Intel Core i5-3380M vs Intel Core i5-L16G7 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded head-to-head data is decisively one-sided. Across all five shared benchmark tests, the Intel Core i5-L16G7 takes the win every time, with a remarkably consistent delta of approximately 10.3% to 10.4% over the Intel Core i5-3380M in each discipline. This uniformity suggests a fundamental architectural advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i5-L16G7 scores 281 against the i5-3380M’s 252, a 10.3% gap. The pattern repeats in Cinebench R20 multicore, where the i5-L16G7 posts 1173 versus 1051, again a 10.4% lead. Single-core results tell the same story: the i5-L16G7 reaches 165 in Cinebench R20 single-core, while the i5-3380M manages 148, a 10.3% difference. In Cinebench R23, the i5-L16G7 extends its multicore lead to 2793 over 2504 (10.3%) and its single-core lead to 394 over 353 (10.4%).

The largest absolute margin appears in the Cinebench R23 multicore test, where the i5-L16G7 is ahead by 289 points. The smallest absolute gap is in Cinebench R20 single-core, a 17-point difference. Interestingly, the i5-L16G7 achieves these wins despite having a lower boost clock (3.00 GHz versus 3.60 GHz) and a much lower TDP (7 W versus 35 W). The benchmark results indicate that the i5-L16G7’s newer hybrid architecture and larger cache configuration more than compensate for its clock deficit.

There are no benchmark tests in the database where the i5-3380M wins. The i5-3380M does have a Geekbench multicore score of 1055 and a Geekbench single-core score of 505, but the i5-L16G7 has no recorded Geekbench results in the head-to-head data, so no direct comparison is possible for that suite. Within the tests where both processors have scores, the i5-L16G7 is the consistent victor.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i5-L16G7 outperforms the Intel Core i5-3380M in every shared benchmark. The i5-L16G7’s 10.3% to 10.4% advantage across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, both single-core and multicore, makes it the stronger choice for any workload measured by these render tests. The i5-3380M’s higher boost clock of 3.60 GHz does not translate into a performance win; the i5-L16G7’s 3.00 GHz boost, combined with its 5-core/5-thread configuration and 4 MB shared L3 cache, delivers higher scores.

From a thermal and power perspective, the i5-L16G7 is in a different class entirely. Its 7 W TDP is one-fifth of the i5-3380M’s 35 W TDP, yet it produces higher benchmark scores. The i5-L16G7 also uses LPDDR4X memory with a single-channel bus and a recorded bandwidth of 17.1 GB/s, while the i5-3380M uses DDR3 with a dual-channel bus. The i5-L16G7’s integrated graphics, UHD Graphics 64EU, are also a generational step beyond the i5-3380M’s Intel HD 4000.

For a buyer choosing strictly on measured performance, the i5-L16G7 is the clear winner in every recorded test. The i5-3380M’s only advantages in the database are its higher base and boost clocks and its dual-channel memory bus, but these do not yield any benchmark victory. The i5-L16G7 is also noted as end-of-life in production status, while the i5-3380M has no production status listed, but neither status affects the recorded scores. The launch MSRP of the i5-L16G7 is $281.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent fundamentally different design philosophies from Intel, separated by almost a decade of development. The Intel Core i5-3380M is a 22 nm Ivy Bridge part, a traditional dual-core design with Hyper-Threading yielding 2 cores and 4 threads. Its base clock is 2.90 GHz, boosting to 3.60 GHz. The die size is 118 mm², and it uses a dual-channel DDR3 memory bus. The cache hierarchy consists of 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 3 MB of shared L3.

The Intel Core i5-L16G7 is a 10 nm Lakefield part, built on a hybrid big.LITTLE-style architecture. It has 5 cores and 5 threads, which is unusual for a mobile processor. The base clock is listed as 1400.00 MHz (1.40 GHz), with a boost clock of 3.00 GHz. The die size is 82 mm², notably smaller than the i5-3380M’s 118 mm², despite the i5-L16G7 packing 4,050 million transistors. The cache layout is different: 80 KB L1, 512 KB L2, and 4 MB of shared L3. Memory support is LPDDR4X with a single-channel bus, and the recorded memory bandwidth is 17.1 GB/s.

