Intel Core i3-4360T vs Intel Core i5-5257U Comparison

Intel Core i5-5257U and Intel Core i3-4360T are both dual-core, four-thread processors from Intel, but they target entirely different platforms and use cases. The i5-5257U is a mobile Broadwell part designed for laptops, while the i3-4360T is a desktop Haswell chip built for low-power compact systems. Benchmark data from the database shows a clear overall winner in the i3-4360T, which takes all five head-to-head tests, but the i5-5257U holds its own in specific mobile-centric scenarios. The recorded scores place both processors at the 26th percentile among all CPUs, indicating they are entry-level performers in the current landscape, though their nearest rivals differ significantly.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i3-4360T wins every single benchmark where both processors have recorded scores. In the database's head-to-head comparisons, the i3-4360T takes all five tests, covering both single-core and multi-core workloads across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23. This makes it the outright choice for compute-heavy tasks such as video encoding, 3D rendering, or any application that scales with raw CPU throughput. The largest margin comes in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where the i3-4360T scores 282 against the i5-5257U's 242, a 14.2% advantage. This consistent lead across all tests suggests the desktop chip's higher base clock of 3.20 GHz, compared to the mobile chip's 2.70 GHz base and 3.10 GHz boost, provides a decisive edge in sustained workloads.

The Intel Core i5-5257U, despite losing every head-to-head benchmark, still has a distinct role. Its market segment is mobile, and its 28 W TDP is notably lower than the i3-4360T's 35 W, making it better suited for thin-and-light laptops where thermal headroom is limited. The i5-5257U also features Intel Iris 6100 integrated graphics, a more capable GPU than the i3-4360T's Intel HD 4600, which matters for casual gaming or hardware-accelerated video playback in a mobile context. In the database, the i5-5257U averages a benchmark score of 976, landing within 0.1% of rivals like the Intel Core i3-4150T, Intel Core i3-4130, AMD Athlon X4 840, and AMD A10-7870K, all of which score 975. This places it in a competitive pack for its power class, even if it cannot match the desktop i3 in raw output.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel microarchitectures and manufacturing nodes. The i5-5257U is built on Broadwell, specifically the Broadwell-U codename, using a 14 nm process node. It packs 1,900 million transistors into a die size of 133 mm². In contrast, the i3-4360T is Haswell, built on the older 22 nm node, with 1,400 million transistors on a larger 177 mm² die. The smaller process node gives the i5-5257U a transistor density advantage, though the i3-4360T compensates with a larger L3 cache: 4 MB shared versus 3 MB shared on the i5-5257U. Both share identical L1 and L2 cache configurations at 64 KB per core and 256 KB per core, respectively.

Memory support is another point of divergence. Both support DDR3 memory in a dual-channel configuration, but the i5-5257U has a recorded memory bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s, while the i3-4360T has no listed bandwidth figure in the database. The PCIe connectivity also differs: the i5-5257U runs PCIe Gen 2 with 12 lanes (CPU only), whereas the i3-4360T runs PCIe Gen 3 with no lane count specified. The i5-5257U uses an Intel BGA 1168 socket, which is soldered to the motherboard, while the i3-4360T uses the LGA 1150 socket, a socketed desktop interface. The i3-4360T also has a higher base clock at 3.20 GHz and no boost clock, meaning it runs at a fixed frequency, while the i5-5257U boosts from 2.70 GHz to 3.10 GHz.

The integrated graphics differ significantly. The i5-5257U comes with Intel Iris 6100, a higher-tier iGPU, while the i3-4360T has Intel HD 4600. Neither processor supports ECC memory, and both have locked multipliers. The i5-5257U was released on February 28, 2015, and is marked as end-of-life, while the i3-4360T was released earlier on July 20, 2014, and remains active in production. The i5-5257U has a launch MSRP of $315, while no launch price is recorded for the i3-4360T.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database's head-to-head results are unambiguous: the i3-4360T wins all five comparisons, with margins ranging from 13.9% to 14.2%. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i3-4360T scores 282 against the i5-5257U's 242, a delta of 14.2% in favor of the desktop chip. Cinebench R20 multi-core shows a similar pattern: the i3-4360T hits 1175 while the i5-5257U manages 1010, a 14% difference. Single-core performance follows the same trend, with the i3-4360T scoring 165 in Cinebench R20 single-core versus 142 for the i5-5257U, a 13.9% lead.

