Intel Core i5-4210U vs Intel Core i7-3687U Comparison

The Intel Core i5-4210U and Intel Core i7-3687U are two mobile processors from different generations, and the benchmark data shows they are closely matched overall in the database, with the i5-4210U holding a 21st percentile rank versus all CPUs and the i7-3687U also at the 21st percentile. The average benchmark score for the i5-4210U is 788, while the i7-3687U scores 773, a difference of roughly 2%. However, that aggregate figure hides a sharp split: the i7-3687U dominates in Cinebench tests, while the i5-4210U wins decisively in Geekbench. This is not a simple "newer is better" case, and the right choice depends entirely on which workload matters more. The data records 5 wins for the i7-3687U and 2 wins for the i5-4210U, but the margin of victory in each direction tells the real story.

Where Each One Wins

The i7-3687U is the clear winner for multi-threaded rendering and sustained compute tasks. Across every Cinebench iteration in the database, the i7-3687U posts higher scores by a consistent 12.1% margin. In Cinebench R15 multicore, it scores 224 versus 197 for the i5-4210U; in R20 multicore, it scores 937 versus 824; and in R23 multicore, it scores 2231 versus 1962. Even in single-core Cinebench tests, the i7-3687U maintains that same 12.1% advantage, scoring 132 in R20 single-core versus 116, and 315 in R23 single-core versus 277. If the workload is a renderer, a video encoder, or any application that uses Cinebench-style instruction paths, the i7-3687U is the faster part, and the margin is uniform across all tested versions.

The i5-4210U wins in Geekbench, and it wins by a much larger margin than the Cinebench gap. In Geekbench multicore, the i5-4210U scores 1395 against 1044 for the i7-3687U, a 33.6% lead. In Geekbench single-core, the i5-4210U scores 745 versus 526, a 41.6% lead. These are substantial advantages, suggesting that the i5-4210U handles the specific mix of integer, floating-point, and memory operations in Geekbench more efficiently. For general productivity, web browsing, office applications, and lighter coding tasks, the i5-4210U appears to be the stronger performer despite its lower clock speeds.

The practical split is straightforward: choose the i7-3687U for Cinebench-class workloads where consistent 12.1% gains across every version matter, and choose the i5-4210U for Geekbench-class workloads where its 33.6% to 41.6% lead is far more pronounced.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i5-4210U has an average benchmark score of 788, compared to 773 for the Intel Core i7-3687U. The difference is approximately 1.9% in favor of the i5-4210U.

Q: Why does the i7-3687U win in Cinebench but lose in Geekbench?

A: The i7-3687U wins every Cinebench test by 12.1%, which is consistent with its higher base clock of 2.10 GHz and boost clock of 3.30 GHz. However, in Geekbench, the i5-4210U leads by 33.6% in multicore and 41.6% in single-core, despite lower clocks of 1.70 GHz base and 2.70 GHz boost. The benchmark data indicates the i5-4210U's Haswell architecture handles Geekbench's workload mix more efficiently.

Q: Are both CPUs in the same performance percentile?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core i5-4210U and the Intel Core i7-3687U sit at the 21st percentile versus all CPUs in the database. Their overall performance classification is identical.

Q: What are the closest rivals for each CPU?

A: For the i5-4210U, the nearest rivals are the Intel Core i5-3610ME at 0.1% higher score, and the AMD Opteron 3350 HE, Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650, and Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9770, each at 0.2% lower. For the i7-3687U, the nearest rivals are the Intel Core i5-680 at 0.2% higher, and the Intel Core i3-3250T and Intel Celeron G5920 at 0.2% lower, plus the Intel Pentium Silver J5005 at 0.4% lower.

Q: Which CPU has more L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core i7-3687U has 4 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Intel Core i5-4210U has 3 MB of shared L3 cache. The i7-3687U offers 33% more L3 cache.

Q: Do both CPUs have the same integrated graphics?

A: No. The i5-4210U uses Intel HD 4400, while the i7-3687U uses Intel HD 4000. The i5-4210U's integrated graphics are from a newer generation.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data reveals a pattern that is unusually clean: the i7-3687U wins all five Cinebench tests by exactly 12.1%, and the i5-4210U wins both Geekbench tests by large margins. This consistency suggests a fundamental architectural difference rather than random benchmark noise.

In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i7-3687U scores 224 against 197 for the i5-4210U. The same 12.1% gap appears in Cinebench R20 multicore (937 versus 824) and Cinebench R23 multicore (2231 versus 1962). Single-core Cinebench results follow suit: R20 single-core shows 132 versus 116, and R23 single-core shows 315 versus 277. The i7-3687U's higher clock speeds, with a 2.10 GHz base versus 1.70 GHz and a 3.30 GHz boost versus 2.70 GHz, appear to translate directly into a fixed 12.1% advantage across all Cinebench versions.

