Intel Core i5-4330M vs Intel Core i7-5500U Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data presents a clear and consistent picture for these two mobile processors. The Intel Core i5-4330M wins every single recorded head-to-head benchmark, taking all five tests with a clean sweep. The Intel Core i7-5500U does not claim a single victory in any of the measured workloads. This is not a close contest with split results; it is a one-sided outcome across every category.

The i5-4330M demonstrates its advantage in both single-core and multi-core performance. In the Cinebench R15 multi-core test, the i5-4330M scores 274 against the i7-5500U's 240, a delta of -12.4% for the i7. The same pattern holds in the newer Cinebench R20 multi-core test, where the i5-4330M reaches 1145 while the i7-5500U manages 1000, a -12.7% gap. The single-core results are equally decisive. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the i5-4330M records 161 versus 141 for the i7-5500U, again a -12.4% difference. The Cinebench R23 tests continue this trend, with the i5-4330M scoring 2727 multi-core and 385 single-core, while the i7-5500U scores 2381 and 336 respectively, both results showing a -12.7% gap.

The consistency of the margin is notable. Across all five benchmarks, the i7-5500U trails by roughly 12.4% to 12.7% in every test. This uniformity suggests the performance difference is structural rather than workload-specific. Whether the task leans on one core or spreads across all threads, the i5-4330M maintains the same proportional advantage. For users prioritizing raw compute throughput, the i5-4330M is the clear choice. The i7-5500U, despite its newer architecture, cannot close the gap in any measured scenario.

The average benchmark score also favors the i5-4330M, which sits at 938 compared to 953 for the i7-5500U. Interestingly, the i7-5500U carries a higher average score despite losing every head-to-head test. This is because the i7-5500U has two extra benchmark results in the database (Geekbench multi-core and single-core) that are not shared with the i5-4330M. The i7-5500U scores 1689 in Geekbench multi-core and 881 in Geekbench single-core, tests that the i5-4330M does not have recorded. These additional data points lift the i7's average, but they do not change the outcome of the direct comparisons.

The Verdict

The data points to one straightforward conclusion: the Intel Core i5-4330M outperforms the Intel Core i7-5500U in every benchmark where both processors have recorded scores. Anyone choosing between these two strictly on the basis of compute performance should select the i5-4330M. It wins all five direct comparisons, with margins between 12.4% and 12.7%. There is no recorded workload in the database where the i7-5500U takes the lead.

The i7-5500U is not without its own merits, though the data does not show them through raw speed. Its advantage lies in its efficiency profile. The i7-5500U has a TDP of 15 watts, while the i5-4330M draws 37 watts. That is a substantial difference in power consumption. For systems where thermal headroom and battery life matter more than peak performance, the i7-5500U could be the better fit. The i7-5500U also features a smaller process node at 14 nm versus 22 nm for the i5-4330M, which contributes to its lower power draw. Its integrated graphics, the Intel HD 5500, is a later-generation part than the i5-4330M's Intel HD 5000.

The i5-4330M, on the other hand, delivers its performance at a higher power cost. With a 37 watt TDP, it is closer to a traditional mobile processor than an ultra-low-power part. It also has a higher base clock of 2.80 GHz and a higher boost clock of 3.80 GHz, compared to 2.40 GHz and 3.00 GHz for the i7-5500U. These clock advantages align with its benchmark wins.

For users who need maximum throughput in CPU-bound tasks, the i5-4330M is the answer. For users who value power efficiency and are willing to accept a 12% performance deficit, the i7-5500U remains a viable option. Both processors share the same core and thread count (2 cores, 4 threads) and neither has an unlocked multiplier. The i7-5500U launched at $393, a figure worth noting, but the i5-4330M has no recorded launch price in the database.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are remarkably consistent, so they are best examined as a group. The i5-4330M wins all five tests, and the margin barely moves regardless of the benchmark version or whether the test is single-core or multi-core.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-4330M scores 274 against 240 for the i7-5500U. The delta is -12.4% for the i7. This older test still shows the same proportional gap as the newer versions, indicating that the performance relationship between these two chips has not changed across Cinebench revisions.

Cinebench R20 multi-core shows the i5-4330M at 1145 and the i7-5500U at 1000, a -12.7% difference. The single-core variant of R20 gives the i5-4330M 161 and the i7-5500U 141, a -12.4% gap. The single-core margin is nearly identical to the multi-core margin, which is telling. It means the i5-4330M's advantage is not tied to how well the workload scales across cores. Even a single thread runs proportionally faster on the i5.

Cinebench R23 multi-core continues the pattern: 2727 for the i5-4330M, 2381 for the i7-5500U, a -12.7% delta. R23 single-core gives 385 to the i5 and 336 to the i7, again -12.7%. The consistency across these five data points is striking. The i7-5500U trails by roughly one-eighth in every test, no more, no less.

The i7-5500U does have additional Geekbench results that the i5-4330M lacks. In Geekbench multi-core, the i7 scores 1689, and in single-core it scores 881. These are not head-to-head comparisons because the i5-4330M has no recorded Geekbench scores in the database. They do show that the i7-5500U is a capable processor in its own right, but they do not change the outcome of the direct comparisons. The i7's average benchmark score of 953 is actually higher than the i5's 938, but this is driven by those extra Geekbench data points, not by superior head-to-head performance.

