CPU Comparison

# Intel Core i3-4130 vs Intel Core i5-2400S

The Intel Core i3-4130 and Intel Core i5-2400S are two desktop processors from different eras of Intel's lineup, and the benchmark data shows a clear overall winner despite the i5's advantage in physical core count. The i3-4130 wins all five head-to-head Cinebench comparisons, with margins ranging from 8.8% to 9.1% across multi-core and single-core tests. Both CPUs sit at the 26th percentile among all CPUs, meaning they are statistically peers in the broader market, but the i3-4130's newer architecture translates into a consistent performance edge in every measured workload. The i5-2400S does have a boost clock advantage on paper, but that does not overcome the generational IPC gains of Haswell over Sandy Bridge in the actual benchmark results.

The Verdict

The data points to the Intel Core i3-4130 as the better choice for nearly any use case where these two are being compared. It wins every single benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, making it the straightforward recommendation for anyone building or upgrading a desktop system. The i3-4130's wins are not narrow either, it leads by 8.8% in Cinebench R15 multi-core, 8.9% in Cinebench R20 multi-core, 9.1% in Cinebench R20 single-core, 8.9% in Cinebench R23 multi-core, and 9% in Cinebench R23 single-core. Those are consistent, meaningful margins that show up across both single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads.

The i5-2400S should only be considered if you have a specific reason to use an LGA 1155 platform, such as an existing motherboard. Its four physical cores versus the i3's two cores and four threads do not translate into a win in any tested scenario. The average benchmark scores reflect this too: the i3-4130 averages 975 across all benchmarks, while the i5-2400S averages 968. The i5-2400S is also listed as end-of-life production status, whereas the i3-4130 is still active, which matters for long-term availability. For a new build, the i3-4130 is the clear pick. For a drop-in upgrade into an older LGA 1155 board, the i5-2400S remains a functional option, but the data shows it is slower in every measured category.

Where Each One Wins

The i3-4130 wins everywhere in the benchmark suite, but the nature of those wins differs by workload type. In single-core tests, the i3-4130's advantage is largest in relative terms, a 9.1% lead in Cinebench R20 single-core and 9% in R23 single-core. This points to the Haswell architecture's superior per-thread execution, which matters for older games, lightly threaded applications, and general desktop responsiveness. The i3-4130 also holds a 3.40 GHz base clock with no boost, which is already higher than the i5-2400S's 2.50 GHz base clock. Even when the i5-2400S boosts to 3.30 GHz, it still cannot match the i3-4130's single-core output.

In multi-core tests, the i3-4130's lead narrows slightly but remains solid: 8.8% in R15, 8.9% in R20, and 8.9% in R23. This is notable because the i5-2400S has four physical cores while the i3-4130 has only two cores with Hyper-Threading. The fact that the i3-4130 still wins multi-core by nearly 9% shows that its per-thread efficiency and higher base clock more than compensate for the i5's extra physical cores. The i5-2400S's boost clock of 3.30 GHz cannot be sustained across all four cores in the same way the i3-4130's 3.40 GHz runs on both cores, which partially explains the result.

The i5-2400S does have a Geekbench multi-core score of 1709 and single-core score of 593, but the i3-4130 has no Geekbench entries in the fact pack, so a direct comparison there is not possible. The only place the i5-2400S could claim an advantage is in scenarios not covered by the benchmark suite, such as workloads that specifically benefit from four independent cores without Hyper-Threading overhead, but no such test is in the data.

Architecture Differences

The i3-4130 is built on the Haswell architecture using a 22 nm process node from Intel, while the i5-2400S uses the older Sandy Bridge architecture on a 32 nm node. This process shrink is a fundamental difference: Haswell packs 1,400 million transistors into a 177 mm² die, whereas Sandy Bridge fits 1,160 million transistors into a larger 216 mm² die. The newer process allows for better power efficiency and higher clock speeds at lower power consumption, which is reflected in the i3-4130's 54 W TDP versus the i5-2400S's 65 W TDP.

Cache configurations differ substantially. The i3-4130 has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 3 MB of shared L3 cache. The i5-2400S also has 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, but doubles the shared L3 to 6 MB. Despite having twice the L3 cache, the i5-2400S still loses in all benchmarks, indicating that the i3-4130's architectural efficiency matters more than raw cache size in these workloads.

Socket compatibility is a major divider. The i3-4130 uses Intel Socket 1150, while the i5-2400S uses Intel Socket 1155. These are not interchangeable, so the motherboard dictates which CPU you can use. The i3-4130 belongs to the Core i3 (Haswell) generation, and the i5-2400S belongs to the Core i5 (Sandy Bridge) generation. The i3-4130 features Intel HD 4400 integrated graphics, whereas the i5-2400S has Intel HD 2000, a significant generational leap in iGPU capability, though neither is meant for serious gaming.

