Intel Core i5 3427U  vs AMD A4 4355M 

If you’re someone who multitasks applications, does Photoshop work, or edits audio, you need a capable processor for your day to day tasks; not just any old CPU would do. For this matchup, we’re comparing an intense rivalry between two capable laptop Dual Cores: the Intel Core i5 3427U versus the AMD A4 4355M. Which is the more powerful chip?

The 3427U is part of Intel’s Core i5 line, geared towards mainstream midrange performance. Moreover, it’s a U version which is tailor-made for Ultrabooks. It’s clocked at 1.8 GHz, can Turbo Boost up to 2.8 GHz, with 3MB cache, and with a power consumption of 17W. It packs integrated HD 4000 Graphics; quite decent for desktop applications, but not really suitable for gaming.

In contrast is the 4355M which is part of AMD’s APU series. It boasts that it “combines the power of multicore CPUs with powerful Radeon graphics”. It’s clocked at 1.9 GHz (which Turbo boosts up to 2.4 GHz), but it only has 500MB cache, and likewise consumes 17W of power. Despite the slightly slower specs, its Radeon HD 7400G graphics performs better than Intel’s IGP, and is capable of light gaming at low settings.

Benchmarks show that the 3427U is a rockstar performer: leading by 110% in the Single Core test, by 156% in the 3DMark06 CPU test and by a whopping 204% in the PassMark benchmark. This is mainly because of Intel’s Ivy Bridge 22nm architecture, which is much more efficient than AMD’s 32nm Trinity series. The difference is all the more apparent considering that the 3427U is even 3 months older than its competitor. Wrapping things up, invest in the speedy and efficient Intel Core i5 3427U if you’re looking for a midrange laptop with a well-balanced CPU.