Intel Core i5-5300U vs Intel Core i7-930 Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-930 has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Intel Core i5-5300U has 2 cores and 4 threads. That is a 2x difference in both core count and thread count.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The i5-5300U records an average benchmark score of 895, and the i7-930 records 882. The i5-5300U sits 0.2% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 3 3200U and 0.7% ahead of the Intel Core i3-6100 in the database. The i7-930 sits 0.1% ahead of the AMD Athlon Silver 7120U and 0.1% ahead of the AMD Phenom II X6 1035T.

Q: Which CPU wins in the head-to-head Cinebench tests?

A: The i7-930 wins all five recorded head-to-head Cinebench tests. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 2563 versus 2287 for the i5-5300U, a 10.8% lead. In R23 single-core, it scores 361 versus 322, also a 10.8% lead.

Q: What is the difference in power consumption?

A: The i5-5300U has a TDP of 15 watts, while the i7-930 has a TDP of 130 watts. That is an 115 watt difference, making the i5-5300U far more suitable for power-constrained environments.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory configuration?

A: Both support DDR3 memory, but the i5-5300U uses a dual-channel memory bus with 25.6 GB/s bandwidth, while the i7-930 uses a triple-channel memory bus. The i7-930 does not have a recorded memory bandwidth figure in the database.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: Only the Intel Core i5-5300U has integrated graphics, specifically the Intel HD 5500. The Intel Core i7-930 has no integrated graphics at all, so it requires a discrete GPU for display output.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i5-5300U is built on the Broadwell architecture, specifically the Broadwell-U codename, using a 14 nm process node manufactured by Intel. It packs 1,300 million transistors into an 82 mm² die. The Intel Core i7-930 is built on the older Nehalem architecture, codenamed Bloomfield, using a 45 nm process node. It contains 731 million transistors on a much larger 263 mm² die. The process node difference is significant: 14 nm versus 45 nm, which explains the massive disparity in transistor density and die size.

The i5-5300U features 2 cores with 4 threads, while the i7-930 features 4 cores with 8 threads. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core. The key cache difference is in L3: the i5-5300U has 3 MB shared L3 cache, while the i7-930 has 8 MB shared L3 cache. That is a 5 MB advantage for the i7-930.

The i5-5300U is a mobile part with a 15 watt TDP, designed for laptops and low-power systems. The i7-930 is a desktop part with a 130 watt TDP, designed for high-performance desktop towers. The i5-5300U uses the Intel BGA 1168 socket, while the i7-930 uses Intel Socket 1366. The i5-5300U has integrated Intel HD 5500 graphics; the i7-930 has none. The i5-5300U supports PCIe Gen 2 with 12 lanes (CPU only), while the i7-930 supports PCIe Gen 2 without a lane count specified in the database.

The i5-5300U was released later, with a launch date of February 28, 2015, and carries a launch MSRP of $315. The i7-930 was released on February 27, 2010, and has no recorded launch MSRP. Both are end-of-life production parts. The i5-5300U has part number SR23X, and the i7-930 has part number SLBKP. Neither has an unlocked multiplier.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded head-to-head data shows a consistent pattern: the Intel Core i7-930 wins every benchmark in the comparison set, but the margins are narrow. Across five Cinebench tests, the i7-930 leads by roughly 10.6% to 10.9% in every case.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i7-930 scores 258 against 230 for the i5-5300U, a 10.9% advantage. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the i7-930 scores 1076 against 960, a 10.8% lead. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i7-930 scores 2563 against 2287, again a 10.8% lead. The consistency of these multi-core deltas is notable: despite having twice the cores and threads, the i7-930 only manages a roughly 11% multi-core advantage over the i5-5300U.

Single-core results tell the same story. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the i7-930 scores 151 versus 135 for the i5-5300U, a 10.6% lead. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the i7-930 scores 361 versus 322, a 10.8% lead. This is surprising given the i7-930's much older architecture and higher power envelope. The newer 14 nm Broadwell design of the i5-5300U closes most of the gap, but it does not overtake the older Nehalem part in any recorded test.

The i5-5300U has additional benchmark records in the database that the i7-930 does not have. The i5-5300U scores 1540 in Geekbench multi-core and 791 in Geekbench single-core. No Geekbench scores are recorded for the i7-930, so no direct comparison is possible on that test.

The percentile rankings are nearly identical. The i5-5300U is in the 24th percentile of all CPUs, and the i7-930 is in the 23rd percentile. That 1 percentile point difference reflects the average benchmark scores of 895 for the i5-5300U and 882 for the i7-930, a 13 point gap in favor of the i5-5300U. The data shows the i5-5300U edges out the i7-930 in aggregate performance across all recorded tests, even though the i7-930 wins every individual head-to-head Cinebench test.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ on nearly every major specification in the database.

