AMD Ryzen 5 2500U vs Intel Core i5-2310 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data contains one directly comparable benchmark result between the AMD Ryzen 5 2500U and the Intel Core i5-2310, and it is a decisive outcome. In the Cinebench R15 multi-core test, the Ryzen 5 2500U scores 609 points against 314 points for the Core i5-2310. That is a delta of 93.9% in favor of the AMD part, meaning the Ryzen 5 2500U nearly doubles the multi-threaded rendering throughput of the older Intel desktop chip in this specific workload. This is not a marginal lead; it is a near-2x gap in a benchmark that stresses all cores simultaneously.

Looking at the broader benchmark picture, the Ryzen 5 2500U also holds a Geekbench multi-core score of 2635 and a single-core score of 851. The Intel Core i5-2310 does not have a Geekbench result in the database, so no direct comparison is possible there. However, the Cinebench R15 result is the only head-to-head measurement available, and it clearly favors AMD. The Intel chip does have additional Cinebench results in the database, including a Cinebench R20 multi-core score of 1309, a single-core score of 184, a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 3118, and a single-core score of 440. These are not directly comparable to the Ryzen 5 2500U because the AMD part lacks corresponding R20 and R23 entries, but they help establish the Intel chip's performance profile in isolation.

The average benchmark scores in the database are close: the Ryzen 5 2500U averages 1058 points, while the Core i5-2310 averages 1073 points. That 15-point difference is roughly 1.4% and places both processors in a similar overall performance tier. The percentile ranks reinforce this: the Ryzen 5 2500U sits at the 29th percentile of all CPUs, while the Core i5-2310 sits at the 30th percentile. Despite the massive Cinebench R15 multi-core victory for AMD, the average scores suggest that the two chips land near each other when all recorded benchmarks are aggregated. The explanation lies in the benchmark mix: the Intel chip has results in newer Cinebench versions (R20, R23) that may weight differently, while the AMD chip's Geekbench results pull its average in a different direction.

The nearest rivals in the database also frame the comparison. The Ryzen 5 2500U sits alongside the Intel Core i3-4350 (average score 1058, delta 0%), the Intel Core i7-2760QM (1057, delta 0.1%), the AMD FX-8320E (1059, delta -0.1%), and the Intel Pentium G4600 (1056, delta 0.2%). The Core i5-2310's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i3-4170T (1072, delta 0.1%), the Intel Pentium Gold G6505 (1074, delta -0.1%), the Intel Core i5-5287U (1072, delta 0.1%), and the AMD Athlon X4 880K (1071, delta 0.1%). In both cases, the nearest competition is within a fraction of a percent, indicating that neither chip is an outlier in its respective peer group, at least by average score.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different eras and design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 5 2500U is a mobile part built on the Zen architecture with the codename Raven Ridge, produced on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It belongs to the 2000 series and the Ryzen 5 generation, specifically Zen (Raven Ridge). The Intel Core i5-2310 is a desktop chip based on Sandy Bridge, produced on a 32 nm process at Intel. Its generation is listed as Core i5 (Sandy Bridge). The process node gap alone, 14 nm versus 32 nm, explains a significant portion of the efficiency and performance differences between the two.

Both chips have 4 physical cores, but the threading capabilities diverge sharply. The Ryzen 5 2500U supports 8 threads, while the Core i5-2310 supports only 4 threads. This means the AMD chip can process twice as many threads simultaneously, which is the primary driver behind its 93.9% lead in Cinebench R15 multi-core. The Ryzen 5 2500U has a base clock of 2000 MHz and a boost clock of 3600 MHz. The Core i5-2310 has a higher base clock of 2900 MHz but a lower boost clock of 3200 MHz. The AMD part's higher boost ceiling allows it to reach frequencies that the Intel chip cannot, despite starting from a lower base.

Cache hierarchies also differ. The Ryzen 5 2500U has 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core i5-2310 has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel chip has more L3 cache overall, but the AMD chip has larger L1 and L2 allocations per core, which can benefit latency-sensitive workloads.

The transistor counts and die sizes reflect the architectural differences. The Ryzen 5 2500U packs 4,950 million transistors on a 210 mm² die. The Core i5-2310 has 1,160 million transistors on a 216 mm² die. The AMD chip crams over four times as many transistors into a slightly smaller area, enabled by the denser 14 nm process. The power envelopes are drastically different: the Ryzen 5 2500U has a TDP of 15 watts, while the Core i5-2310 has a TDP of 95 watts. The AMD mobile chip delivers its performance at a fraction of the power budget.

Memory support also differs. The Ryzen 5 2500U uses DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus and a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The Core i5-2310 uses DDR3 memory with a dual-channel bus, and its memory bandwidth is not recorded in the database. Neither chip supports ECC memory. The PCIe configurations differ as well: the Ryzen 5 2500U provides Gen 3 with 8 lanes (CPU only), while the Core i5-2310 provides Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The Intel chip has twice the PCIe lane count, which matters for desktop expansion.

