CPU Comparison
Intel Core i3-4170
Core i5-2400
PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS
Analysis: Intel Core i3-4170 vs Intel Core i5-2400
Head-to-Head Benchmarks
The benchmark comparison between the Intel Core i3-4170 and Intel Core i5-2400 reveals a clear split: the older Sandy Bridge i5 dominates heavily in multi-threaded Cinebench workloads, while the newer Haswell i3 wins decisively in Geekbench single-core testing. Out of seven head-to-head tests, the i5-2400 takes five wins, but the margin in its victories is consistently modest, hovering around 7%, whereas the i3-4170's single-core Geekbench advantage is a massive 63.7% delta.
Starting with the multi-core Cinebench suite, the i5-2400 leads across every iteration. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i5 scores 329 against the i3's 306, a 7% advantage. The pattern repeats in Cinebench R20 multicore (1374 vs 1275, a 7.2% lead) and Cinebench R23 multicore (3272 vs 3038, also 7.2%). The i5's four physical cores provide a structural edge over the i3's two cores plus Hyper-Threading, and the benchmark data confirms that edge is real but not overwhelming. Interestingly, the i5-2400 also wins in the single-core Cinebench R20 and R23 tests, scoring 194 vs 180 (7.2% ahead) and 462 vs 429 (7.1% ahead), respectively. This is notable because the i3-4170 has a higher base clock (3.70 GHz vs 3.10 GHz) and a newer architecture, yet the i5's Turbo Boost to 3.40 GHz apparently closes the gap in these specific workloads.
The Geekbench results tell a different story. In Geekbench multicore, the i3-4170 edges out the i5-2400 by a razor-thin 1.1%, scoring 2033 to 2011. This is a narrow victory, but it shows that the i3's two cores with four threads can nearly match the i5's four cores in at least one multi-threaded test. The real outlier is Geekbench single-core: the i3-4170 scores 1090 against the i5-2400's 666, a staggering 63.7% delta. This is the single largest performance gap in the entire comparison, and it underscores how far Haswell's per-core efficiency has come relative to Sandy Bridge. For any workload that is heavily dependent on single-threaded performance, the i3-4170 is in a different league.
The average benchmark scores reflect this mixed picture. The i3-4170 carries an average benchmark score of 1193, while the i5-2400 sits at 1187, a difference of only 0.5%, which is within the margin of error for most testing methodologies. Both CPUs occupy the 33rd percentile among all CPUs, meaning they are statistically equivalent in overall performance when averaged across diverse workloads. The nearest rivals for the i3-4170 include the AMD Athlon PRO 300U and Intel Core i7-8665UE, both with identical average scores of 1193 and 0% delta, while the i5-2400's nearest rival list includes the i3-4170 itself at a -0.5% delta, confirming their near-parity in aggregate performance.
FAQ
Q: Which processor wins more benchmark tests against the other?
A: The Intel Core i5-2400 wins 5 of the 7 head-to-head tests, while the Intel Core i3-4170 wins 2. However, the i5's victories are all in the 7-7.2% range, whereas the i3's single-core Geekbench win is a 63.7% blowout.
Q: Is the i3-4170's higher base clock speed enough to beat the i5-2400 in single-core workloads?
A: Not in Cinebench. Despite the i3's 3.70 GHz base clock versus the i5's 3.10 GHz base and 3.40 GHz boost, the i5-2400 still leads in Cinebench R20 single-core (194 vs 180) and R23 single-core (462 vs 429) by about 7%. Only in Geekbench single-core does the i3 take a commanding lead (1090 vs 666).
Q: How does the multi-core performance compare between the two CPUs?
A: The i5-2400 leads in all three multi-core Cinebench tests (R15, R20, R23) by roughly 7%. However, in Geekbench multicore, the i3-4170 wins narrowly at 2033 vs 2011, a 1.1% margin that is essentially a statistical tie.
Q: What are the average benchmark scores for both processors?
A: The i3-4170 has an average benchmark score of 1193, and the i5-2400 has an average of 1187. The difference is 0.5%, placing both at the 33rd percentile among all CPUs.
Q: Do both processors have the same production status and market segment?
A: Yes, both are Desktop CPUs with an End-of-life production status. The i3-4170 was released on 2014-04-30, while the i5-2400 was released on 2011-01-08.
Q: Which processor has the higher single-core Geekbench score?
A: The i3-4170, with a score of 1090, is 63.7% higher than the i5-2400's 666. This is the largest performance delta in the entire head-to-head comparison.
Architecture Differences
The architectural gap between these two processors spans three generations of Intel design. The i3-4170 is built on the Haswell architecture using a 22 nm process node, while the i5-2400 is a Sandy Bridge part fabricated on a 32 nm node. This process shrink allows the Haswell chip to pack 1,400 million transistors into a 177 mm² die, compared to the Sandy Bridge's 1,160 million transistors on a larger 216 mm² die. The result is that the i3-4170 achieves higher transistor density and better power efficiency per unit area.
