Intel Core i3-3250T vs Intel Core i5-680 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a remarkably tight contest between these two desktop processors. Across all five Cinebench tests in the database, the Intel Core i3-3250T wins every single matchup, but the margins are almost negligible. In Cinebench R15 multicore, both chips land at exactly 226 points, a dead heat with a delta of 0%. The R20 multicore test shows the i3-3250T ahead by just 0.3%, scoring 945 against 942 for the i5-680. Single-core results follow the same pattern: the i3-3250T posts 133 in R20 single-core versus 132, a 0.8% edge, and 318 versus 316 in R23 single-core, a 0.6% advantage. The largest gap anywhere is the R23 multicore result, where the i3-3250T leads by 0.4%, 2252 to 2243.

What does this mean? The benchmark results indicate that these two processors are effectively interchangeable in raw compute performance. The i3-3250T claims a 5-0 sweep in the head-to-head table, but the actual deltas are so small they fall within typical run-to-run variation. The average benchmark scores reinforce this: the i3-3250T sits at 775, while the i5-680 is at 772, a difference of only 0.4%. Both chips occupy the 21st percentile among all CPUs in the database, placing them in the same performance tier. When compared to their nearest rivals, the i3-3250T matches the Intel Celeron G5920 exactly at 775, and the i5-680 trails that same Celeron by 0.4%. The data does not show a meaningful winner here, it shows two chips with nearly identical output.

Architecture Differences

The underlying designs are separated by two full process generations. The Intel Core i3-3250T is built on Ivy Bridge at 22 nm, while the Intel Core i5-680 uses Westmere, specifically the Clarkdale die, at 32 nm. That process shrink gives the i3-3250T a density advantage, even though its die size is larger at 94 mm² compared to 81 mm² for the i5-680. The i5-680 does report a transistor count of 382 million, while the i3-3250T has no recorded transistor figure in the database.

Cache configurations differ notably. Both have 64 KB of L1 per core and 256 KB of L2 per core, but the shared L3 cache is larger on the i5-680: 4 MB shared versus 3 MB shared on the i3-3250T. That extra 1 MB of L3 could theoretically help the older chip in cache-sensitive workloads, yet the benchmark data does not show any such benefit materializing in the Cinebench results.

Memory support is another point of divergence. Both use DDR3 with dual-channel memory buses, but the i3-3250T offers a higher memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s, while the i5-680 is capped at 21.3 GB/s. This 4.3 GB/s gap likely stems from the newer memory controller on Ivy Bridge. PCIe connectivity also differs: the i3-3250T supports Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), whereas the i5-680 is limited to Gen 2 with 16 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics are present on both, with the i3-3250T featuring Intel HD 2500 and the i5-680 simply listed as Intel HD.

Sockets are incompatible. The i3-3250T uses Intel Socket 1155, while the i5-680 uses Intel Socket 1156. Anyone upgrading from one to the other would need a new motherboard. The release dates are separated by roughly three years, the i5-680 launched in April 2010, and the i3-3250T followed in June 2013. Both are marked as end-of-life production status, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

Where Each One Wins

Given that the i3-3250T wins all five head-to-head tests, one might expect a clear use-case split, but the margins are too thin to justify a strong recommendation either way. In multicore workloads, the i3-3250T leads by 0.3% in R20 and 0.4% in R23, which translates to about 3 and 9 points respectively. These are not differences that a user would notice in real-world rendering or video encoding. The i5-680, despite its larger L3 cache, cannot convert that capacity into a benchmark victory.

Single-core performance tells a similar story. The i3-3250T edges ahead by 0.8% in R20 single-core and 0.6% in R23 single-core. For older applications that rely heavily on single-threaded performance, the i3-3250T holds a slight theoretical edge, likely due to its newer architecture and higher IPC per clock. However, the i5-680 has a substantial base clock advantage: 3.60 GHz versus 3.00 GHz, plus a boost clock of 3.87 GHz that the i3-3250T lacks entirely. Despite that 0.6 to 0.87 GHz clock speed deficit, the i3-3250T still wins, which points to Ivy Bridge's architectural efficiency overcoming the raw frequency gap.

