CPU Comparison
Core i5-3317U vs Intel Core i5-3437U
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.
Adequate for basic office tasks but slow.
Gaming
Cannot run modern 3D games; restricted to very light 2D indie titles.
Cannot handle modern games.
Virtualization
Lacks VT-d support and core count for effective virtualization.
Limited by 2 cores and low voltage.
Efficiency
Good efficiency for 2012, though modern 7W chips are vastly faster.
Great efficiency for 2013, outdated now.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No AI hardware
- Insufficient compute for modern AI tasks
- No AI hardware acceleration
Content Creation
Gaming
- HD 4000 maxes out at 1050 MHz
- Dual-core bottleneck
- Lacks AVX2
- HD 4000 is insufficient
- Thermal throttling limits sustained play
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
- Good battery life
- Low 17W TDP
- Slightly faster than 3337U
- Good for basic media playback
Cons
- Obsolete performance
- Soldered to motherboard
- Low base clock
- No Windows 11 support
- Weak integrated graphics
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.
Intel Core i5-3437U
- AMD A10-4655MRival
Mobile ULV APU
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i7-3667URival
Mobile ULV
- AMD A8-4555MRival
Mobile ULV APU
- Intel Core i5-3317URival
Mobile ULV
Slightly slower but essentially identical
Compare head-to-head- Intel Core i5-2467MAlt
Older generation ULV
- Intel Core i3-2367MAlt
Budget ULV dual-core
- Intel Pentium 987Alt
Low-end ULV
- Intel Celeron 1037UAlt
Cheaper ULV 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 marginal upgrade over the 3337U, offering slightly better burst performance for legacy laptops.
Best for: Using an existing legacy business laptop for basic tasks.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Core i5-3317U or Intel Core i5-3437U?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Core i5-3317U comes out ahead with a score of 5.5/10. 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 Intel Core i5-3437U?
For gaming, the Intel Core i5-3437U leads with a gaming performance score of 22/100 among Core i5-3317U and Intel Core i5-3437U.
Do Core i5-3317U and Intel Core i5-3437U 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 Intel Core i5-3437U posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Core i5-3317U (2,000), Intel Core i5-3437U (2,800). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.