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Intel Core i7-4578U

Intel Core i7-4578U: A Retrospective on the Ultrabook Processor from 2014 in the Context of 2025

Examining the potential and relevance of the Haswell generation mobile chip in today's conditions

1. Architecture and Process Technology: Basics and Features

The Intel Core i7-4578U processor, released in 2014, belongs to the fourth generation of the Haswell architecture. It is built on a 22nm process, which at the time represented a balance between performance and energy efficiency.

- Cores and Threads: 2 physical cores with Hyper-Threading support (4 threads). Base frequency — 3.0 GHz, maximum in Turbo Boost mode — 3.5 GHz.

- Integrated Graphics: Intel Iris Graphics 5100 is a key feature. It was one of the first iGPUs to offer 40 execution units (EUs) and support for DirectX 11.1, enabling the possibility of running games at low settings for ultrabooks in 2014.

- Cache: 4 MB of L3 cache — a sufficient amount for handling office and multimedia tasks.

Architectural Features:

Haswell brought an IPC (instructions per clock) improvement of 5–10% over Ivy Bridge. It also introduced support for new AVX2 instructions, accelerating vector computations (important for video encoding).

2. TDP 28W: Power Consumption and Thermal Design

The TDP (Thermal Design Power) of 28W indicates that the processor is designed for compact systems with passive or modest active cooling.

- Real Performance: Under peak loads (e.g., rendering), the chip can consume up to 35–40W, but only for short periods.

- Cooling: Laptops with this CPU often came with compact coolers, which in the conditions of 2025 may cause overheating under intensive loads (especially if thermal paste hasn’t been changed for years).

3. Performance: What Can the Core i7-4578U Do in 2025?

Geekbench 6 results (Single-Core: 821, Multi-Core: 1510) show that the processor falls behind even budget modern chips like the Intel Core i3-1315U (Single-Core ~1800), but it is still suitable for basic tasks.

- Office Work:

— Microsoft Office, a browser with 10–15 tabs, Zoom — run smoothly.

— Compatibility with Windows 11 (with TPM 2.0) is possible, but it’s better to use lightweight operating systems (Linux, ChromeOS Flex).

- Multimedia:

— 4K video playback: possible but puts a load on the iGPU.

— Photo editing in Lightroom: acceptable for small projects, but export will take 2–3 times longer than on a Ryzen 5 5500U.

- Gaming:

— CS:GO: 720p, low settings — 40–50 FPS.

— Minecraft: 1080p, 60 FPS (without shaders).

— Modern AAA titles (2025) — not recommended.

Turbo Boost:

The maximum frequency of 3.5 GHz is achieved only on one core and lasts for 20–30 seconds before overheating occurs. In multi-threaded tasks, Turbo drops to 3.2 GHz.

4. Use Cases: Who Is It Suitable For in 2025?

- Students: For studying (texts, presentations, online courses).

- Office Workers: Document work and cloud services.

- Secondary Devices: As a backup laptop for travel.

- Retro PC Enthusiasts: For building a compact media center.

Not Suitable For:

- Gamers (except for retro games).

- Video editors and 3D designers.

5. Battery Life: How Long Will the Battery Last?

With a TDP of 28W and a battery capacity of 50 Wh (typical for ultrabooks from 2014–2016):

- Web surfing: 5–6 hours.

- Video playback: 4–5 hours.

Power-Saving Technologies:

- Intel SpeedStep: Dynamic frequency adjustment.

- C-states: Disabling unused cores.

Tip: Replacing the battery (cost $40–60) and switching to SSD instead of HDD will extend the life of the device.

6. Comparison with Competitors

- AMD in 2014: A10-7300 (TDP 19W, Radeon R6). It lagged in single-thread performance but had better GPU capabilities.

- Apple MacBook Air 2014: Came with Core i5-4260U (1.4 GHz, HD 5000). The i7-4578U is faster by 20–25%.

