Intel Core i5-3360M vs Intel Core i7-870S Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a consistent, if narrow, victory for the Intel Core i5-3360M across all five shared benchmark tests. The i5-3360M wins every head-to-head comparison, with the largest margin in single-core performance. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the i5-3360M scores 346 against the i7-870S's 331, a 4.5% advantage. That gap narrows slightly to 4.3% in Cinebench R20 single-core, where the scores are 145 and 139 respectively.

Multi-core results follow the same pattern. The i5-3360M posts a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 2451, edging out the i7-870S's 2350 by 4.3%. The Cinebench R20 multi-core test shows 1029 for the i5-3360M versus 987 for the i7-870S, again a 4.3% delta. The oldest test in the set, Cinebench R15 multi-core, gives the i5-3360M a 246 to 236 win, a 4.2% margin.

The data indicates that despite having half the physical cores and threads (2 cores and 4 threads versus 4 cores and 8 threads), the i5-3360M maintains a lead in every measured scenario. This speaks to the efficiency of its newer architecture, as the per-core advantage more than compensates for the core count deficit. The average benchmark score for the i5-3360M is 835, while the i7-870S sits at 809. Both processors land in the 22nd percentile of all CPUs in the database, placing them in the same performance tier overall.

The nearest rivals for the i5-3360M include the Intel Xeon X3450 at an average score of 837 (0.2% higher), the Intel Core i5-5200U at 838 (0.3% higher), and the Intel Core i5-3380M at 838 (0.4% higher). The i7-870S's closest competitors are the AMD A10-6800K at 809 (exactly matching), the AMD Athlon X4 850 at 806 (0.4% lower), and the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9775 at 813 (0.5% higher). These comparisons confirm that both chips occupy a similar performance envelope, with the i5-3360M holding a small but consistent edge.

The Verdict

The benchmark results make the choice straightforward for most users. The Intel Core i5-3360M is the faster processor in every recorded test, with deltas ranging from 4.2% to 4.5% depending on the workload. Its single-core advantage is especially notable: a 4.5% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core and a 4.3% lead in Cinebench R20 single-core. Applications that rely on per-thread responsiveness, such as legacy software or lightly threaded workloads, will see a measurable benefit from the i5-3360M.

The i7-870S does offer more cores and threads, but the recorded data does not show any workload where that translates into a win. In multi-core tests, the i5-3360M still manages to outperform by roughly 4%. This suggests that the architectural efficiency of the i5-3360M's Ivy Bridge design overcomes the raw core-count disadvantage against the older Nehalem-based i7-870S.

Who should pick which? Based strictly on performance data, the i5-3360M is the better choice for anyone prioritizing raw benchmark scores. It wins every test and carries a lower TDP of 35 watts versus 82 watts for the i7-870S. The i7-870S, however, is a desktop part with a different socket and platform, so users constrained by motherboard compatibility or platform requirements may still find it relevant. For pure compute performance as measured here, the i5-3360M is the clear winner.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different eras of Intel design. The i5-3360M uses the Ivy Bridge architecture built on a 22 nm process node, while the i7-870S uses the Nehalem architecture on a 45 nm node. This process advantage is significant: the i5-3360M packs its transistors more densely, which contributes to its higher efficiency and lower power draw.

The i7-870S is built on the Lynnfield codename and contains 774 million transistors on a 296 mm² die. The i5-3360M's die size is listed at 118 mm², though its transistor count is not recorded in the database. The smaller die on the newer process allows the i5-3360M to achieve competitive performance with far fewer cores.

Cache hierarchies also differ. Both chips have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core. The L3 cache, however, is a major differentiator: the i5-3360M has 3 MB shared, while the i7-870S has 8 MB shared. The larger L3 cache on the i7-870S does not translate into a performance win in the recorded benchmarks, which highlights how other architectural factors dominate.

The i5-3360M includes integrated graphics in the form of Intel HD 4000, while the i7-870S has no integrated graphics listed. The i5-3360M also supports dual-channel memory and has a memory bus rated for dual-channel operation, matching the i7-870S in that regard. The i7-870S supports DDR3 memory specifically, while the i5-3360M's memory support field is not recorded.

Specification Differences

The core specifications diverge sharply between these two parts. The i5-3360M is a mobile processor with 2 cores and 4 threads, base clock of 2.80 GHz and boost clock of 3.50 GHz. The i7-870S is a desktop processor with 4 cores and 8 threads, base clock of 2.67 GHz and boost clock of 3.60 GHz. Despite the i7-870S having a slightly higher boost clock, the i5-3360M still wins every benchmark.

Thermal design power tells a different story. The i5-3360M draws 35 watts, while the i7-870S draws 82 watts. That is a substantial gap that reflects the mobile versus desktop positioning of the two chips.

Sockets differ completely: the i5-3360M uses Intel BGA 1023, while the i7-870S uses Intel Socket 1156. The i7-870S has PCIe Gen 2 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i5-3360M's PCIe configuration is not recorded.

Release dates are separated by nearly two years. The i7-870S launched on 2010-07-18, and the i5-3360M followed on 2012-05-31. The i7-870S is marked as end-of-life in production status, while the i5-3360M's production status is not specified.

The i7-870S has a part number of SLBQ7, and the i5-3360M is SR0MW. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking is not officially supported on either part. Neither supports ECC memory. The market segments differ as expected: the i5-3360M is classified as mobile, and the i7-870S is desktop.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has better single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i5-3360M wins all single-core tests. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 346 versus 331 for the i7-870S, a 4.5% advantage. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the margin is 4.3% with scores of 145 and 139.

Q: How do the two compare in multi-core workloads?

A: The i5-3360M also leads in multi-core tests despite having half the cores. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 2451 against 2350 for the i7-870S, a 4.3% delta. The Cinebench R20 multi-core test shows a similar 4.3% gap with scores of 1029 and 987.

Q: What is the core and thread count difference?

A: The i5-3360M has 2 cores and 4 threads. The i7-870S has 4 cores and 8 threads. The i7-870S offers double the physical cores and double the threads, but this does not result in a performance win in the recorded benchmarks.

Q: How much L3 cache does each processor have?

A: The i5-3360M has 3 MB of shared L3 cache. The i7-870S has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, which is more than double the i5-3360M's allocation.

Q: What are the TDP ratings for these CPUs?

A: The i5-3360M has a TDP of 35 watts. The i7-870S has a TDP of 82 watts, meaning the i5-3360M draws less than half the power of the i7-870S.

Q: Do these processors support integrated graphics?

A: The i5-3360M includes Intel HD 4000 integrated graphics. The i7-870S has no integrated graphics listed in the database, so it requires a discrete GPU for display output.