Intel Core i5-3380M vs Intel Core i7-3520M Comparison

The Intel Core i7-3520M and Intel Core i5-3380M are nearly identical on paper, sharing the same Ivy Bridge architecture, dual-core/quad-thread configuration, 2.90 GHz base clock, 3.60 GHz boost clock, 35 W TDP, and Intel HD 4000 graphics. Despite this, benchmark results reveal a clear split: the i5-3380M wins all five Cinebench tests, while the i7-3520M dominates both Geekbench tests. This creates a fascinating case where the choice depends entirely on which workload family matters more.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result is the Geekbench sweep by the i7-3520M. In Geekbench single-core, the i7 scores 570 against the i5's 505, a 12.9% advantage. This is the largest delta across all seven head-to-head tests. The Geekbench multi-core test shows a similar pattern, with the i7 at 1156 and the i5 at 1055, giving the i7 a 9.6% lead. These are substantial margins for two processors with identical clock speeds. The data suggests the i7-3520M's larger cache and higher-tier positioning translate directly into superior performance in Geekbench's workload mix.

Conversely, the i5-3380M takes every Cinebench test, though by much narrower margins. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5 scores 252 versus the i7's 244, a 3.2% difference. Cinebench R20 multi-core shows 1051 against 1018, a 3.1% gap. The single-core Cinebench R20 test has the i5 at 148 and the i7 at 143, also a 3.4% difference. Cinebench R23 multi-core repeats the pattern: 2504 for the i5 versus 2426 for the i7, again 3.1% apart. The Cinebench R23 single-core test rounds out the set with 353 versus 342, a 3.1% delta. The consistency of these deltas — all between 3.1% and 3.4% — suggests a systematic advantage for the i5 in Cinebench workloads rather than random variation.

The overall win tally favors the i5-3380M at 5 wins versus 2 for the i7-3520M. However, the magnitude of the i7's Geekbench victories is roughly three to four times larger than the i5's Cinebench wins. The average benchmark score for the i7 is 843, while the i5 sits at 838. The i7's nearest rival is the AMD FX-8800P at 843 (0.1% delta), and the i5's nearest rival is the Intel Core i5-5200U at 838 (0.1% delta). Both processors land in the 22nd and 23rd percentiles of all CPUs, respectively, indicating they occupy essentially the same performance tier in the broader market.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i7-3520M has an average benchmark score of 843, while the Intel Core i5-3380M has 838. The i7 sits at the 23rd percentile of all CPUs, and the i5 sits at the 22nd percentile.

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

A: The Intel Core i5-3380M scores 2504, which is 3.1% higher than the Intel Core i7-3520M's 2426. This is the largest Cinebench multi-core margin between the two.

Q: Is there any test where the i7-3520M wins by a large margin?

A: Yes, the i7-3520M wins Geekbench single-core by 12.9% (570 versus 505) and Geekbench multi-core by 9.6% (1156 versus 1055). These are the only two tests the i7 wins, but they are decisive.

Q: Do both processors have the same number of cores and threads?

A: Yes, both have 2 cores and 4 threads. They also share the same base clock of 2.90 GHz and boost clock of 3.60 GHz, as well as a 35 W TDP.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core i7-3520M has 4 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Intel Core i5-3380M has 3 MB of shared L3 cache. This 1 MB difference is the most notable specification gap between them.

Q: What is the release date difference between the two?

A: The Intel Core i7-3520M was released on 2012-06-02, while the Intel Core i5-3380M was released on 2012-12-31. The i7 launched approximately seven months earlier.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-3380M is the clear choice for rendering and 3D modeling workloads. Its consistent 3.1% to 3.4% lead across all Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 tests — both single-core and multi-core — indicates that Cinebench's specific instruction mix and memory access patterns favor the i5. If a user's primary applications are built around Cinebench-like rendering tasks, the i5-3380M delivers a measurable, reproducible advantage. This is particularly notable given that the i5 has less L3 cache, suggesting that Cinebench does not heavily depend on cache capacity.

The Intel Core i7-3520M wins decisively in Geekbench workloads. The 12.9% single-core and 9.6% multi-core advantages are significant, and they likely stem from the i7's larger 4 MB L3 cache versus the i5's 3 MB. Geekbench's diverse workload suite appears to benefit from the additional cache, allowing the i7 to maintain higher effective memory throughput. For general-purpose computing, system responsiveness, and applications that follow Geekbench-like patterns, the i7-3520M is the stronger performer.

For mixed workloads, the decision is more nuanced. The i7-3520M's average score of 843 edges out the i5-3380M's 838, but the margin is less than 1%. The i7 also holds a 0.6% delta over the i5 in the nearest rivals list. However, the i5's wins in all five Cinebench tests may matter more to users who know their primary applications are Cinebench-based. Conversely, the i7's Geekbench wins are larger in magnitude, which could tip the balance for users running a broader mix of tasks.

Specification Differences

The two processors share most core specifications: both have 2 cores, 4 threads, 2.90 GHz base clock, 3.60 GHz boost clock, 35 W TDP, dual-channel memory bus, and Intel HD 4000 integrated graphics. They also share the same 22 nm process node, 118 mm² die size, and 64 KB L1 cache per core with 256 KB L2 cache per core.

The first difference is the L3 cache: the i7-3520M has 4 MB (shared) while the i5-3380M has 3 MB (shared). This is the only cache difference between them.

The second difference is the socket. The i7-3520M uses Intel BGA 1023, while the i5-3380M uses Intel Socket G2 (988B). This means they are not physically interchangeable in the same motherboard.

The third difference is memory support. The i5-3380M explicitly lists DDR3 memory support, while the i7-3520M's memory support field is null in the data. Both are dual-channel.

The fourth difference is the part number and release date. The i7-3520M has part number SR0MU and was released on 2012-06-02. The i5-3380M has part number SR0X7 and was released on 2012-12-31.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on the Ivy Bridge architecture with the Ivy Bridge codename and a 22 nm process node from Intel. They share the same foundry (Intel) and the same die size of 118 mm². Neither supports ECC memory, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

The generation labeling differs: the i7-3520M is listed as "Core i7 (Ivy Bridge)" while the i5-3380M is "Core i5 (Ivy Bridge)." This reflects Intel's product tiering rather than a fundamental architectural difference.

The integrated graphics are identical: both use Intel HD 4000. The memory bus is dual-channel for both.

The most meaningful architectural difference is the L3 cache allocation. The i7-3520M's 4 MB shared L3 cache versus the i5-3380M's 3 MB shared L3 cache is the only architectural feature that differs between the two. This 1 MB difference likely explains the Geekbench performance gap, as Geekbench's workloads may benefit from the larger cache. In contrast, Cinebench's consistent preference for the i5 suggests that its workloads are not cache-sensitive in the same way, or that the i5's slightly lower memory latency (due to smaller cache footprint) helps in that specific test.

The socket difference — BGA 1023 for the i7 versus Socket G2 (988B) for the i5 — is a packaging difference that affects system integration but not architectural performance. Both are mobile processors with a 35 W TDP, targeting the same thermal envelope.

Overall, the architectural story is one of near-identical designs differentiated primarily by cache size and product tier. The benchmark data shows that this small cache difference produces measurable, workload-dependent performance swings. Users should choose based on their specific application mix: Cinebench-heavy workloads favor the i5-3380M, while Geekbench-style general workloads favor the i7-3520M.