Home / Intel Core M / Intel Core m3-7Y32: Performance and Specs

Intel Core m3-7Y32

Intel Core m3-7Y32 in 2025: Is It Worth Buying a Laptop with This Processor?

Analysis for Practitioners: Architecture, Performance, Battery Life, and Use Cases

Architecture and Manufacturing Process: Compactness at the Expense of Power

The Intel Core m3-7Y32 processor, released in 2017, is based on the Kaby Lake microarchitecture and manufactured using a 14-nm process. It is a dual-core chip with Hyper-Threading support, providing 4 threads for parallel tasks. The base frequency is 1.1 GHz, with a maximum boost in turbo mode of 3.0 GHz. The integrated graphics, Intel HD Graphics 615 (maximum frequency — 900 MHz), can handle basic tasks but is not designed for heavy workloads.

Architecture Features:

- Energy efficiency: optimized for ultra-thin devices.

- Passive cooling: many laptops with this CPU operate without fans.

- Limited boost: turbo mode activates only under low temperature and brief loads (e.g., opening an application).

Power Consumption and TDP: Why 4.5 W Is Low?

The TDP (Thermal Design Power) of 4.5 W is a key feature of the Core m3-7Y32. This allows:

- Creating laptops that are thinner than 13 mm.

- Using compact batteries (30–40 Wh) with a battery life of 8–10 hours.

- Operating without active cooling, reducing noise and weight.

However, the low TDP limits performance: under prolonged load (e.g., video rendering), the frequency drops to the base 1.1 GHz to avoid overheating.

Performance: What Can This Processor Actually Handle?

Results from Geekbench 6 (Single-Core: 872, Multi-Core: 1673) show that this chip lags behind even budget contemporary CPUs like the Intel Core i3-1215U (Single-Core: ~1500). However, it remains relevant for specific scenarios:

- Office Work:

- Working simultaneously with 10+ tabs in Chrome, Word, and Excel documents.

- Viewing PDF files and Zoom conferences without lag (provided background rendering is not activated).

- Multimedia:

- Playing 4K video (through hardware acceleration).

- Editing photos in Lightroom (with delays when applying filters).

- Gaming:

- Older games: CS:GO on low settings (720p, 30–40 FPS).

- Indie projects: Stardew Valley, Hollow Knight — consistently 60 FPS.

Turbo Boost mode (up to 3.0 GHz) helps with short tasks: OS bootup, opening “heavy” websites. However, after 20–30 seconds, the frequency drops to 1.6–2.0 GHz.

Use Cases: Who Would Suit the Core m3-7Y32 in 2025?

This processor is a choice for the secondary market and budget new devices (laptop prices: $300–450). Ideal users include:

- Students: for lectures, writing papers, and watching classes.

- Office Workers: handling emails, spreadsheets, and presentations.

- Travelers: compact laptops with long battery life.

Not suitable for:

- Freelancers working in Photoshop or Premiere Pro.

- Gamers (except retro game enthusiasts).

- Engineers who need CAD software.

Battery Life: How Does 4.5W TDP Affect Work Time?

Laptops with the Core m3-7Y32 in 2025 will offer 7–10 hours of usage with moderate use (brightness 50%, Wi-Fi, office tasks). This is facilitated by:

- Speed Shift technology: dynamic frequency management for reducing power consumption.

- Windows Power Saver mode: limiting background processes.

- Passive cooling: absence of a fan saves up to 5–7% of battery.

Tip: Disable Turbo Boost in power settings — this adds 1–2 hours of battery life at the cost of slight slowdowns.

Comparison with Competitors: What to Choose Instead of Core m3-7Y32?

- AMD Athlon Silver 7120U (2023): 2 cores/2 threads, 15W TDP. Better for multi-threading (Geekbench 6 Multi-Core: ~1900), but 20% lower battery life.

- Apple M1 (2020): Single-Core: 2300, Multi-Core: 8300. The used MacBook Air M1 costs $500–600 — 1.5 times more powerful.

