Intel Core i3-4370T vs Intel Core i5-5257U Comparison

The Intel Core i3-4370T and Intel Core i5-5257U are both end-of-life dual-core processors with hyper-threading, yet they target fundamentally different platforms. The i3-4370T is a 35W desktop part on Intel Socket 1150, built on the 22nm Haswell architecture, while the i5-5257U is a 28W mobile chip on Intel BGA 1168, using the newer 14nm Broadwell-U process. Despite the i5’s architectural advantage and higher model number, the benchmark data consistently favors the desktop i3, with a 5-0 sweep in the head-to-head comparisons. This analysis explores the magnitude of those wins, the specific workloads where each part excels, and the architectural and specification differences that explain the performance gap.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The data from the head-to-head Cinebench tests tells a clear and consistent story: the Intel Core i3-4370T outperforms the Intel Core i5-5257U in every single benchmark recorded. The largest margins appear in the multi-core tests, where the i3-4370T scores 287 versus 242 in Cinebench R15 multicore, a delta of 18.6%. This pattern holds in Cinebench R20 multicore, with scores of 1199 against 1010, representing an 18.7% advantage. The Cinebench R23 multicore test shows a near-identical gap, with the i3 reaching 2856 points compared to the i5’s 2406, again an 18.7% difference. These results indicate that the i3-4370T delivers roughly 19% more multi-threaded throughput across all three Cinebench generations, a substantial lead for a chip with the same core and thread count.

Single-core performance tells a similar story, though the margins are slightly tighter. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the i3-4370T scores 169 against the i5-5257U’s 142, a 19% delta. The Cinebench R23 single-core test shows 403 versus 339, an 18.9% advantage for the i3. This consistency across both single- and multi-threaded workloads is notable because it suggests the i3-4370T’s higher base clock of 3.30 GHz is providing a decisive edge over the i5-5257U’s base of 2.70 GHz and boost of 3.10 GHz. The i5’s newer 14nm process and larger transistor count (1,900 million versus 1,400 million) do not translate into a performance win; instead, the i3’s raw clock speed advantage appears dominant.

Interestingly, the i5-5257U has additional Geekbench results in its benchmark list that are not present for the i3-4370T, with scores of 1773 multi-core and 922 single-core. However, since these tests are not part of the head-to-head comparison, they cannot be used to establish a direct win for either part. The deltas in the head-to-head table are uniformly positive for the i3-4370T, ranging from 18.6% to 19%, which underscores how thoroughly the desktop chip wins in the tests where both are measured. The average benchmark scores also reflect this, with the i3-4370T at 983 and the i5-5257U at 976, a narrower gap that includes non-overlapping tests but still places the i3 ahead.

Where Each One Wins

Based strictly on the available data, the Intel Core i3-4370T wins in every category where a direct comparison exists. For multi-threaded workloads such as video rendering or 3D modeling, as simulated by the Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multicore tests, the i3-4370T holds an 18.6% to 18.7% lead. This makes it the clear choice for desktop users who prioritize sustained CPU throughput, especially given its 35W TDP allows for a broader range of cooling solutions. The i3-4370T also wins in single-threaded tasks, with an 18.9% to 19% advantage in Cinebench R20 and R23 single-core tests, suggesting better responsiveness in lightly-threaded applications like web browsing or office productivity.

The Intel Core i5-5257U, conversely, wins in no direct benchmark comparison within the FACT PACK. However, its wins are implied through its platform characteristics rather than measured scores. As a mobile part with a 28W TDP, it is designed for laptops and compact devices where power efficiency is critical. The i5-5257U’s integrated graphics, Intel Iris 6100, is a higher-tier solution than the i3-4370T’s Intel HD 4600, which suggests it would be superior in GPU-accelerated tasks, though no benchmark data for graphics is provided. Additionally, the i5-5257U supports higher memory bandwidth at 29.9 GB/s versus 25.6 GB/s, which could benefit memory-intensive workloads, but again, no direct performance test in the pack validates this.

The use-case split is therefore stark: the i3-4370T is the performance winner in CPU-bound scenarios, while the i5-5257U’s advantages are purely qualitative, based on its mobile form factor, lower TDP, and superior integrated graphics. For users building a desktop system, the i3-4370T is the data-backed choice. For users needing a mobile processor with better graphics capabilities, the i5-5257U may be preferable, but this conclusion rests on non-benchmark specifications rather than measured results.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent different generations of Intel’s manufacturing and design. The i3-4370T uses the Haswell architecture on a 22nm process node, while the i5-5257U is based on Broadwell-U on a 14nm node. This means the i5 has a smaller transistor size, which typically improves power efficiency and allows for a denser chip. Indeed, the i5-5257U packs 1,900 million transistors into a 133 mm² die, whereas the i3-4370T has 1,400 million transistors on a larger 177 mm² die. The i5’s process advantage is also reflected in its lower TDP of 28W versus 35W, despite being a nominally higher-tier product.

