Intel Core i5-680 vs Intel Core i7-3687U Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data places the Intel Core i7-3687U and Intel Core i5-680 in a remarkably close contest, with the desktop part edging ahead in most measured workloads. Across the five recorded head-to-head tests, the Core i5-680 takes four wins, while the Core i7-3687U manages a single tie that is credited as a win. The overall average benchmark scores reflect this parity: the Core i7-3687U posts an average score of 773, while the Core i5-680 sits at 772, a difference of just 0.2 percent in favor of the mobile chip.

In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Core i5-680 scores 226 against the Core i7-3687U's 224, a delta of 0.9 percent. This is the largest margin of victory recorded in any test. The Cinebench R20 multicore run shows a similar pattern, with the Core i5-680 at 942 and the Core i7-3687U at 937, a 0.5 percent gap. Cinebench R23 multicore repeats that 0.5 percent margin, as the Core i5-680 scores 2243 versus 2231 for the Core i7-3687U. These results indicate that the desktop chip holds a consistent, though small, advantage in heavily threaded rendering workloads.

The single-core results are nearly identical. In Cinebench R20 single-core, both processors score exactly 132, a perfect tie. The Core i5-680 wins the Cinebench R23 single-core test with 316 points against 315 for the Core i7-3687U, a margin of 0.3 percent. The Geekbench results, though not part of the head-to-head table, reinforce the picture: the Core i7-3687U records 1044 multicore and 526 single-core, while the Core i5-680's nearest-rival data places it within a fraction of a percent in average score. The data shows that in every measurable category, the two chips land within one point or one percent of each other, making this one of the tightest comparisons in the database.

The win tally of 4 to 1 slightly flatters the Core i5-680, since the single-core Cinebench R20 tie is awarded to the Core i7-3687U. In practical terms, neither processor demonstrates a meaningful performance edge. The Core i5-680's four wins are all by margins under 1 percent, and the Core i7-3687U's one win is a dead heat. For users choosing purely on benchmark output, the difference is negligible.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i7-3687U has an average benchmark score of 773, while the Intel Core i5-680 scores 772. The Core i7-3687U leads by 0.2 percent, though both chips sit at the 21st percentile among all CPUs in the database.

Q: How do the two compare in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The Intel Core i5-680 scores 2243, while the Intel Core i7-3687U scores 2231. The Core i5-680 leads by 0.5 percent, a margin that falls well within normal run-to-run variation.

Q: Is there any test where the Core i7-3687U wins outright?

A: The Core i7-3687U is credited with a win in Cinebench R20 single-core, where both processors record an identical score of 132. The database awards the win to the Core i7-3687U based on the tie-break rule, but the result is a draw in absolute terms.

Q: What is the percentile ranking for these processors?

A: Both the Intel Core i7-3687U and the Intel Core i5-680 rank at the 21st percentile among all CPUs tracked in the database. This places them in the lower-midrange of recorded processors.

Q: How does the Core i5-680 compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Core i5-680's nearest rival is the Core i7-3687U with an average score of 773 and a delta of negative 0.1 percent. It also sits close to the Intel Celeron G5920 and Intel Core i3-3250T, both at 775 with a delta of negative 0.4 percent, and the Intel Pentium Silver J5005 at 776 with a delta of negative 0.5 percent.

Q: Does the Core i7-3687U have any Geekbench advantage?

A: The Core i7-3687U records Geekbench multicore and single-core scores of 1044 and 526, respectively. The Core i5-680 does not have Geekbench results listed in the database, so no direct comparison is available for that test.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear picture: these two processors are functionally equivalent in raw benchmark performance. The Core i5-680 wins four of five head-to-head tests, but every victory margin is under 1 percent, and the single win for the Core i7-3687U is a tie. In the database's nearest-rival comparison, the Core i7-3687U holds a 0.2 percent average score advantage, while the Core i5-680's own nearest-rival listing shows a 0.1 percent deficit to the Core i7-3687U. Neither chip can claim a decisive performance victory.

For a desktop user, the Core i5-680 is the sensible pick based on its slight edge in multicore Cinebench tests. The margins are tiny, but they are consistent across R15, R20, and R23. For a mobile user, the Core i7-3687U offers the same level of performance in a 17 watt package, which is a substantial efficiency advantage over the Core i5-680's 73 watt design. The Core i7-3687U also includes Intel HD 4000 graphics, while the Core i5-680 ships with the older Intel HD.

The production status favors the Core i7-3687U, as the Core i5-680 is listed as end-of-life. Both processors are locked, with no unlocked multiplier. The 21st percentile ranking for both chips indicates they occupy the same performance tier in the broader database. Ultimately, the choice comes down to platform: the Core i5-680 for an existing Socket 1156 desktop, the Core i7-3687U for a BGA 1023 mobile system. Neither offers a meaningful performance reason to prefer one over the other.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several fundamental specification fields. The Core i7-3687U has a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 3.30 GHz, while the Core i5-680 runs at 3.60 GHz base and 3.87 GHz boost. The desktop chip operates at significantly higher clock speeds, which explains how it keeps pace despite architectural differences.

Thermal design power differs dramatically: the Core i7-3687U is rated at 17 watts, while the Core i5-680 consumes 73 watts. This is a 56 watt gap, reflecting the mobile versus desktop design targets. The socket types are incompatible: the Core i7-3687U uses Intel BGA 1023, while the Core i5-680 uses Intel Socket 1156.

The market segments differ as expected: the Core i7-3687U targets mobile, the Core i5-680 targets desktop. Release dates are separated by nearly three years, with the Core i5-680 launching in April 2010 and the Core i7-3687U in January 2013. The Core i5-680 has a listed launch MSRP of $294, while the Core i7-3687U has no recorded launch MSRP. Production status also differs: the Core i5-680 is marked end-of-life, while the Core i7-3687U has no production status listed.

Memory bandwidth is listed only for the Core i5-680 at 21.3 GB/s, and PCIe support is listed only for the Core i5-680 as Gen 2 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The Core i7-3687U has no recorded PCIe or memory bandwidth fields. Part numbers differ: SR0XH for the Core i7-3687U, SLBTM for the Core i5-680.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two chips is significant, though it does not translate into a large performance difference. The Core i7-3687U is built on Ivy Bridge architecture with a 22 nm process node, produced by Intel. The Core i5-680 uses Westmere architecture, specifically the Clarkdale codename, on a 32 nm process node, also produced by Intel. The newer, smaller process node gives the Core i7-3687U a manufacturing advantage, but the Core i5-680 compensates with higher clock speeds.

Both processors have 2 cores and 4 threads, and both share 4 MB of L3 cache. The L1 and L2 caches are identical as well: 64 KB per core for L1 and 256 KB per core for L2. The Core i5-680 lists 382 million transistors and an 81 mm² die size, while the Core i7-3687U has no transistor count listed but records a 118 mm² die size. The larger die on the newer process node reflects the integrated graphics and other Ivy Bridge features.

Integrated graphics differ: the Core i7-3687U includes Intel HD 4000, while the Core i5-680 includes the older Intel HD. Both support DDR3 memory in dual-channel configuration, and neither supports ECC memory. The Core i5-680's Westmere architecture is a first-generation Core design, while the Core i7-3687U's Ivy Bridge is a third-generation design, but the benchmark data shows this generational leap does not produce a measurable performance advantage in the recorded tests. The Core i7-3687U's 22 nm process and HD 4000 graphics are clear architectural upgrades, yet the Core i5-680's higher clock speeds keep it competitive across every workload.