The i5-680 does have one clear advantage: power consumption is not one of them, as its 73 W TDP is more than double the 35 W TDP of the i3-3250T. That makes the i3-3250T the obvious choice for low-power builds, small form factor systems, or any scenario where heat and electricity draw matter. The i5-680, with its higher clocks, might appeal to users who want the fastest possible single-thread speed on an older platform, but the data does not show that speed translating into benchmark wins.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i3-3250T | Intel Core i5-680 |

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

| Base Clock | 3.00 GHz | 3.60 GHz |

| Boost Clock | None | 3.87 GHz |

| TDP | 35 W | 73 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1155 | Intel Socket 1156 |

| Architecture | Ivy Bridge | Westmere |

| Codename | Ivy Bridge | Clarkdale |

| Process Node | 22 nm | 32 nm |

| Transistors | Not recorded | 382 million |

| Die Size | 94 mm² | 81 mm² |

| L3 Cache | 3 MB (shared) | 4 MB (shared) |

| Memory Bandwidth | 25.6 GB/s | 21.3 GB/s |

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

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 2500 | Intel HD |

| Release Date | June 2013 | April 2010 |

| Launch MSRP | Not recorded | $294 |

The specification table highlights the generational divide. The i3-3250T is newer, denser, more power-efficient, and faster in memory bandwidth. The i5-680 counters with higher clocks, more L3 cache, and a smaller die. Neither chip supports ECC memory, and both are dual-core with four threads, so thread counts are identical.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core i3-3250T wins all multi-core tests in the database. It scores 945 versus 942 in Cinebench R20 multicore and 2252 versus 2243 in R23 multicore, representing deltas of 0.3% and 0.4% respectively.

Q: Does the i5-680's higher clock speed give it a single-core advantage?

A: No. Despite a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 3.87 GHz, the i5-680 loses single-core tests. The i3-3250T leads by 0.8% in R20 single-core (133 versus 132) and 0.6% in R23 single-core (318 versus 316).

Q: What is the power consumption difference?

A: The i3-3250T has a TDP of 35 W, while the i5-680 has a TDP of 73 W. The i3-3250T draws less than half the power of the i5-680.

Q: Are these CPUs compatible with the same motherboards?

A: No. The i3-3250T uses Intel Socket 1155, and the i5-680 uses Intel Socket 1156. They are not interchangeable.

Q: How do these chips compare to their nearest rivals?

A: The i3-3250T matches the Intel Celeron G5920 at an average score of 775, while the i5-680 trails that same Celeron by 0.4%. Both processors sit at the 21st percentile among all CPUs in the database.

Q: Which processor has more cache?

A: The i5-680 has 4 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i3-3250T has 3 MB. Both have 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear but unusual conclusion: the newer, lower-clocked i3-3250T outperforms the older, higher-clocked i5-680 in every recorded benchmark, but by margins that are practically invisible. The i3-3250T wins the head-to-head sweep with a maximum delta of just 0.8%, and its average benchmark score of 775 is only 3 points higher than the i5-680's 772. Neither chip escapes the 21st percentile, and both are end-of-life products.

For anyone building a system today, the i3-3250T is the better choice on nearly every front that matters: it draws 35 W versus 73 W, supports faster memory bandwidth at 25.6 GB/s versus 21.3 GB/s, uses a more modern 22 nm process, and offers PCIe Gen 3. The i5-680's only notable advantages are its higher base and boost clocks, its larger 4 MB L3 cache, and its smaller die size, none of which translate into a benchmark win.

The i5-680 might appeal to someone who already owns a Socket 1156 motherboard and wants the fastest drop-in upgrade available, since its 3.60 GHz base clock and 3.87 GHz boost clock are significantly higher than the i3-3250T's 3.00 GHz. But the data shows that clock speed advantage does not yield better Cinebench results. The i3-3250T is the pick for new builds, low-power systems, and anyone who wants the slight edge in both single-core and multi-core performance. The i5-680 is a relic of an older platform, and the benchmark results suggest it has been fully surpassed by its younger counterpart, even one with a lower clock speed and less cache.