- Modern Analogues (2025):

— Intel Core i3-N305: TDP 15W, Multi-Core Geekbench 6 ~3500.

— AMD Ryzen 3 7320U: 3 times faster in multi-threaded scenarios.

7. Pros and Cons

Strengths:

- High single-threaded performance for its time.

- Powerful integrated graphics (for 2014).

- Support for virtualization technologies (VT-x, VT-d).

Weaknesses:

- Only 2 cores — multitasking is limited.

- Outdated PCIe 2.0 and USB 3.0 (compared to USB4 and PCIe 4.0 in 2025).

- No support for AVX-512 and AI acceleration.

8. Recommendations for Choosing a Laptop

If you're considering a used device with this processor in 2025:

- Device Type: Ultrabook (for example, Dell XPS 13 2014).

- What to Look For:

— Battery condition.

— Presence of SSD (a must!).

— Maximum RAM capacity (often 8–16 GB).

— Ports: HDMI, USB 3.0.

Prices:

- New laptops with similar performance (like Acer Aspire 3 with AMD Athlon Silver) start at $350.

9. Final Conclusion: Should the i7-4578U Be Considered in 2025?

This processor is a relic from an era when ultrabooks were just beginning to fight for performance. In 2025, it is suitable for:

- As a budget solution for basic tasks (up to $150 for a used device).

- For users who do not need high speed but value compact design.

Key Benefits:

- Reliability (with proper maintenance).

- Availability of spare parts.

- Upgradeability (SSD, RAM).

However, for new purchases, it’s better to choose modern models based on Intel Alder Lake-N or AMD Zen 3+ — they offer 3–5 times greater performance at a similar price.

Basic

Label Name

Intel

Platform

Mobile

Launch Date

July 2014

Model Name

The Intel processor number is just one of several factors - along with processor brand, system configurations, and system-level benchmarks - to be considered when choosing the right processor for your computing needs.

i7-4578U

Code Name

Haswell

CPU Specifications

Total Cores

Cores is a hardware term that describes the number of independent central processing units in a single computing component (die or chip).

Total Threads

Where applicable, Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology is only available on Performance-cores.

Basic Frequency

3.00 GHz

Max Turbo Frequency

Max Turbo Frequency is the maximum single-core frequency at which the processor is capable of operating using Intel® Turbo Boost Technology and, if present, Intel® Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 and Intel® Thermal Velocity Boost. Frequency is typically measured in gigahertz (GHz), or billion cycles per second.

3.50 GHz

Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 Frequency

3.50 GHz

Intel Turbo Boost Technology

Intel® Turbo Boost Technology dynamically increases the processor's frequency as needed by taking advantage of thermal and power headroom to give you a burst of speed when you need it, and increased energy efficiency when you don’t.

2.0

Intel Hyper-Threading Technology

Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology (Intel® HT Technology) delivers two processing threads per physical core. Highly threaded applications can get more work done in parallel, completing tasks sooner.

Yes

CPU Socket

The socket is the component that provides the mechanical and electrical connections between the processor and motherboard.

FCBGA1168

Technology

Lithography refers to the semiconductor technology used to manufacture an integrated circuit, and is reported in nanometer (nm), indicative of the size of features built on the semiconductor.

22 nm

TDP

28 W

Max. Operating Temperature

Junction Temperature is the maximum temperature allowed at the processor die.

100 C

PCI Express Version

PCI Express Revision is the supported version of the PCI Express standard. Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (or PCIe) is a high-speed serial computer expansion bus standard for attaching hardware devices to a computer. The different PCI Express versions support different data rates.

Number of PCI Express Lanes

A PCI Express (PCIe) lane consists of two differential signaling pairs, one for receiving data, one for transmitting data, and is the basic unit of the PCIe bus. Max # of PCI Express Lanes is the total number of supported lanes.

Intel 64

Intel® 64 architecture delivers 64-bit computing on server, workstation, desktop and mobile platforms when combined with supporting software.¹ Intel 64 architecture improves performance by allowing systems to address more than 4 GB of both virtual and physical memory.

