Intel Core i5-4330M vs Intel Core i7-2715QE Comparison

The Intel Core i7-2715QE and Intel Core i5-4330M are two mobile processors from different architectural eras, yet the benchmark data places them in a virtual tie. Across every Cinebench test in the comparison, the i7-2715QE wins by margins of 0.3% to 0.6%, making the practical performance difference negligible. The i7-2715QE records an average benchmark score of 942 against the i5-4330M's 938, a gap of only 0.4%. Both processors sit at the 25th percentile of all CPUs, meaning they occupy the same performance tier despite their internal differences. The i7-2715QE achieves 5 benchmark wins out of 5 head-to-head tests, but each victory is so narrow that it would be imperceptible in real-world use. The i5-4330M has the higher clock speeds — a 2.80 GHz base and 3.80 GHz boost versus the i7-2715QE's 2.10 GHz base and 3.00 GHz boost — yet the i7-2715QE compensates with twice the physical cores and double the shared L3 cache.

The Verdict

The data presents an unusual case where the choice between these two processors depends entirely on platform and feature preferences rather than raw speed. The i7-2715QE edges out the i5-4330M in every single benchmark test, but the largest margin is only 0.6% in Cinebench R20 single-core. Neither processor offers a meaningful performance advantage; the i7-2715QE's 4 cores and 8 threads versus the i5-4330M's 2 cores and 4 threads should theoretically favor the i7 in multi-threaded workloads, yet the actual scores tell a different story. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i7-2715QE scores 2737 against the i5-4330M's 2727, a difference of just 10 points. The i5-4330M's higher clock speeds nearly erase the core-count advantage, and the i7-2715QE's older Sandy Bridge architecture cannot fully leverage its additional cores against the newer Haswell design. The i7-2715QE also has a higher TDP at 45 watts versus 37 watts for the i5-4330M, meaning the i5 runs cooler and more efficiently. For any user who already has a compatible motherboard, the i5-4330M's lower power draw and newer architecture make it the more practical choice, while the i7-2715QE only makes sense if the extra cores are needed for legacy multi-threaded software that scales well beyond 4 threads.

Where Each One Wins

The i7-2715QE wins all five head-to-head benchmark comparisons, but the margins are so small that the wins are statistical rather than practical. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the i7-2715QE scores 162 against the i5-4330M's 161, a 0.6% advantage. The multi-core results follow the same pattern: Cinebench R15 shows 275 versus 274 (0.4% lead), Cinebench R20 shows 1149 versus 1145 (0.3% lead), and Cinebench R23 shows 2737 versus 2727 (0.4% lead). The i5-4330M does not win a single test, yet it holds its own because of its clock speed advantage. The i5-4330M's 2.80 GHz base clock is 33% higher than the i7-2715QE's 2.10 GHz base, and its 3.80 GHz boost is 27% higher than the i7's 3.00 GHz boost. This clock advantage allows the dual-core i5 to nearly match the quad-core i7 in multi-threaded tests and essentially tie in single-threaded tests. The i7-2715QE's only clear win is in thread count — 8 threads versus 4 — which benefits workloads that can utilize more than 4 threads simultaneously. The i5-4330M wins in power efficiency, with a 37-watt TDP compared to the i7-2715QE's 45 watts, making it the better option for thermally constrained laptops.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations and are built on different manufacturing processes. The i7-2715QE uses the Sandy Bridge architecture on a 32 nm process node, while the i5-4330M uses the Haswell architecture on a 22 nm process node. The i7-2715QE has a larger die size at 216 mm² but fewer transistors at 1,160 million, whereas the i5-4330M packs 1,400 million transistors into a smaller 118 mm² die. The i7-2715QE features 4 physical cores with 8 threads, while the i5-4330M has 2 physical cores with 4 threads. Cache configurations also differ: both have 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, but the i7-2715QE has 6 MB of shared L3 cache versus the i5-4330M's 3 MB. The i7-2715QE uses the Intel BGA 1023 socket, while the i5-4330M uses Intel Socket G3. The i7-2715QE integrates Intel HD 3000 graphics, a Sandy Bridge-era GPU, while the i5-4330M features the newer Intel HD 5000. The i5-4330M supports DDR3 memory, while the i7-2715QE's memory support is not specified in the data. Both processors have locked multipliers and do not support ECC memory. The i7-2715QE was released in January 2011 and is marked end-of-life, while the i5-4330M was released in August 2013 with no production status given.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: The i7-2715QE wins all multi-core tests, but by tiny margins. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 2737 versus the i5-4330M's 2727, a 0.4% difference. Despite having 4 cores and 8 threads versus the i5's 2 cores and 4 threads, the i7's advantage is minimal.