The i5-L16G7 uses a single-channel memory bus, which is typically a disadvantage, but the newer LPDDR4X standard and the higher bandwidth per channel compensate. The PCIe support for the i5-L16G7 is Gen 3 with 6 lanes (CPU only), while the i5-3380M has no PCIe data in the database. The integrated graphics differ significantly: the i5-3380M has Intel HD 4000, while the i5-L16G7 has UHD Graphics 64EU, the latter being a more modern and capable GPU. Neither processor supports ECC memory.

The i5-L16G7’s hybrid design likely explains its consistent benchmark lead. The 5-core configuration, combining high-performance and high-efficiency cores, allows it to handle both single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads effectively. The larger 4 MB L3 cache also helps. The i5-3380M’s older Ivy Bridge architecture, while capable, is limited by its dual-core design and smaller cache. The process node difference (22 nm versus 10 nm) also contributes to the i5-L16G7’s superior power efficiency and performance per watt.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher multi-core score in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core i5-L16G7 scores 2793 in Cinebench R23 multicore, while the Intel Core i5-3380M scores 2504, a 10.3% advantage for the i5-L16G7.

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-3380M win any benchmark test?

A: No. In the database’s head-to-head results, the i5-L16G7 wins all five shared tests: Cinebench R15 multicore, R20 multicore, R20 single-core, R23 multicore, and R23 single-core. The i5-3380M has no recorded wins.

Q: How do the TDP values compare?

A: The Intel Core i5-3380M has a TDP of 35 W, while the Intel Core i5-L16G7 has a TDP of 7 W. The i5-L16G7 delivers higher benchmark scores with significantly lower power consumption.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The Intel Core i5-3380M has 2 cores and 4 threads. The Intel Core i5-L16G7 has 5 cores and 5 threads.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i5-3380M has a boost clock of 3.60 GHz, while the Intel Core i5-L16G7 has a boost clock of 3.00 GHz. Despite the lower clock, the i5-L16G7 wins all benchmark comparisons.

Q: What memory types do the two processors support?

A: The Intel Core i5-3380M supports DDR3 memory with a dual-channel bus. The Intel Core i5-L16G7 supports LPDDR4X memory with a single-channel bus and a recorded bandwidth of 17.1 GB/s.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-L16G7 wins every category where both have recorded benchmark data. Its victories span the entire Cinebench suite, from the older R15 to the more demanding R23, in both single-core and multicore tests. This suggests the i5-L16G7 is the better choice for any rendering, video encoding, or CPU-intensive productivity task measured by these benchmarks. The 5-core/5-thread configuration, combined with the 4 MB L3 cache, gives it a structural advantage in multi-threaded workloads. Its single-core lead of 10.4% in Cinebench R23 (394 versus 353) also indicates superior per-thread performance despite the lower boost clock.

The Intel Core i5-3380M has no benchmark wins in the database. Its strengths are limited to its higher base and boost clocks (2.90 GHz and 3.60 GHz) and its dual-channel DDR3 memory bus. In a theoretical scenario where software relies heavily on raw clock speed and dual-channel memory bandwidth, the i5-3380M might be competitive, but the recorded data shows no such scenario. For applications that favor single-threaded speed, the i5-3380M’s 3.60 GHz boost is the only spec that stands out, yet the i5-L16G7 still beats it in single-core tests.

The i5-L16G7 also wins on power efficiency. Its 7 W TDP versus the i5-3380M’s 35 W TDP means it is suitable for fanless or ultra-portable designs where thermal limits are strict. The i5-3380M, with its higher TDP, would require more robust cooling. For a system builder prioritizing the lowest power draw and the highest benchmark scores, the i5-L16G7 is the clear choice. The i5-3380M remains a functional older processor, but every measurable performance test in the database favors its successor.