Home / Intel Core i5 / Intel Core i5-7300U: Performance and Specs

Intel Core i5-7300U

Intel Core i5-7300U: Moderate Power for Basic Tasks in the Year 2025

In 2025, the laptop market is flooded with processors featuring giant cores, neural network accelerators, and AI support. However, devices powered by the Intel Core i5-7300U are still in the game—they can be found in budget ultrabooks or corporate models. Let's explore who might find this chip, released back in 2017, useful and how it compares to contemporary solutions.

Architecture and Process Technology: A Remnant of the Kaby Lake Era

The Intel Core i5-7300U processor, built on a 14nm process technology, belongs to Intel's seventh generation (codename Kaby Lake). Its key specifications are:

- 2 cores and 4 threads thanks to Hyper-Threading;

- Base frequency: 2.6 GHz, Turbo Boost up to 3.5 GHz (for a single core);

- Integrated graphics: Intel HD Graphics 620 with a frequency of up to 1.1 GHz.

The Kaby Lake architecture represented an evolutionary step after Skylake, focusing on optimizing energy efficiency and supporting 4K content. The HD 620 iGPU supports decoding video formats H.265/HEVC and VP9, which remains relevant for streaming YouTube or Netflix even in 2025. However, for gaming or graphic work, the resources fall short: 24 execution units compared to 80+ in modern Intel Iris Xe graphics.

Power Consumption and TDP: 15W for Thin Laptops

A TDP of 15W is standard for ultrabooks from 2017 to 2020. This means that the processor is designed to work in compact cases with passive or modest active cooling. In practice, the chip rarely exceeds 25W even in turbo mode, which ensures:

- Low heat generation;

- Quiet fans;

- Compatibility with slim heat sinks.

However, in 2025, 15W is no longer a dream limit. Modern chips like the AMD Ryzen 5 7540U (4nm, Zen 4) deliver twice the multi-threaded performance at the same TDP. Nonetheless, for basic tasks, the i5-7300U remains adequate.

Performance: Speed for Office, Not for Editing

Geekbench 6 (2023–2025):

- Single-Core: 1008

- Multi-Core: 1982

These figures place the i5-7300U on par with budget processors of 2025, such as the Intel N100 (Alder Lake-N) or AMD Athlon Gold 7220U.

- Office tasks: Word, Excel, browser with 10–15 tabs—the processor can manage this, but lags may occur when running Zoom and heavy web applications simultaneously.

- Multimedia: Streaming 4K video, basic editing in Shotcut or DaVinci Resolve (at 1080p)—it works, but rendering will take 3–4 times longer than on a Core i5-1235U.

- Gaming: CS2 (formerly CS:GO)—30–40 FPS on low settings (720p), Minecraft—40–50 FPS, indie games like Stardew Valley—no issues. Modern AAA titles, even ones like Cyberpunk 2077, are out of reach.

Turbo Boost: The spike to 3.5 GHz lasts briefly (10–20 seconds under load), after which the frequency drops to 2.8–3.0 GHz due to cooling limitations. This is sufficient for short bursts of tasks (e.g., opening a heavy PDF).

Use Cases: Who Would Benefit from the i5-7300U in 2025?

1. Students: Working with texts, presentations, online courses.

2. Office Workers: Email, spreadsheets, video conferences.

3. Casual Users: Social media, streaming, light gaming.

4. Backup Devices: Laptops for guests or travel, where the risk of loss/damage is high.

Not Suitable For:

- Freelancers working with graphics;

- Gamers (except for retro games);

- Engineers or programmers using heavy IDEs (Android Studio, Unreal Engine).

Battery Life: 6–8 Hours Under Ideal Conditions

With a battery capacity of 50Wh (typical for ultrabooks from 2017 to 2020), the i5-7300U can provide:

- Up to 8 hours for document work (brightness at 50%, Wi-Fi on);

- 5–6 hours for streaming video (YouTube 1080p);

- 3–4 hours under load (updating software, antivirus scanning).

Power-Saving Technologies:

- SpeedShift: Quick switching between P-states to reduce power consumption during idle periods.

- Panel Self-Refresh: Reducing CPU load when displaying a static image.

- C-States: Disabling unused cores.

However, in 2025, even budget laptops with Snapdragon X Elite or Apple M3 processors offer 15+ hours of battery life, making the i5-7300U an obsolete choice for mobile tasks.

Comparison with Competitors: Against AMD, Apple, and Modern Intel

- AMD Ryzen 5 2500U (2018): 4 cores/8 threads, Vega 8 iGPU. 30–50% faster in games, but less battery life.

- Apple M1 (2020): 80% higher single-thread performance, 3 times higher multi-thread performance. 2–3 times better battery life.

- Intel Core i5-1135G7 (2020): 4 cores/8 threads, Iris Xe Graphics. 2-3 times FPS increase in games.

Conclusion: In 2025, the i5-7300U is already outdated compared to even budget newcomers like the Intel Core i3-1215U (10nm, 5 cores), but may only be beneficial if the price of the laptop is below $350.

