Core i5-3437U vs FirePro A320

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.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Core i5-3437U

2013

Why buy it

✅+0.6% higher PassMark.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel HD Graphics 4000, while FirePro A320 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌412% higher power demand at 512W vs 100W.

FirePro A320

2012

Why buy it

✅Draws 100W instead of 512W, a 412W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (2,153 vs 2,166).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-3437U can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i5-3437U

2013

FirePro A320

2012

Why buy it

✅+0.6% higher PassMark.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel HD Graphics 4000, while FirePro A320 needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅Draws 100W instead of 512W, a 412W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌412% higher power demand at 512W vs 100W.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (2,153 vs 2,166).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-3437U can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-3437U better than FirePro A320?

It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, FirePro A320 is ahead with 44.8% higher max boost clock. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-3437U pulls ahead with 0.6% better PassMark.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-3437U is the better fit. You are getting 0.6% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 4 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core i5-3437U still looks like the safer overall buy. Core i5-3437U is at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you 0.6% better PassMark.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core i5-3437U is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2013 vs 2012) and more multi-core headroom with 2 cores / 4 threads instead of 4/4. That extra compute headroom should age better as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

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.

Core i5-3437U Benchmark Check

FirePro A320 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-3437U	FirePro A320
1080p
low	54 FPS	54 FPS
medium	54 FPS	54 FPS
high	54 FPS	54 FPS
ultra	54 FPS	54 FPS
1440p
low	54 FPS	54 FPS
medium	54 FPS	54 FPS
high	54 FPS	54 FPS
ultra	54 FPS	54 FPS
4K
low	54 FPS	54 FPS
medium	54 FPS	54 FPS
high	44 FPS	46 FPS
ultra	34 FPS	36 FPS

Open Core i5-3437U Open FirePro A320

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-3437U	FirePro A320
1080p
low	54 FPS	54 FPS
medium	54 FPS	54 FPS
high	54 FPS	54 FPS
ultra	44 FPS	54 FPS
1440p
low	54 FPS	54 FPS
medium	52 FPS	54 FPS
high	49 FPS	54 FPS
ultra	39 FPS	54 FPS
4K
low	43 FPS	54 FPS
medium	38 FPS	54 FPS
high	28 FPS	54 FPS
ultra	20 FPS	54 FPS

Open Core i5-3437U Open FirePro A320

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-3437U	FirePro A320
1080p
low	54 FPS	54 FPS
medium	54 FPS	54 FPS
high	54 FPS	54 FPS
ultra	54 FPS	54 FPS
1440p
low	54 FPS	54 FPS
medium	54 FPS	54 FPS
high	54 FPS	54 FPS
ultra	54 FPS	54 FPS
4K
low	54 FPS	54 FPS
medium	54 FPS	54 FPS
high	54 FPS	54 FPS
ultra	54 FPS	54 FPS

Open Core i5-3437U Open FirePro A320

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-3437U	FirePro A320
1080p
low	54 FPS	54 FPS
medium	54 FPS	54 FPS
high	54 FPS	54 FPS
ultra	54 FPS	54 FPS
1440p
low	54 FPS	54 FPS
medium	54 FPS	54 FPS
high	54 FPS	54 FPS
ultra	54 FPS	54 FPS
4K
low	54 FPS	54 FPS
medium	54 FPS	54 FPS
high	54 FPS	54 FPS
ultra	54 FPS	54 FPS

Open Core i5-3437U Open FirePro A320

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-3437U and FirePro A320

Core i5-3437U

The Core i5-3437U 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 1.9 GHz, with boost up to 2.9 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1023. Thermal design power (TDP): 17 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,166 points. Launch price was $69.

FirePro A320

The FirePro A320 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Trinity (2012−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.8 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L2 cache: 4 MB (total). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM2. Thermal design power (TDP): 100 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1866. Passmark benchmark score: 2,153 points. Launch price was $800.

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Processing Power

The Core i5-3437U packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the FirePro A320 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the FirePro A320 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.9 GHz on the Core i5-3437U versus 4.2 GHz on the FirePro A320 — a 36.6% clock advantage for the FirePro A320 (base: 1.9 GHz vs 3.8 GHz). The Core i5-3437U uses the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture (22 nm), while the FirePro A320 uses Trinity (2012−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-3437U scores 2,166 against the FirePro A320's 2,153 — a 0.6% lead for the Core i5-3437U.

Feature	Core i5-3437U	FirePro A320
Cores / Threads	2 / 4	4 / 4+100%
Boost Clock	2.9 GHz	4.2 GHz+45%
Base Clock	1.9 GHz	3.8 GHz+100%
L3 Cache	3 MB (total)	—
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	4 MB (total)+1500%
Process	22 nm-31%	32 nm
Architecture	Ivy Bridge (2012−2013)	Trinity (2012−2013)
PassMark	2,166	2,153
Geekbench 6 Single	440	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	1,080	—

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Memory & Platform

The Core i5-3437U uses the BGA1023 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the FirePro A320 uses FM2 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i5-3437U	FirePro A320
Socket	BGA1023	FM2
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0+50%	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1600	—
Max RAM Capacity	32 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	16	—

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-3437U) / not specified (FirePro A320). The Core i5-3437U includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 4000), while the FirePro A320 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-3437U targets Business Ultrabook. Direct competitor: Core i5-3437U rivals AMD A8-4555M.