CPU Comparison
Intel Core i7-3689Y vs Intel Core i5-3230M
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i7-3689Y is an ultra-low power mobile processor launched in January 2013 as part of the Ivy Bridge family. Designed specifically for premium tablets and extremely thin-and-light laptops, it operates at a remarkably low 13-watt TDP. Built on Intel's 22nm Tri-Gate process, it features 2 physical cores and 4 threads, a standard configuration for U and Y series chips of that era. The processor runs at a base clock of 1.5 GHz and can boost up to 2.6 GHz when thermal headroom permits. It includes 4MB of L3 cache and supports dual-channel DDR3 memory. The low TDP allows the 3689Y to be used in fanless chassis designs, a major selling point for mobile form factors in 2013. While its dual-core design heavily limits multi-threaded performance by modern standards, it was engineered to prioritize battery life and thermal efficiency over raw computing power, making it a pioneer for modern tablet computing.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Slow for modern office tasks and multitasking.
Adequate for basic office work but modern web apps and multitasking will feel slow.
Gaming
Cannot run modern games; struggles with basic 3D.
Intel HD 4000 at 1100 MHz turbo can handle very old games but is completely unsuitable for anything modern.
Virtualization
Not recommended due to 2 cores and low power.
VT-x and VT-d support is present, but only two cores severely limit practical VM usage.
Efficiency
13W TDP was efficient in 2013, but outdated now.
Standard 35 W power draw for a 2013 laptop chip; modern processors achieve far more at lower power.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No AI hardware
- No AI hardware acceleration
- No AVX2 support
- Insufficient compute for any AI task
Content Creation
Gaming
- No integrated graphics listed
- Relies on external GPU or basic display
- 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
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- Was highly efficient in 2013
- Enabled fanless tablet designs
- 13W TDP
- Good single-core burst performance
Cons
- Only 2 cores
- Very slow for modern tasks
- No Windows 11 support
- 22nm process is outdated
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 i7-3689Y
- AMD A6-1450Rival
Mobile
- Intel Core i5-3427URival
Mobile
- Intel Core i7-2677MRival
Mobile
- AMD A4-1200Rival
Mobile
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 800Rival
Mobile
- Intel Core i7-4610YAlt
Successor with better efficiency and performance.
- Alt
Unmatched efficiency for basic use.
Compare head-to-head Modern 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
Intel Core i5-3230M
- AMD A10-4600MRival
Mobile Mainstream
- AMD A8-4500MRival
Mobile Value
- Intel Core i7-3612QMRival
Mobile Performance
- Intel Core i3-3110MRival
Mobile Entry
- AMD A6-4400MRival
Mobile Budget
Slightly higher clocks (2.7/3.4 GHz) for marginal performance improvement at similar cost.
Compare head-to-head- Intel Core i5-4200MAlt
Haswell successor with better efficiency and improved integrated graphics.
Our Verdict on Each
A pioneering 13W chip for 2013 tablets, but its dual-core design is far too slow for modern multitasking.
Best for: If you are considering a device with the Intel Core i7-3689Y today, it should only be purchased in the used market at an extremely low price for very specific legacy needs. Its 2-core, 4-thread design is a massive bottleneck for modern multitasking, and its 13W TDP, while low for 2013, is easily outclassed by modern 5W ARM processors. It is suitable for basic web browsing, document editing, and light media consumption, but it will struggle with any modern productivity workload. Avoid this processor if you need to run modern applications, do video editing, or play games. It is best suited as a cheap, secondary machine for light duties or for collectors of vintage mobile hardware.
Read the full reviewThe 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 reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i7-3689Y or Intel Core i5-3230M?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i5-3230M comes out ahead with a score of 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, Intel Core i7-3689Y or Intel Core i5-3230M?
For gaming, the Intel Core i5-3230M leads with a gaming performance score of 20/100 among Intel Core i7-3689Y and Intel Core i5-3230M.
Which uses less power?
The Intel Core i7-3689Y has the lowest rated TDP. Power draw across these chips: Intel Core i7-3689Y (13 W), Intel Core i5-3230M (35 W).
Do Intel Core i7-3689Y 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 i5-3230M posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i5-3230M (1,900). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.