Core i5-3230M vs Core i3-5157U
Core i5-3230M
Core i3-5157U
Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Core i5-3230M is positioned at rank 30 and the Core i3-5157U is on rank 663, so the Core i5-3230M offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-3230M
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-5157U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-3230M | Core i3-5157U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($13) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Broadwell-U (2015) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-3230M | Core i3-5157U |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($13) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-3230M and Core i3-5157U
Core i5-3230M
The Core i5-3230M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 January 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1023. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,565 points. Launch price was $225.
Core i3-5157U
The Core i3-5157U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 March 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Broadwell-U (2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 2.5 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1168. Thermal design power (TDP): 28 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,593 points. Launch price was $315.
Processing Power
Both the Core i5-3230M and Core i3-5157U share an identical 2-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the Core i5-3230M versus 2.5 GHz on the Core i3-5157U — a 24.6% clock advantage for the Core i5-3230M (base: 2.6 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Core i5-3230M uses the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture (22 nm), while the Core i3-5157U uses Broadwell-U (2015) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-3230M scores 2,565 against the Core i3-5157U's 2,593 — a 1.1% lead for the Core i3-5157U. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 565 vs 793, a 33.6% lead for the Core i3-5157U that directly translates to higher frame rates. Both processors carry 3 MB (total) of L3 cache.
| Feature | Core i5-3230M | Core i3-5157U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.2 GHz+28% | 2.5 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.6 GHz+4% | 2.5 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | 3 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 22 nm | 14 nm-36% |
| Architecture | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) | Broadwell-U (2015) |
| PassMark | 2,565 | 2,593+1% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 565 | 793+40% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,128 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-3230M uses the BGA1023 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i3-5157U uses FCBGA1168 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3L-1600 memory speed. The Core i5-3230M supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 16 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i5-3230M) vs 12 (Core i3-5157U) — the Core i5-3230M offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.
| Feature | Core i5-3230M | Core i3-5157U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1023 | FCBGA1168 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3L-1600 | LPDDR3-1866 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB+100% | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16+33% | 12 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-3230M) vs VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i3-5157U). Both include integrated graphics — HD Graphics 4000 (Core i5-3230M) and Iris Graphics 6100 (Core i3-5157U) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-3230M targets Gaming, Core i3-5157U targets Premium Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i5-3230M rivals Ryzen 5 3500U; Core i3-5157U rivals A12-8800B.
| Feature | Core i5-3230M | Core i3-5157U |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 4000 | Iris Graphics 6100 |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | Gaming | Premium Laptop |
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