Intel Core i5-4288U vs Intel Core i7-870 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents an unusually uniform picture: the Intel Core i7-870 wins all five head-to-head Cinebench comparisons, and it does so by nearly identical margins. The largest single delta is in Cinebench R23 multicore, where the i7-870 scores 2697 against the i5-4288U’s 2237, a 20.6% advantage. That same 20.6% delta appears in Cinebench R20 multicore (1132 vs 939) and Cinebench R23 single-core (380 vs 315), indicating the performance gap is consistent across both threaded and lightly-threaded workloads.

The narrowest win is in Cinebench R15 multicore, where the i7-870 posts 271 versus 225 — a 20.4% lead. The pattern is striking: every delta falls between 20.4% and 20.6%, suggesting the difference is structural rather than workload-dependent. The i7-870 also wins Cinebench R20 single-core by 20.5% (159 vs 132), which is notable because single-core tests typically favor newer architectures with higher IPC. Here, the older Nehalem chip still manages a decisive edge, driven by its higher base and boost clocks.

In terms of aggregate performance, the two CPUs are separated by a single point in average benchmark score: the i7-870 averages 928, while the i5-4288U averages 927. That 0.1% delta places them as near-perfect peers in overall standings, yet the head-to-head results tell a different story. The discrepancy arises because the i5-4288U has additional Geekbench scores (1745 multicore, 896 single-core) in its benchmark set, which the i7-870 lacks. Those Geekbench results pull the i5-4288U’s average upward, masking its consistent Cinebench deficit.

The i7-870 holds a 20.6% lead in Cinebench R23 multicore, which is the most modern test in the dataset and typically stresses memory bandwidth and cache hierarchies heavily. The fact that the older chip maintains its margin here suggests the i5-4288U’s smaller 3 MB shared L3 cache and 2-core/4-thread configuration are fundamental limitations that newer architecture cannot overcome. The i7-870’s 8 MB shared L3 and 4-core/8-thread setup provide a structural advantage that persists across all Cinebench versions.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural eras and market segments. The i7-870 uses Intel’s Nehalem architecture on the Lynnfield die, built on a 45 nm process with 774 million transistors on a 296 mm² die. It targets the desktop segment with an Intel Socket 1156 interface. The i5-4288U uses Haswell architecture on a 22 nm process with 1,400 million transistors packed into a 118 mm² die, designed for mobile platforms with an Intel BGA 1168 socket.

Core and thread counts differ substantially: the i7-870 offers 4 cores and 8 threads, while the i5-4288U provides 2 cores and 4 threads. This doubling of hardware threads is the primary driver of the multicore benchmark deltas. Clock speeds also favor the older chip — the i7-870 runs at a 2.93 GHz base clock with a 3.60 GHz boost, versus the i5-4288U’s 2.60 GHz base and 3.10 GHz boost. The i7-870 thus enjoys a 0.33 GHz advantage at base and a 0.50 GHz advantage at boost.

Cache hierarchies reflect the generational gap. Both chips share 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, but the L3 cache differs sharply: 8 MB shared on the i7-870 versus 3 MB shared on the i5-4288U. The i7-870’s larger L3 provides more room for frequently accessed data, which contributes to its consistent single-core wins despite the i5-4288U’s newer execution engine.

Process technology and transistor density tell a complementary story. The i5-4288U’s 22 nm node allows 1,400 million transistors on a die less than half the size (118 mm² vs 296 mm²), enabling features like the integrated Intel HD 5100 graphics, which the i7-870 lacks entirely. The i7-870 instead relies on a discrete graphics solution and offers PCIe Gen 2 with 16 CPU lanes. The i5-4288U has no listed PCIe information but includes integrated graphics as a built-in option.

Thermal design power differs by a factor of more than three: the i7-870 draws 95 W, while the i5-4288U sips 28 W. This reflects their intended environments — the desktop chip can dissipate heat through a larger cooler, while the mobile chip must operate within tight thermal envelopes. Memory support is DDR3 for both, with dual-channel configuration on the i7-870; the i5-4288U’s memory bus details are not listed. Neither chip supports ECC memory, and both have locked multipliers.

