CPU Comparison

Intel Core i5-3437U vs Intel Core i5-3230M

A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i5-3437U is an ultra-low voltage dual-core mobile processor from the third-generation Ivy Bridge lineup, launched in early 2013. Designed specifically for thin-and-light ultrabooks, it operates with a 17-watt thermal design power, enabling deployment in sleek, portable form factors. The processor features two physical cores and four threads, utilizing Hyper-Threading to handle parallel tasks. It runs at a base frequency of 1.9 GHz and can turbo boost up to 2.9 GHz when thermal headroom allows. Built on Intel's 22-nanometer process, it integrates 3 MB of L3 cache and Intel HD Graphics 4000, which features a base frequency of 350 MHz and a max dynamic frequency of 1200 MHz. The 3437U is a slight clock speed bump over the 3337U, offering marginally better performance in bursty workloads. It was engineered to provide a responsive computing experience while maximizing battery life, making it a staple in premium business and consumer ultrabooks of its era.

Top pick
Intel · Core i5
Intel Core i5-3437U
2C / 4T2.9 GHz17 W
5.2
Full review
Intel · Core i5
Intel Core i5-3230M
2C / 4T3.2 GHz35 W
5
Full review

The Bottom Line

Overview & Launch

Brand
Intel
Intel
Market
Mobile
Mobile
Segment
Mobile Ultra-Low Voltage
Mobile
Generation
3rd Generation
3rd Gen Core i5 (Ivy Bridge)
Launched
2013
2013
Status
Discontinued
Discontinued
Codename
Ivy Bridge
Ivy Bridge
Series
Core i5
Core i5
Family
Ivy Bridge
Ivy Bridge
Predecessor
Sandy Bridge ULV
Intel Core i5-2450M
Successor
Haswell ULV
Intel Core i5-4200M

Specifications Compared

Cores & Clocks
Cores
2
2
Threads
4
4
Base Clock
1.9 GHz
2.6 GHz
Boost Clock
2.9 GHz
3.2 GHz
Cache & Power
L3 Cache
3 MB
3 MB
TDP
17 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 BGA 1023
PCIe Version
PCIe 3.0
PCIe 3.0
PCIe Lanes
16
16
Integrated GPU
Yes
Yes
Unlocked
No
No

Performance Compared

Productivity

Intel Core i5-3437UBest37

Adequate for basic office tasks but slow.

Intel Core i5-3230M30

Adequate for basic office work but modern web apps and multitasking will feel slow.

Gaming

Intel Core i5-3437UBest22

Cannot handle modern games.

Intel Core i5-3230M20

Intel HD 4000 at 1100 MHz turbo can handle very old games but is completely unsuitable for anything modern.

Virtualization

Intel Core i5-3437U28

Limited by 2 cores and low voltage.

Intel Core i5-3230M28

VT-x and VT-d support is present, but only two cores severely limit practical VM usage.

Efficiency

Intel Core i5-3437UBest60

Great efficiency for 2013, outdated now.

Intel Core i5-3230M45

Standard 35 W power draw for a 2013 laptop chip; modern processors achieve far more at lower power.

Specialized Performance

AI / ML

Intel Core i5-3437UNone
  • No AI hardware acceleration
Intel Core i5-3230MNone
  • No AI hardware acceleration
  • No AVX2 support
  • Insufficient compute for any AI task

Content Creation

Intel Core i5-3437UPoor
Basic Photo Viewing
Intel Core i5-3230MPoor
Basic Photo Editing (legacy software)Document LayoutLight Spreadsheet Work

Gaming

Intel Core i5-3437UPoor
  • HD 4000 is insufficient
  • Thermal throttling limits sustained play
Intel Core i5-3230MPoor
  • HD 4000 graphics with 1100 MHz turbo is the bottleneck
  • Older games like League of Legends at low settings were playable in 2013
  • No possibility of meaningful modern gaming even at lowest settings

Industry Impact

Gaming
None
Low
Workstations
None
Low
Content Creation
Low
Low
Virtualization
Low
Low

Best CPU by Use Case

Web Browsing
Poor
Adequate
Office Applications
Fair
1080p Video
Good
Modern Gaming
Poor
Video Editing
Poor
Office and Productivity
Adequate
HD Video Playback
Good
Light Gaming
Poor
Programming
Limited

Target Audience

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

Strengths & Weaknesses

Intel Core i5-3437U

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
Intel Core i5-3230M

Pros

  • Widely adopted in 2013 laptops, meaning plentiful spare parts and community knowledge
  • Intel HD 4000 was a capable integrated graphics solution for its time
  • VT-d support for advanced virtualization pass-through
  • AES-NI for hardware-accelerated encryption
  • Reliable 22nm process with mature power management

Cons

  • Only two cores, insufficient for modern workloads
  • Soldered BGA package prevents any upgrade path
  • No AVX2 or later instruction set support
  • 35 W TDP is high by modern thin-and-light standards
  • Completely obsolete for any meaningful 2026 use

Competitors & Alternatives

Intel Core i5-3437U

Intel Core i5-3230M

  • AMD A10-4600M

    Mobile Mainstream

    Rival
  • AMD A8-4500M

    Mobile Value

    Rival
  • Intel Core i7-3612QM

    Mobile Performance

    Rival
  • Intel Core i3-3110M

    Mobile Entry

    Rival
  • AMD A6-4400M

    Mobile Budget

    Rival
  • Slightly higher clocks (2.7/3.4 GHz) for marginal performance improvement at similar cost.

    Compare head-to-head
  • Intel Core i5-4200M
    Alt

    Haswell successor with better efficiency and improved integrated graphics.

Our Verdict on Each

A 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 review

The i5-3230M was a very popular mid-range mobile processor in 2013, offering solid dual-core performance with Hyper-Threading for everyday laptop use. Its 35 W TDP and BGA packaging meant it was destined for specific laptop designs, and it has since been thoroughly surpassed by modern processors.

Best for: Continuing to use an existing laptop with this processor for basic tasks.

Read the full review

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, Intel Core i5-3437U or Intel Core i5-3230M?

Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i5-3437U comes out ahead with a score of 5.2/10. 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 i5-3437U or Intel Core i5-3230M?

For gaming, the Intel Core i5-3437U leads with a gaming performance score of 22/100 among Intel Core i5-3437U and Intel Core i5-3230M.

Which uses less power?

The Intel Core i5-3437U has the lowest rated TDP. Power draw across these chips: Intel Core i5-3437U (17 W), Intel Core i5-3230M (35 W).

Do Intel Core i5-3437U and Intel Core i5-3230M 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: Intel Core i5-3437U (2,800), Intel Core i5-3230M (1,900). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.