CPU Comparison
Core i5-3427U vs Intel Core i7-3517U
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i5-3427U is an ultra-low voltage dual-core mobile processor introduced in June 2012, tailored for premium thin-and-light laptops and ultrabooks. As part of the Ivy Bridge family, it features a base clock of 1.8 GHz and can boost up to 2.8 GHz via Intel Turbo Boost technology 2.0. This slight frequency bump over the 3317U provides marginally better responsiveness in bursty workloads. With a strict 17-watt thermal design power, it prioritizes energy efficiency and thermal management, enabling the creation of extremely thin portable devices without severely compromising battery life. The processor handles four threads simultaneously via Hyper-Threading and features 3 MB of L3 cache. Integrated Intel HD Graphics 4000 handles everyday graphical tasks, from high-definition video playback to entry-level gaming. Packaged in a BGA 1023 socket, it is permanently soldered directly to the motherboard, ensuring a compact footprint and reliable operation in highly mobile environments.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Slightly better than the 3317U but still struggles with heavy multitasking.
Slow for modern office tasks and multitasking.
Gaming
Handles very old games at low settings but fails at anything modern.
Cannot run modern games; struggles with basic 3D.
Virtualization
Supports VT-d, making it slightly better for lightweight VMs than the 3317U.
Not recommended due to 2 cores.
Efficiency
Excellent efficiency for its time, enabling all-day battery life in ultrabooks.
17W TDP was efficient in 2012, but outdated now.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No AI hardware
- Insufficient compute power
- No AI hardware
Content Creation
Gaming
- Dual-core bottleneck
- HD 4000 insufficient for modern 3D
- Lacks AVX2
- HD 4000 is too weak
- Only suitable for older 2D games
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
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- Outdated DDR3 memory
Pros
- Was efficient in 2012
- Good single-core burst performance
- 17W TDP
- Enabled thin-and-light designs
Cons
- Only 2 cores
- Very slow for modern tasks
- No Windows 11 support
- 22nm process is outdated
Competitors & Alternatives
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.
Intel Core i7-3517U
- AMD A6-4455MRival
Mobile
- AMD A10-4655MRival
Mobile
- Intel Core i5-3317URival
Mobile
- Intel Core i7-2677MRival
Mobile
- AMD A8-4555MRival
Mobile
Successor with better efficiency and performance.
Compare head-to-headModern budget CPU with vastly superior performance.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 3 5300UAlt
Modern budget alternative.
Excellent modern ultrabook chip.
Compare head-to-head- Alt
Unmatched efficiency for basic use.
Compare head-to-head
Our Verdict on Each
A 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 reviewA capable 2012 ultrabook chip, but its dual-core design is too slow for modern multitasking.
Best for: If you are considering a laptop with the Intel Core i7-3517U today, it should only be purchased in the used market at an extremely low price. It remains capable of very basic web browsing and document editing, but its 2-core design is a major bottleneck for modern multitasking. Avoid purchasing a laptop with this CPU if you need to do any modern productivity work, video editing, or gaming. It is best suited for budget-conscious buyers who need a cheap, secondary machine for light web browsing or for students on a very tight budget. For any primary computing needs, investing in a newer platform is strongly recommended for better efficiency, security, and performance.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Core i5-3427U or Intel Core i7-3517U?
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 i5-3427U or Intel Core i7-3517U?
For gaming, the Core i5-3427U leads with a gaming performance score of 18/100 among Core i5-3427U and Intel Core i7-3517U.
Do Core i5-3427U and Intel Core i7-3517U 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 i5-3427U (2,150). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.