Core and thread configurations differ fundamentally. The i3-4170 features 2 physical cores with 4 threads via Hyper-Threading, whereas the i5-2400 offers 4 physical cores with 4 threads and no Hyper-Threading. This explains why the i5 generally wins in multi-threaded Cinebench tests, it has double the physical cores, but also why the i3 can sometimes match it in Geekbench multicore, as its Hyper-Threading helps extract more work from each core.
Cache hierarchies also diverge. Both CPUs share the same L1 cache size at 64 KB per core and L2 at 256 KB per core. However, the L3 cache is doubled in the i5-2400: 6 MB shared versus 3 MB shared on the i3-4170. This larger L3 pool benefits the i5 in workloads with moderate data reuse, though the data shows it does not translate into a decisive multi-core advantage.
Memory support is identical in type (DDR3) and channel configuration (dual-channel), but the i3-4170 lists a memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s while the i5-2400's memory bandwidth figure is not specified in the data. Both CPUs run on the same PCIe configuration: Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics differ significantly: the i3-4170 ships with Intel HD 4400, while the i5-2400 has Intel HD 2000, indicating a generational improvement in GPU capabilities.
Power characteristics reflect the architectural differences. The i3-4170 has a TDP of 54 watts, while the i5-2400 consumes 95 watts, a 76% higher thermal envelope. This is partly due to the i5's four physical cores and partly due to the older 32 nm process being less efficient. The i3-4170's transistor count is higher (1,400 million vs 1,160 million) despite the smaller die, which speaks to the density improvements of 22 nm lithography. Both processors use the same socket family family? No, the i3-4170 uses Intel Socket 1150, while the i5-2400 uses Intel Socket 1155, meaning they are not interchangeable in the same motherboard.
Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking is not supported on either. The i3-4170 has a part number of SR1PL and a launch MSRP of $117, while the i5-2400's part number is SR00Q and its launch MSRP is not provided in the data. The i3-4170 also has a base clock of 3.70 GHz with no boost clock, while the i5-2400 has a base clock of 3.10 GHz and a boost clock of 3.40 GHz.
The Verdict
The data supports a clear split decision. For users who prioritize multi-threaded rendering workloads, as represented by Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, the Intel Core i5-2400 is the stronger choice. Its four physical cores consistently deliver a 7% advantage across all three Cinebench multi-core tests, and it also wins the single-core Cinebench tests by a similar margin. The i5-2400's larger 6 MB L3 cache and higher core count provide a structural benefit that the i3-4170 cannot overcome in these benchmarks.
However, for users whose primary workloads are single-threaded and latency-sensitive, such as certain legacy applications, emulators, or lightly-threaded productivity tools, the Intel Core i3-4170 is the clear winner. Its 63.7% lead in Geekbench single-core is massive, and it also narrowly wins Geekbench multicore (2033 vs 2011). The i3-4170's higher base clock (3.70 GHz) and newer Haswell architecture give it a per-core performance advantage that is decisive in the right context.
The aggregate benchmark scores tell a story of near-parity: 1193 for the i3-4170 versus 1187 for the i5-2400, both at the 33rd percentile. The i5-2400 wins more individual tests (5 vs 2), but the i3-4170 wins the largest single margin. If forced to choose based purely on the data, the i5-2400 offers more consistent multi-core performance, while the i3-4170 offers a singular single-core spike. The i3-4170 also consumes significantly less power (54W vs 95W TDP), which may be a deciding factor for compact or thermally constrained systems. Ultimately, the choice depends on whether the user's workload leans toward the i5's multi-core consistency or the i3's single-core dominance.
Specification Differences
| Specification | Intel Core i3-4170 | Intel Core i5-2400 |
|----------------|--------------------|--------------------|
| Cores | 2 | 4 |
| Threads | 4 | 4 |
| Base Clock | 3.70 GHz | 3.10 GHz |
| Boost Clock | None | 3.40 GHz |
| TDP | 54 W | 95 W |
| Socket | Intel Socket 1150 | Intel Socket 1155 |
| Architecture | Haswell | Sandy Bridge |
| Codename | Haswell | Sandy Bridge |
| Generation | Core i3 (Haswell) | Core i5 (Sandy Bridge) |
| Process Node | 22 nm | 32 nm |
| Transistors | 1,400 million | 1,160 million |
| Die Size | 177 mm² | 216 mm² |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (shared) | 6 MB (shared) |
| Memory Bandwidth | 25.6 GB/s | Not specified |
| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 4400 | Intel HD 2000 |
| Release Date | 2014-04-30 | 2011-01-08 |
| Launch MSRP | $117 | Not specified |
| Part Number | SR1PL | SR00Q |
The two CPUs share identical L1 and L2 cache sizes (64 KB and 256 KB per core, respectively), both support DDR3 memory in dual-channel mode, both use PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), both lack ECC memory support, neither has an unlocked multiplier, and both are end-of-life desktop parts. The key differentiators are the core count, process node, cache allocation, TDP, socket compatibility, and the presence of a boost clock on the i5-2400 versus a higher base clock on the i3-4170.