AMD FX-8320E vs Intel Core i5-2310 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data for this comparison is split across different test suites, so a direct score-for-score matchup is not possible. The Intel Core i5-2310 was measured with Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, while the AMD FX-8320E was measured with Geekbench multicore and singlecore tests. However, the database’s average benchmark scores provide a common baseline for comparison. The Intel Core i5-2310 holds an average benchmark score of 1073, while the AMD FX-8320E sits at 1059. That puts the Intel part roughly 1.3% ahead on aggregate, a margin that falls within the noise of typical run-to-run variation but still favors the older Intel design in overall workload performance.

Looking at the Intel Core i5-2310’s Cinebench results, its multicore score in R15 is 314. In R20, the multicore result is 1309, and the singlecore result is 184. In R23, the multicore score climbs to 3118, with a singlecore score of 440. These numbers show a processor that scales reasonably well across cores for its era, but the singlecore figures are modest by modern standards. The R23 singlecore score of 440 places it well below many newer parts, which is expected given its 2011 release and quad-core, four-thread configuration. The multicore to singlecore ratio in R23 is about 7.1 to 1, indicating that the chip’s strength lies in parallel workloads rather than lightly threaded tasks.

The AMD FX-8320E’s Geekbench results tell a different story. Its multicore score is 1681, and its singlecore score is 437. The singlecore result is nearly identical to the Intel i5-2310’s Cinebench R23 singlecore score of 440, though the two tests are not directly comparable. What is notable is the multicore advantage: the FX-8320E’s Geekbench multicore score of 1681 is roughly 3.8 times its singlecore score, reflecting the benefit of eight physical cores. In contrast, the Intel part’s multicore advantage in R23 is larger in raw multiples, but that is due to the test methodology and the i5-2310’s lower singlecore baseline.

The nearest rival data places both CPUs in a tight cluster. The Intel Core i5-2310’s closest competitors include the Intel Core i3-4170T (average score 1072, delta 0.1%), the Intel Pentium Gold G6505 (average score 1074, delta -0.1%), the Intel Core i5-5287U (average score 1072, delta 0.1%), and the AMD Athlon X4 880K (average score 1071, delta 0.1%). The AMD FX-8320E’s nearest rivals are the Intel Core i3-4350 (average score 1058, delta 0.1%), the AMD Ryzen 5 2500U (average score 1058, delta 0.1%), the Intel Core i3-4360 (average score 1061, delta -0.2%), and the Intel Core i7-2760QM (average score 1057, delta 0.2%). Both chips land in the 29th to 30th percentile of all CPUs in the database, meaning they are near the bottom quartile of recorded performance. The delta percentages are all within 0.2%, so neither part has a meaningful edge over its immediate rivals.

The head-to-head benchmark array is empty in the database, so no direct test results exist where both processors ran the same workload. This limits the precision of the comparison. The available data, however, suggests that the Intel i5-2310 has a slight aggregate advantage, but the AMD FX-8320E offers a different core count and thread configuration that may favor certain applications.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i5-2310 is built on Sandy Bridge architecture, produced on Intel’s 32 nm process with 1,160 million transistors on a 216 mm² die. The AMD FX-8320E uses Piledriver architecture, also on a 32 nm process, but fabricated by GlobalFoundries with 1,200 million transistors on a much larger 315 mm² die. The transistor count is very close, with the AMD part having roughly 3.4% more transistors, but the die size difference is substantial: the FX-8320E’s die is about 45.8% larger. This reflects the different design philosophies, with AMD using a wider, more modular layout for its eight cores.

Core and thread counts differ significantly. The Intel i5-2310 has 4 cores and 4 threads, meaning no hyper-threading support. The AMD FX-8320E has 8 cores and 8 threads, offering double the physical core count. This is a critical architectural split. The Intel part relies on fewer, presumably more efficient cores, while the AMD part spreads work across more cores with lower per-core efficiency. The base clocks also favor AMD: the FX-8320E runs at 3.20 GHz base and boosts to 4.00 GHz, while the i5-2310 runs at 2.90 GHz base and boosts to 3.20 GHz. The AMD chip has a 310 MHz higher base clock and an 800 MHz higher boost clock.

Cache layouts are markedly different. The Intel i5-2310 has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3. The AMD FX-8320E has 384 KB of L1 total, 8 MB of L2 total, and 8 MB of shared L3. The AMD part offers more total cache at every level below L1, but the per-core L2 allocation is smaller: 1 MB per core versus 256 KB per core on Intel. The FX-8320E’s L3 is 8 MB shared, 2 MB more than the Intel part’s 6 MB. The L1 cache on AMD is 384 KB total, which translates to 48 KB per core, less than the 64 KB per core on Intel.

Memory support is identical in type and channel configuration: both use DDR3 with dual-channel memory buses. The AMD FX-8320E lists a memory bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s, while the Intel i5-2310 has no recorded bandwidth figure. Neither supports ECC memory. PCIe support differs: the Intel i5-2310 uses PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the AMD FX-8320E uses PCIe Gen 2. This is a meaningful difference for expansion and graphics throughput, though both are end-of-life platforms.

Integrated graphics also diverge. The Intel i5-2310 includes Intel HD 2000, a built-in GPU. The AMD FX-8320E has no integrated graphics of its own; instead, it relies on chipset features on certain motherboards, meaning the motherboard must provide graphics capability. The socket types are incompatible: the Intel part uses Intel Socket 1155, while the AMD part uses AMD Socket AM3+. The AMD FX-8320E has an unlocked multiplier, allowing overclocking, while the Intel i5-2310 does not.