The percentile ranking offers little separation. Both processors sit at the 25th percentile against all CPUs in the database. They are peers in the broader landscape, even though they differ meaningfully in direct comparison.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in multi-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i5-4330M wins every multi-core test. It scores 274 in Cinebench R15, 1145 in R20, and 2727 in R23, compared to 240, 1000, and 2381 for the i7-5500U. The i7 trails by 12.4% to 12.7% in each case.

Q: Which processor wins in single-core performance?

A: The i5-4330M also wins single-core tests. It scores 161 in Cinebench R20 and 385 in R23, versus 141 and 336 for the i7-5500U. The margin is 12.4% in R20 and 12.7% in R23.

Q: Does the i7-5500U have any benchmark wins?

A: No. The i7-5500U records zero wins in the head-to-head benchmark set. The i5-4330M wins all five tests.

Q: Why does the i7-5500U have a higher average benchmark score if it loses every direct test?

A: The i7-5500U has two extra Geekbench results in the database (1689 multi-core, 881 single-core) that the i5-4330M does not have. These additional scores raise its average to 953, while the i5-4330M sits at 938. This is a data coverage difference, not a performance advantage.

Q: Is there any workload where the i7-5500U is preferable?

A: The performance data shows no compute workload where the i7 wins. Its advantage is in power consumption: a 15 watt TDP versus 37 watts for the i5-4330M, which could matter for battery-powered or thermally constrained systems.

Q: Do the two processors share the same core configuration?

A: Yes. Both have 2 cores and 4 threads. They differ in clock speeds, with the i5-4330M running at 2.80 GHz base and 3.80 GHz boost, while the i7-5500U runs at 2.40 GHz base and 3.00 GHz boost.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel microarchitectures. The i7-5500U is built on Broadwell, specifically the Broadwell-U variant, while the i5-4330M is a Haswell part. This architectural split explains some of the efficiency differences between them, even though the i5 wins on raw performance.

The manufacturing process is a key divider. The i7-5500U uses a 14 nm process node, while the i5-4330M uses 22 nm. The smaller node contributes to the i7's lower power draw of 15 watts against the i5's 37 watts. The transistor counts reflect the generation gap: the i7-5500U packs 1,300 million transistors on an 82 mm² die, while the i5-4330M has 1,400 million transistors on a larger 118 mm² die. The i7 achieves comparable transistor density on a much smaller physical footprint.

Cache configurations also differ. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, identical in this regard. The L3 cache, however, favors the i7-5500U, which has 4 MB shared, while the i5-4330M has 3 MB shared. Despite having more L3 cache, the i7 still loses every benchmark, indicating that its clock speed disadvantage outweighs the cache advantage.

The sockets are different as well. The i7-5500U uses Intel BGA 1168, a soldered mobile socket, while the i5-4330M uses Intel Socket G3, a socketed mobile design. This affects serviceability and upgrade paths, though the i5's socket is also aimed at mobile platforms.

Integrated graphics differ between the two. The i7-5500U carries Intel HD 5500, while the i5-4330M has Intel HD 5000. The i7's graphics are from the newer Broadwell generation. Neither processor supports ECC memory, and both are locked, with no unlocked multiplier.

The i7-5500U supports PCIe Gen 2 with 12 lanes from the CPU, while the i5-4330M has no PCIe information recorded in the database. Memory support is DDR3 for both, and the i7-5500U has a recorded dual-channel memory bus with 25.6 GB/s bandwidth. The i5-4330M has no memory bus or bandwidth figures recorded.

Specification Differences

The specification sheet shows where the two processors diverge. The most obvious difference is power. The i7-5500U has a TDP of 15 watts, while the i5-4330M draws 37 watts. This is the largest single specification gap between them.

Clock speeds also differ substantially. The i5-4330M runs at 2.80 GHz base and boosts to 3.80 GHz. The i7-5500U runs at 2.40 GHz base and boosts to 3.00 GHz. The i5 is faster at both ends of the clock range, which aligns with its benchmark victories.

The process node separates them: 14 nm for the i7-5500U versus 22 nm for the i5-4330M. Transistor count is close, with 1,300 million in the i7 and 1,400 million in the i5, but the die size differs notably. The i7 measures 82 mm², while the i5 measures 118 mm².

Cache memory is another differentiator. The i7-5500U has 4 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i5-4330M has 3 MB. L1 and L2 caches are the same: 64 KB and 256 KB per core respectively.

Sockets differ: BGA 1168 for the i7-5500U, Socket G3 for the i5-4330M. Integrated graphics differ as well, with the i7 featuring Intel HD 5500 and the i5 featuring Intel HD 5000. The i7-5500U also has a recorded launch MSRP of $393, while the i5-4330M has no launch price in the database.

Release dates place the i5-4330M earlier, with an August 2013 launch, while the i7-5500U arrived in February 2015. The i7-5500U is marked as end-of-life, while the i5-4330M has no production status recorded. Both are mobile processors with 2 cores and 4 threads, and neither is multiplier-unlocked.