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Intel Core i7-3517U

Intel Core i7-3517U: A Retrospective of the 2013 Processor for Ultrabooks in 2025

Analysis of capabilities, use cases, and relevance in modern conditions

Architecture and Process Technology: Ivy Bridge at 22 nm

The Intel Core i7-3517U processor, released in 2013, became part of the Ivy Bridge line—Intel's second generation with a 22 nm process. This was a significant step towards miniaturization: Tri-Gate (3D) transistors allowed for reduced power consumption and improved performance.

Key Specifications:

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

- Clock Frequencies: Base frequency of 1.9 GHz, Turbo Boost up to 3.0 GHz (for a single core).

- Graphics: Integrated Intel HD Graphics 4000 with a base frequency of 350 MHz and dynamic boost up to 1150 MHz.

The Ivy Bridge architecture brought IPC (Instructions Per Cycle) improvements of 5–10% compared to Sandy Bridge. However, for multi-threaded tasks, two cores were already insufficient at that time—as AMD's competitors offered 4-core mobile solutions (e.g., A10-5750M) but with higher TDP.

Power Consumption and TDP: Balancing Power and Battery Life

A TDP of 17 W made the i7-3517U ideal for ultrabooks. Compared to 35-45 W processors for gaming laptops, it provided:

- Passive or compact active cooling.

- A thin device chassis (examples: Dell XPS 13 from 2012-2013, Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon).

- Moderate heating even under load.

However, during prolonged Turbo Boost operation (e.g., video rendering), the processor could throttle due to cooling system limitations.

Performance: What Could the i7-3517U Do in 2025?

Geekbench 6:

- Single-Core: 486 points.

- Multi-Core: 967 points.

For comparison: a modern budget Intel Core i3-1215U (2022) scores around 1800/4500 points, while the Apple M1 scores approximately 2300/8300. However, for basic tasks, the i7-3517U remains a viable option.

Real-World Scenarios:

- Office Work: A browser with 10+ tabs, Word, Excel—the processor handles it, but there may be slowdowns when running Zoom simultaneously.

- Multimedia: Watching 1080p/4K (with hardware acceleration), basic editing in Shotcut or DaVinci Resolve—acceptable for short videos.

- Gaming: CS:GO on low settings at 720p yields 30-40 FPS. GTA V achieves 20-25 FPS (only at minimal settings).

Turbo Boost: Spikes up to 3.0 GHz provide short-term gains, such as when opening "heavy" applications, but in gaming or rendering scenarios, the frequency stabilizes around 2.3–2.5 GHz.

Use Cases: Who Would Benefit in 2025?

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

- Linux Users: Lightweight distributions (Lubuntu, Xubuntu) would revitalize the device.

- Backup Laptop: For trips where high performance is not required.

Not Suitable For:

- Gamers (even Minecraft with mods will lag).

- Video editors and 3D designers.

- Work with neural networks or VR.

Battery Life: How Long Will the Laptop Last?

With a battery capacity of 45–50 Wh (typical for ultrabooks from 2013–2015):

- Video Playback: 5–6 hours (brightness at 50%, Wi-Fi).

- Browsing: 4–5 hours.

Power-Saving Technologies:

- Intel SpeedStep: Dynamic frequency adjustment.

- C-states: Deactivation of unused cores.

- Display Power Saving Technology: Reduces screen power consumption.

By 2025, even budget laptops (e.g., Acer Aspire 3 with AMD Ryzen 5 7520U) offer 8–10 hours of battery life, but for tasks from the 2010s, the i7-3517U is still relevant.

Comparison with Competitors: AMD, Apple, and Previous Generations

- AMD A10-4655M (2012): 4 cores, TDP 25 W, but weaker in single-core performance (Geekbench 6 ~350/1200).

- Intel Core i5-3320M (Sandy Bridge): TDP 35 W, performance on par with i7-3517U, but with greater heat output.

- Apple A8 (2014): Used in the 12" MacBook—better energy efficiency, but limited compatibility with Windows software.

2025 Conclusion: The i7-3517U lags behind even budget modern processors (Intel N100, AMD Mendocino) but benefits from lower prices on the second-hand market.

Pros and Cons: Is It Worth Buying in 2025?

Strengths:

- Low cost: Laptops with this CPU on the second-hand market range from $50–150.

- Repairability: SSD, RAM (if not soldered) can be replaced.

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

Weaknesses:

- No AVX2, Vulkan, or modern AI instruction support.

- Maximum of 16 GB RAM (DDR3-1600).

- PCIe 2.0—slow SSDs by modern standards.

Recommendations for Choosing a Laptop

If you're considering a device with the i7-3517U in 2025:

1. Type of Device: Ultrabook (e.g., Asus Zenbook UX32VD).

2. Essential Upgrades:

- Replace HDD with SSD (SATA III).

- Increase RAM to 8–16 GB.

3. Check:

- Battery condition (a replacement may cost $20–40).

- Wi-Fi functionality (5 GHz support is rare for those years).

Prices for new analogs: Budget laptops in 2025 (e.g., Lenovo IdeaPad 1 with AMD Athlon Silver 7120U) start at $300–400.

Final Conclusion: Who Is the i7-3517U Suitable For?

This processor is an option for:

- Economical users who need a cheap laptop for internet and office tasks.

- Enthusiasts willing to upgrade and customize software.

- Linux scenarios where hardware requirements are lower.

Key Benefits:

- Price under $150.

- Proven reliability (given that thermal paste and battery are replaced).

- Nostalgic charm of 2010s hardware.

However, for comfortable use in 2025, it’s better to consider modern processors with AI acceleration support, Wi-Fi 6, and 8+ hours of battery life.

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.

i7-3517U

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

1.90 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.

3.00 GHz

Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 Frequency

3.00 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.

1.15 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.

4 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

486

Geekbench 6

Multi Core Score

967

Geekbench 5

Single Core Score

471

Geekbench 5

Multi Core Score

959

Passmark CPU

Single Core Score

1366

Passmark CPU

Multi Core Score

2320

Compared to Other CPU

Geekbench 6 Single Core

Core i5-3380M

559 +15%

Pentium G3250T

524 +7.8%

Core i7-3517U

486

FX-4130

448 -7.8%

A4-6300B

415 -14.6%

Geekbench 6 Multi Core

Core i3-3245

1228 +27%

Celeron G3920

1088 +12.5%

Core i7-3517U

967

Celeron N4500

882 -8.8%

Athlon II X2 280

736 -23.9%

Geekbench 5 Single Core

Xeon E7-8870 v4

503 +6.8%

Xeon E5-2430L

489 +3.8%

Core i7-3517U

471

Xeon Bronze 3106

451 -4.2%

Xeon E5-2418L

432 -8.3%

Geekbench 5 Multi Core

Celeron G1840

1110 +15.7%

Core M-5Y10c

1059 +10.4%

Core i7-3517U

959

Core i5-3439Y

873 -9%

A10-5745M

804 -16.2%

Passmark CPU Single Core

A10-7700K

1433 +4.9%

A6-5400B

1399 +2.4%

Core i7-3517U

1366

Pentium G645

1321 -3.3%

Xeon D-1520

1270 -7%

Passmark CPU Multi Core

Pentium G4520

2707 +16.7%

Core i3-7102E

2521 +8.7%

Core i7-3517U

2320

Core i3-2105

2193 -5.5%

Core M-5Y71

2025 -12.7%