Intel Core i5-4260U vs Core i5-3230M

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Combined performance score

i5-3230M
1.67
+10.6%

Core i5-3230M outperforms Core i5-4260U by 11% in our combined benchmark results.

General info

Comparing Core i5-3230M and Core i5-4260U processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in performance ranking19382011
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Market segmentLaptopLaptop
SeriesIntel Core i5Intel Core i5
Architecture codenameIvy Bridge (2012−2013)Haswell (2013−2015)
Release date1 January 2013 (11 years old)14 April 2014 (9 years old)
Launch price (MSRP)$225$325
Current price$93 (0.4x MSRP)$697 (2.1x MSRP)

Technical specs

Core i5-3230M and Core i5-4260U basic parameters such as number of cores, number of threads, base frequency and turbo boost clock, lithography, cache size and multiplier lock state. These parameters indirectly say of CPU speed, though for more precise assessment you have to consider their test results.

Physical cores2 (Dual-core)2 (Dual-core)
Threads44
Base clock speed2.6 GHz1.4 GHz
Boost clock speed3.2 GHz2.7 GHz
L1 cache64K (per core)128 KB
L2 cache256K (per core)512 KB
L3 cache3 MB (shared)3 MB
Chip lithography22 nm22 nm
Die size118 mm2181 mm2
Maximum core temperature105 °C100 °C
Number of transistorsno data1300 Million
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility--
Unlocked multiplierNoNo

Compatibility

Information on Core i5-3230M and Core i5-4260U compatibility with other computer components: motherboard (look for socket type), power supply unit (look for power consumption) etc. Useful when planning a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. Note that power consumption of some processors can well exceed their nominal TDP, even without overclocking. Some can even double their declared thermals given that the motherboard allows to tune the CPU power parameters.

Number of CPUs in a configuration11
SocketFCPGA988FCBGA1168
Power consumption (TDP)35 Watt15 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i5-3230M and Core i5-4260U. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® AVXIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
AES-NI++
AVX++
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
My WiFi+no data
Turbo Boost Technology2.02.0
Hyper-Threading Technology++
TSXno data-
Idle States++
Thermal Monitoring++
Flex Memory Access+no data
Demand Based Switching-no data
GPIOno data+
Smart Connectno data+
FDI+-
Fast Memory Access+no data
AMTno data9.5
Matrix Storageno data-
StatusDiscontinuedDiscontinued
HD Audiono data+
RSTno data+

Security technologies

Core i5-3230M and Core i5-4260U technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT--
EDB++
Secure Key++
Identity Protection++
Anti-Theft++

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i5-3230M and Core i5-4260U are enumerated here.

AMD-V++
VT-d++
VT-x++
EPT++

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i5-3230M and Core i5-4260U. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR3DDR3
Maximum memory size32 GB16 GB
Max memory channels22
Maximum memory bandwidth25.6 GB/s25.6 GB/s
ECC memory support--

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card
Compare
Intel HD Graphics 4000Intel HD Graphics 5000
Max video memoryno data2 GB
Quick Sync Video++
Clear Video HD++
Graphics max frequency1.1 GHz1 GHz
InTru 3D++

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i5-3230M and Core i5-4260U integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported33
eDP++
DisplayPort++
HDMI++
SDVO+no data
CRT+no data

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i5-3230M and Core i5-4260U integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

Max resolution over HDMI 1.4no data3280x2000@60Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPortno data3200x2000@60Hz

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i5-3230M and Core i5-4260U integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectXno data11.2/12
OpenGLno data4.3

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i5-3230M and Core i5-4260U.

PCIe version3.02.0
PCI Express lanes1612
PCI supportno data-
USB revisionno data3.0
Total number of SATA portsno data4
Max number of SATA 6 Gb/s Portsno data4
Integrated IDEno data-
Number of USB portsno data4
Integrated LANno data-
UARTno data+

Synthetic benchmark performance

Various benchmark results of the processors in comparison. Overall score is measured in points in 0-100 range, higher is better.


Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark performance rating. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

i5-3230M 1.67
+10.6%
i5-4260U 1.51

Core i5-3230M outperforms Core i5-4260U by 11% in our combined benchmark results.


