CPU Comparison
Core i5-3317U vs Core i5-3427U
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i5-3317U is an ultra-low voltage dual-core mobile processor launched in June 2012, specifically engineered for the burgeoning ultrabook market. Built on the Ivy Bridge architecture, it operates at a base frequency of 1.7 GHz and can dynamically boost up to 2.6 GHz using Intel Turbo Boost 2.0. With a remarkably low thermal design power of just 17 watts, it prioritizes battery longevity and thermal efficiency, enabling fanless designs and extremely thin laptop profiles. The processor supports Hyper-Threading, managing four threads across its two physical cores to ensure competent multitasking. It includes 3 MB of L3 cache and integrates Intel HD Graphics 4000, delivering sufficient graphical performance for high-definition media playback and casual gaming. Designed for the BGA 1023 socket, it is permanently soldered, emphasizing its role in highly integrated, space-constrained mobile computing devices where thickness must be minimized.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Struggles with heavy multitasking but fine for single-app usage.
Slightly better than the 3317U but still struggles with heavy multitasking.
Gaming
Cannot run modern 3D games; restricted to very light 2D indie titles.
Handles very old games at low settings but fails at anything modern.
Virtualization
Lacks VT-d support and core count for effective virtualization.
Supports VT-d, making it slightly better for lightweight VMs than the 3317U.
Efficiency
Good efficiency for 2012, though modern 7W chips are vastly faster.
Excellent efficiency for its time, enabling all-day battery life in ultrabooks.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No AI hardware
- Insufficient compute for modern AI tasks
- No AI hardware
- Insufficient compute power
Content Creation
Gaming
- HD 4000 maxes out at 1050 MHz
- Dual-core bottleneck
- Lacks AVX2
- Dual-core bottleneck
- HD 4000 insufficient for modern 3D
- Lacks AVX2
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- Very low 17W TDP
- Enabled thin ultrabook designs
- Good battery life for its era
- Decent burst performance
- Hardware video decoding
Cons
- Soldered to motherboard, no upgrades
- Severely underpowered for modern web
- No Windows 11 support
- Lacks VT-d virtualization
- Only 2 cores and 4 threads
Pros
- Low 17W TDP
- Slightly higher clocks than 3317U
- Supports VT-d virtualization
- Good battery life for 2012
- Hardware video decoding
Cons
- Soldered to motherboard
- Only 2 cores and 4 threads
- No Windows 11 support
- Struggles with modern web
- Outdated DDR3 memory
Competitors & Alternatives
Core i5-3317U
- AMD A8-4555MRival
Mobile Ultra-Low Power
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i7-3517URival
Mobile Ultra-Low Power
- Intel Core i3-3217URival
Mobile Ultra-Low Power
- AMD A6-4455MRival
Mobile Ultra-Low Power
- Intel Core i5-3427URival
Mobile Ultra-Low Power
- AMD A10-4655MAlt
Better integrated graphics in the same TDP class.
- Intel Pentium 987Alt
Lower performance, cheaper alternative for basic tasks.
Core i5-3427U
- AMD A8-4555MRival
Mobile Ultra-Low Power
- Intel Core i5-3317URival
Mobile Ultra-Low Power
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i7-3517URival
Mobile Ultra-Low Power
- AMD A6-4455MRival
Mobile Ultra-Low Power
- Intel Core i3-3227URival
Mobile Ultra-Low Power
- Intel Core i3-3217UAlt
Cheaper, lower performance alternative.
- AMD A10-4655MAlt
Better integrated graphics in the same TDP class.
- Intel Celeron 1007UAlt
Budget ultrabook alternative.
Our Verdict on Each
A pioneering ultra-low voltage CPU that enabled the ultrabook era, but its dual-core performance is severely lacking by modern standards.
Best for: Using an old ultrabook as a lightweight Linux terminal.
Read the full reviewA slightly faster version of the 3317U, offering a small bump in clock speeds for premium ultrabooks, but equally obsolete today.
Best for: Repurposing an old premium ultrabook as a media server.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Core i5-3317U or Core i5-3427U?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Core i5-3427U comes out ahead with a score of 6/10. That said, the best choice depends on your workload — check the spec and performance breakdown above for gaming, productivity and efficiency differences.
Which is faster for gaming, Core i5-3317U or Core i5-3427U?
For gaming, the Core i5-3427U leads with a gaming performance score of 18/100 among Core i5-3317U and Core i5-3427U.
Do Core i5-3317U and Core i5-3427U use the same socket?
Yes — all of these CPUs use the Intel BGA 1023 socket, so they share compatible motherboards.
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Core i5-3427U posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Core i5-3317U (2,000), Core i5-3427U (2,150). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.