Cinebench R23 results reinforce the pattern. In multi-core, the i3-4360T scores 2799, while the i5-5257U scores 2406, a 14% gap. In single-core, the i3-4360T reaches 395, while the i5-5257U trails at 339, a 14.2% margin. The consistency of these deltas across all tests, regardless of workload type, indicates that the i3-4360T's advantage stems from its higher fixed clock speed rather than any architectural efficiency. The i5-5257U's boost clock of 3.10 GHz still falls short of the i3-4360T's constant 3.20 GHz, and the desktop chip's larger 4 MB L3 cache likely helps in memory-sensitive tasks.

In addition to the head-to-head data, the i5-5257U has Geekbench scores in the database: 1773 multi-core and 922 single-core. The i3-4360T has no recorded Geekbench results, so a direct comparison there is not possible. However, the Cinebench suite alone provides enough evidence to declare the i3-4360T the faster processor in both single-threaded and multi-threaded scenarios. The i5-5257U's average benchmark score of 976 slightly edges out the i3-4360T's 963, but this is due to the inclusion of Geekbench data, which is not available for the i3-4360T, and the two processors land in the same 26th percentile overall.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specification fields. The most obvious is the socket: the i5-5257U uses Intel BGA 1168, a soldered mobile socket, while the i3-4360T uses Intel Socket 1150, a desktop LGA interface. The base clocks differ, with the i5-5257U at 2.70 GHz and a 3.10 GHz boost, while the i3-4360T runs at a fixed 3.20 GHz with no boost capability. TDP is not equal: the i5-5257U draws 28 W, while the i3-4360T is rated at 35 W.

The cache configurations differ in L3 size: 3 MB shared on the i5-5257U versus 4 MB shared on the i3-4360T. The process node and die details also vary, with the i5-5257U on 14 nm with 1,900 million transistors and a 133 mm² die, compared to the i3-4360T on 22 nm with 1,400 million transistors and a 177 mm² die. Memory bandwidth is listed for the i5-5257U at 29.9 GB/s, while no figure exists for the i3-4360T. PCIe generation differs: Gen 2 with 12 lanes for the i5-5257U versus Gen 3 for the i3-4360T. Integrated graphics are different, with the i5-5257U featuring Intel Iris 6100 and the i3-4360T using Intel HD 4600.

Production status also separates them: the i5-5257U is end-of-life, while the i3-4360T is active. Release dates are close, with the i5-5257U launching on February 28, 2015, and the i3-4360T on July 20, 2014. The i5-5257U has a recorded part number, SR26K, and a launch MSRP of $315, while neither is listed for the i3-4360T. Both are dual-core, four-thread chips with 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, and both lack ECC support and unlocked multipliers.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core i3-4360T wins all multi-core tests in the database. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 2799 versus 2406 for the i5-5257U, a 14% advantage, and in Cinebench R15 multi-core, it leads 282 to 242, a 14.2% margin.

Q: Does the i5-5257U have any performance advantage over the i3-4360T?

A: No, the i5-5257U loses all five head-to-head benchmarks. However, it has a lower TDP of 28 W versus 35 W, and its Intel Iris 6100 graphics are a higher-tier integrated solution than the i3-4360T's Intel HD 4600.

Q: What are the main architectural differences between the two chips?

A: The i5-5257U is Broadwell on a 14 nm node with 1,900 million transistors and a 133 mm² die, while the i3-4360T is Haswell on 22 nm with 1,400 million transistors and a 177 mm² die. The i3-4360T has a larger 4 MB L3 cache versus 3 MB on the i5-5257U.

Q: Can the i5-5257U be used in a desktop motherboard?

A: No, the i5-5257U uses the Intel BGA 1168 socket, which is soldered for mobile use. The i3-4360T uses the Intel Socket 1150, a desktop socket designed for removable installation.

Q: How do these processors compare to their nearest rivals in the database?

A: The i5-5257U averages 976, within 0.1% of the Intel Core i3-4150T, Intel Core i3-4130, AMD Athlon X4 840, and AMD A10-7870K, all scoring 975. The i3-4360T averages 963, matching the Intel Pentium Gold G5500T at 963 and trailing the Intel Celeron N5100 and Intel Xeon X5570 by 0.4%.

Q: Which processor has a higher clock speed?

A: The i3-4360T runs at a fixed 3.20 GHz, while the i5-5257U has a 2.70 GHz base clock and a 3.10 GHz boost clock. The i3-4360T's constant frequency is higher than the i5-5257U's maximum boost.