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Intel Core i5-3317U

Intel Core i5-3317U: Review and Relevance in 2025

Although the Intel Core i5-3317U processor was released more than ten years ago, it can still be found in used entry-level ultrabooks. In this article, we will explore what this chip is capable of today, who it might be suitable for, and whether it's worth considering in the age of modern technologies.

Architecture and Manufacturing Process

Ivy Bridge: Transition to 22nm

The Core i5-3317U belongs to the Ivy Bridge generation (2012–2013), which was the first mass-market Intel CPU to utilize a 22nm manufacturing process. This led to a reduction in power consumption and improvements in performance compared to its predecessor, Sandy Bridge. The key innovation was the Tri-Gate (3D) transistors, which reduced leakage current and increased efficiency.

- Cores and Threads: 2 physical cores with Hyper-Threading support (4 threads).

- Clock Speeds: Base speed of 1.7 GHz, maximum Turbo Boost speed of 2.6 GHz (for one core).

- Integrated Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 4000, clocked at 350–1050 MHz.

The HD 4000 was a breakthrough at the time, supporting DirectX 11 and resolutions up to 4K. However, today its capabilities are sufficient only for basic tasks.

Power Consumption and TDP

17W TDP: A Balance Between Power and Battery Life

The low thermal design power (TDP) of 17W made this processor ideal for slim laptops. Compared to the 35W CPUs of the same generation (such as the Core i5-3230M), it generates less heat, simplifying the cooling system design.

However, Turbo Boost operates only for short periods: under sustained loads (e.g., rendering), the frequency drops back to the base to avoid exceeding TDP.

Performance in Real-World Tasks

Office and Multimedia

- Office Applications: In 2025, the Core i5-3317U handles Microsoft Office, browsers (Chrome with 5–7 tabs), and Zoom, but may stall when multiple heavy applications are launched simultaneously.

- Multimedia: Full HD video playback and streaming content (YouTube, Netflix) works without issues. Photo editing in Lightroom is possible but with delays.

Gaming

The HD Graphics 4000 supports only older games at low settings:

- CS:GO — 25–30 FPS (720p, minimum settings).

- Minecraft — 30–40 FPS (720p).

Modern titles such as Cyberpunk 2077 or Fortnite will not run.

Turbo Boost Mode

Under short-term loads (opening applications, processing documents), the frequency can ramp up to 2.6 GHz, speeding up task execution. However, in gaming or rendering, Turbo Boost has minimal impact due to overheating.

Use Cases

Who is the Core i5-3317U Suitable for in 2025?

- Students: For studying, writing essays, and online courses.

- Office Workers: Working with documents, emails, and video calls.

- Budget-Conscious Users: Used laptops with this CPU range from $100–200, which is cheaper than modern counterparts.

Who is it Not Suitable For?

- Gamers: Even games from the 2020s will be inaccessible.

- Designers and Video Editors: Power will be insufficient for working in Photoshop, Premiere Pro, or Blender.

Battery Life

How does the 17W TDP affect battery life?

In 2013, laptops with this processor (e.g., ASUS Zenbook UX31A) provided 5–7 hours of usage during web browsing. Today, due to battery wear, the actual usage time has decreased to 3–4 hours.

Power-Saving Technologies

- Intel SpeedStep: Dynamically adjusts frequency depending on the load.

- C-States: Disables unused components during idle periods.

Tip: To prolong battery life, disable Turbo Boost in power settings.

Comparison with Competitors

Analogues from 2012–2013:

- AMD A10-4655M (4 cores, TDP 25W): Better in multi-threaded tasks but less energy-efficient.

- Intel Core i3-3217U: Lacks Turbo Boost, 10–15% weaker in single-core tests.

Modern Alternatives (2025):

- Intel Core i3-N300 (7nm, 8 cores, TDP 15W): 2–3 times faster, priced at $300–400 in new laptops.

- Apple M2: A leader in energy efficiency, but devices based on it are more expensive ($900+).

Pros and Cons

Strengths:

- Low power consumption.

- Sufficient performance for basic tasks.

- Compactness and quietness of systems based on it.

Weaknesses:

- Weak graphics.

- No upgrade potential (soldered to the motherboard).

- Limited multi-tasking capabilities.

Recommendations for Choosing a Laptop

Types of Devices:

- Ultrabooks: ASUS Zenbook UX31A, Dell XPS 13 (2013 models).

- Budget Laptops: Lenovo IdeaPad U310.

Key Considerations:

1. Battery Condition: Replace if the battery life is less than 2 hours.

2. SSD over HDD: A must, as it will speed up system operations.

3. Display: An IPS panel is preferable to TN for better viewing angles.

Tip: Consider modern laptops with Intel N-series or AMD Ryzen 3 processors — they are pricier ($300–500) but offer relevant performance.

Final Conclusion

The Intel Core i5-3317U in 2025 is a choice for those looking for an inexpensive laptop for basic tasks. Its key advantages are portability and low price in the secondary market. However, for work with modern applications, gaming, or multitasking, it’s better to look for newer CPUs.

Who it suits:

- Users with a budget of up to $200.

- Those who value compactness and don’t require high performance.

Key Advice: Buy a laptop with this processor only as a temporary solution. If the budget allows, invest in a device based on at least Intel's 10th generation or AMD Ryzen 5000.

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.

i5-3317U

Code Name

Ivi 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).

Total Threads

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

Basic Frequency

1.70 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.

2.60 GHz

Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 Frequency

2.60 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.

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.

22 nm

TDP

17 W

Max. Operating Temperature

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

105 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.

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.

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/L/-RS 1333/1600

Max Memory Size

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

32 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

GPU Name

Intel® HD Graphics 4000

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.

1.05 GHz

Number of Displays Supported

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.

Yes

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

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.

3 MB Intel® Smart Cache

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

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

426

Geekbench 6

Multi Core Score

841

Geekbench 5

Single Core Score

439

Geekbench 5

Multi Core Score

998

Passmark CPU

Single Core Score

1254

Passmark CPU

Multi Core Score

2008

Compared to Other CPU

Geekbench 6 Single Core

Pentium 1403 V2

499 +17.1%

Opteron 3380

466 +9.4%

Core i5-3317U

426

A10-6790K

397 -6.8%

Celeron G530T

366 -14.1%

Geekbench 6 Multi Core

A8-6500

1044 +24.1%

Pentium G2130

945 +12.4%

Core i5-3317U

841

Core i3-2350M

695 -17.4%

A10-5745M

603 -28.3%

Geekbench 5 Single Core

A10-9700E

475 +8.2%

Xeon E7-4850 v3

456 +3.9%

Core i5-3317U

439

Pentium 3805U

415 -5.5%

Celeron 3965Y

386 -12.1%

Geekbench 5 Multi Core

Celeron 7305

1151 +15.3%

Core i3-3240T

1072 +7.4%

Core i5-3317U

998

A6-5400K

896 -10.2%

Pentium G2020T

839 -15.9%

Passmark CPU Single Core

Core i5-2520M

1355 +8.1%

Xeon X5650

1299 +3.6%

Core i5-3317U

1254

A8-3870K

1200 -4.3%

Xeon E5-2440 v2

1139 -9.2%

Passmark CPU Multi Core

Athlon II X4 641

2313 +15.2%

Core i3-5020U

2173 +8.2%

Core i5-3317U

2008

Core i3-3130M

1900 -5.4%

Celeron G1820

1703 -15.2%