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

The Intel Core i5-2405S and Intel Core i3-4130T are both end-of-life desktop processors that currently sit at the 27th percentile among all CPUs, yet they achieve this parity through entirely different means. The i5-2405S is a Sandy Bridge quad-core with a 2.50 GHz base clock and 3.30 GHz boost, while the i3-4130T is a Haswell dual-core with four threads running at a fixed 2.90 GHz. Across seven head-to-head benchmarks, the i5 wins five tests—all Cinebench variants—by margins between 18.4% and 18.8%. The i3 strikes back decisively in both Geekbench tests, winning single-core by 40.1% and multi-core by 20.3%. The data reveals a split personality: the older quad-core dominates synthetic render workloads, while the newer dual-core with Hyper-Threading excels in the Geekbench suite, suggesting different microarchitectural strengths that matter depending on the workload.

The Verdict

The benchmark data points to a clear but conditional recommendation. For users running Cinebench-style render workloads—whether R15, R20, or R23—the Intel Core i5-2405S is the stronger choice, with consistent leads of roughly 18% across all multicore and singlecore variants. Its four physical cores provide a raw throughput advantage that the i3-4130T cannot overcome despite its newer architecture. The i5-2405S scores 2,890 in Cinebench R23 multicore versus 2,440 for the i3-4130T, a difference of 450 points that represents an 18.4% lead.

Conversely, the Intel Core i3-4130T is the pick for Geekbench-oriented workloads. Its single-core score of 903 crushes the i5-2405S’s 541, a staggering 40.1% advantage. The multi-core Geekbench result also favors the i3, 1,787 versus 1,425, a 20.3% lead. This suggests that the Haswell architecture’s per-core efficiency—despite having only two physical cores—translates into superior performance in Geekbench’s test methodology. The i3 also does this with a 35W TDP versus the i5’s 65W, making it the more power-efficient option in the data.

The average benchmark scores are nearly identical—991 for the i5 versus 984 for the i3—placing both at the 27th percentile. The nearest rivals for the i5 include the Intel Core i7-960 and Xeon W3565 at 993 average score (0.2% higher), while the i3’s nearest rival is the Core i7-875K at 984 (exactly even). Neither processor shows a decisive overall advantage, so the verdict hinges on workload: render-heavy tasks favor the i5-2405S, while Geekbench-style tests favor the i3-4130T.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations and manufacturing nodes. The i5-2405S is built on Sandy Bridge at 32 nm with 1,160 million transistors on a 216 mm² die, while the i3-4130T uses Haswell at 22 nm with 1,400 million transistors on a smaller 177 mm² die. The newer process node gives the i3 a denser, more modern transistor layout, which partially explains its per-core efficiency advantage in Geekbench.

Core counts differ fundamentally: the i5 has four physical cores with four threads, while the i3 has two physical cores with four threads via Hyper-Threading. Cache configurations also diverge—the i5 has 6 MB of shared L3 cache, whereas the i3 has only 3 MB shared. Both use 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core. The i5’s larger L3 cache benefits multi-threaded workloads that need more shared data storage, which aligns with its Cinebench dominance.

Memory support is identical in type—DDR3, dual-channel—but the PCIe implementation differs slightly: the i5 specifies "Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only)" while the i3 lists simply "Gen 3." Integrated graphics also differ: the i5 uses Intel HD 3000, the i3 uses Intel HD 4400, a newer generation with likely better media capabilities. The sockets are incompatible—LGA 1155 for the i5 versus LGA 1150 for the i3—so platform choice is dictated by the motherboard.

The i5 has a boost clock of 3.30 GHz, while the i3 has no boost capability, running at a fixed 2.90 GHz. This means the i5 can raise its clock speed under load, whereas the i3 is locked at its base frequency. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking is not an option for either. Both lack ECC memory support.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-2405S wins all five Cinebench benchmarks, which are render-based tests that stress raw computational throughput. In Cinebench R15 multicore, it scores 291 against 245 for the i3, an 18.8% lead. In R20 multicore, the margin is 18.5% (1,213 versus 1,024). Even in singlecore Cinebench tests—where the i3’s newer architecture might be expected to help—the i5 wins by 18.8% in R20 singlecore (171 versus 144) and 18.6% in R23 singlecore (408 versus 344). This consistent pattern suggests that Cinebench’s scoring favors the i5’s four physical cores and higher boost clock of 3.30 GHz over the i3’s two cores with Hyper-Threading at 2.90 GHz.

The Intel Core i3-4130T wins both Geekbench tests, and wins them decisively. The single-core Geekbench score of 903 versus 541 represents a 40.1% advantage, the largest margin in the entire head-to-head comparison. Multi-core Geekbench also goes to the i3, 1,787 versus 1,425, a 20.3% lead. This indicates that Geekbench’s testing methodology rewards the Haswell architecture’s improved instruction handling and per-clock performance, even with fewer physical cores. The i3’s 22 nm process and 1,400 million transistors suggest a more efficient design that executes single-threaded tasks much faster.

