Intel Core i3-4360 vs Intel Core i5-5287U Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a consistent and unambiguous pattern across every shared benchmark: the Intel Core i3-4360 wins all five head-to-head comparisons. There is not a single test where the Intel Core i5-5287U takes the lead. The margins are remarkably uniform, hovering around 15.8% to 15.9% in favor of the desktop part. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i3-4360 scores 310 against the i5-5287U's 261, a deficit of 15.8%. That same 15.8% gap appears in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the i3-4360 reaches 1294 and the i5-5287U sits at 1090. The R23 multi-core test repeats the story: 3082 for the i3-4360 versus 2596 for the i5-5287U, again a 15.8% difference.

Single-core results follow the same trajectory with a slightly larger gap. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the i3-4360 posts 182 against 153 for the i5-5287U, a delta of 15.9%. The Cinebench R23 single-core test shows 435 versus 366, also a 15.9% difference. The i3-4360's advantage is not confined to one type of workload; it spans both multi-threaded rendering and single-threaded responsiveness. The magnitude of the win is nearly identical across all tests, suggesting a fundamental clock-speed or architectural edge rather than workload-specific behavior.

The average benchmark scores in the database tell a slightly different story. The i5-5287U has an average score of 1072, placing it in the 30th percentile of all CPUs. The i3-4360 has an average score of 1061, placing it in the 29th percentile. Despite losing every head-to-head test, the i5-5287U edges out the i3-4360 in the aggregate average by 11 points. This is a curious inversion: the per-test losses are consistent and large, yet the overall average is nearly identical. The explanation likely lies in the benchmark sets. The i5-5287U's database includes Geekbench scores (2007 multi-core, 1029 single-core), while the i3-4360's database lacks Geekbench results. Those extra Geekbench numbers pull the i5-5287U's average upward, masking its Cinebench deficit.

The nearest rivals for each chip reinforce the idea that these two processors occupy nearly the same performance tier. The i5-5287U sits alongside the Intel Core i3-4170T at exactly 1072 average score with a 0% delta, and the AMD Athlon X4 880K at 1071 with a 0.1% delta. The i3-4360 is matched by the AMD Opteron 4376 HE at 1061 with a 0% delta, and the Intel Core i5-4570TE at 1062 with a -0.1% delta. In absolute terms, both parts land within a handful of points of each other's peer groups, which is notable given how decisively the i3-4360 wins the direct comparison.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel generations and process nodes. The i5-5287U is built on Broadwell-U, a 14 nm part manufactured by Intel with 1,900 million transistors on a 133 mm² die. The i3-4360 is Haswell, a 22 nm part with 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die. The newer 14 nm node packs more transistors into a smaller area, yet the older 22 nm design still delivers higher benchmark scores in every shared test. This suggests that clock speed and power envelope matter more than process shrinks for these particular workloads.

The cache configurations differ as well. The i5-5287U has 64 KB of L1 per core and 256 KB of L2 per core, with 3 MB of shared L3. The i3-4360 has the same per-core L1 and L2 sizes but a larger 4 MB shared L3. The extra 1 MB of L3 cache on the i3-4360 may contribute to its consistent lead, especially in single-core tests where cache hits directly reduce memory latency. The memory support is identical in type (DDR3) and bus configuration (dual-channel), but the i5-5287U lists a memory bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s while the i3-4360's memory bandwidth is not recorded in the database. Neither chip supports ECC memory.

The integrated graphics differ significantly. The i5-5287U carries Intel Iris 6100, while the i3-4360 uses Intel HD 4600. The Iris 6100 is the more capable graphics solution, which is typical for a mobile part where the GPU is expected to handle display and light rendering duties. The i3-4360's HD 4600 is a more basic desktop integrated GPU. The PCIe support also differs: the i5-5287U offers Gen 2 with 12 lanes (CPU only), while the i3-4360 offers Gen 3 without a lane count specified. The newer PCIe generation on the desktop part is notable, but the mobile part's lane limitation reflects its BGA socket and compact design.

The sockets are completely different. The i5-5287U uses Intel BGA 1168, a soldered mobile socket, while the i3-4360 uses Intel Socket 1150, a standard desktop socket. The TDP gap is substantial: 28 watts for the mobile part versus 54 watts for the desktop part. That 26-watt difference explains why the i5-5287U is found in thin laptops and the i3-4360 in desktop towers. The base clocks tell a similar story: the i5-5287U runs at 2.90 GHz with a 3.30 GHz boost, while the i3-4360 runs at a fixed 3.70 GHz with no boost clock listed. The i3-4360's higher base clock directly accounts for its benchmark superiority.

FAQ

Q: Why does the i3-4360 win every head-to-head benchmark despite the i5-5287U being a newer architecture?

A: The i3-4360 has a base clock of 3.70 GHz, which is 0.80 GHz higher than the i5-5287U's 2.90 GHz base clock. The i5-5287U can boost to 3.30 GHz, but that still falls short of the desktop part's fixed operating frequency. The 14 nm Broadwell process does not compensate for the lower clock speed in these Cinebench workloads.

Q: Which CPU has better integrated graphics for gaming?

A: The i5-5287U includes Intel Iris 6100, while the i3-4360 includes Intel HD 4600. The Iris 6100 is the higher-tier integrated graphics solution. However, the database does not include graphics benchmark scores, so the comparison is limited to the tier of the integrated GPU rather than measured performance.

