Core i7-2657M vs Core i3-4330
Core i7-2657M
Core i3-4330
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 i7-2657M is positioned at rank 268 and the Core i3-4330 is on rank 687, so the Core i7-2657M offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-2657M
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-4330
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-2657M | Core i3-4330 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($60) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-2657M | Core i3-4330 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($60) |
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 i7-2657M and Core i3-4330
Core i7-2657M
The Core i7-2657M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 January 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.6 GHz, with boost up to 2.7 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1023. Thermal design power (TDP): 17 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1066, DDR3-1333. Passmark benchmark score: 3,491 points. Launch price was $317.
Core i3-4330
The Core i3-4330 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 54 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,482 points. Launch price was $171.
Processing Power
Both the Core i7-2657M and Core i3-4330 share an identical 2-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.7 GHz on the Core i7-2657M versus 3.5 GHz on the Core i3-4330 — a 25.8% clock advantage for the Core i3-4330 (base: 1.6 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Core i7-2657M uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i3-4330 uses Haswell (2013−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-2657M scores 3,491 against the Core i3-4330's 3,482 — a 0.3% lead for the Core i7-2657M. L3 cache: 4 MB on the Core i7-2657M vs 4 MB (total) on the Core i3-4330.
| Feature | Core i7-2657M | Core i3-4330 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.7 GHz | 3.5 GHz+30% |
| Base Clock | 1.6 GHz | 3.5 GHz+119% |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB | 4 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB+100% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 22 nm-31% |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Haswell (2013−2015) |
| PassMark | 3,491 | 3,482 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 535 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-2657M uses the BGA1023 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i3-4330 uses LGA1150 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1333 memory speed. The Core i3-4330 supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 120% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes.
| Feature | Core i7-2657M | Core i3-4330 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1023 | LGA1150 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | DDR3-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB | 32 GB+300% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i7-2657M) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i3-4330). Both include integrated graphics — HD Graphics 3000 (Core i7-2657M) and HD Graphics 4600 (Core i3-4330) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-2657M targets Ultrabook, Core i3-4330 targets Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i7-2657M rivals A6-3420M.
| Feature | Core i7-2657M | Core i3-4330 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 3000 | HD Graphics 4600 |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | Ultrabook | Desktop |
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