Yes

Instruction Set

The instruction set is a hard program stored inside the CPU that guides and optimizes CPU operations. With these instruction sets, the CPU can run more efficiently. There are many manufacturers that design CPUs, which results in different instruction sets, such as the 8086 instruction set for the Intel camp and the RISC instruction set for the ARM camp. x86, ARM v8, and MIPS are all codes for instruction sets. Instruction sets can be extended; for example, x86 added 64-bit support to create x86-64. Manufacturers developing CPUs that are compatible with a certain instruction set need authorization from the instruction set patent holder. A typical example is Intel authorizing AMD, enabling the latter to develop CPUs compatible with the x86 instruction set.

64-bit

PCI Express Configurations

PCI Express (PCIe) Configurations describe the available PCIe lane configurations that can be used to link to PCIe devices.

4x1 | 2x4

Memory Specifications

Memory Type

Intel® processors come in four different types: Single Channel, Dual Channel, Triple Channel, and Flex Mode. Maximum supported memory speed may be lower when populating multiple DIMMs per channel on products that support multiple memory channels.

DDR3L-1333 | 1600; LPDDR3-1333 | 1600

Max Memory Size

Max memory size refers to the maximum memory capacity supported by the processor.

16 GB

Memory Channels

The number of memory channels refers to the bandwidth operation for real world application.

Bus Speed

5 GT/s

Max Memory Bandwidth

Max Memory bandwidth is the maximum rate at which data can be read from or stored into a semiconductor memory by the processor (in GB/s).

25.6 GB/s

ECC Memory Supported

ECC Memory Supported indicates processor support for Error-Correcting Code memory. ECC memory is a type of system memory that can detect and correct common kinds of internal data corruption. Note that ECC memory support requires both processor and chipset support.

GPU Specifications

Integrated Graphics Model

An integrated GPU refers to the graphics core that is integrated into the CPU processor. Leveraging the processor's powerful computational capabilities and intelligent power efficiency management, it delivers outstanding graphics performance and a smooth application experience at a lower power consumption.

Intel® Iris® Graphics 5100

Graphics Base Frequency

Graphics Base frequency refers to the rated/guaranteed graphics render clock frequency in MHz.

200 MHz

Graphics Frequency

Graphics max dynamic frequency refers to the maximum opportunistic graphics render clock frequency (in MHz) that can be supported using Intel® HD Graphics with Dynamic Frequency feature.

1.20 GHz

Graphics Video Max Memory

2 GB

DirectX Support

DirectX* Support indicates support for a specific version of Microsoft’s collection of APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) for handling multimedia compute tasks.

11.2/12

Max Resolution (HDMI)

Max Resolution (HDMI) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor via the HDMI interface (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your system.

3200x2000@60Hz

Max Resolution (DP)

Max Resolution (DP) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor via the DP interface (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your system.

3200x2000@60Hz

Max Resolution (VGA)

N/A

Number of Displays Supported

Graphics Output

Graphics Output defines the interfaces available to communicate with display devices.

eDP/DP/HDMI/VGA

Miscellaneous

Intel Virtualization Technology (VT-x)

Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x) allows one hardware platform to function as multiple “virtual” platforms. It offers improved manageability by limiting downtime and maintaining productivity by isolating computing activities into separate partitions.

Yes

Intel Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)

Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d) continues from the existing support for IA-32 (VT-x) and Itanium® processor (VT-i) virtualization adding new support for I/O-device virtualization. Intel VT-d can help end users improve security and reliability of the systems and also improve performance of I/O devices in virtualized environments.

Yes

Intel Standard Manageability (ISM)

Intel® Standard Manageability is the manageability solution for Intel vPro® Essentials platforms and is a subset of Intel® AMT with out-of-band management over Ethernet and Wi-Fi, but no KVM or new life cycle management features.

