Intel Core i5-3335S vs Intel Core i5-5287U Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more physical cores?

A: The Intel Core i5-3335S has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the Intel Core i5-5287U has 2 cores and 4 threads. The desktop part provides twice the physical core count, though both offer the same thread count thanks to Hyper-Threading on the mobile chip.

Q: How do the two CPUs compare in Cinebench R23 multi-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i5-3335S scores 3121 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, which is 20.2% higher than the Intel Core i5-5287U's 2596. This is a consistent margin across all Cinebench versions tested.

Q: Which chip wins in Geekbench single-core?

A: The Intel Core i5-5287U wins decisively, scoring 1029 versus 562 for the Intel Core i5-3335S. That is a 45.4% advantage for the Broadwell-based mobile processor.

Q: What is the process node difference?

A: The Intel Core i5-3335S is built on Intel's 22 nm Ivy Bridge process, while the Intel Core i5-5287U uses the newer 14 nm Broadwell process. The mobile chip packs 1,900 million transistors into a 133 mm² die, compared to 1,480 million transistors on a 160 mm² die for the desktop part.

Q: Which processor has the larger L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core i5-3335S has 6 MB of shared L3 cache, double the 3 MB found on the Intel Core i5-5287U. Both chips have 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core.

Q: What are the TDP ratings?

A: The Intel Core i5-3335S has a 65 W TDP and is a desktop part, while the Intel Core i5-5287U is rated at 28 W and targets mobile systems. The mobile chip is also marked as end-of-life in the database.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear split between two very different design philosophies. The Intel Core i5-3335S is the choice for sustained multi-threaded workloads: it wins all five Cinebench tests, with margins between 20.2% and 20.3% across multi-core and single-core runs. Its four physical cores and larger 6 MB L3 cache give it a structural advantage in rendering and CPU-bound tasks that scale with core count.

The Intel Core i5-5287U, despite having only two physical cores, dominates in Geekbench, particularly in single-core where it leads by 45.4%. It also wins Geekbench multi-core by 17.9%. This suggests the Broadwell architecture's IPC improvements and higher boost clock (3.30 GHz versus 3.20 GHz) translate into better responsiveness in lightly threaded applications and memory-latency-sensitive workloads.

For a desktop user running rendering workloads, video encoding, or any multi-core-intensive application, the Intel Core i5-3335S is the stronger pick based on the Cinebench results. For a mobile user prioritizing snappy single-thread performance, faster memory bandwidth (29.9 GB/s versus no listed figure for the desktop part), and lower power consumption, the Intel Core i5-5287U is the better fit. The desktop chip sits at the 30th percentile of all CPUs, and so does the mobile chip, meaning both are mid-pack performers in the broader database, but they achieve that standing through different strengths.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data reveals a fascinating reversal across benchmark suites. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Intel Core i5-3335S scores 314 against the Intel Core i5-5287U's 261, a 20.3% lead. The pattern holds in Cinebench R20 multi-core (1310 versus 1090, 20.2% ahead) and Cinebench R23 multi-core (3121 versus 2596, again 20.2% ahead). The desktop chip's four physical cores clearly drive these wins.

The single-core Cinebench results are more surprising. The Intel Core i5-3335S leads in Cinebench R20 single-core with 184 versus 153 (20.3%), and in Cinebench R23 single-core with 440 versus 366 (20.2%). This runs counter to expectations given the mobile chip's higher base clock of 2.90 GHz versus 2.70 GHz, suggesting that the Ivy Bridge architecture's per-core throughput in this specific workload outpaces Broadwell, or that thermal and power constraints limit the mobile part's sustained single-core boost.

Then the Geekbench results flip the narrative. The Intel Core i5-5287U scores 1029 in Geekbench single-core, crushing the Intel Core i5-3335S's 562, a 45.4% margin. In Geekbench multi-core, the mobile chip scores 2007 versus 1647, a 17.9% advantage. The magnitude of the single-core Geekbench swing is remarkable: the same two processors that are 20% apart in Cinebench single-core are 45% apart in Geekbench single-core, in opposite directions. This suggests the two benchmark suites are measuring very different aspects of CPU performance, with Geekbench's memory and encryption tests favoring the Broadwell architecture's newer memory controller (29.9 GB/s bandwidth) and higher clock speeds.