- Intel Core i3-1115G4 (2020): 2 cores/4 threads, 15W TDP. Geekbench 6 Multi-Core: ~2500. Suitable for the same tasks, but requires active cooling.

Conclusion: The Core m3-7Y32 falls behind even budget CPUs from 2023–2024, but it excels in price and noiseless operation.

Pros and Cons: When to Buy and When to Pass

Strengths:

- Ultraportability: laptops starting at 900 g.

- Quiet operation: no fan noise.

- Affordable price: new devices from $300.

Weaknesses:

- Low performance in multitasking.

- Does not support modern standards like Wi-Fi 6E or Thunderbolt 4.

- Limited upgrades: RAM and SSD are often soldered to the board.

Laptop Selection Recommendations

Look for devices in the ultrabook or convertible categories with the following features:

- Screen: IPS matrix with a resolution of 1920×1080. Avoid TN screens.

- RAM: at least 8 GB (preferably 16 GB if you plan to keep the device for 3–4 years).

- Storage: SSD from 256 GB (SATA or NVMe).

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

Example models for 2025:

- Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3i: 12-inch convertible, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD — $349.

- HP Pavilion x360: 13.3-inch screen, stylus included — $399.

Final Conclusion: Who Should Consider the Core m3-7Y32?

This processor is an option for those who value portability and silence over power. In 2025, it should only be considered as a budget solution for:

- Buying a first laptop for a child.

- A backup device while traveling.

- Working with texts and spreadsheets without complex tasks.

Key benefit: For $300–400, you can get a new, lightweight laptop with Windows 11 that will meet basic needs. However, if the budget allows an additional $150–200, opt for models with Intel Core i3 12th generation or AMD Ryzen 3 7300U: they will last longer and not disappoint in multitasking.

Basic

Label Name

Intel

Platform

Mobile

Launch Date

April 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.

M3-7Y32

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

1.10 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.

FCBGA1515

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

4.5 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.

LPDDR3-1866 | DDR3L-1600

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.

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).

29.8 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 615

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.

900 MHz

Graphics Video Max Memory

16 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.

3840x2160@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.

3840x2160@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.

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 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

872

Geekbench 6

Multi Core Score

1673

Geekbench 5

Single Core Score

724

Geekbench 5

Multi Core Score

1506

Passmark CPU

Single Core Score

1616

Passmark CPU

Multi Core Score

2709

Compared to Other CPU

Geekbench 6 Single Core

Core i3-4160T

961 +10.2%

Core i5-6400T

913 +4.7%

Core m3-7Y32

872

Ryzen 5 2500U

808 -7.3%

Xeon E5-4660 v3

743 -14.8%

Geekbench 6 Multi Core

Core i5-7300U

1982 +18.5%

Core i3-6100H

1837 +9.8%

Core m3-7Y32

1673

PRO A12-9800E

1517 -9.3%

Athlon Silver 3050C

1358 -18.8%

Geekbench 5 Single Core

Core i7-990X

757 +4.6%

Xeon Gold 6230

740 +2.2%

Core m3-7Y32

724

Core i3-3250

701 -3.2%

Core i7-2760QM

680 -6.1%

Geekbench 5 Multi Core

Core i5-2405S

1711 +13.6%

Core i3-9100HL

1607 +6.7%

Core m3-7Y32

1506

Core i5-2540M

1432 -4.9%

Xeon E-2388G

1364 -9.4%

Passmark CPU Single Core

Xeon E5-2650 v2

1685 +4.3%

Xeon E5-1607 v2

1640 +1.5%

Core m3-7Y32

1616

Pentium G3250T

1580 -2.2%

Core i3-3240T

1555 -3.8%

Passmark CPU Multi Core

Core i3-6100H

3041 +12.3%

Athlon Silver 3050C

2879 +6.3%

Core m3-7Y32

2709

Celeron N4120

2529 -6.6%

Celeron G3950

2322 -14.3%