Core i5-4300U vs Core i7-4500U

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.

Core i5-4300U vs Core i7-4500U FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Core i5-4300U vs Core i7-4500U: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Core i5-4300U

2013

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-4500U across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (2,482 vs 2,490).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (3 MB vs 4 MB).

Core i7-4500U

2013

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +3.0% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (4 MB vs 3 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $398 MSRP, while Core i5-4300U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-4500U better than Core i5-4300U?

Yes. Core i7-4500U is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 3.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.3% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i7-4500U is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 3.0% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-4500U is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.3% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 4 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 33.3% larger total L3 cache (4 MB vs 3 MB).

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

Core i7-4500U is the better buy right now. Core i7-4500U comes in at an unclear MSRP at $398 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 3.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (6.3 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

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

Core i7-4500U makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting 33.3% larger total L3 cache (4 MB vs 3 MB) and more multi-core headroom with 2 cores / 4 threads instead of 2/4. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Core i5-4300U vs Core i7-4500U Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Core i5-4300U

The Core i5-4300U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 October 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) 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. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1168. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,482 points. Launch price was $281.

Core i7-4500U

The Core i7-4500U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 June 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Haswell-ULT (2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.8 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1168. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,490 points. Launch price was $69.

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Processing Power

Both the Core i5-4300U and Core i7-4500U share an identical 2-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.9 GHz on the Core i5-4300U versus 3 GHz on the Core i7-4500U — a 3.4% clock advantage for the Core i7-4500U (base: 1.9 GHz vs 1.8 GHz). The Core i5-4300U uses the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Core i7-4500U uses Haswell-ULT (2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-4300U scores 2,482 against the Core i7-4500U's 2,490 — a 0.3% lead for the Core i7-4500U. L3 cache: 3 MB on the Core i5-4300U vs 4 MB (total) on the Core i7-4500U.

Feature	Core i5-4300U	Core i7-4500U
Cores / Threads	2 / 4	2 / 4
Boost Clock	2.9 GHz	3 GHz+3%
Base Clock	1.9 GHz+6%	1.8 GHz
L3 Cache	3 MB	4 MB (total)+33%
L2 Cache	512 kB+100%	256K (per core)
Process	22 nm	22 nm
Architecture	Haswell (2013−2015)	Haswell-ULT (2013)
PassMark	2,482	2,490
Geekbench 6 Single	607	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	1,722	—

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Memory & Platform

Both processors use the FCBGA1168 socket with PCIe 3.0. Both support up to DDR3L-1600 memory speed. Both support up to 16 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 12 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: HM86,HM87 (Core i5-4300U) and Haswell-U (Core i7-4500U).

Feature	Core i5-4300U	Core i7-4500U
Socket	FCBGA1168	FCBGA1168
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR3L-1600	1600
Max RAM Capacity	16 GB	16 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	12	12

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Advanced Features

Virtualization support: Yes (Core i5-4300U) vs true (Core i7-4500U). Both include integrated graphics — Intel HD Graphics 4400 (Core i5-4300U) and Intel HD Graphics 4400 (Core i7-4500U) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-4500U targets Mobile.