Pros and Cons: Why Is It Still Being Sold?

Strengths:

- Low cost of laptops (new models: $300–$400);

- Support for Windows 10/11 and Linux;

- Sufficient for basic tasks.

Weaknesses:

- Only 2 cores—limited multitasking;

- No support for PCIe 4.0, Thunderbolt 4, Wi-Fi 6;

- Outdated security: No hardware protection against Spectre/Meltdown (partially fixed through patches but at the cost of performance).

Recommendations for Choosing a Laptop

If you're considering a device with the i5-7300U in 2025, pay attention to:

1. RAM: Minimum of 8GB, better 16GB (but such laptops often have non-removable memory).

2. Storage: Only SSD (NVMe preferred over SATA).

3. Display: Full HD (1920×1080)—HD+ (1366×768) is outdated even for office use.

4. Ports: USB-C with charging support, HDMI for projectors.

Example Models:

- Dell Latitude 3380 (2023, remaining stock)—$370: 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD, 13.3″ Full HD.

- HP ProBook 430 G5 (2024, updated batch)—$390: 16GB RAM, Wi-Fi 6.

Important: Do not buy such laptops for gaming or complex tasks. Their niche is maximum affordability with acceptable reliability.

Final Conclusion: Who Still Finds the i5-7300U Relevant?

This processor is a choice for those who need a "work tool" at minimal cost. It's suitable for:

- Companies purchasing batches of laptops for call centers;

- Parents looking for a first laptop for their school-aged children;

- Users who only need to run Word, a browser, and nothing more.

Key Benefits:

- Price under $400 for a new laptop;

- Proven reliability (architecture without "teething problems");

- Compatibility with most operating systems and software.

However, if your budget allows for $500–600, it's better to choose a laptop with Intel Core i3-1215U, AMD Ryzen 5 7520U, or Apple MacBook Air M1 (refurbished starting at $550). These options guarantee performance reserves for 3–4 years to come, while the i5-7300U is a thing of the past that is slowly fading from the scene.

Basic

Label Name

Intel

Platform

Mobile

Launch Date

January 2017

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.

i5-7300U

Code Name

Kaby Lake

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

2.60 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.

FCBGA1356 | FPBGA1356

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.

14 nm

TDP

15 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.

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.

1x4 | 2x2 | 1x2+2x1 and 4x1

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.

DDR4-2133 | LPDDR3-1866 | DDR3L-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

4 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).

34.1 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 620

Graphics Base Frequency

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

300 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.

1.10 GHz

Graphics Video Max Memory

32 GB

4K Support

Yes | at 60Hz

DirectX Support

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

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.

4096x2304@24Hz

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.

4096x2304@60Hz

Max Resolution (eDP - Integrated Flat Panel)

Max Resolution (Integrated Flat Panel) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor for a device with an integrated flat panel (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your device.

4096x2304@60Hz

Number of Displays Supported

Graphics Output

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

eDP/DP/HDMI/DVI

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.

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 Boot Guard

Intel® Device Protection Technology with Boot Guard helps protect the system’s pre-OS environment from viruses and malicious software attacks.

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 Clear Video Technology

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 Flex Memory Access

Yes

Intel OS Guard

Yes

OpenGL Support

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

4.5

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

1008

Geekbench 6

Multi Core Score

1982

Geekbench 5

Single Core Score

874

Geekbench 5

Multi Core Score

1895

Passmark CPU

Single Core Score

1926

Passmark CPU

Multi Core Score

3676

Compared to Other CPU

Geekbench 6 Single Core

EPYC 7452

1096 +8.7%

Core 3 N355

1062 +5.4%

Core i5-7300U

1008

Xeon Gold 6240R

957 -5.1%

EPYC 7551P

902 -10.5%

Geekbench 6 Multi Core

Ryzen 3 3350U

2422 +22.2%

Core i7-7600U

2167 +9.3%

Core i5-7300U

1982

Core i3-6100H

1837 -7.3%

Core m3-7Y32

1673 -15.6%

Geekbench 5 Single Core

Xeon Platinum 8260L

906 +3.7%

Xeon E5-1660 v4

889 +1.7%

Core i5-7300U

874

Pentium Gold G6400

859 -1.7%

Xeon E5-1660 v2

840 -3.9%

Geekbench 5 Multi Core

Xeon E3-1260L

2162 +14.1%

Core i3-6320

2021 +6.6%

Core i5-7300U

1895

Xeon E5-2450L

1745 -7.9%

Core i3-4160

1634 -13.8%

Passmark CPU Single Core

Xeon E5-1660 v3

1977 +2.6%

Core i7-6770HQ

1953 +1.4%

Core i5-7300U

1926

Xeon E5-2687W v3

1898 -1.5%

Xeon W-2104

1862 -3.3%

Passmark CPU Multi Core

Pentium Gold G5620

4102 +11.6%

Core i5-3330S

3872 +5.3%

Core i5-7300U

3676

Xeon E5-2407 v2

3504 -4.7%

Core i3-4130

3324 -9.6%