Intel Core i3-3240 vs Intel Core i5-3230M Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results present a split picture. The Intel Core i5-3230M wins five of the seven recorded tests, while the Intel Core i3-3240 takes the remaining two. The margins are consistent within each test family, which makes the pattern clear.

Starting with Cinebench, the mobile i5-3230M holds a steady advantage across all four recorded runs. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i5-3230M scores 220 against 201 for the i3-3240, a delta of 8.6 percent. The R20 multicore test shows 917 versus 840, an 8.4 percent gap. R20 singlecore repeats the same story: 129 for the i5-3230M versus 118 for the i3-3240, again 8.5 percent. The R23 tests follow suit, with the i5-3230M posting 2184 multicore and 308 singlecore, against 2000 and 282 for the i3-3240. Both R23 deltas sit at 8.4 percent.

These are not overwhelming victories, but they are consistent. The i5-3230M outperforms the i3-3240 by roughly 8.5 percent across every Cinebench workload, whether single-threaded or multi-threaded. That uniformity suggests a fundamental efficiency advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

The Geekbench results flip the narrative entirely. The i3-3240 wins Geekbench multicore with 1233 against 1018, a 21.1 percent lead. In Geekbench singlecore, the i3-3240 scores 650 versus 505, a 28.7 percent margin. These are substantial gaps, far larger than the Cinebench deltas in the opposite direction.

So the data shows two very different pictures depending on the benchmark suite. In Cinebench, the i5-3230M is ahead by a narrow but repeatable margin. In Geekbench, the i3-3240 is ahead by a wide margin, more than three times the size of the Cinebench advantage.

Looking at the average benchmark score, the two processors land nearly on top of each other. The i3-3240 averages 761 across all recorded tests, while the i5-3230M averages 754. That difference is less than one percent. The nearest rival data reinforces this: the i3-3240 sits within 0.6 percent of the AMD A8-6600K, Intel Core i5-3210M, Intel Core i3-5020U, and Intel Xeon E5450. The i5-3230M sits within 0.4 percent of the Intel Xeon X5460, Intel Core i5-4250U, Intel Xeon E5450, and Intel Core i3-5020U. Both processors occupy the same performance tier, with both landing at the 20th percentile of all CPUs in the database.

The Verdict

The choice between these two comes down to which benchmark family matters more for the intended workload. The data does not support a universal winner.

For users running Cinebench-style workloads, which tend to stress sustained multi-threaded rendering and single-threaded compute, the Intel Core i5-3230M is the stronger part. It leads by 8.4 to 8.6 percent in every Cinebench test recorded. That is a modest but real edge, and it is consistent across R15, R20, and R23 in both singlecore and multicore modes.

For users whose workloads align more closely with Geekbench, the Intel Core i3-3240 is clearly superior. It leads by 21.1 percent in multicore and 28.7 percent in singlecore. Those are decisive margins, enough to make the desktop chip the obvious pick for Geekbench-sensitive applications.

The overall averages suggest these processors are effectively peers. The i3-3240 edges out the i5-3230M by a 761 to 754 average score, a difference of less than one percent. Neither chip moves the needle on the database percentile rankings; both sit at the 20th percentile of all CPUs.

One additional consideration is thermal design power. The i3-3240 carries a 55 watt TDP, while the i5-3230M draws only 35 watts. The mobile chip delivers comparable or better Cinebench performance while consuming less power according to the recorded specifications. The i3-3240, however, delivers substantially better Geekbench performance while drawing more power. The i5-3230M also includes a boost clock of 3.20 GHz on top of its 2.60 GHz base clock, while the i3-3240 has no boost capability, running at a fixed 3.40 GHz.

In practical terms, the i3-3240 is the pick when Geekbench performance is the priority, especially single-threaded performance. The i5-3230M is the pick when Cinebench performance and lower power draw matter more. The average scores are too close to call a definitive overall winner, so the verdict must rest on workload alignment.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i3-3240 averages 761 across all recorded tests, while the Intel Core i5-3230M averages 754. The difference is less than one percent.

Q: How much faster is the i5-3230M in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The i5-3230M scores 2184 in Cinebench R23 multicore, compared to 2000 for the i3-3240, a delta of 8.4 percent.

Q: How large is the i3-3240's lead in Geekbench singlecore?

A: The i3-3240 scores 650 in Geekbench singlecore, while the i5-3230M scores 505. That is a 28.7 percent advantage for the desktop chip.

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

A: Yes. Both the Intel Core i3-3240 and the Intel Core i5-3230M have 2 cores and 4 threads.

Q: What are the TDPs of the two processors?

A: The Intel Core i3-3240 has a TDP of 55 watts. The Intel Core i5-3230M has a TDP of 35 watts.

Q: Which processor has a higher base clock?

A: The Intel Core i3-3240 has a base clock of 3.40 GHz. The Intel Core i5-3230M has a base clock of 2.60 GHz, but it also has a boost clock of 3.20 GHz, which the i3-3240 lacks.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several specification fields. The base clocks are different: the i3-3240 runs at 3.40 GHz with no boost clock, while the i5-3230M runs at 2.60 GHz base and 3.20 GHz boost. Thermal design power differs substantially, with the i3-3240 rated at 55 watts and the i5-3230M at 35 watts.

The sockets are not interchangeable. The i3-3240 uses Intel Socket 1155, while the i5-3230M uses Intel Socket G2 (988B). The i3-3240 is a desktop part, while the i5-3230M is a mobile part. The integrated graphics differ as well: the i3-3240 carries Intel HD 2500, while the i5-3230M carries Intel HD 4000.

The PCIe interface is only listed for the i3-3240, which supports Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only). No PCIe data is recorded for the i5-3230M. The die sizes differ, with the i3-3240 at 94 mm² and the i5-3230M at 118 mm². The release dates are different, though both fall in late 2012. The part numbers are distinct: SR0RH for the i3-3240 and SR0WY for the i5-3230M. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

Architecture Differences

Both processors share the same fundamental architecture. They are both built on Ivy Bridge, use the Ivy Bridge codename, and are manufactured on Intel's 22 nm process node. Both have 2 cores and 4 threads. Both support DDR3 memory in a dual-channel configuration, and neither supports ECC memory.

The cache layout is identical. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 3 MB of shared L3 cache. The memory bus is dual-channel for both.

The key architectural differences are the socket, the market segment, and the integrated graphics. The i3-3240 is a desktop processor on Socket 1155 with Intel HD 2500 graphics. The i5-3230M is a mobile processor on Socket G2 (988B) with Intel HD 4000 graphics. The i5-3230M also has a boost clock feature that the i3-3240 does not offer, allowing it to reach 3.20 GHz despite a lower base clock of 2.60 GHz. The die size difference, 94 mm² versus 118 mm², reflects the different package and integrated graphics configuration between the two parts, though both are built on the same 22 nm process.