Q: How do the single-core scores compare?

A: The i7-2715QE leads in single-core tests as well, scoring 386 in Cinebench R23 single-core against the i5-4330M's 385. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the i7 scores 162 versus 161. The i5-4330M's higher boost clock of 3.80 GHz nearly compensates for the i7's architectural advantages.

Q: Does the i5-4330M have any advantage over the i7-2715QE?

A: Yes, the i5-4330M has a lower TDP of 37 watts versus 45 watts for the i7-2715QE. It also has a higher base clock of 2.80 GHz and boost clock of 3.80 GHz, compared to 2.10 GHz and 3.00 GHz for the i7. The i5 also uses a newer 22 nm process node and integrates Intel HD 5000 graphics, which are newer than the i7's Intel HD 3000.

Q: Which processor has more cache?

A: The i7-2715QE has 6 MB of shared L3 cache, twice the 3 MB found in the i5-4330M. Both processors have the same 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core.

Q: Are these processors comparable in overall performance?

A: Yes, their average benchmark scores are nearly identical: 942 for the i7-2715QE and 938 for the i5-4330M. Both sit at the 25th percentile of all CPUs, and the i7's nearest rival list includes the i5-4330M with a deltaPct of -0.4%.

Q: Which processor is better for a laptop purchase today?

A: The i7-2715QE is marked end-of-life, while the i5-4330M has no production status listed. The i5-4330M's lower power consumption and newer architecture make it the more future-proof choice, but the i7-2715QE's extra cores and larger cache could benefit specific multi-threaded applications.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results show a pattern of near-identical performance across all five Cinebench tests. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i7-2715QE scores 275 against the i5-4330M's 274, a 0.4% lead. This is the closest multi-core result, with just one point separating the two. The Cinebench R20 multi-core test shows a slightly larger gap: 1149 for the i7 versus 1145 for the i5, a 0.3% difference. The Cinebench R23 multi-core test follows the same trend with 2737 versus 2727, again a 0.4% lead. Single-core tests tell the same story. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the i7-2715QE scores 162 versus 161 for the i5-4330M, a 0.6% margin that represents the largest relative difference in the entire comparison. The Cinebench R23 single-core test shows 386 versus 385, a 0.3% lead. The i7-2715QE wins all 5 head-to-head benchmarks, but the cumulative effect is minimal. The average benchmark score difference is just 4 points out of roughly 940, which is less than half a percent. The i5-4330M's higher clock speeds clearly offset the i7-2715QE's core and cache advantages. If the i5-4330M had a 4-core configuration, it would likely outperform the i7-2715QE decisively, but with only 2 cores, it can only match the older quad-core chip. The data suggests that Haswell's architectural improvements over Sandy Bridge are substantial enough to overcome a 2-core deficit when paired with significantly higher clock speeds.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every fundamental specification. The i7-2715QE has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the i5-4330M has 2 cores and 4 threads. Base clocks are 2.10 GHz for the i7 and 2.80 GHz for the i5, with boost clocks of 3.00 GHz and 3.80 GHz respectively. The i7-2715QE has a 45-watt TDP, while the i5-4330M draws 37 watts. They use different sockets: Intel BGA 1023 for the i7 and Intel Socket G3 for the i5. The architectures are Sandy Bridge versus Haswell, built on 32 nm and 22 nm process nodes respectively. The i7-2715QE has 1,160 million transistors on a 216 mm² die, while the i5-4330M has 1,400 million transistors on a 118 mm² die. L3 cache is 6 MB shared for the i7 and 3 MB shared for the i5, with identical 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core. The i7-2715QE integrates Intel HD 3000 graphics, while the i5-4330M has Intel HD 5000. Only the i5-4330M lists DDR3 memory support; the i7-2715QE's memory support is not specified. Both processors have locked multipliers and no ECC support. The i7-2715QE was released in January 2011 and is end-of-life, while the i5-4330M was released in August 2013. The i7-2715QE has a part number of SR076, while the i5-4330M has no part number listed. Neither processor has a launch MSRP in the data.