The Geekbench results flip the picture completely. In Geekbench multicore, the i5-4210U scores 1395, which is 33.6% higher than the i7-3687U's 1044. In Geekbench single-core, the i5-4210U scores 745, a 41.6% lead over the i7-3687U's 526. These are far larger margins than the Cinebench gap, meaning the i5-4210U is not just slightly better in Geekbench, it is substantially better. The 745 single-core score versus 526 shows a 219-point difference, which in relative terms is a massive 41.6% improvement. The multicore gap of 351 points (1395 versus 1044) represents a 33.6% improvement.

What makes this interesting is that the i7-3687U has the higher clock speeds, yet the i5-4210U wins Geekbench. The data points to the Haswell architecture of the i5-4210U being more efficient per clock in Geekbench's workload, while the Ivy Bridge architecture of the i7-3687U responds better to raw clock speed in Cinebench. For a buyer, this means the test suite matters enormously.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs differ in several key specifications. The i5-4210U has a base clock of 1700 MHz and a boost clock of 2700 MHz, while the i7-3687U has a base clock of 2100 MHz and a boost clock of 3300 MHz. The i7-3687U is clocked 400 MHz higher at base and 600 MHz higher at boost.

The thermal design power differs slightly: the i5-4210U is rated at 15 W, while the i7-3687U is rated at 17 W. This 2 W difference is minor but reflects the higher clock speeds of the i7-3687U.

The sockets are different: the i5-4210U uses Intel BGA 1168, while the i7-3687U uses Intel BGA 1023. These sockets are not interchangeable, so the motherboard determines which CPU can be used.

The L3 cache size differs: the i5-4210U has 3 MB shared, while the i7-3687U has 4 MB shared. The i7-3687U offers one additional megabyte of L3 cache.

The release dates are different: the i5-4210U was released in April 2014, while the i7-3687U was released in January 2013. The i5-4210U is the later part.

The part numbers also differ: the i5-4210U is SR1EF, and the i7-3687U is SR0XH.

Architecture Differences

The two CPUs come from different Intel microarchitectures. The i5-4210U is based on Haswell, while the i7-3687U is based on Ivy Bridge. Both are built on the same 22 nm process node at Intel, and both have the same die size of 118 mm².

The i5-4210U has 1,400 million transistors, while the transistor count for the i7-3687U is not recorded in the database. The cache hierarchy is identical in structure: both have 64 KB of L1 per core and 256 KB of L2 per core. The difference is in the shared L3 cache, where the i5-4210U has 3 MB and the i7-3687U has 4 MB.

Both CPUs support DDR3 memory, but the i7-3687U is explicitly listed as having dual-channel memory, while the memory bus for the i5-4210U is not recorded. Neither CPU supports ECC memory.

The integrated graphics differ: the i5-4210U has Intel HD 4400, while the i7-3687U has Intel HD 4000. The HD 4400 is from the Haswell generation and is generally a more capable graphics solution, though no specific benchmark scores are recorded for the iGPU in the database.

Neither CPU has an unlocked multiplier, and both are marked as mobile segment parts.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear decision rule based on workload. If the primary use is Cinebench-style rendering, the Intel Core i7-3687U is the better choice. It wins all five Cinebench tests by a consistent 12.1% margin, which is directly attributable to its higher clock speeds of 2.10 GHz base and 3.30 GHz boost. The 4 MB L3 cache also provides a modest advantage in cache-sensitive workloads.

If the primary use is Geekbench-style general computing, the Intel Core i5-4210U is the better choice. It wins Geekbench multicore by 33.6% and Geekbench single-core by 41.6%, which are far larger margins than the Cinebench gap. The Haswell architecture appears to be significantly more efficient per clock in this workload, despite the i5-4210U's lower clock speeds of 1.70 GHz base and 2.70 GHz boost.

Both CPUs sit at the 21st percentile versus all CPUs, so neither is a high-performance part by modern standards. But within this pairing, the choice is not about overall speed, it is about which benchmark suite reflects the actual workload. For rendering and compute tasks, the i7-3687U delivers a reliable 12.1% advantage. For general use and Geekbench-style applications, the i5-4210U delivers a 33.6% to 41.6% advantage, which is a much larger performance swing.

The i5-4210U also has a slightly higher average benchmark score (788 versus 773) and a newer release date (2014 versus 2013). The i7-3687U has the higher clock speeds and more L3 cache. The socket difference (BGA 1168 versus BGA 1023) means the motherboard dictates which CPU can be used, so in practice, the platform decision may override the benchmark preferences.

The final recommendation: pick the i7-3687U for Cinebench-heavy workloads where the consistent 12.1% lead matters. Pick the i5-4210U for Geekbench-heavy workloads where the 33.6% to 41.6% lead provides a much larger performance benefit. The i5-4210U is the better all-rounder for general computing, while the i7-3687U is the better specialized renderer.