Quick Verdict
An efficient chip in 2013, but its low clock speeds make it painfully slow for modern web browsing.
Overview
Launch
2013
Status
DiscontinuedGeneration
3rd Generation
Market
Mobile
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 Core i5-3337U was built for the first wave of Intel Ultrabooks. With a 17W TDP, it enabled fanless and thin designs. It features 2 cores, 4 threads, and a max turbo of 2.
8 GHz. While it offered great battery life in 2013, its low base clock of 1.8 GHz struggles heavily with modern web applications and multitasking.
It is best suited for basic legacy tasks.
Specifications
Performance
Struggles with heavy web apps but okay for basic text.
Low clock speed and 2 cores make VMs painful.
Completely unsuited for modern gaming.
17W TDP was excellent in 2013, but outdated now.
- •HD 4000 is too weak
- •Low TDP limits sustained performance
- •No AI hardware
- •Extremely slow CPU inference
Architecture
22nm
Process Node
Ivy Bridge
Codename
2C / 4T
Core Config
3 MB
L3 Cache
17 W
TDP
Architecture Overview
The Core i5-3337U leverages the Ivy Bridge microarchitecture, taking full advantage of Intel's 22nm tri-gate transistor technology to achieve its low 17W TDP. By utilizing a BGA package, the die is directly soldered to the motherboard, minimizing the physical footprint and improving thermal dissipation in tight spaces. The architecture dynamically scales its frequency and voltage, dropping to low-power states when idling to maximize battery life. The dual-channel DDR3 memory controller ensures sufficient bandwidth, while the integrated HD Graphics 4000 provides 16 execution units. Unlike standard mobile parts, the 'U' series features lower base clocks to remain within strict thermal limits, relying heavily on Turbo Boost for short bursts of performance. The ring bus architecture efficiently connects the cores, cache, and graphics. Although the 22nm process introduced FinFET transistors, the ultra-low voltage binning often meant the silicon was optimized for leakage resistance rather than peak frequency, resulting in a highly efficient but thermally constrained design.
CPU Design
Dual-core, 4-thread configuration optimized for low voltage.
Memory Subsystem
Dual-channel DDR3 controller.
PCIe & I/O
16 PCIe 3.0 lanes.
Overclocking
Locked; BGA only.
- Lower TDP
- Better graphics
- 22nm efficiency
Key Highlights
- Excellent battery life for 2013
- Very low 17W TDP
- Soldered for thin designs
- Good 1080p video playback
- Very slow by modern standards
- 1.8 GHz base clock is too low
- Soldered, no upgrades
- No Windows 11 support
- Struggles with modern web
History
Launched on January 1, 2013, the Core i5-3337U arrived at a critical juncture in the laptop market. Intel was heavily promoting the 'Ultrabook' category to combat the rising threat of tablets and Apple's MacBook Air. The 3337U became one of the most popular processors for mid-range ultrabooks, appearing in millions of thin-and-light laptops globally.
It struck an appealing balance between adequate performance for everyday tasks and exceptional battery life. During its reign, it powered systems that introduced features like instant-on capabilities and SSD caching to mainstream consumers. The processor's success helped establish the 17-watt TDP as a standard for portable computing.
However, as web applications became more demanding, the low base clock of 1.8 GHz began to show its age. It was eventually superseded by Haswell-U processors, which offered dramatically improved battery life and graphics performance.
The 3337U remains a historically significant chip, representing Intel's successful push to make x86 architecture highly portable.
Improvements over Previous Generation
- Lower TDP
- Better graphics
- 22nm efficiency
Alternatives & Competitors
Should You Buy It?
Not Recommended for the right buyer
Extremely cheap legacy laptop for offline writing.
Avoid if…
- Modern web browsing
- Buying a new laptop
- Multitasking
Use Cases
Interesting Facts
Ultra-low voltage 17W TDP.
Designed for Ultrabooks.
Base clock of 1.8 GHz.
Boosts up to 2.8 GHz.
Built on 22nm process.
Includes HD 4000 graphics.
Soldered via BGA 1023.
Supports Hyper-Threading.
Launched in January 2013.
Does not support ECC.
People Also Ask
Is Core i5-3337U fast?
It is fast enough for basic web browsing and office work.
Can Core i5-3337U run Windows 11?
Not officially, it fails Windows 11 requirements.
Does Core i5-3337U support Hyper-Threading?
Yes, it has 4 threads.
What is the graphics frequency of Core i5-3337U?
The HD 4000 runs at 350-1100MHz.
Is Core i5-3337U good for ultrabooks?
Yes, it was designed specifically for ultrabooks.
How much power does Core i5-3337U use?
It uses only 17 watts.
Can Core i5-3337U handle 1080p video?
Yes, it handles 1080p smoothly.
What process node is Core i5-3337U?
It is a 22nm processor.
Does Core i5-3337U have AES-NI?
Yes, it supports AES-NI.
Is Core i5-3337U good for programming?
It can handle light coding but is slow for heavy IDEs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Core i5-3337U good for gaming?
No, it is an ultra-low voltage CPU not meant for gaming.
Can the Core i5-3337U be overclocked?
No, it is locked and has limited thermal headroom.
What is the TDP of the Core i5-3337U?
It has a very low 17-watt TDP.
Does the Core i5-3337U have integrated graphics?
Yes, it includes Intel HD 4000.
What socket does the Core i5-3337U use?
It uses the Intel BGA 1023 socket.
How many cores does the Core i5-3337U have?
It has 2 cores and 4 threads.
What is the base clock of the Core i5-3337U?
The base clock is 1.8 GHz.
Does the Core i5-3337U support DDR4?
No, it supports DDR3.
Is the Core i5-3337U upgradable?
No, it is soldered to the motherboard.
What is the max turbo of the Core i5-3337U?
It can boost up to 2.8 GHz.