Intel Core i3-4130 vs Intel Core i5-2405S Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a consistent, though narrow, sweep for the Intel Core i5-2405S across every shared Cinebench test. In the Cinebench R15 multicore workload, the i5-2405S scores 291 against the i3-4130's 285, a delta of -2.1% from the i3's perspective. That is a slim margin, roughly a 2% advantage for the older quad-core part in this rendering test.

Moving to Cinebench R20 multicore, the i5-2405S posts 1213 while the i3-4130 reaches 1189, a -2% delta. The pattern repeats in the R23 multicore run: 2890 for the i5-2405S versus 2833 for the i3-4130, again a -2% gap. These multicore results are notable because the i5-2405S carries four physical cores against the i3-4130's two cores with Hyper-Threading, yet the advantage stays under 3% in every case.

Single-core tests tell a similar story. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the i5-2405S scores 171, the i3-4130 scores 168, a -1.8% delta. The R23 single-core run shows 408 versus 400, a -2% delta. This is a surprising outcome given the architectural gap: the i5-2405S is built on the older Sandy Bridge node, while the i3-4130 uses Haswell. The Haswell part's newer design should give it a per-clock advantage, but the recorded scores show the older chip edging ahead even in single-threaded tasks.

The head-to-head tally is decisive in one sense: the i5-2405S wins all five recorded comparisons. Yet the margins are uniformly small, ranging from -1.8% to -2.1%. No test shows either processor breaking away from the other. The i3-4130's average benchmark score across all recorded tests (including those not in the head-to-head set) is 975, while the i5-2405S averages 991, a 16-point overall gap that aligns with the individual test deltas.

The i5-2405S also has a Geekbench result in its favor, with a multicore score of 1425 and a single-core score of 541. The i3-4130 has no recorded Geekbench entries in the database, so direct comparison on that test is impossible. Still, the available Cinebench data leaves no ambiguity: the i5-2405S is the faster part in every shared workload, but only by a hair.

The Verdict

From the recorded data, the Intel Core i5-2405S is the pick for anyone chasing the highest scores in the benchmark suite. It wins all five head-to-head tests, holds a higher average benchmark score (991 versus 975), and sits at the 27th percentile among all CPUs in the database, one point above the i3-4130's 26th percentile. The margins are small, but they are consistent and never favor the i3-4130.

The i3-4130 is not without merit in this comparison. It matches the i5-2405S's nearest rivals in average score: the database lists the AMD Athlon X4 840, Intel Core i3-4150T, and AMD A10-7870K all at 975, exactly matching the i3-4130's average. The i5-2405S, by contrast, sits alongside the Intel Core i7-960, Core i7-965, Xeon W3565, and AMD Phenom II X6 1065T, all at 993, which is only 2 points above its 991 average. This places the i5-2405S in the company of older high-end six-core and quad-core parts, while the i3-4130 competes with lower-tier dual-core and quad-core chips.

Benchmark results indicate that the i5-2405S is the stronger processor for compute-heavy workloads, even though its architecture is a generation older. The i3-4130's advantage lies elsewhere: it is a newer design, on a smaller process node, with a lower TDP, and it remains in active production. For raw performance, the data points to the i5-2405S. For efficiency and platform currency, the i3-4130 has the edge. Neither part dominates the other in a way that would make the choice obvious without considering the specific workload.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel microarchitectures. The i3-4130 is built on Haswell, the i5-2405S on Sandy Bridge. This architectural gap explains several measured differences even though the benchmark scores are close.

The process node differs significantly. The i3-4130 uses a 22 nm process, while the i5-2405S uses a larger 32 nm process. The transistor counts reflect this: the i3-4130 packs 1,400 million transistors into a 177 mm² die, while the i5-2405S contains 1,160 million transistors on a larger 216 mm² die. The Haswell part achieves a higher transistor density on a smaller physical footprint, which contributes to its lower 54 W TDP against the i5-2405S's 65 W.

Core and thread configuration diverges sharply. The i3-4130 has 2 cores and 4 threads, relying on Hyper-Threading to reach four logical processors. The i5-2405S has 4 physical cores and 4 threads, with no Hyper-Threading. This means the i5-2405S executes four threads on dedicated hardware, while the i3-4130 shares two execution units across four threads. In heavily threaded workloads, the i5-2405S's physical core count should theoretically provide an advantage, and the recorded multicore scores confirm a slight edge, though not a large one.

