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Intel Core i5-3340M

Intel Core i5-3340M: An Outdated Warrior or a Budget Option for Basic Tasks?

Introduction

Intel Core i5 processors have long been considered the sweet spot for laptops, balancing performance and energy efficiency. However, technology does not stand still: against the backdrop of modern chips with 10+ cores and a 5nm manufacturing process, the i5-3340M model (2013) looks like a relic. Even in 2025, such processors can still be found in used devices or budget laptops from older batches. Let's explore who might still find this CPU useful today and what compromises one might have to make.

1. Architecture and Manufacturing Process: What's Inside?

Ivy Bridge: A First Step Towards Energy Efficiency

The Core i5-3340M belongs to the Ivy Bridge generation (3rd generation Intel Core), released in 2012-2013. This is an evolutionary update from Sandy Bridge, moving to a 22nm manufacturing process (compared to 32nm of its predecessor). The reduction in transistors allowed for lower power consumption and improved graphics integration.

Specifications:

- Cores/Threads: 2 cores, 4 threads (Hyper-Threading).

- Frequencies: Base - 2.7 GHz, Turbo Boost - up to 3.4 GHz.

- Cache: 3 MB L3.

- Integrated Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 4000 (650–1250 MHz).

Architectural Features:

- Supports DDR3L-1600, PCIe 3.0.

- Improved power controller for reduced idle power consumption.

- HD Graphics 4000: 16 execution units, supports DirectX 11, OpenGL 4.0. In 2025, this will suffice only for basic tasks and older games at low settings (for example, CS:GO at 720p will yield about 30–40 FPS).

2. TDP 35W: Heat and Noise

What Does TDP 35W Mean?

TDP (Thermal Design Power) is a measure of heat output that determines cooling system requirements. For the i5-3340M, it is 35W, which is typical for mid-power mobile processors. Modern counterparts (like the Intel Core i5-1235U) have a TDP of 15W, with the ability to boost to 55W in turbo mode.

Practical Implications:

- Laptops with this CPU typically came with active cooling featuring a single fan. Under load, noise could reach levels of 40–45 dB.

- In compact cases (13–14 inches), overheating and throttling (frequency reduction) could occur under sustained load.

3. Performance: What to Expect in 2025?

Office and Multimedia

- Geekbench 6: 559 (Single-Core), 1113 (Multi-Core). For comparison, the budget Intel N100 (2023) scores ~800/2300.

- Real-world Tasks:

- Document editing, web browsing (5–10 tabs) — comfortable.

- 4K video: playback is possible with hardware acceleration (Intel Quick Sync), but rendering in editors will be painfully slow.

- Photo editors (Lightroom, Photoshop): basic edits are manageable, but there will be lag when applying filters.

Gaming

- HD 4000 can only handle games released before 2015 at low settings:

- The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim — 25–30 FPS (720p).

- GTA V — 15–20 FPS (720p, minimum settings).

- Modern titles (Cyberpunk 2077, Hogwarts Legacy) will not even start.

Turbo Boost: When the Processor "Wakes Up"

This technology increases the frequency to 3.4 GHz when loading 1-2 cores, for example, when opening a heavy Excel file or launching a browser. However, in multi-threaded scenarios (rendering, archiving), the frequency drops to 2.9–3.0 GHz due to TDP limitations.

4. Use Cases: Who Could Benefit from the i5-3340M in 2025?

- Students: Text editing, presentations, online courses.

- Office Workers: Email, Excel, CRM systems.

- Older Users: Internet browsing, video calls.

- Retro Gaming Enthusiasts: Running old titles through emulators (e.g., PS2).

Not Suitable For:

- Video editing, 3D modeling.

- Modern gaming and VR.

- Working with neural networks or Big Data.

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

Battery and Power Saving

- The typical battery capacity for laptops with the i5-3340M is 40–50 Wh. In 2025, such devices (if the battery hasn’t been replaced) can operate 3–5 hours under moderate load (50% brightness, Wi-Fi, office tasks).

- Power-saving Technologies:

- Intel SpeedStep — dynamic frequency scaling.

- C-States — shutting down unused cores.

- Display Power Saving Technology — reducing screen backlight.

Tip: Replacing the HDD with an SSD and installing Linux (e.g., Lubuntu) will increase battery life by 15–20%.

