CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-3337U vs Intel Core i5-4350U
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i5-3337U is an ultra-low voltage mobile processor designed for thin-and-light laptops and ultrabooks. Released in early 2013, it is part of the Ivy Bridge family and built on a 22-nanometer process. Featuring two cores and four threads, it operates at a base frequency of 1.8 GHz and can boost up to 2.8 GHz. The defining characteristic of this processor is its remarkably low 17-watt thermal design power, which allows it to function in fanless or minimally cooled chassis. It includes 3 MB of L3 cache and integrates Intel HD Graphics 4000, clocked at 350 MHz with a max dynamic frequency of 1100 MHz. The 3337U was engineered specifically to meet Intel's ultrabook specifications, prioritizing battery life and portability over raw computational power. While its performance is modest, it was a highly efficient chip for its time, enabling a new generation of sleek, highly portable computers that laid the groundwork for modern ultrabooks.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Struggles with heavy web apps but okay for basic text.
The 1.4 GHz base clock limits performance under sustained load, though turbo boost helps for short bursts.
Gaming
Completely unsuited for modern gaming.
Struggles with most modern games; can only handle very old 2D or lightweight 3D indie titles.
Virtualization
Low clock speed and 2 cores make VMs painful.
Not recommended for virtualization due to dual-core limits and low base clock.
Efficiency
17W TDP was excellent in 2013, but outdated now.
Excellent efficiency for its era, designed specifically to maximize laptop battery life.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No AI hardware
- Extremely slow CPU inference
- No AI hardware support
- Dual-core design makes AI inference extremely slow
Content Creation
Gaming
- HD 4000 is too weak
- Low TDP limits sustained performance
- HD 5000 is better than HD 4400 but still weak for 3D
- Low base clock can throttle gaming performance
- Suitable only for retro or extremely lightweight games
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- Excellent battery life for 2013
- Very low 17W TDP
- Soldered for thin designs
- Good 1080p video playback
Cons
- Very slow by modern standards
- 1.8 GHz base clock is too low
- Soldered, no upgrades
- No Windows 11 support
- Struggles with modern web
Pros
- Excellent power efficiency for battery life
- Good turbo boost frequency for short tasks
- HD 5000 graphics are capable for media playback
- Low heat output
Cons
- Very low 1.4 GHz base clock limits sustained performance
- Only 2 physical cores
- End-of-life and outdated
- Soldered to the motherboard
- Lacks modern security and instruction set support
Competitors & Alternatives
Intel Core i5-3337U
- 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
- Intel Core i5-2467MAlt
Older ULV alternative
- Intel Core i3-2367MAlt
Cheaper ULV dual-core
- Intel Pentium 987Alt
Budget ULV alternative
- Intel Celeron 877Alt
Low-end ULV
- AMD E2-1800Alt
AMD low-power alternative
Intel Core i5-4350U
- AMD A4-5000Rival
Mobile APU
- Intel Core i3-4010URival
Mobile
- AMD A6-5200Rival
Mobile APU
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-4200URival
Mobile
- AMD E2-3800Rival
Mobile APU
- Intel Core i5-8250UAlt
A massive leap in performance with 4 cores, found in cheap used laptops.
- AMD Ryzen 3 2200UAlt
A budget dual-core with better Vega graphics and modern architecture.
- Intel Core i3-8130UAlt
A modern dual-core with much higher clock speeds and efficiency.
- Alt
If looking at older MacBooks, the M1 offers a massive leap in battery and speed.
Compare head-to-head - AMD Ryzen 5 3500UAlt
A budget quad-core mobile chip that vastly outperforms this i5.
Our Verdict on Each
An efficient chip in 2013, but its low clock speeds make it painfully slow for modern web browsing.
Best for: Extremely cheap legacy laptop for offline writing.
Read the full reviewA reliable processor for its time that brought excellent battery life to ultrabooks, though its dual-core performance is severely outdated today.
Best for: Buying a heavily used, extremely cheap laptop for basic offline typing.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i5-3337U or Intel Core i5-4350U?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i5-4350U 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, Intel Core i5-3337U or Intel Core i5-4350U?
For gaming, the Intel Core i5-4350U leads with a gaming performance score of 35/100 among Intel Core i5-3337U and Intel Core i5-4350U.
Which uses less power?
The Intel Core i5-4350U has the lowest rated TDP. Power draw across these chips: Intel Core i5-3337U (17 W), Intel Core i5-4350U (15 W).
Do Intel Core i5-3337U and Intel Core i5-4350U use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Intel Core i5-3337U: Intel BGA 1023, Intel Core i5-4350U: Intel BGA 1168), so each needs a compatible motherboard.
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Intel Core i5-3337U posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i5-3337U (2,600). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.