Intel Core i3-380M vs Intel Core i5-7Y57

Intel Core i3-380M

The Intel Core i3-380M is a middle class dual core CPU for laptops and clocks with 2.53 GHz. The difference to the Core i5 and i7 series is the lacking TurboBoost overclocking, and the missing AES, VT-d and Trusted Execution functions. Each core is based on the Nehalem (Westmere) micro-architecture. Hyperthreading enables the Dual Core CPU to handle 4 threads at once (for a better usage of the pipeline). It is part of the Arrandale refresh and successor to the 2.4 GHz i3-370M.

A feature of the new Core i3-380M is the integrated graphics card called GMA HD and the memory controller. Both are on a separate die that is still manufactured in 45nm whereas the CPU die is already manufactured in the new 32nm process.

The performance of the Core i3-380M should be at a level of a 2.6-2.7 GHz Core 2 Duo (upper class CPUs in the last year). This is mainly due to the efficient HyperThreading function and the integrated memory controller. In single threaded applications it should be at least as fast, as a similar clocked Core 2 Duo.

The integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator HD (GMA HD) graphics card is known to be clocked up to 500-667 MHz (due to Turbo Boost) and should be clearly faster than the old GMA 4500MHD. The Core i5 and i7 models should still be a bit faster because of the higher max. clock speed of the GPU. The performance of the graphics in 3D should be on par with a Radeon HD 4200 but the driver support is usually worse.

The power consumption of 35 Watt TDP (max.) counts for the whole package and therefore it is clearly better than the 35 Watt TDP of the Core 2 Duo T-series (CPU alone).

Intel Core i5-7Y57

The Intel Core i5-7Y57 is a very efficient dual-core SoC for tablets and passively cooled notebooks based on the Kaby Lake architecture and was announced in the Q1/2017. It is a slightly faster version of the Core i5-7Y54 (1.2-3.2 GHz). The CPU consists of two processor cores clocked at 1.2-3.3 GHz (2-core Turbo 2.9 GHz). Thanks to Hyper Threading, the processor can execute up to four threads simultaneously. The chips also includes the Intel HD Graphics 615 GPU, a dual-channel memory controller (DDR3L/LPDDR3) as well as VP9 and H.265 video de- and encoder. It is still produced in a 14 nm process with FinFET transistors. 

Architecture

Intel basically used the familiar micro architecture from the Skylake generation, so the per-MHz performance is identical. Only the Speed-Shift technology for faster dynamic adjustments of the voltages and clocks was improved, and the matured 14 nm process now also enables much higher frequencies and better efficiency than before. 

Performance

Despite the changed designation, the Core i5-7Y57 is the successor to the Core m5-6Y57 (Skylake Y-series), so the chip does not reach the performance level of other Core i processors due to the lower TDP. Thanks to its high Turbo clock, the 7Y57 can sometimes keep up with the 15 Watt models for short peak load and single-thread scenarios, but the clocks will drop significantly under sustained workloads. The CPU is still suitable for many more demanding applications as well as multitasking. 

Graphics

The integrated Intel HD Graphics 615 GPU has 24 Execution Units (EUs) like the old HD Graphics 515 and runs with clocks between 300 and 950 MHz in combination with this processor. The performance heavily depends on the TDP limit as well as the memory configuration; with fast LPDDR3-1866 RAM in dual-channel mode, the GPU should sometimes be able to compete with the HD Graphics 520, but can also be much slower in other scenarios. Modern games from 2016 will, if at all, only run smoothly in the lowest settings.

Contrary to Skylake, Kaby Lake now also supports hardware decoding for H.265/HEVC Main10 with a 10-bit color depth as well as Google's VP9 codec.

Power Consumption

The chip is manufactured in an improved 14 nm process with FinFET transistors, so the power efficiency was once again improved significantly. The typical TDP for the Y-series is specified at 4.5 Watts, and can be adjusted in both directions depending on the usage scenario.