Core i5-7260U vs Core i5-3330S
Core i5-7260U
Core i5-3330S
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 i5-7260U is positioned at rank 297 and the Core i5-3330S is on rank 866, so the Core i5-7260U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-7260U
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-3330S
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-7260U | Core i5-3330S |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($30) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake (2016−2019) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-7260U | Core i5-3330S |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($30) |
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 i5-7260U and Core i5-3330S
Core i5-7260U
The Core i5-7260U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 January 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1356. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 3,953 points. Launch price was $304.
Core i5-3330S
The Core i5-3330S is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 September 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,915 points. Launch price was $231.
Processing Power
The Core i5-7260U packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i5-3330S offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Core i5-3330S has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.4 GHz on the Core i5-7260U versus 3.2 GHz on the Core i5-3330S — a 6.1% clock advantage for the Core i5-7260U (base: 2.2 GHz vs 2.7 GHz). The Core i5-7260U uses the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i5-3330S uses Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-7260U scores 3,953 against the Core i5-3330S's 3,915 — a 1% lead for the Core i5-7260U. L3 cache: 4 MB on the Core i5-7260U vs 6 MB (total) on the Core i5-3330S.
| Feature | Core i5-7260U | Core i5-3330S |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.4 GHz+6% | 3.2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.2 GHz | 2.7 GHz+23% |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB | 6 MB (total)+50% |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB+100% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm-36% | 22 nm |
| Architecture | Kaby Lake (2016−2019) | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) |
| PassMark | 3,953 | 3,915 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,192 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-7260U uses the BGA1356 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i5-3330S uses LGA1155 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i5-7260U | Core i5-3330S |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1356 | LGA1155 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2133 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 12 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-7260U) / not specified (Core i5-3330S). The Core i5-7260U includes integrated graphics (Iris Plus Graphics 640), while the Core i5-3330S requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-7260U targets Mainstream Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i5-7260U rivals A12-9720P.
| Feature | Core i5-7260U | Core i5-3330S |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | Iris Plus Graphics 640 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | — |
| Target Use | Mainstream Laptop | — |
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