The release dates are separated by more than three years. The Intel i5-2310 was released in May 2011, while the AMD FX-8320E was released in September 2014. Both are marked end-of-life in the database. The process nodes are the same at 32 nm, but the foundries differ: Intel for the i5-2310, GlobalFoundries for the FX-8320E.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-2310 wins on aggregate benchmark performance. Its average score of 1073 edges out the AMD FX-8320E’s 1059, a 1.3% difference. This suggests that for mixed or typical desktop workloads, the Intel part delivers slightly better overall throughput despite having half the cores. The Intel part also benefits from PCIe Gen 3 support, which can provide higher bandwidth for compatible devices, and it includes integrated graphics, which the AMD part lacks without a chipset-enabled motherboard. For users who need a simple, self-contained CPU with basic display output, the i5-2310 is the more practical choice.

The AMD FX-8320E wins on raw core count and clock speed. With 8 cores and 8 threads, it offers twice the parallelism of the Intel part. Its base clock of 3.20 GHz and boost clock of 4.00 GHz are both higher than the Intel i5-2310’s 2.90 GHz and 3.20 GHz. For applications that scale well across many cores, such as video encoding, 3D rendering, or compilation workloads, the FX-8320E has the theoretical advantage. The unlocked multiplier also gives it flexibility for overclocking, which the Intel part cannot offer. The larger L3 cache (8 MB versus 6 MB) and higher memory bandwidth figure (29.9 GB/s) may help in cache-sensitive or memory-bandwidth-bound tasks, though the Intel part’s memory bandwidth is not recorded.

Where the Intel part wins is in single-core efficiency relative to its own multicore scaling. The R23 singlecore score of 440 is close to the FX-8320E’s Geekbench singlecore score of 437, despite the AMD part having a higher clock speed. This indicates that the Intel core design extracts more performance per clock in lightly threaded tasks, even though the AMD part has a higher frequency. The i5-2310’s average benchmark score also places it slightly higher in the database’s percentile ranking (30th percentile versus 29th for the FX-8320E).

For gaming or general desktop use where single-threaded performance matters, the Intel i5-2310 is likely the better choice, given its stronger per-core showing relative to clock speed. For heavily threaded productivity tasks, the AMD FX-8320E’s 8 cores make it the more capable part, assuming the software can use all threads. Neither part is competitive with modern CPUs, but the split is clear: Intel for efficiency and aggregate balance, AMD for multicore throughput and overclocking headroom.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i5-2310 has an average benchmark score of 1073, while the AMD FX-8320E has an average score of 1059.

Q: How many cores and threads does each CPU have?

A: The Intel Core i5-2310 has 4 cores and 4 threads. The AMD FX-8320E has 8 cores and 8 threads.

Q: Which CPU has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD FX-8320E boosts to 4.00 GHz, which is higher than the Intel Core i5-2310’s boost clock of 3.20 GHz.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No, neither the Intel Core i5-2310 nor the AMD FX-8320E supports ECC memory.

Q: Which CPU includes integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core i5-2310 includes Intel HD 2000. The AMD FX-8320E does not have integrated graphics; it relies on chipset features on certain motherboards.

Q: What is the process node for both CPUs?

A: Both the Intel Core i5-2310 and the AMD FX-8320E are manufactured on a 32 nm process, though the Intel part is built by Intel and the AMD part by GlobalFoundries.

Specification Differences

The following table lists only the fields where the two processors differ, based on the database records.

| Specification | Intel Core i5-2310 | AMD FX-8320E |

|----------------|--------------------|--------------|

| Architecture | Sandy Bridge | Piledriver |

| Codename | Sandy Bridge | Vishera |

| Generation | Core i5 (Sandy Bridge) | FX (Vishera) |

| Cores | 4 | 8 |

| Threads | 4 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 2.90 GHz | 3.20 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.20 GHz | 4.00 GHz |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1155 | AMD Socket AM3+ |

| Foundry | Intel | GlobalFoundries |

| Transistors | 1,160 million | 1,200 million |

| Die Size | 216 mm² | 315 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 384 KB |

| L2 Cache | 256 KB (per core) | 8 MB |

| L3 Cache | 6 MB (shared) | 8 MB (shared) |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not recorded | 29.9 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 2 |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 2000 | On certain motherboards (Chipset feature) |

| Launch MSRP | Not recorded | $147 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | Yes |

| Part Number | SR02K | FD832EWMW8KHKFD832EWMHKBOX |

| Release Date | May 2011 | September 2014 |

| Avg Benchmark Score | 1073 | 1059 |

| Percentile vs All CPUs | 30 | 29 |

| Nearest Rival (Top) | Intel Core i3-4170T (1072, delta 0.1%) | Intel Core i3-4350 (1058, delta 0.1%) |

The socket, cache configuration, and PCIe generation differences are the most consequential for platform selection. The Intel part’s PCIe Gen 3 support and integrated graphics give it an edge in system simplicity and expansion bandwidth, while the AMD part’s higher clocks, unlocked multiplier, and 8-core layout make it better suited for multi-threaded workloads. The launch MSRP of $147 for the FX-8320E is the only recorded price, and it reflects the AMD part’s positioning as a value-oriented eight-core option at release.