Q: Are these two CPUs in the same performance percentile?

A: Yes, nearly identical. The i5-5287U sits in the 30th percentile of all CPUs with an average benchmark score of 1072, while the i3-4360 sits in the 29th percentile with an average score of 1061. The percentile difference is just 1 point, despite the i3-4360's consistent head-to-head wins.

Q: Can the i5-5287U be overclocked?

A: No. The multiplier is locked on both processors. The i5-5287U has a fixed multiplier and the i3-4360 also has a locked multiplier, so neither chip allows user-controlled overclocking through the multiplier.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth of the i3-4360?

A: The database does not record a memory bandwidth value for the i3-4360. The i5-5287U is listed at 29.9 GB/s. Both support dual-channel DDR3 memory.

Q: Why does the i5-5287U have a higher average benchmark score than the i3-4360 if it loses every shared test?

A: The i5-5287U's benchmark set includes Geekbench multi-core and single-core scores (2007 and 1029 respectively), which are absent from the i3-4360's benchmark set. These additional Geekbench results boost the i5-5287U's average score to 1072, slightly above the i3-4360's 1061, even though the i3-4360 wins all five Cinebench comparisons.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs differ on several core specifications. The base clock is 2.90 GHz for the i5-5287U versus 3.70 GHz for the i3-4360. The i5-5287U has a boost clock of 3.30 GHz, while the i3-4360 has no boost clock listed. The TDP is 28 watts for the mobile part and 54 watts for the desktop part. The socket is Intel BGA 1168 for the i5-5287U and Intel Socket 1150 for the i3-4360. The process node is 14 nm for Broadwell and 22 nm for Haswell. Transistor counts are 1,900 million versus 1,400 million. Die sizes are 133 mm² versus 177 mm². The L3 cache is 3 MB shared versus 4 MB shared. Memory bandwidth is 29.9 GB/s for the i5-5287U and not recorded for the i3-4360. The PCIe support is Gen 2 with 12 lanes for the mobile part versus Gen 3 for the desktop part. The integrated graphics are Intel Iris 6100 versus Intel HD 4600. The market segment is Mobile for the i5-5287U and Desktop for the i3-4360. The release dates differ as well: the i5-5287U launched on 2015-02-28, while the i3-4360 launched on 2014-04-30. The i5-5287U has a launch MSRP of $315, while the i3-4360 has no recorded launch MSRP. The i5-5287U has a part number of SR26H, while the i3-4360 has no recorded part number. The production status is end-of-life for the i5-5287U, while the i3-4360 has no recorded production status. Both have 2 cores and 4 threads, 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, dual-channel DDR3 memory, no ECC support, and locked multipliers.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear winner for raw compute performance: the Intel Core i3-4360. It beats the i5-5287U by 15.8% in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests, and by 15.9% in Cinebench R20 and R23 single-core tests. The consistency of the margin across five different workloads is striking. For anyone running CPU-bound rendering tasks, the i3-4360 is the better choice based purely on benchmark results. The i5-5287U's only aggregate advantage is its average score of 1072 versus 1061, but that edge depends entirely on Geekbench scores that the i3-4360 does not have in its record. The direct comparison leaves no room for interpretation: the desktop part is faster.

The i5-5287U is not without merit, but its strengths lie outside the Cinebench suite. It offers a more advanced integrated GPU (Iris 6100) and a much lower TDP of 28 watts, making it suitable for mobile devices where power efficiency is critical. The i3-4360 consumes 54 watts, nearly double, and requires a desktop platform. The architectural gap is also notable: Broadwell's 14 nm process with 1,900 million transistors outperforms Haswell's 22 nm process with 1,400 million transistors in transistor density, but not in delivered performance at these clock speeds.

Where Each One Wins

The i3-4360 wins in every measured CPU benchmark category. It dominates multi-core rendering with scores of 310, 1294, and 3082 in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 respectively, against the i5-5287U's 261, 1090, and 2596. It also wins single-core workloads with 182 and 435 in Cinebench R20 and R23, versus 153 and 366 for the i5-5287U. The 15.8% to 15.9% margins are consistent across all tests. The i3-4360 also has a larger L3 cache at 4 MB versus 3 MB, and a higher base clock of 3.70 GHz versus 2.90 GHz, both of which likely contribute to its performance lead. Its PCIe Gen 3 support is also a generation ahead of the i5-5287U's Gen 2.

The i5-5287U wins in areas not covered by the head-to-head benchmarks. Its Intel Iris 6100 integrated graphics are a higher tier than the i3-4360's Intel HD 4600. Its 28 watt TDP is substantially lower than the i3-4360's 54 watts, making it the better fit for laptops and compact systems. Its 14 nm process node with 1,900 million transistors demonstrates a more modern manufacturing approach, and its 29.9 GB/s memory bandwidth is recorded while the i3-4360's is not. The i5-5287U also has a recorded launch date of 2015-02-28, later than the i3-4360's 2014-04-30, and a launch MSRP of $315. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i3-4170T and AMD Athlon X4 880K, while the i3-4360's nearest rivals include the AMD Opteron 4376 HE and Intel Core i5-4570TE. For users who prioritize CPU compute performance, the i3-4360 is the pick. For users who need a low-power mobile chip with better integrated graphics, the i5-5287U is the appropriate choice.