The win tally stands at 5 for the Intel Core i5-3335S and 2 for the Intel Core i5-5287U, but the average benchmark scores tell a more nuanced story: 1083 for the desktop chip versus 1072 for the mobile chip, a gap of just 1.0%. The Intel Core i5-3335S sits exactly level with the Intel Core i5-2320 in the database, and just 0.2% ahead of the AMD A12-9800. The Intel Core i5-5287U matches the Intel Core i3-4170T and sits 0.1% behind the Intel Core i5-2310.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every fundamental specification. The Intel Core i5-3335S offers 4 cores and 4 threads, while the Intel Core i5-5287U offers 2 cores and 4 threads. Base clocks are 2.70 GHz for the desktop chip and 2.90 GHz for the mobile chip; boost clocks are 3.20 GHz and 3.30 GHz respectively. TDP is a major differentiator: 65 W for the desktop versus 28 W for the mobile part.

Socket compatibility places them in different systems entirely: the Intel Core i5-3335S uses Intel Socket 1155, while the Intel Core i5-5287U uses Intel BGA 1168, meaning the mobile chip is soldered and not upgradeable. PCI Express support also differs, with the desktop chip offering Gen 3 with 16 lanes versus Gen 2 with 12 lanes for the mobile part.

The integrated graphics are different as well: Intel HD 4000 on the desktop chip versus Intel Iris 6100 on the mobile chip. Memory support is DDR3 for both with dual-channel buses, but the Intel Core i5-5287U lists a memory bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s while the Intel Core i5-3335S has no listed figure. The mobile chip carries a part number (SR26H) and a launch MSRP of $315, while the desktop chip has neither. Release dates are separated by roughly two and a half years: October 2012 for the desktop chip and February 2015 for the mobile chip.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two processors spans two generations of Intel design. The Intel Core i5-3335S uses the Ivy Bridge architecture on a 22 nm process, while the Intel Core i5-5287U uses Broadwell on a 14 nm process. The transistor counts reflect the manufacturing evolution: 1,480 million on the desktop chip versus 1,900 million on the mobile chip, despite the mobile die being smaller at 133 mm² versus 160 mm².

Cache hierarchies differ substantially. Both use 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, but the shared L3 cache is 6 MB on the Intel Core i5-3335S and only 3 MB on the Intel Core i5-5287U. This means the desktop chip has twice the last-level cache capacity, which benefits multi-core workloads that reuse data sets larger than 3 MB. The mobile chip's smaller cache is partially compensated by the higher memory bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s.

The Intel Core i5-5287U belongs to the Broadwell-U family, specifically the Core i5 (Broadwell-U) generation, while the Intel Core i5-3335S belongs to the Core i5 (Ivy Bridge) generation. Both are manufactured by Intel and neither has an unlocked multiplier. The market segments differ: Desktop for the Intel Core i5-3335S and Mobile for the Intel Core i5-5287U. The mobile chip is marked end-of-life, while the desktop chip has no production status listed.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-3335S wins in every Cinebench test, making it the clear choice for rendering workloads and any application that follows Cinebench's scaling patterns. Its advantages range from 20.2% to 20.3% across all five tests, a remarkably consistent margin that points to the physical core advantage as the primary driver. The desktop chip also holds a slight edge in the database's average benchmark score: 1083 versus 1072.

The Intel Core i5-5287U wins in Geekbench, both single-core and multi-core. Its single-core lead of 45.4% is the largest margin in the entire head-to-head comparison, and its multi-core win of 17.9% shows that two Broadwell cores with Hyper-Threading can outperform four Ivy Bridge cores in this specific workload. The mobile chip's higher base clock (2.90 GHz) and boost clock (3.30 GHz) likely contribute, as does its newer memory subsystem.

For users running Cinebench-style workloads, the Intel Core i5-3335S is the safer bet. For users running Geekbench-style workloads, particularly single-threaded applications, the Intel Core i5-5287U offers a significant performance advantage. The choice ultimately depends on which benchmark family better represents the target workload, since the two chips are nearly identical in overall average score (1.0% apart) but achieve that parity through completely different performance profiles.