Intel® SSE4.1 | Intel® SSE4.2 | Intel® AVX2

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology is an advanced means of enabling high performance while meeting the power-conservation needs of mobile systems. Conventional Intel SpeedStep® Technology switches both voltage and frequency in tandem between high and low levels in response to processor load. Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology builds upon that architecture using design strategies such as Separation between Voltage and Frequency Changes, and Clock Partitioning and Recovery.

Yes

Execute Disable Bit

Execute Disable Bit is a hardware-based security feature that can reduce exposure to viruses and malicious-code attacks and prevent harmful software from executing and propagating on the server or network.

Yes

Cache

CPU Cache is an area of fast memory located on the processor. Intel® Smart Cache refers to the architecture that allows all cores to dynamically share access to the last level cache.

4 MB

Intel AES New Instructions

Intel® AES New Instructions (Intel® AES-NI) are a set of instructions that enable fast and secure data encryption and decryption. AES-NI are valuable for a wide range of cryptographic applications, for example: applications that perform bulk encryption/decryption, authentication, random number generation, and authenticated encryption.

Yes

Intel Clear Video HD Technology

Intel® Clear Video HD Technology, like its predecessor, Intel® Clear Video Technology, is a suite of image decode and processing technologies built into the integrated processor graphics that improve video playback, delivering cleaner, sharper images, more natural, accurate, and vivid colors, and a clear and stable video picture. Intel® Clear Video HD Technology adds video quality enhancements for richer color and more realistic skin tones.

Yes

Intel VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)

Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT), also known as Second Level Address Translation (SLAT), provides acceleration for memory intensive virtualized applications. Extended Page Tables in Intel® Virtualization Technology platforms reduces the memory and power overhead costs and increases battery life through hardware optimization of page table management.

Yes

Intel InTru 3D Technology

Yes

OpenGL Support

OpenGL (Open Graphics Library) is a cross-language, multi-platform API (Application Programming Interface) for rendering 2D and 3D vector graphics.

4.3

Intel Quick Sync Video

Intel® Quick Sync Video delivers fast conversion of video for portable media players, online sharing, and video editing and authoring.

Yes

Benchmarks

Geekbench 6

Single Core Score

821

Geekbench 6

Multi Core Score

1510

Geekbench 5

Single Core Score

766

Geekbench 5

Multi Core Score

1629

Passmark CPU

Single Core Score

1923

Passmark CPU

Multi Core Score

3087

Compared to Other CPU

Geekbench 6 Single Core

Core i3-7100H

926 +12.8%

Ryzen 5 3500C

882 +7.4%

Core i7-4578U

821

Pentium Gold G6400E

760 -7.4%

Xeon E5-2675 v3

698 -15%

Geekbench 6 Multi Core

Core i7-3610QM

1822 +20.7%

Athlon X4 845

1656 +9.7%

Core i7-4578U

1510

Core m5-6Y54

1351 -10.5%

Pentium Silver N6000

1182 -21.7%

Geekbench 5 Single Core

Core i7-4960X

802 +4.7%

Xeon Gold 5215

783 +2.2%

Core i7-4578U

766

Core i5-3475S

743 -3%

Xeon Silver 4116

730 -4.7%

Geekbench 5 Multi Core

Core i5-4430S

1888 +15.9%

EPYC 7282

1735 +6.5%

Core i7-4578U

1629

Core i5-4278U

1528 -6.2%

Celeron G4930

1459 -10.4%

Passmark CPU Single Core

Core i3-7100T

1972 +2.5%

Xeon E5-2699 v4

1948 +1.3%

Core i7-4578U

1923

Core i3-4130

1892 -1.6%

Core i5-6267U

1858 -3.4%

Passmark CPU Multi Core

A10-7850K

3427 +11%

A10-7860K

3264 +5.7%

Core i7-4578U

3087

A10-5800K

2960 -4.1%

Celeron G5905

2807 -9.1%