The wins break down to 5 for the i5 and 2 for the i3. Users prioritizing render performance in applications like Cinebench should choose the i5-2405S. Those whose workloads resemble Geekbench’s synthetic tests—which often include compression, encryption, and physics simulations—would see better results from the i3-4130T. The i3 also carries a lower 35W TDP, making it preferable for power-constrained builds, though the data does not include thermal performance measurements.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The Intel Core i5-2405S scores 2,890 versus 2,440 for the Intel Core i3-4130T, an 18.4% advantage. This is consistent with the i5 winning all five Cinebench tests in the head-to-head comparison.

Q: Why does the i3-4130T win Geekbench single-core by such a large margin?

A: The i3-4130T scores 903 in Geekbench single-core against 541 for the i5-2405S, a 40.1% lead. The data shows the i3 is built on the newer 22 nm Haswell architecture with 1,400 million transistors, which likely provides better per-core execution efficiency despite having only two physical cores.

Q: Do both processors have the same overall performance level?

A: Yes, nearly identical. The i5-2405S has an average benchmark score of 991, and the i3-4130T has 984. Both sit at the 27th percentile among all CPUs. Their nearest rivals differ: the i5’s closest competitor is the Intel Core i7-960 at 993 (0.2% higher), while the i3’s is the Core i7-875K at 984 (exactly even).

Q: Which processor has more physical cores?

A: The Intel Core i5-2405S has four physical cores with four threads. The Intel Core i3-4130T has two physical cores but uses Hyper-Threading to achieve four threads. This core count difference helps explain the i5’s Cinebench wins.

Q: Is the i3-4130T more power-efficient?

A: Based on TDP ratings, yes. The i3-4130T has a 35W TDP, while the i5-2405S has a 65W TDP. The i3 achieves this lower power draw while still delivering competitive overall benchmark scores.

Q: Can either processor be overclocked?

A: No. Both the i5-2405S and i3-4130T have locked multipliers (multiplierUnlocked is false for both). The i5 does have a boost clock of 3.30 GHz, but the i3 has no boost capability, running at a fixed 2.90 GHz.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most lopsided result in the comparison is Geekbench single-core, where the i3-4130T wins by 40.1%—a delta of 362 points (903 versus 541). This is the clearest signal that Haswell’s microarchitecture delivers substantially better single-threaded performance than Sandy Bridge. The i5’s boost clock of 3.30 GHz cannot compensate for the architectural generational leap.

The i5-2405S’s biggest win comes in Cinebench R23 multicore, where it scores 2,890 versus 2,440, an 18.4% margin of 450 points. This is the largest absolute point difference in the Cinebench series. The i5 also wins Cinebench R15 multicore by 18.8% (291 versus 245) and R20 multicore by 18.5% (1,213 versus 1,024), showing remarkable consistency across Cinebench versions.

In singlecore Cinebench tests, the i5 maintains its edge despite the i3’s architectural advantages. Cinebench R20 singlecore shows 171 versus 144 (18.8% delta), and R23 singlecore shows 408 versus 344 (18.6% delta). This contradicts the Geekbench single-core result, suggesting that Cinebench’s single-threaded workload responds differently to the i5’s four-core setup and higher boost clock than Geekbench’s tests do.

Geekbench multicore is the other i3 win, with 1,787 versus 1,425, a 20.3% margin of 362 points. Interestingly, this multi-core win for the i3 occurs despite having only two physical cores, whereas the i5 has four. The i3’s Hyper-Threading to four threads, combined with its newer architecture, proves sufficient to outperform the i5’s four physical cores in this test.

Overall, the i5-2405S wins five of seven benchmarks, but the i3-4130T wins the two with the largest margins. The average benchmark scores are nearly tied (991 versus 984), and both processors sit at the same 27th percentile. The data suggests that the choice between these two depends entirely on whether the workload resembles Cinebench (favoring the i5) or Geekbench (favoring the i3).

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every fundamental specification except memory support and manufacturer. Core count is the most obvious distinction: the i5-2405S has four cores and four threads, while the i3-4130T has two cores and four threads. Base clocks differ by 0.40 GHz—2.50 GHz for the i5 versus 2.90 GHz for the i3—but the i5 adds a 3.30 GHz boost clock that the i3 lacks entirely.

TDP is dramatically different: 65W for the i5 versus 35W for the i3, reflecting the i3’s newer 22 nm process node. The i5 uses a larger 216 mm² die with 1,160 million transistors, while the i3’s die is 177 mm² with 1,400 million transistors—more transistors in a smaller area. L3 cache is 6 MB shared on the i5 versus 3 MB shared on the i3, a 3 MB difference.

Sockets are incompatible: LGA 1155 for the i5, LGA 1150 for the i3. The i5 specifies PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i3 lists only "Gen 3" without lane details. Integrated graphics differ: Intel HD 3000 on the i5 versus Intel HD 4400 on the i3. Release dates are two years apart: May 2011 for the i5, August 2013 for the i3. Part numbers are SR0BB for the i5 and SR1NN for the i3. Both support DDR3 dual-channel memory, both lack ECC support, and both have locked multipliers. The i5 is explicitly marked end-of-life, while the i3’s production status is not specified.