Both CPUs support DDR3 memory in dual-channel configuration, and neither supports ECC. Both use PCIe Gen 3, though the i5-2400S's listing specifies "16 Lanes (CPU only)" while the i3-4130's is simply "Gen 3." Neither has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking is not an option on either. The i5-2400S has a boost clock of 3.30 GHz, while the i3-4130 has no boost clock at all, it runs at a fixed 3.40 GHz. The i3-4130 was released in 2013, and the i5-2400S in 2011.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core i3-4130 wins all three multi-core Cinebench tests, with leads of 8.8% in R15, 8.9% in R20, and 8.9% in R23. Despite having only two physical cores versus the i5-2400S's four, the i3-4130's higher base clock and newer architecture win out.

Q: Does the i5-2400S's four physical cores give it an advantage?

A: No benchmark in the fact pack shows that advantage. The i5-2400S loses every head-to-head test. The i3-4130's Hyper-Threading provides four threads, and its per-thread performance is sufficient to beat the i5-2400S even in multi-threaded tests.

Q: Are these CPUs compatible with the same motherboards?

A: No. The i3-4130 uses Intel Socket 1150, while the i5-2400S uses Intel Socket 1155. They require different motherboards, so you cannot swap one for the other without changing the board.

Q: Which CPU has better single-threaded performance?

A: The i3-4130 leads by 9.1% in Cinebench R20 single-core and 9% in R23 single-core. Its 3.40 GHz base clock is higher than the i5-2400S's 3.30 GHz boost clock, and the Haswell architecture is more efficient per clock.

Q: What is the power consumption difference?

A: The i3-4130 has a TDP of 54 W, while the i5-2400S has a TDP of 65 W. The i3-4130 draws less power while delivering better performance.

Q: Which CPU has more cache?

A: The i5-2400S has 6 MB of shared L3 cache, twice the 3 MB in the i3-4130. Both have the same per-core L1 and L2 cache sizes. Despite the cache deficit, the i3-4130 is faster in every benchmark.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench R15 multi-core test sets the tone: the i3-4130 scores 285 against the i5-2400S's 262, an 8.8% win. This is the smallest margin of the five tests, but it is still a comfortable lead. The R20 multi-core test shows a nearly identical story, with the i3-4130 at 1189 and the i5-2400S at 1092, an 8.9% advantage. The R23 multi-core test repeats the pattern: 2833 for the i3-4130 versus 2601 for the i5-2400S, again 8.9% ahead.

Single-core results are where the i3-4130 stretches its lead. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the i3-4130 scores 168 against the i5-2400S's 154, a 9.1% margin, the largest of any test. The R23 single-core test shows 400 versus 367, a 9% lead. These single-core margins matter because they indicate how each CPU handles tasks that cannot use multiple threads, such as legacy software or certain game engines.

The i5-2400S's only other benchmark scores are in Geekbench, where it posts 1709 multi-core and 593 single-core. No corresponding Geekbench scores exist for the i3-4130 in the data, so those cannot be compared directly. The head-to-head table lists five tests, and the i3-4130 wins all five. The i5-2400S records zero wins in the comparison.

Looking at the broader competitive landscape, the i3-4130's average benchmark score of 975 puts it exactly level with the AMD Athlon X4 840, Intel Core i3-4150T, and AMD A10-7870K, and just 0.1% ahead of the Intel Core i5-5257U. The i5-2400S's average of 968 puts it 0.1% behind the AMD Ryzen 7 3700U and Intel Xeon X5570, and 0.2% ahead of the Intel Celeron N5100. In other words, both CPUs sit in a crowded performance band where small architectural differences decide the pecking order, and the i3-4130 is on the winning side of that divide against the i5-2400S.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs differ in nearly every major specification category. The i3-4130 has 2 cores and 4 threads, while the i5-2400S has 4 cores and 4 threads. The i3-4130 runs at a fixed 3.40 GHz base clock with no boost, while the i5-2400S has a 2.50 GHz base clock and a 3.30 GHz boost clock. The i3-4130's TDP is 54 W, the i5-2400S's is 65 W. The i3-4130 uses Intel Socket 1150, the i5-2400S uses Intel Socket 1155.

The architecture is different: Haswell versus Sandy Bridge. The process node is 22 nm for the i3-4130 and 32 nm for the i5-2400S. Transistor count is 1,400 million versus 1,160 million, and die size is 177 mm² versus 216 mm². L3 cache is 3 MB shared on the i3-4130 and 6 MB shared on the i5-2400S. L1 and L2 cache are identical at 64 KB and 256 KB per core, respectively.

Integrated graphics differ: the i3-4130 has Intel HD 4400, the i5-2400S has Intel HD 2000. The i3-4130 is listed as active in production, while the i5-2400S is end-of-life. The i3-4130 was released in 2013, the i5-2400S in 2011. Both support DDR3 memory in dual-channel, both lack ECC support, and both use PCIe Gen 3, though the i5-2400S specifies 16 lanes (CPU only). Neither CPU has an unlocked multiplier. The i3-4130 has part number SR1NP, and the i5-2400S has part number SR00S.