Integrated graphics separate the two further. The Ryzen 5 2500U includes Radeon Vega 8 graphics, while the Core i5-2310 includes Intel HD 2000. Both are integrated solutions, but the Vega 8 is a more modern and capable graphics block. The market segments reflect their intended use: the Ryzen 5 2500U is a mobile processor on AMD Socket FP5, while the Core i5-2310 is a desktop processor on Intel Socket 1155. The production status also differs, with the Ryzen 5 2500U listed as active and the Core i5-2310 as end-of-life.

Where Each One Wins

The Ryzen 5 2500U wins decisively in multi-threaded workloads, as shown by the Cinebench R15 multi-core result where it scores 609 against 314. The 8-thread configuration gives it a clear advantage in rendering, encoding, and other parallel tasks. The higher boost clock of 3600 MHz also helps in bursty single-threaded scenarios, though the database lacks a direct single-thread comparison between the two. The AMD chip's 14 nm process and 15-watt TDP make it suitable for thin-and-light laptops where power efficiency is paramount. Its DDR4 memory support and 38.4 GB/s memory bandwidth provide a more modern memory subsystem.

The Core i5-2310 wins in specific legacy and desktop-oriented scenarios. Its 95-watt TDP and 16 PCIe lanes indicate a platform designed for expansion, and its 6 MB of shared L3 cache is larger than the AMD chip's 4 MB. The higher base clock of 2900 MHz means it starts from a higher frequency, which can help in lightly threaded tasks that do not boost well. However, the database does not contain a direct benchmark where the Core i5-2310 beats the Ryzen 5 2500U. The only head-to-head result is a win for AMD. The Intel chip's higher average benchmark score (1073 versus 1058) comes from its newer Cinebench R20 and R23 results, which are not present for the AMD part, so this aggregate advantage does not translate into a direct victory.

For users running older software that relies on high base clocks and does not scale with thread count, the Core i5-2310 may still feel responsive. Its DDR3 memory support makes it compatible with older platforms, which could be relevant for someone upgrading a legacy desktop. But the data shows that in the one directly comparable multi-core benchmark, the Ryzen 5 2500U is far ahead.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 2500U scores 609 in Cinebench R15 multi-core, compared to 314 for the Intel Core i5-2310, a 93.9% advantage for AMD.

Q: Do both processors have the same number of cores?

A: Yes, both have 4 cores. However, the Ryzen 5 2500U supports 8 threads, while the Core i5-2310 supports only 4 threads.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 2500U has a boost clock of 3600 MHz, while the Intel Core i5-2310 has a boost clock of 3200 MHz.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Ryzen 5 2500U has an average benchmark score of 1058, while the Core i5-2310 has an average score of 1073, a difference of about 1.4% in favor of Intel.

Q: Which processor uses more power?

A: The Intel Core i5-2310 has a TDP of 95 watts, while the AMD Ryzen 5 2500U has a TDP of 15 watts.

Q: What are their process nodes?

A: The Ryzen 5 2500U is built on a 14 nm process, while the Core i5-2310 is built on a 32 nm process.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 5 2500U | Intel Core i5-2310 |

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

| Series | 2000 series | null |

| Manufacturer | AMD | Intel |

| Threads | 8 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 2000 MHz | 2900 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 3600 MHz | 3200 MHz |

| TDP | 15 watts | 95 watts |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP5 | Intel Socket 1155 |

| Architecture | Zen | Sandy Bridge |

| Codename | Raven Ridge | Sandy Bridge |

| Generation | Ryzen 5 (Zen (Raven Ridge)) | Core i5 (Sandy Bridge) |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 32 nm |

| Foundry | GlobalFoundries | Intel |

| Transistors | 4,950 million | 1,160 million |

| Die Size | 210 mm² | 216 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 96 KB (per core) | 64 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 512 KB (per core) | 256 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 4 MB (shared) | 6 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR3 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 38.4 GB/s | null |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 8 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon Vega 8 | Intel HD 2000 |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Production Status | Active | End-of-life |

| Release Date | 2017-10-25 | 2011-05-21 |

| Part Number | YM2500C4T4MFB | SR02K |

The Verdict

The data points to a clear split based on workload and platform. The AMD Ryzen 5 2500U is the superior choice for multi-threaded performance, as evidenced by its 93.9% lead over the Core i5-2310 in Cinebench R15 multi-core. Its 8 threads, higher boost clock, modern 14 nm process, and 15-watt TDP make it the better option for anyone prioritizing parallel throughput and power efficiency. The mobile form factor on AMD Socket FP5 means it belongs in a laptop, but within that context it is far ahead of the aging Intel desktop chip.

The Intel Core i5-2310 retains relevance only in narrow scenarios. Its larger L3 cache (6 MB versus 4 MB) and higher base clock (2900 MHz versus 2000 MHz) could help in legacy single-threaded tasks that do not boost well. The 16 PCIe lanes make it more suitable for desktop expansion. Its average benchmark score of 1073 slightly edges out the AMD chip's 1058, but that aggregate comes from newer Cinebench R20 and R23 results that are not available for the AMD part. In direct comparison, the Intel chip loses the only head-to-head test. Anyone building a legacy desktop on Intel Socket 1155 with DDR3 memory and DDR3 DDR3 support might find the Core i5-2310 still functions, but the production status is end-of-life, and the performance gap in multi-core workloads is too large to ignore. The Ryzen 5 2500U is the right pick for modern, multi-threaded, power-conscious use cases.