Intel Core i5-4250U vs Intel Core i7-3537U Comparison

The Core i7-3537U and Core i5-4250U are both dual-core, four-thread mobile processors from Intel, but they target different priorities. The recorded data splits them cleanly: the i7-3537U wins five of the seven head-to-head benchmark comparisons, while the i5-4250U takes the remaining two. This is not a case of one chip being simply faster everywhere; it depends entirely on the workload and the benchmark suite used.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-3537U is the clear winner in Cinebench workloads. Across all four Cinebench tests (R15 multicore, R20 multicore, R20 singlecore, R23 multicore, and R23 singlecore), it posts higher scores. The margins are consistent, ranging from 10.3% to 10.6% over the i5-4250U. If your work involves rendering, 3D modeling, or any task that relies on Cinebench-style CPU stress, the i7-3537U is the stronger choice.

The Intel Core i5-4250U fights back in Geekbench. It wins both the multicore and singlecore Geekbench tests by margins of 11.5% and 11.3%, respectively. Geekbench exercises a broader mix of real-world scenarios, including encryption, compression, and image processing. The data indicates that for these types of general-purpose tasks, the i5-4250U has the edge.

In terms of overall standing, the i7-3537U sits at the 21st percentile of all CPUs in the database, while the i5-4250U sits at the 20th. Their average benchmark scores are close: 766 for the i7 and 756 for the i5. The nearest rivals for the i7-3537U include the AMD A8-6600K (0.3% higher average), the Intel Core i3-3240 (0.7% higher), and the Intel Core i5-680 (0.8% lower). The i5-4250U is bracketed by the Intel Xeon E5450 (0.1% lower), the Intel Core i3-5020U (0.2% lower), and the Intel Core i5-3230M (0.2% higher). These are all within a rounding error of each other, so neither chip offers a dramatic overall performance advantage.

Architecture Differences

The two CPUs come from different microarchitectures. The i7-3537U is built on Ivy Bridge, while the i5-4250U uses Haswell. Both use the same 22 nm process node and are fabricated by Intel, and both have the same die size of 118 mm². The core counts are identical: 2 cores and 4 threads.

The key architectural differences lie in the cache and the integrated graphics. The i7-3537U has a larger L3 cache at 4 MB shared, compared to the 3 MB shared on the i5-4250U. Both have the same per-core L1 (64 KB) and L2 (256 KB) caches. The i5-4250U, however, lists a transistor count of 1,400 million, while the i7-3537U does not have a recorded transistor figure in the database.

The integrated graphics also differ. The i7-3537U pairs with Intel HD 4000, while the i5-4250U uses Intel HD 5000. This is a notable difference because the HD 5000 is a more capable graphics unit, and for users who rely on the iGPU for video playback or light gaming, the i5-4250U has the advantage. That said, the database records no graphics benchmarks, so this is a qualitative observation based on the model names alone.

The sockets are different as well: the i7-3537U uses Intel BGA 1023, and the i5-4250U uses Intel BGA 1168. This means they are not drop-in interchangeable in a motherboard. Both support DDR3 memory, but the i7-3537U explicitly lists dual-channel memory support, while the i5-4250U has no memory bus entry in the database. Neither supports ECC memory.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The i7-3537U dominates the Cinebench suite. In Cinebench R15 multicore, it scores 201 versus 182, a 10.4% advantage. In Cinebench R20 multicore, it scores 839 versus 760, again a 10.4% lead. The singlecore results follow the same pattern: Cinebench R20 singlecore shows 118 versus 107 (10.3% ahead), and Cinebench R23 singlecore shows 282 versus 255 (10.6% ahead). The largest singlecore delta is in R23, where the i7-3537U leads by 27 points.

The Geekbench results flip the story. In Geekbench multicore, the i5-4250U scores 1434 against the i7-3537U's 1269, a deficit of 11.5% for the i7. In Geekbench singlecore, the i5-4250U scores 742 versus 658, an 11.3% gap. These are the only two tests where the i5-4250U wins, but they are significant because Geekbench is widely used as a general-purpose CPU performance metric.

The pattern suggests that the i7-3537U's higher boost clock (3.20 GHz versus 2.60 GHz) and larger L3 cache help in sustained, compute-heavy workloads like Cinebench. The i5-4250U, despite a lower base clock (1.30 GHz versus 2.00 GHz), benefits from the newer Haswell architecture in Geekbench's varied task mix. The i7-3537U's wins are consistent at roughly 10.4%, while the i5-4250U's wins are slightly larger at around 11.4%.

Specification Differences

The following specifications differ between the two parts:

• Base clock: 2000.00 MHz (i7-3537U) vs 1300.00 MHz (i5-4250U)
• Boost clock: 3.20 GHz (i7-3537U) vs 2.60 GHz (i5-4250U)
• TDP: 17 W (i7-3537U) vs 15 W (i5-4250U)
• Socket: Intel BGA 1023 (i7-3537U) vs Intel BGA 1168 (i5-4250U)
• Architecture: Ivy Bridge (i7-3537U) vs Haswell (i5-4250U)
• L3 cache: 4 MB shared (i7-3537U) vs 3 MB shared (i5-4250U)
• Transistors: not listed (i7-3537U) vs 1,400 million (i5-4250U)
• Integrated graphics: Intel HD 4000 (i7-3537U) vs Intel HD 5000 (i5-4250U)
• Memory bus: Dual-channel (i7-3537U) vs not listed (i5-4250U)
• Part number: SR0XG (i7-3537U) vs SR16M (i5-4250U)
• Release date: 2013-01-07 (i7-3537U) vs 2013-06-03 (i5-4250U)

Both have 2 cores, 4 threads, 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, DDR3 memory support, no ECC, no unlocked multiplier, and are mobile market segments.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The Intel Core i7-3537U scores 1998, while the Intel Core i5-4250U scores 1811. The i7-3537U leads by 10.3%.

Q: Which CPU wins in Geekbench singlecore?

A: The Intel Core i5-4250U scores 742, compared to the Intel Core i7-3537U's 658. The i5-4250U is 11.3% ahead.

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

A: Yes, both have 2 cores and 4 threads.

Q: What is the difference in L3 cache size?

A: The i7-3537U has 4 MB shared L3 cache, while the i5-4250U has 3 MB shared L3 cache.

Q: Which CPU has a higher boost clock?

A: The i7-3537U boosts to 3.20 GHz, while the i5-4250U boosts to 2.60 GHz.

Q: Are the integrated graphics different?

A: Yes, the i7-3537U uses Intel HD 4000, and the i5-4250U uses Intel HD 5000.

The Verdict

Choose the Intel Core i7-3537U if your primary workloads are Cinebench-style rendering or compute tasks. It is consistently about 10.4% faster in all Cinebench tests, and its higher boost clock and larger L3 cache support that advantage. It also has a slightly higher TDP of 17 W, which is still low for a mobile part.

Choose the Intel Core i5-4250U if your work involves Geekbench-style general-purpose tasks. It is about 11.4% faster in both Geekbench tests, and it offers the newer Haswell architecture and the more capable Intel HD 5000 graphics. Its lower 15 W TDP is also a slight efficiency win.

In the broader database context, both chips are near-equal in average score (766 versus 756) and sit at the 20th percentile of all CPUs. Neither is a performance outlier. The real decision comes down to which benchmark suite matches your daily usage. If you render, go with the i7-3537U. If you do a mix of everyday tasks and value the newer iGPU, the i5-4250U is the better fit. The data does not support a universal winner; it supports a workload-specific pick.