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CPU Comparison

Intel Core i5-3380M (BGA) vs Intel Core i5-3380M

A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i5-3380M (BGA variant) is a dual-core mobile processor released in early 2013, utilizing the Ivy Bridge microarchitecture. Identical in silicon to its PGA counterpart, this version is permanently soldered to the motherboard using the FCBGA1023 socket, making it ideal for ultra-thin laptops where space and z-height are restricted. It operates with two cores and four threads, boasting a base clock of 2.9 GHz and a turbo boost of up to 3.6 GHz. The processor is built on a 22-nanometer process, incorporating 3 MB of L3 cache and a 35-watt thermal design power. Integrated Intel HD Graphics 4000 provides basic graphical capabilities, handling everyday multimedia and older games with relative ease. Because it is a BGA package, it cannot be upgraded, meaning the lifespan of the CPU is directly tied to the motherboard. Although outdated, this specific variant represents Intel's push to integrate powerful computing solutions directly into compact mobile form factors, a trend that dominates modern laptop manufacturing.

Intel · Core i5
Intel Core i5-3380M (BGA)
2C / 4T3.6 GHz35 W
5.8
Full review
Intel · Core i5
Intel Core i5-3380M
2C / 4T3.6 GHz35 W
5.8
Full review

Overview & Launch

Brand
Intel
Intel
Market
Mobile
Mobile
Segment
Mobile Mainstream
Mobile Mainstream
Generation
3rd Generation
3rd Generation
Launched
2013
2013
Status
Discontinued
Discontinued
Codename
Ivy Bridge
Ivy Bridge
Series
Core i5
Core i5
Family
Ivy Bridge
Ivy Bridge
Predecessor
Sandy Bridge
Sandy Bridge
Successor
Haswell
Haswell

Specifications Compared

Cores & Clocks
Cores
2
2
Threads
4
4
Base Clock
2.9 GHz
2.9 GHz
Boost Clock
3.6 GHz
3.6 GHz
Cache & Power
L3 Cache
3 MB
3 MB
TDP
35 W
35 W
Architecture
Architecture
Ivy Bridge
Ivy Bridge
Process Node
22nm
22nm
Memory
Memory Type
DDR3
DDR3
Memory Speed
DDR3-1600
DDR3-1600
Memory Channels
Dual (2)
Dual (2)
Max Memory
32 GB
32 GB
Platform & I/O
Socket
Intel BGA 1023
Intel Socket G2 (988B)
PCIe Version
PCIe 3.0
PCIe 3.0
PCIe Lanes
16
16
Integrated GPU
Yes
Yes
Unlocked
No
No

Performance Compared

Productivity

Intel Core i5-3380M (BGA)42

Suitable for basic office tasks.

Intel Core i5-3380M42

Handles office apps fine but chokes on heavy scripts.

Gaming

Intel Core i5-3380M (BGA)32

Inadequate for modern gaming.

Intel Core i5-3380M32

Can run games from 2010-2013 on low settings.

Virtualization

Intel Core i5-3380M (BGA)38

Limited by 2 cores.

Intel Core i5-3380M38

VT-d helps, but 2 cores limit VM size.

Efficiency

Intel Core i5-3380M (BGA)48

35W TDP is high for thin-and-light designs.

Intel Core i5-3380M48

35W TDP generates noticeable heat in older laptops.

Specialized Performance

AI / ML

Intel Core i5-3380M (BGA)None
  • No AI acceleration hardware present
Intel Core i5-3380MNone
  • No hardware AI support
  • CPU inference is unfeasibly slow

Content Creation

Intel Core i5-3380M (BGA)Poor
Basic Audio Processing
Intel Core i5-3380MPoor
Basic Photo Editing

Gaming

Intel Core i5-3380M (BGA)Poor
  • Integrated graphics cannot handle modern games
  • Limited VRAM sharing
Intel Core i5-3380MPoor
  • HD 4000 is heavily outdated
  • No support for modern DirectX features

Industry Impact

Gaming
Low
Low
Workstations
Low
Low
Content Creation
Low
Low
Virtualization
Low
Moderate

Best CPU by Use Case

Web Browsing
Fair
Office Applications
Good
Good
1080p Video
Good
Modern Gaming
Poor
Poor
Coding
Fair
Heavy Web Browsing
Fair
Retro Gaming
Fair
Video Editing
Poor

Target Audience

Gamers
Content Creators
Developers
Workstation Users
Streamers
Office / Productivity
Targeted
Targeted
Students
Targeted
Targeted

Strengths & Weaknesses

Intel Core i5-3380M (BGA)

Pros

  • High turbo clock for 2013
  • Compact BGA packaging
  • Good single-thread performance
  • Hardware virtualization

Cons

  • Permanently soldered
  • Obsolete performance
  • 35W TDP in thin chassis causes heat
  • No Windows 11 support
  • Limited to DDR3
Intel Core i5-3380M

Pros

  • High 3.6 GHz turbo for a mobile chip
  • Socketed design allows upgrades
  • Good single-thread performance for 2013
  • Hardware virtualization

Cons

  • Obsolete by modern metrics
  • 35W TDP is high for dual-core
  • Soldered alternatives are more common
  • No Windows 11 support
  • Weak integrated graphics

Competitors & Alternatives

Intel Core i5-3380M (BGA)

  • AMD A10-5750M

    Mobile APU

    Rival
  • Intel Core i7-3540M

    Mobile

    Rival
  • AMD A8-5550M

    Mobile APU

    Rival
  • Compare head-to-head
  • Intel Core i5-3230M (BGA)
    Alt

    Slightly lower clocks

  • Intel Core i7-2640M
    Alt

    Comparable older chip

  • Intel Pentium 2020M
    Alt

    Budget BGA alternative

  • Intel Celeron 1005M
    Alt

    Entry-level BGA

  • AMD A6-5350M
    Alt

    AMD mobile alternative

Intel Core i5-3380M

Our Verdict on Each

Delivers the same performance as the PGA variant but is permanently soldered, limiting repairability.

Best for: Keeping an old laptop alive for offline tasks.

Read the full review

A fast dual-core for its time, but outdated. Its socketed nature allows for rare mobile upgrades.

Best for: Upgrading an old Socket G2 laptop for basic use.

Read the full review

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Intel Core i5-3380M (BGA) and Intel Core i5-3380M use the same socket?

No. They use different sockets (Intel Core i5-3380M (BGA): Intel BGA 1023, Intel Core i5-3380M: Intel Socket G2 (988B)), so each needs a compatible motherboard.