Passmark

Passmark CPU Mark is a widespread benchmark, consisting of 8 different types of workload, including integer and floating point math, extended instructions, compression, encryption and physics calculation. There is also one separate single-threaded scenario measuring single-core performance.

Benchmark coverage: 68%

i5-3230M 2559
+10.4%
i5-4260U 2318

Core i5-3230M outperforms Core i5-4260U by 10% in Passmark.

GeekBench 5 Single-Core

GeekBench 5 Single-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses only a single CPU core.

Benchmark coverage: 42%

i5-3230M 510
i5-4260U 745
+46.1%

Core i5-4260U outperforms Core i5-3230M by 46% in GeekBench 5 Single-Core.

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses all available CPU cores.

Benchmark coverage: 42%

i5-3230M 1026
i5-4260U 1456
+41.9%

Core i5-4260U outperforms Core i5-3230M by 42% in GeekBench 5 Multi-Core.

Cinebench 10 32-bit single-core

Cinebench R10 is an ancient ray tracing benchmark for processors by Maxon, authors of Cinema 4D. Its single core version uses just one CPU thread to render a futuristic looking motorcycle.

Benchmark coverage: 20%

i5-3230M 4268
+8%
i5-4260U 3951

Core i5-3230M outperforms Core i5-4260U by 8% in Cinebench 10 32-bit single-core.

Cinebench 10 32-bit multi-core

Cinebench Release 10 Multi Core is a variant of Cinebench R10 using all the processor threads. Possible number of threads is limited by 16 in this version.

Benchmark coverage: 19%

i5-3230M 9159
+15.7%
i5-4260U 7913

Core i5-3230M outperforms Core i5-4260U by 16% in Cinebench 10 32-bit multi-core.

3DMark06 CPU

3DMark06 is a discontinued DirectX 9 benchmark suite from Futuremark. Its CPU part contains two scenarios, one dedicated to artificial intelligence pathfinding, another to game physics using PhysX package.

Benchmark coverage: 19%

i5-3230M 3760
+16.7%
i5-4260U 3222

Core i5-3230M outperforms Core i5-4260U by 17% in 3DMark06 CPU.

Cinebench 11.5 64-bit multi-core

Cinebench Release 11.5 Multi Core is a variant of Cinebench R11.5 which uses all the processor threads. A maximum of 64 threads is supported in this version.

Benchmark coverage: 17%

i5-3230M 3
+12.9%
i5-4260U 3

Core i5-3230M outperforms Core i5-4260U by 13% in Cinebench 11.5 64-bit multi-core.

Cinebench 15 64-bit multi-core

Cinebench Release 15 Multi Core is a variant of Cinebench R15 which uses all the processor threads.

Benchmark coverage: 15%

i5-3230M 258
+7.9%
i5-4260U 239

Core i5-3230M outperforms Core i5-4260U by 8% in Cinebench 15 64-bit multi-core.

Cinebench 15 64-bit single-core

Cinebench R15 (standing for Release 15) is a benchmark made by Maxon, authors of Cinema 4D. It was superseded by later versions of Cinebench, which use more modern variants of Cinema 4D engine. The Single Core version (sometimes called Single-Thread) only uses a single processor thread to render a room full of reflective spheres and light sources.

Benchmark coverage: 15%

i5-3230M 105
i5-4260U 105

Cinebench 11.5 64-bit single-core

Cinebench R11.5 is an old benchmark by Maxon, authors of Cinema 4D. It was superseded by later versions of Cinebench, which use more modern variants of Cinema 4D engine. The Single Core version loads a single thread with ray tracing to render a glossy room full of crystal spheres and light sources.

Benchmark coverage: 14%

i5-3230M 1.25
+4.2%
i5-4260U 1.2

Core i5-3230M outperforms Core i5-4260U by 4% in Cinebench 11.5 64-bit single-core.

Gaming performance

Advantages and disadvantages


Performance score 1.67 1.51
Integrated graphics card 1.17 1.38
Recency 1 January 2013 14 April 2014
Cost $225 $325
Power consumption (TDP) 35 Watt 15 Watt

The Core i5-3230M is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i5-4260U in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i5-3230M and Core i5-4260U, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

User ratings

Do you think we are right or mistaken in our choice? Vote by clicking "Like" button near your favorite CPU.


Intel Core i5-3230M
Core i5-3230M
Intel Core i5-4260U
Core i5-4260U

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