Intel Core i7-4550U vs Intel Core i5-3230M

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i7-4550U and Intel Core i5-3230M processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Graphics, Graphics interfaces, Graphics image quality, Graphics API support, Compatibility, Peripherals, Security & Reliability, Advanced Technologies, Virtualization. Benchmark processor performance analysis: PassMark - Single thread mark, PassMark - CPU mark, CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s), GFXBench 4.0 - Manhattan (Frames), GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Frames), GFXBench 4.0 - Manhattan (Fps), GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Fps), Geekbench 4 - Single Core, Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core.

Intel Core i7-4550U

Intel Core i5-3230M

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-4550U

CPU is newer: launch date 5 month(s) later
Around 33% more L3 cache; more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
2.3x lower typical power consumption: 15 Watt vs 35 Watt
Around 1% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 5.742 vs 5.705
5.7x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 38.217 vs 6.652
Around 23% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 0.286 vs 0.233
Around 29% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s): 1.608 vs 1.25
6.5x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 15.042 vs 2.305

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	4 June 2013 vs 1 January 2013
L3 cache	4 MB vs 3072 KB
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	15 Watt vs 35 Watt
Benchmarks
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	5.742 vs 5.705
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	38.217 vs 6.652
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.286 vs 0.233
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	1.608 vs 1.25
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	15.042 vs 2.305

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i5-3230M

Around 7% higher clock speed: 3.20 GHz vs 3.00 GHz
Around 5% higher maximum core temperature: 105 °C vs 100°C
2x more maximum memory size: 32 GB vs 16 GB
Around 22% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1578 vs 1290
Around 13% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 2562 vs 2272
Around 60% better performance in GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Frames): 2846 vs 1780
Around 60% better performance in GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Fps): 2846 vs 1780

Specifications (specs)
Maximum frequency	3.20 GHz vs 3.00 GHz
Maximum core temperature	105 °C vs 100°C
Maximum memory size	32 GB vs 16 GB
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1578 vs 1290
PassMark - CPU mark	2562 vs 2272
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Frames)	2846 vs 1780
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Fps)	2846 vs 1780

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i7-4550U
CPU 2: Intel Core i5-3230M

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1290

1578

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2272

2562

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

5.742

5.705

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

38.217

6.652

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.286

0.233

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

1.608

1.25

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

15.042

2.305

GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Frames)

CPU 1

CPU 2

1780

2846

GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Fps)

CPU 1

CPU 2

1780

2846

Name	Intel Core i7-4550U	Intel Core i5-3230M
PassMark - Single thread mark	1290	1578
PassMark - CPU mark	2272	2562
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	5.742	5.705
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	38.217	6.652
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.286	0.233
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	1.608	1.25
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	15.042	2.305
GFXBench 4.0 - Manhattan (Frames)	909
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Frames)	1780	2846
GFXBench 4.0 - Manhattan (Fps)	909
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Fps)	1780	2846
Geekbench 4 - Single Core		576
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core		1263

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i7-4550U	Intel Core i5-3230M
Essentials
Architecture codename	Haswell	Ivy Bridge
Launch date	4 June 2013	1 January 2013
Place in performance rating	2372	2384
Processor Number	i7-4550U	i5-3230M
Series	4th Generation Intel® Core™ i7 Processors	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status	Launched	Launched
Vertical segment	Mobile	Mobile
Launch price (MSRP)		$225
Price now		$249.65
Value for money (0-100)		4.65
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	1.50 GHz	2.60 GHz
Bus Speed	5 GT/s DMI2	5 GT/s DMI
Die size	181 mm	118 mm
L1 cache	128 KB	128 KB
L2 cache	512 KB	512 KB
L3 cache	4 MB	3072 KB
Manufacturing process technology	22 nm	22 nm
Maximum core temperature	100°C	105 °C
Maximum frequency	3.00 GHz	3.20 GHz
Number of cores	2	2
Number of threads	4	4
Transistor count	1300 Million
Memory
Max memory channels	2	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	25.6 GB/s	25.6 GB/s
Maximum memory size	16 GB	32 GB
Supported memory types	DDR3L 1333/1600, LPDDR3 1333/1600	DDR3/L/-RS 1333/1600
Graphics
Device ID	0xA26	0x166
Graphics base frequency	200 MHz	650 MHz
Graphics max dynamic frequency	1.10 GHz	1.10 GHz
Graphics max frequency	1.1 GHz	1.1 GHz
Intel® Clear Video HD technology
Intel® Flexible Display Interface (Intel® FDI)
Intel® InTru™ 3D technology
Intel® Quick Sync Video
Max video memory	2 GB
Processor graphics	Intel® HD Graphics 5000	Intel® HD Graphics 4000
Graphics interfaces
DisplayPort
eDP
HDMI
Number of displays supported	3	3
VGA
Wireless Display (WiDi) support
CRT
SDVO
Graphics image quality
Max resolution over DisplayPort	3200x2000@60Hz
Max resolution over HDMI 1.4	3200x2000@60Hz
Max resolution over VGA	N / A
Graphics API support
DirectX	11.2/12
OpenGL	4.3
Compatibility
Low Halogen Options Available
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Package Size	40mm x 24mm x 1.5mm	37.5mm x 37.5mm (rPGA988B)
Sockets supported	FCBGA1168	FCPGA988
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	15 Watt	35 Watt
Peripherals
Integrated IDE
Integrated LAN
Max number of PCIe lanes	12	16
Max number of SATA 6 Gb/s Ports	4
Number of USB ports	4
PCI Express revision	2.0	3.0
PCI support
PCIe configurations	4x1, 2x4	1x16, 2x8, 1x8 2x4
Total number of SATA ports	4
UART
USB revision	3.0
Security & Reliability
Anti-Theft technology
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Identity Protection technology
Intel® Secure Key technology
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
Advanced Technologies
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Flexible Display interface (FDI)
General-Purpose Input/Output (GPIO)
HD Audio
Idle States
Instruction set extensions	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2	Intel® AVX
Intel 64
Intel® Active Management technology (AMT)
Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX)
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® ME Firmware Version	9.5
Intel® Rapid Storage technology (RST)
Intel® TSX-NI
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility
Smart Connect
Thermal Monitoring
4G WiMAX Wireless
Intel® Demand Based Switching
Intel® Fast Memory Access
Intel® Flex Memory Access
Intel® My WiFi technology
Virtualization
AMD Virtualization (AMD-V™)
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)