Where Each One Wins

The i7-870 wins every benchmark in the head-to-head dataset, so the "where each one wins" split is lopsided by design. However, the nature of the wins matters for use-case analysis. In multicore workloads — Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 — the i7-870’s advantage ranges from 20.4% to 20.6%. This suggests sustained performance in rendering, video encoding, or any parallel workload that scales with thread count and cache capacity. The 8-thread configuration and 8 MB L3 cache make it the choice for heavily threaded desktop tasks.

In single-core workloads — Cinebench R20 and R23 single-core — the i7-870 also wins by 20.5% and 20.6%, respectively. This is more surprising given the i5-4288U’s newer Haswell architecture, which typically offers higher instructions-per-clock. The i7-870’s higher clock speeds (3.60 GHz boost vs 3.10 GHz) appear to outweigh any IPC advantage the Haswell core might possess. For lightly-threaded applications like older games or legacy software, the i7-870 provides the better raw speed.

The i5-4288U’s strengths are not visible in the head-to-head benchmarks, but its architecture and specifications point to different use cases. With a 28 W TDP and integrated Intel HD 5100 graphics, it is designed for thin-and-light laptops where power efficiency and a compact footprint matter more than raw throughput. Its 22 nm process and smaller die (118 mm²) enable a more power-efficient implementation, though the data does not include power consumption benchmarks to quantify this.

The i5-4288U’s Geekbench scores — 1745 multicore and 896 single-core — are not compared directly against the i7-870, as the older chip lacks Geekbench results in the dataset. These scores contribute to its 927 average benchmark score, which is within 0.1% of the i7-870’s 928. For users who prioritize portability and integrated graphics, the i5-4288U offers a balanced package, but the benchmark evidence shows it cannot match the i7-870 in compute-heavy tasks.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i7-870 averages 928, while the Intel Core i5-4288U averages 927, a delta of 0.1% in favor of the i7-870.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two processors?

A: The i7-870 leads by 20.6% in three tests: Cinebench R20 multicore (1132 vs 939), Cinebench R23 multicore (2697 vs 2237), and Cinebench R23 single-core (380 vs 315).

Q: How do the core and thread counts differ?

A: The i7-870 has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the i5-4288U has 2 cores and 4 threads.

Q: Does the i5-4288U have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, the i5-4288U includes Intel HD 5100 integrated graphics, while the i7-870 has no integrated graphics listed.

Q: What are the thermal design power ratings?

A: The i7-870 has a 95 W TDP, while the i5-4288U has a 28 W TDP.

Q: Which CPU has the larger L3 cache?

A: The i7-870 has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, compared to 3 MB on the i5-4288U.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i7-870 outperforms the Intel Core i5-4288U in every measured benchmark, with a consistent 20.4% to 20.6% margin across all Cinebench tests. For users who need maximum compute performance — whether in single-threaded or multi-threaded workloads — the i7-870 is the superior choice. Its 4-core/8-thread configuration, 8 MB L3 cache, and higher clock speeds (2.93 GHz base, 3.60 GHz boost) deliver tangible advantages that newer architecture cannot offset.

The i5-4288U, however, serves a different purpose. Its 28 W TDP and integrated graphics make it suitable for mobile systems where power efficiency is critical. The 22 nm process and 1,400 million transistors on a 118 mm² die demonstrate a more modern manufacturing approach, but the benchmark scores do not translate into a performance win. The i5-4288U’s 2-core/4-thread layout and 3 MB L3 cache are simply insufficient to challenge the i7-870’s desktop-class specifications.

The percentile rankings reinforce this: both CPUs sit at the 25th percentile among all CPUs, indicating they occupy similar tiers in the overall performance distribution. Their average benchmark scores are nearly identical (928 vs 927), yet the head-to-head results show a clear winner. This suggests that the i5-4288U’s inclusion of Geekbench tests — which the i7-870 lacks — inflates its aggregate standing without reflecting real-world Cinebench performance.

For desktop users building or upgrading a system around Socket 1156, the i7-870 is the clear pick based on data. For mobile users who prioritize battery life and built-in graphics over raw speed, the i5-4288U offers a reasonable trade-off, but they should expect a 20% performance deficit in Cinebench workloads. The verdict from the benchmark data is straightforward: the i7-870 wins on performance, while the i5-4288U wins on efficiency and integration. Choose accordingly based on whether the workload demands compute throughput or power economy.