Intel Core i5-6300U vs Intel Core i5-3320M

The Intel Core i5-6300U, manufactured using the 14 nm process with the energy-efficient Skylake U-architecture, is designed for slim mobile devices.

It features two cores, four threads, 3 MB Level 3 Cache, and the integrated Intel HD Graphics 520 with 30 GB/s memory bandwidth. In modern benchmarks like Geekbench 6, it shows significantly higher single-core and multi-core performance than the Intel Core i5-3320M.

Its low Thermal Design Power (TDP) ensures low energy consumption and longer battery life, ideal for mobile use and a better choice for light gaming. The Intel Core i5-3320M, a mobile processor from the Ivy Bridge H-architecture using the 22 nm manufacturing process, was developed for standard notebooks.

It also has two cores, four threads, and 3 MB Level 3 Cache. Its integrated graphics solution is the Intel HD Graphics 4000 with 26 GB/s memory bandwidth. Although it shows slightly higher performance in a specific older single-core benchmark (Cinebench R23), it offers overall lower computing power and efficiency.

Its higher TDP leads to increased energy demand and greater heat generation. In the used market, both are inexpensive, but the Intel Core i5-6300U offers the more modern and efficient solution for most use cases.