Cache hierarchies differ as well. Both parts have 64 KB of L1 per core and 256 KB of L2 per core. The shared L3 cache, however, is double on the i5-2405S: 6 MB shared versus 3 MB shared on the i3-4130. This larger L3 pool likely helps the i5-2405S keep more working data on-chip, partially compensating for its older architecture.

Integrated graphics also differ. The i3-4130 carries Intel HD 4400, while the i5-2405S has Intel HD 3000. The database does not include graphics benchmarks, so no performance comparison is possible from the recorded data. The socket changes as well: the i3-4130 uses Intel Socket 1150, the i5-2405S uses Intel Socket 1155, meaning they are not interchangeable on the same motherboard.

Specification Differences

Only the fields where the two differ are listed here. The i3-4130 has 2 cores and 4 threads; the i5-2405S has 4 cores and 4 threads. Base clocks differ: 3.40 GHz for the i3-4130 versus 2.50 GHz for the i5-2405S. The i5-2405S adds a boost clock of 3.30 GHz, while the i3-4130 has no boost clock recorded.

TDP is lower on the i3-4130 at 54 W, versus 65 W for the i5-2405S. The socket is different: Socket 1150 for the i3-4130, Socket 1155 for the i5-2405S. Process node is 22 nm for the i3-4130, 32 nm for the i5-2405S. 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, 6 MB shared on the i5-2405S. Integrated graphics are Intel HD 4400 on the i3-4130, Intel HD 3000 on the i5-2405S. PCIe support is recorded as Gen 3 for the i3-4130, while the i5-2405S lists Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), a more specific designation. Production status differs: the i3-4130 is Active, the i5-2405S is End-of-life. Release dates are 2013-08-31 for the i3-4130 and 2011-05-21 for the i5-2405S. Part numbers are SR1NP for the i3-4130 and SR0BB for the i5-2405S.

Both parts share DDR3 memory support, dual-channel memory bus, no ECC memory support, and locked multipliers. Neither has a launch MSRP recorded in the database.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more physical cores?

A: The Intel Core i5-2405S has 4 physical cores and 4 threads. The Intel Core i3-4130 has 2 physical cores and 4 threads, using Hyper-Threading to reach four logical threads.

Q: How much faster is the i5-2405S in the Cinebench R23 multicore test?

A: The i5-2405S scores 2890, while the i3-4130 scores 2833. This is a -2% delta from the i3-4130's perspective, meaning the i5-2405S is about 2% faster.

Q: Does the i3-4130 win any head-to-head benchmark?

A: No. The recorded head-to-head data shows the i5-2405S winning all five shared tests, with no wins recorded for the i3-4130.

Q: What is the average benchmark score difference between the two?

A: The i5-2405S has an average benchmark score of 991, while the i3-4130 has an average of 975. The i5-2405S is ahead by 16 points.

Q: Which processor has a smaller manufacturing process?

A: The i3-4130 is built on a 22 nm process, while the i5-2405S uses a 32 nm process. The i3-4130 also has a smaller die at 177 mm² versus 216 mm².

Q: Can these two processors be used on the same motherboard?

A: No. The i3-4130 uses Intel Socket 1150, and the i5-2405S uses Intel Socket 1155. They are not socket-compatible.

Where Each One Wins

The i5-2405S wins in raw compute performance across every recorded benchmark. Its five straight head-to-head victories, including both single-core and multicore Cinebench tests, make it the choice for rendering, video encoding, and any workload that scales with thread count. The 4 physical cores and 6 MB of shared L3 cache give it an edge in sustained multi-threaded tasks, even if that edge is only around 2%. Its higher average benchmark score (991 versus 975) and higher percentile ranking (27th versus 26th) reinforce this position.

The i3-4130 wins on platform modernity and efficiency. It is built on the 22 nm Haswell architecture, which delivers a lower 54 W TDP versus the i5-2405S's 65 W. It uses the newer Socket 1150, and it is still in active production, while the i5-2405S is end-of-life. The i3-4130 also has a higher base clock (3.40 GHz versus 2.50 GHz) and a smaller die (177 mm² versus 216 mm²), which may appeal to builders looking for a current, power-efficient part rather than peak performance.

For buyers with an existing Socket 1155 motherboard, the i5-2405S is the clear performance upgrade between these two, given its benchmark sweep. For buyers starting fresh on Socket 1150, the i3-4130 offers a path to a newer platform, though the recorded data shows it will trail the i5-2405S in compute speed by a narrow margin. The choice comes down to whether the user prioritizes the 2% performance advantage of the i5-2405S or the architectural and efficiency benefits of the i3-4130.