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Intel Core i3-2377M

Intel Core i3-2377M

Intel Core i3-2377M: A Retrospective and Relevance in 2025

An analysis of a processor that was once a budget choice but still appears in older devices

Architecture and Process Technology: Sandy Bridge in Detail

The Intel Core i3-2377M processor, released in 2012, belongs to the Sandy Bridge generation. Despite its age, it can still be found in second-hand laptops and ultrabooks.

- Cores and Threads: 2 physical cores and 4 threads thanks to Hyper-Threading. This allowed it to handle basic multitasking, such as working with a browser and office applications simultaneously.

- Clock Speed: Base speed of 1.5 GHz. There is no Turbo mode, which limits performance in resource-intensive tasks.

- Integrated Graphics (iGPU): Intel HD Graphics 3000 with a clock speed of 350–1150 MHz. In 2025, this is sufficient only for displaying visuals and watching HD videos.

- Process Technology: 32 nm. In comparison, modern Intel processors (13th and 14th generation) utilize a 7 nm process, significantly reducing power consumption.

Power Consumption and TDP: Why Do Old Laptops Get Hot?

The TDP (Thermal Design Power) of the i3-2377M is 17 watts. By the standards of the 2010s, this was an acceptable figure for ultrabooks, but in 2025, such values seem archaic. For example, the modern Intel Core i3-1315U (15 watts) demonstrates 4–5 times greater performance at similar TDP.

Problems with Old Chips:

- Lack of advanced power-saving technologies, such as Intel Dynamic Tuning.

- High heat generation under load, leading to noisy fans and overheating.

Performance: What Can the i3-2377M Do in 2025?

Geekbench 6 results (243 points in single-threaded and 500 in multi-threaded tests) show that the processor is outperformed even by budget smartphones.

Real-World Scenarios:

1. Office Work:

- Documents, spreadsheets, email — runs without issues.

- Browser with 5–7 tabs — potential lag is possible.

2. Multimedia:

- Full HD (1080p) video — plays, but 4K is unsupported.

- Photo editing in Lightroom — very slow.

3. Gaming:

- Old games: CS:GO at low settings — 20–25 FPS.

- Modern titles (e.g., Cyberpunk 2077) — won't run.

Turbo Mode: Absent. The clock speed is fixed at 1.5 GHz, which limits performance bursts.

Usage Scenarios: Who Is This Processor Suitable For?

In 2025, the i3-2377M is relevant only in two cases:

1. As a Temporary Solution: For those looking for a laptop priced at $150–200 (new devices with this CPU are no longer being produced, but leftover stock is available in some stores).

2. For Specific Tasks: Running old programs that are incompatible with modern OSs.

Who Should Avoid It:

- Students working with graphics or coding.

- Gamers.

- Users needing more than 4 hours of battery life.

Battery Life: Why Does the Battery Drain Quickly?

Modern processors (such as the Apple M1) deliver 15–20 hours of use with a TDP of 10 watts. The i3-2377M, with its 17 watts and outdated power management, barely reaches 3–4 hours even with a new battery.

Power-Saving Technologies:

- Intel SpeedStep — dynamic frequency scaling.

- C-States — shutting down unused cores.

Advice: If you are using a laptop with this CPU, switch your OS to power-saving mode and replace the HDD with an SSD — this can extend battery life by 30–40 minutes.

Comparison with Competitors: How Far Behind Is It?

- AMD A6-4455M (2012): Similar specifications, but weaker graphics. By 2025, both processors are equally outdated.

- Intel Core i3-1115G4 (2020): 3 times higher performance, TDP of 15 watts, Wi-Fi 6 support.

- Apple M1 (2020): Single-threaded Geekbench 6 score of 2300, multi-threaded score of 8300. A massive gap.

Conclusion: The i3-2377M is outperformed even by budget processors from the 2020s.

Pros and Cons: Is It Worth Buying?

Pros:

- Very low price (if purchasing a used device).

- Sufficient for basic tasks: internet, office work, YouTube.

- Repairability — replacing SSD or RAM takes just 10 minutes.

Cons:

- No support for modern standards: USB 3.1, Wi-Fi 6, NVMe.

- Weak iGPU.

- High power consumption.

Recommendations for Choosing a Laptop in 2025

If you're still considering a device with the i3-2377M (for example, new laptop remnants priced at $200), pay attention to:

1. Type of Storage: Only SSD (minimum 256 GB).

2. RAM: 8 GB is the necessary minimum.

3. Display: IPS panel with a resolution of 1920×1080.

Modern Alternatives:

- Budget segment: Intel N100 (new devices from $300) — 4 times more performance, battery life up to 10 hours.

- Mid-range segment: AMD Ryzen 5 7530U (laptops from $600) — supports gaming on low settings.

Final Conclusion: Who Is This Processor For?

The Intel Core i3-2377M in 2025 is a choice for:

- Users with minimal needs (email, documents).

- Those looking for the cheapest laptop for short-term use.

Key Benefits:

- Extremely low cost.

- Ease of upgrading (SSD, RAM).

However, if your budget allows you to spend an additional $100–150, it is better to choose a modern processor — this will save you time and hassle in the future.

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Basic

Label Name
Intel
Platform
Mobile
Launch Date
April 2012
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.
i3-2377M
Code Name
Sandy Bridge

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).
2
Total Threads
?
Where applicable, Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology is only available on Performance-cores.
4
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.
No
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.
FCBGA1023
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.
32 nm
Max. Operating Temperature
?
Junction Temperature is the maximum temperature allowed at the processor die.
100C
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.
2.0
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.
16
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.
1x16 | 2x8 | 1x8 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.
DDR3 1066/1333
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.
2
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.
No

GPU Specifications

Graphics Base Frequency
?
Graphics Base frequency refers to the rated/guaranteed graphics render clock frequency in MHz.
350 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.
1.00 GHz
Number of Displays Supported
2
Graphics Output
?
Graphics Output defines the interfaces available to communicate with display devices.
eDP/DP/HDMI/SDVO/CRT

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.
No
Instruction Set Extensions
Intel® AVX
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
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.
No
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
Intel Flex Memory Access
Yes
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
243
Geekbench 6
Multi Core Score
500
Geekbench 5
Single Core Score
237
Geekbench 5
Multi Core Score
519
Passmark CPU
Single Core Score
610
Passmark CPU
Multi Core Score
834

Compared to Other CPU

Geekbench 6 Single Core
Pentium B980
357 +46.9%
A4-4300M
313 +28.8%
A8-3520M
257 +5.8%
Core i3-2377M
243
Xeon E7-4809 v2
32 -86.8%
Geekbench 6 Multi Core
Celeron 3865U
693 +38.6%
Pentium B980
601 +20.2%
Core i3-2377M
500
A6-4455M
336 -32.8%
Xeon E7-4809 v2
58 -88.4%
Geekbench 5 Single Core
Pentium N4200
335 +41.4%
E2-3200
298 +25.7%
E-240
243 +2.5%
Core i3-2377M
237
Atom Z2520
59 -75.1%
Geekbench 5 Multi Core
A6-5200
729 +40.5%
Pentium B960
626 +20.6%
Core i3-2377M
519
E-240
397 -23.5%
E-350
202 -61.1%
Passmark CPU Single Core
Celeron B830
828 +35.7%
Xeon E5603
712 +16.7%
Core i3-2377M
610
Atom E3827
468 -23.3%
Atom N570
273 -55.2%
Passmark CPU Multi Core
Pentium G645T
1228 +47.2%
Celeron 1000M
1074 +28.8%
Core i3-2377M
834
Celeron B800
645 -22.7%
E-450
433 -48.1%