• Cores: 2 (i5-5300U) versus 4 (i7-930)
• Threads: 4 (i5-5300U) versus 8 (i7-930)
• Base clock: 2.30 GHz (i5-5300U) versus 2.80 GHz (i7-930)
• Boost clock: 2.90 GHz (i5-5300U) versus 3.07 GHz (i7-930)
• TDP: 15 W (i5-5300U) versus 130 W (i7-930)
• Socket: Intel BGA 1168 (i5-5300U) versus Intel Socket 1366 (i7-930)
• Architecture: Broadwell (i5-5300U) versus Nehalem (i7-930)
• Codename: Broadwell-U (i5-5300U) versus Bloomfield (i7-930)
• Process node: 14 nm (i5-5300U) versus 45 nm (i7-930)
• Transistors: 1,300 million (i5-5300U) versus 731 million (i7-930)
• Die size: 82 mm² (i5-5300U) versus 263 mm² (i7-930)
• L3 cache: 3 MB shared (i5-5300U) versus 8 MB shared (i7-930)
• Memory bus: Dual-channel (i5-5300U) versus Triple-channel (i7-930)
• Memory bandwidth: 25.6 GB/s (i5-5300U) versus not recorded (i7-930)
• PCIe: Gen 2, 12 Lanes CPU only (i5-5300U) versus Gen 2 (i7-930)
• Integrated graphics: Intel HD 5500 (i5-5300U) versus none (i7-930)
• Market segment: Mobile (i5-5300U) versus Desktop (i7-930)
• Release date: 2015-02-28 (i5-5300U) versus 2010-02-27 (i7-930)
• Launch MSRP: $315 (i5-5300U) versus not recorded (i7-930)
• Part number: SR23X (i5-5300U) versus SLBKP (i7-930)

Both processors share the same L1 cache size of 64 KB per core and L2 cache size of 256 KB per core. Both support DDR3 memory. Both have ECC memory disabled. Both have locked multipliers. Both are end-of-life parts from Intel.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear but nuanced picture. The Intel Core i7-930 wins every head-to-head Cinebench test in the database, with leads of 10.6% to 10.9% across single-core and multi-core workloads. The i5-5300U, however, holds a higher average benchmark score of 895 versus 882, and a higher percentile ranking at 24 versus 23.

The i7-930 is the faster processor in raw Cinebench performance. Its 4 cores and 8 threads, combined with higher base and boost clocks (2.80 GHz and 3.07 GHz versus 2.30 GHz and 2.90 GHz), give it a consistent edge. The 8 MB L3 cache versus 3 MB also helps in cache-sensitive workloads. For anyone who needs maximum compute throughput in Cinebench-class workloads, the i7-930 is the pick.

The i5-5300U, on the other hand, achieves near-parity with a fraction of the power consumption. Its 15 watt TDP versus 130 watts is an enormous difference. It also includes integrated Intel HD 5500 graphics, which the i7-930 lacks entirely. The i5-5300U uses a modern 14 nm process versus 45 nm, has a much smaller die at 82 mm² versus 263 mm², and still lands within roughly 11% of the i7-930 in every recorded Cinebench test.

The choice depends entirely on the use case. A system builder targeting a desktop with a discrete GPU and access to a 1366 socket motherboard would prefer the i7-930 for its higher multi-core throughput. A builder targeting a mobile platform, a low-power system, or a build that cannot accommodate a 130 watt thermal load would prefer the i5-5300U. The i7-930 has no integrated graphics, so it cannot function without a separate graphics card.

Where Each One Wins

Intel Core i7-930 wins in: All recorded Cinebench multi-core tests. Cinebench R15 multi-core: 258 versus 230. Cinebench R20 multi-core: 1076 versus 960. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 2563 versus 2287. All recorded Cinebench single-core tests. Cinebench R20 single-core: 151 versus 135. Cinebench R23 single-core: 361 versus 322. The i7-930 also wins on core count, thread count, base clock, boost clock, and L3 cache size. It is the stronger choice for desktop workloads that can use all available cores and threads, such as rendering and CPU-intensive multitasking. Its triple-channel memory bus provides additional memory bandwidth headroom compared to the dual-channel configuration of the i5-5300U, though no bandwidth figure is recorded for the i7-930.

Intel Core i5-5300U wins in: Aggregate average benchmark score, 895 versus 882. Percentile ranking, 24th versus 23rd. Power efficiency, with a 15 watt TDP versus 130 watts. Process technology, with 14 nm versus 45 nm. Transistor count, 1,300 million versus 731 million. Die size efficiency, 82 mm² versus 263 mm². Integrated graphics, offering Intel HD 5500 while the i7-930 has none. The i5-5300U also has a recorded memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s, which the i7-930 lacks in the database. It is the better choice for mobile systems, low-power builds, and any scenario where the absence of a discrete GPU matters. Its Geekbench scores of 1540 multi-core and 791 single-core provide additional reference points that the i7-930 does not have in the database.