CPU Comparison

The Intel Core i5-2380P and AMD FX-8320E are two desktop processors from different architectural eras, both landing at the 29th percentile among all CPUs. The Intel part is a 4-core/4-thread Sandy Bridge chip, while the AMD offers 8 cores/8 threads on the Piledriver architecture. Despite their differences in core count and design philosophy, their average benchmark scores are nearly identical, 1063 for the Intel and 1059 for the AMD, placing them as direct competitors in the performance hierarchy.

FAQ

Q: How do the average benchmark scores of the Intel Core i5-2380P and AMD FX-8320E compare?

A: The Intel Core i5-2380P has an average benchmark score of 1063, while the AMD FX-8320E scores 1059. This represents a difference of just 4 points, or roughly 0.4%, making them statistically equivalent in overall performance.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD FX-8320E has a boost clock of 4.00 GHz, which is significantly higher than the Intel Core i5-2380P's boost clock of 3.40 GHz. The AMD also has a higher base clock at 3.20 GHz compared to 3.10 GHz for the Intel.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The Intel Core i5-2380P has 4 cores and 4 threads. In contrast, the AMD FX-8320E doubles that with 8 cores and 8 threads.

Q: Which processor supports PCIe Gen 3?

A: Only the Intel Core i5-2380P supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The AMD FX-8320E is limited to PCIe Gen 2.

Q: Is the AMD FX-8320E's multiplier unlocked?

A: Yes, the AMD FX-8320E has an unlocked multiplier, making it suitable for overclocking. The Intel Core i5-2380P does not have an unlocked multiplier.

Q: What is the release date difference between the two?

A: The Intel Core i5-2380P was released on January 29, 2012, while the AMD FX-8320E came later on September 1, 2014.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i5-2380P is built on the Sandy Bridge architecture, fabricated on a 32 nm process by Intel. It integrates 1,160 million transistors on a 216 mm² die. The AMD FX-8320E uses the Piledriver architecture under the Vishera codename, also on a 32 nm process but manufactured by GlobalFoundries. The AMD chip packs 1,200 million transistors into a substantially larger 315 mm² die.

Cache configurations differ notably. The Intel processor has 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, with a shared 6 MB L3 cache. The AMD FX-8320E provides 384 KB of total L1 cache, 8 MB of L2 cache, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. This gives the AMD part more total cache capacity, particularly in L2 and L3.

Memory support is DDR3 for both, and both use dual-channel memory buses. However, the AMD FX-8320E lists a memory bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s, while the Intel part does not specify a bandwidth figure. PCIe support differs as well: the Intel offers Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), whereas the AMD is restricted to Gen 2. The AMD FX-8320E also notes that integrated graphics are available on certain motherboards as a chipset feature, while the Intel part lists no integrated graphics at all.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD FX-8320E wins clearly on raw core count and thread count, offering 8 cores and 8 threads versus the Intel's 4 cores and 4 threads. This makes the AMD part more suitable for heavily threaded workloads that can utilize all available cores. Its higher base clock (3.20 GHz) and boost clock (4.00 GHz) also give it an advantage in tasks that benefit from higher clock speeds. The unlocked multiplier adds flexibility for enthusiasts looking to push performance further.

The Intel Core i5-2380P counters with architectural efficiency. Despite having half the cores and threads, it achieves nearly identical average benchmark scores to the AMD part. This suggests that Sandy Bridge delivers stronger per-core performance than Piledriver. The Intel chip also has the advantage of PCIe Gen 3 support, which can be relevant for modern graphics cards and storage devices that leverage the increased bandwidth.

For single-threaded performance, the benchmark data from Cinebench R20 shows the Intel scoring 183 in single-core, while the AMD's Geekbench single-core score is 437, but these are different test suites, so direct comparison is limited. The Intel's smaller die size (216 mm² vs 315 mm²) also indicates a more power-efficient design per unit of silicon area.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-2380P | AMD FX-8320E |

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

| Cores | 4 | 8 |

| Threads | 4 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 3.10 GHz | 3.20 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.40 GHz | 4.00 GHz |

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

| Architecture | Sandy Bridge | Piledriver |

| 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 specified | 29.9 GB/s |

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

| Integrated Graphics | None | On certain motherboards (Chipset feature) |

| Release Date | 2012-01-29 | 2014-09-01 |

| Launch MSRP | Not specified | $147 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | Yes |

| Production Status | Not specified | End-of-life |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data available for these two processors comes from different test suites, which complicates direct comparisons. The Intel Core i5-2380P has results from the Cinebench series, while the AMD FX-8320E has results from Geekbench.

In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Intel Core i5-2380P scores 311. Moving to Cinebench R20, it achieves 1297 in multicore and 183 in single-core. In Cinebench R23, the Intel part scores 3090 in multicore and 436 in single-core. These results show consistent scaling across Cinebench versions, with the multicore score roughly doubling from R15 to R20 and then more than doubling again to R23.

The AMD FX-8320E's Geekbench results show a multicore score of 1681 and a single-core score of 437. Notably, the AMD's single-core Geekbench score of 437 is nearly identical to the Intel's Cinebench R23 single-core score of 436, though these are not directly comparable across different benchmark suites.

Looking at the nearest rivals for each processor provides context for their performance tiers. The Intel Core i5-2380P sits within 0.2% of the Intel Core i5-4570TE (deltaPct 0.1), Intel Xeon W3580 (deltaPct -0.1), Intel Core i3-9100HL (deltaPct -0.2), and AMD Opteron 4376 HE (deltaPct 0.2). The AMD FX-8320E similarly sits within 0.2% of the Intel Core i3-4350 (deltaPct 0.1), AMD Ryzen 5 2500U (deltaPct 0.1), Intel Core i3-4360 (deltaPct -0.2), and Intel Core i7-2760QM (deltaPct 0.2).

The average benchmark scores of 1063 for the Intel and 1059 for the AMD place both processors at the 29th percentile among all CPUs. This indicates that neither chip is a performance leader in the current landscape, but both hold their own in the lower-midrange segment. The AMD's advantage in core count and clock speeds appears to be offset by the Intel's superior per-core efficiency, resulting in a near tie in overall performance. The AMD FX-8320E does carry a launch MSRP of $147, though no such figure is available for the Intel part.