Cache configurations differ notably. Both chips have 64 KB of L1 cache and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, but the shared L3 cache is larger on the i3-4370T: 4 MB versus 3 MB on the i5-5257U. This 1 MB difference in L3 cache likely contributes to the i3’s performance lead, as a larger shared cache can reduce memory latency and improve data reuse in multi-threaded workloads. The i3-4370T also has a higher base clock at 3.30 GHz, while the i5-5257U has a lower base of 2.70 GHz but introduces a boost clock of 3.10 GHz, a feature the i3 lacks entirely.

The integrated graphics represent a major architectural split. The i3-4370T ships with Intel HD 4600, a mid-range desktop iGPU, while the i5-5257U includes Intel Iris 6100, which is a more capable mobile graphics solution. This difference is significant for users who rely on integrated graphics for media playback or light gaming, though no benchmark scores are provided for either GPU. The i5-5257U also supports PCIe Gen 2 with 12 lanes, whereas the i3-4370T offers PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, meaning the desktop chip has both a newer PCIe standard and more lanes for expansion cards.

Specification Differences

Several key specifications separate these two processors, and the differences are stark. The most obvious is the socket: the i3-4370T uses Intel Socket 1150, a desktop socket that allows for user-upgradable motherboards, while the i5-5257U is soldered to Intel BGA 1168, making it a non-upgradable mobile part. The market segments reflect this: the i3 is a Desktop processor, and the i5 is a Mobile processor, with the release dates just one month apart (March 2015 for the i3, February 2015 for the i5). The launch MSRP differs dramatically, with the i3-4370T at $138 and the i5-5257U at $315, though this price difference is not necessarily indicative of performance value given the i3’s benchmark wins.

The base clocks differ, with the i3-4370T at 3.30 GHz and the i5-5257U at 2.70 GHz, and the i5 adds a boost clock of 3.10 GHz that the i3 does not have. TDP is another differentiator: 35W for the i3 versus 28W for the i5. Memory bandwidth is higher on the i5 at 29.9 GB/s versus 25.6 GB/s, despite both supporting dual-channel DDR3. The i3-4370T has a larger L3 cache (4 MB) compared to the i5-5257U (3 MB). PCIe support also differs, with the i3 offering Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) and the i5 offering Gen 2, 12 Lanes (CPU only). The part numbers are SR1TB for the i3 and SR26K for the i5, and neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher base clock?

A: The Intel Core i3-4370T has a base clock of 3.30 GHz, while the Intel Core i5-5257U has a lower base clock of 2.70 GHz, though the i5 does have a boost clock of 3.10 GHz.

Q: How much larger is the L3 cache on the i3-4370T?

A: The i3-4370T has 4 MB of shared L3 cache, whereas the i5-5257U has 3 MB, a difference of 1 MB that may contribute to its performance lead.

Q: What are the Cinebench R23 multicore scores for each chip?

A: The i3-4370T scores 2856 in Cinebench R23 multicore, while the i5-5257U scores 2406, giving the i3 an 18.7% advantage.

Q: Which chip has better integrated graphics?

A: The i5-5257U features Intel Iris 6100, which is a higher-tier integrated GPU compared to the Intel HD 4600 found in the i3-4370T, though no graphics benchmarks are provided.

Q: Is there any benchmark where the i5-5257U wins?

A: No, in the head-to-head benchmarks provided, the i5-5257U wins zero tests, while the i3-4370T wins all five Cinebench comparisons.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The i5-5257U supports 29.9 GB/s of memory bandwidth, which is higher than the i3-4370T’s 25.6 GB/s, despite both using dual-channel DDR3.

The Verdict

The data overwhelmingly points to the Intel Core i3-4370T as the superior processor for raw CPU performance. With a 5-0 win record in the head-to-head benchmarks, including an 18.7% lead in Cinebench R23 multicore and an 18.9% lead in single-core, the i3-4370T is the clear choice for desktop users who need maximum compute throughput. Its higher base clock and larger L3 cache appear to be the decisive factors, outweighing the i5-5257U’s advantages in process node and transistor count. The i3-4370T also offers the flexibility of a socketed desktop platform, PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, and a lower launch MSRP of $138.

The Intel Core i5-5257U, despite its higher model number and newer Broadwell architecture, is not competitive in CPU-bound tasks according to the data. Its strengths lie elsewhere: a lower TDP of 28W for mobile devices, superior integrated graphics with Intel Iris 6100, and higher memory bandwidth. Users shopping for a laptop or a compact, power-efficient system would find the i5-5257U more suitable, but only if their workloads are not CPU-intensive. For anyone building a desktop and prioritizing multi-threaded or single-threaded performance, the i3-4370T is the data-backed winner, with no benchmark in the pack suggesting any reason to choose the i5-5257U instead. The verdict is straightforward: pick the i3-4370T for performance, or the i5-5257U for its mobile platform and graphics capabilities, but not for CPU speed.