6. Comparison with Competitors

AMD A10-4600M (2012):

- 4 cores, TDP 35W, Radeon HD 7660G graphics.

- Better in multi-threaded tasks (video encoding), but lags in Single-Core performance (Geekbench 6 ~450).

Intel Core i5-8250U (2017):

- 4 cores/8 threads, TDP 15W.

- Geekbench 6: ~900/2500 — twice as fast as the i5-3340M.

Apple M1 (2020):

- Not a direct competitor but shows how far the industry has come: Geekbench 6 ~2300/8300, TDP 10-15W.

Conclusion: The i5-3340M lags even behind budget CPUs from the 2020s but may still be an alternative for those seeking a device under $200.

7. Pros and Cons

Strengths:

- Reliability: Ivy Bridge processors are known for their longevity.

- Support for Windows 10/11 (with limitations) and Linux.

- Adequate for basic tasks with an SSD and 8GB of RAM.

Weaknesses:

- No support for AVX2, NVMe, USB 3.1.

- Maximum of 32GB DDR3 — slower than modern DDR5.

- Outdated graphics.

8. Laptop Purchase Recommendations

Types of Devices:

- Budget Laptops: For example, Dell Latitude E6430 (price in 2013 — $900, no longer in production).

- Used Business Models: Lenovo ThinkPad T430 — durable construction, repairable.

What to Look For:

1. Display: IPS panels (rare) are better than TN.

2. RAM: At least 8GB.

3. Storage: SSD is a must (even SATA).

4. Battery: Check wear (using programs like BatteryInfoView).

5. Ports: USB 3.0 is a plus, but it may not be available.

Prices: There are no new laptops with the i5-3340M, but used devices range from $100–250 on the secondary market.

9. Final Verdict: Is It Worth Buying?

The Intel Core i5-3340M in 2025 is a choice for a very limited audience:

- Who it’s for: Those who need an extremely cheap laptop for text work, internet browsing, and simple tasks.

- Key Benefits: Low price, repairability, compatibility with legacy software.

- Alternatives: If your budget allows $300–400, it’s better to get a laptop with an Intel Core i3-1115G4 or AMD Ryzen 3 5300U — they are 3-4 times more powerful.

Final Advice: Buy the i5-3340M only as a temporary solution or as a second laptop for undemanding tasks. For serious work, modern processors are required.

Basic

Label Name

Intel

Platform

Mobile

Launch Date

January 2013

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.

i5-3340M

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

2.70 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.

3.40 GHz

Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 Frequency

3.40 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 | FCPGA988

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

35 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.

3.0

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.

650 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.

1.25 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

559

Geekbench 6

Multi Core Score

1113

Geekbench 5

Single Core Score

609

Geekbench 5

Multi Core Score

1244

Passmark CPU

Single Core Score

1645

Passmark CPU

Multi Core Score

2696

Compared to Other CPU

Geekbench 6 Single Core

Core i7-3635QM

637 +14%

Xeon E5-2687W

597 +6.8%

Core i5-3340M

559

Xeon W3670

521 -6.8%

A10-6800K

486 -13.1%

Geekbench 6 Multi Core

Core i5-2400S

1433 +28.8%

Core i3-10110Y

1252 +12.5%

Core i5-3340M

1113

Pentium G3450

1000 -10.2%

Core i5-2410M

913 -18%

Geekbench 5 Single Core

Xeon E5-2687W v3

656 +7.7%

Pentium G3250

632 +3.8%

Core i5-3340M

609

Xeon Gold 5220R

587 -3.6%

Xeon E5-2430

567 -6.9%

Geekbench 5 Multi Core

A10-5800K

1395 +12.1%

Core i5-3320M

1339 +7.6%

Core i5-3340M

1244

Core i5-4210U

1153 -7.3%

Celeron G4930E

1074 -13.7%

Passmark CPU Single Core

EPYC 7401P

1707 +3.8%

Core i7-3635QM

1687 +2.6%

Core i5-3340M

1645

A12-9800E

1617 -1.7%

FX-8350

1581 -3.9%

Passmark CPU Multi Core

Core i7-5600U

3030 +12.4%

Core i3-4130T

2877 +6.7%

Core i5-3340M

2696

Celeron G4920

2500 -7.3%

Core i7-3537U

2320 -13.9%