-4350 has Intel HD 4600. Neither chip supports ECC memory, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

Specification Differences

The two chips differ in several key specification fields.

• Base clock: i5-5287U at 2.90 GHz, i3-4350 at 3.60 GHz.
• Boost clock: i5-5287U has a 3.30 GHz boost, i3-4350 has no boost (fixed clock).
• TDP: i5-5287U at 28 W, i3-4350 at 54 W.
• Socket: i5-5287U uses Intel BGA 1168 (mobile), i3-4350 uses Intel Socket 1150 (desktop).
• Process node: i5-5287U at 14 nm, i3-4350 at 22 nm.
• Transistor count: 1,900 million vs 1,400 million.
• Die size: 133 mm² vs 177 mm².
• L3 cache: 3 MB shared (i5), 4 MB shared (i3).
• Memory bandwidth: 29.9 GB/s listed for i5, not listed for i3.
• PCIe: Gen 2, 12 lanes for i5, Gen 3 for i3.
• Integrated graphics: Intel Iris 6100 vs Intel HD 4600.
• Market segment: Mobile vs Desktop.
• Release date: i5-5287U released 2015-02-28, i3-4350 released 2014-04-30.
• Launch MSRP: i5-5287U listed at $315, i3-4350 has no launch MSRP listed.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are consistent across the board. The i3-4350 wins all five recorded benchmarks, with the i5-5287U trailing by roughly 15.5% to 15.9% in every case.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i3-4350 scores 309 versus 261 for the i5-5287U, a delta of -15.5%. This is the smallest relative gap between the two. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the i3-4350 scores 1291 versus 1090, a -15.6% delta. The single-core test shows a similar pattern: Cinebench R20 single-core has the i3-4350 at 182 and the i5-5287U at 153, a -15.9% difference. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows 3076 versus 2596, -15.6%, and Cinebench R23 single-core shows 434 versus 366, -15.7%.

The consistency is striking. Across all five workloads, the i3-4350 leads by essentially the same margin. This suggests the i5-5287U is not merely slower in one specific test; it is uniformly slower by a consistent proportion. The i5-5287U also has no Geekbench results in the head-to-head set, though its own benchmark list includes Geekbench scores of 2007 multi-core and 1029 single-core.

The average benchmark scores tell a slightly different story. The i5-5287U averages 1072, while the i3-4350 averages 1058. The i5-5287U has a higher average because its benchmark list includes Geekbench scores, which are not in the head-to-head set. The i3-4350's average is dragged down by its Cinebench-only results. The percentiles also differ: the i5-5287U sits at the 30th percentile of all CPUs, the i3-4350 at the 29th.

The Verdict

The Intel Core i3-4350 is the clear performance winner in this comparison. It wins 5 out of 5 head-to-head benchmarks, with a consistent 15.5% to 15.9% advantage over the i5-5287U in Cinebench tests. Its higher fixed clock of 3.60 GHz, larger 4 MB L3 cache, and desktop-class 54 W power envelope give it a decisive edge in rendering workloads. The i3-4350 is also a desktop part, which means it can be paired with a standard motherboard and sustained cooling.

The Intel Core i5-5287U does not win a single benchmark, but it has a different purpose. It is a mobile chip with a 28 W TDP and a 14 nm process. Its smaller die, newer architecture, and lower power draw make it the better choice for a portable system. The i5-5287U also has a higher average benchmark score overall (1072 vs 1058), driven by its Geekbench results. Its 30th percentile ranking is one point higher than the i3-4350's 29th. For a laptop or an ultrabook, the i5-5287U is the sensible pick; for a desktop where raw compute matters, the i3-4350 wins without question.

The data shows no ambiguity: if your workload is multi-threaded rendering or single-core speed, the i3-4350 is 15% faster across the board. If your priority is a low-power mobile platform, the i5-5287U offers a better fit. There is no middle ground in the benchmark results.