Intel Core i3-4340 vs Intel Core i5-2300 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a consistent, though narrow, advantage for the Intel Core i3-4340 across every recorded Cinebench test. In the Cinebench R15 multi-core test, the i3-4340 scores 300 against the i5-2300's 296, a 1.4% lead. That margin narrows slightly in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the i3-4340 posts 1252 versus 1237, a 1.2% difference. The pattern holds in Cinebench R23 multi-core: 2983 for the i3-4340 and 2947 for the i5-2300, again a 1.2% gap. Every win goes to the i3-4340, with a total of 5 wins and 0 for the i5-2300 in the head-to-head comparison.

Single-core results follow the same direction. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the i3-4340 scores 176, while the i5-2300 scores 174, a 1.1% advantage. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 421 versus 416, a 1.2% lead. The largest relative difference across all tests is the R15 multi-core result at 1.4%, but even that is a slim margin. These are not dramatic victories; they are consistent, small edges that suggest the i3-4340 holds a slight performance lead in every workload measured.

The average benchmark score reinforces this. The i3-4340 has an average score of 1026 across its benchmark suite, while the i5-2300 averages 1014. That is a 12-point difference, or roughly 1.2%, which aligns with the head-to-head deltas. Both processors sit at the 28th percentile among all CPUs in the database, meaning they are statistically equivalent in overall ranking despite the i3-4340's per-test wins.

For context, the i3-4340's nearest rivals include the Intel Processor N150 with an average score of 1025 (0.1% delta) and the Intel Core i7-5650U at 1027 (-0.1% delta). The i5-2300's nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon W5580 at 1012 (0.2% delta) and the Intel Core i3-4160 at 1017 (-0.3% delta). These rival comparisons show that both CPUs are clustered tightly with other mid-range desktop and mobile parts, making their head-to-head margin of roughly 1% a meaningful differentiator within a very competitive performance band.

Where Each One Wins

The data does not offer any use case where the i5-2300 comes out ahead. In every recorded benchmark, the i3-4340 is the winner. That said, the margins are so small that the practical implications are limited. The i3-4340 wins multi-core workloads in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 by 1.2% to 1.4%. It also wins single-core tests in R20 and R23 by 1.1% to 1.2%. There is no test where the i5-2300's four physical cores overcome the i3-4340's two cores with Hyper-Threading, which suggests the i3-4340's higher base clock and architectural efficiency compensate for its core deficit.

For users prioritizing multi-threaded rendering tasks, the i3-4340 still edges out the i5-2300, despite the latter having twice the physical core count. The i3-4340's 3.60 GHz base clock versus the i5-2300's 2.80 GHz base clock (with a 3.10 GHz boost) appears to be the decisive factor. In single-threaded workloads, the i3-4340 again holds the advantage, which matters for applications that rely heavily on per-core performance. Neither processor demonstrates a clear domain of superiority, so the i3-4340 is the safer choice across the board based strictly on recorded measurements.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel architectures and manufacturing nodes. The i3-4340 is built on the Haswell architecture using a 22 nm process, while the i5-2300 uses the older Sandy Bridge architecture on a 32 nm process. The i3-4340's die size is 177 mm² with 1,400 million transistors, whereas the i5-2300 has a larger die at 216 mm² but fewer transistors at 1,160 million. This reflects the denser 22 nm process, which allows more transistors in a smaller area.

Core and thread counts diverge significantly. The i3-4340 has 2 cores and 4 threads, relying on Hyper-Threading to reach its thread count. The i5-2300 has 4 physical cores and 4 threads, with no Hyper-Threading. Despite the i5-2300 having twice the physical cores, the benchmark results show the i3-4340 winning all tests. The i3-4340's base clock of 3.60 GHz is substantially higher than the i5-2300's 2.80 GHz base clock and its 3.10 GHz boost clock. The i3-4340 has no boost clock, as its base clock is already high.

Cache configurations also differ. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core. The L3 cache, however, favors the i5-2300: it has 6 MB shared, while the i3-4340 has 4 MB shared. The i5-2300's larger L3 cache does not translate into a performance win in the recorded benchmarks.

Power and platform details separate them further. The i3-4340 has a TDP of 54 watts and fits the Intel Socket 1150. The i5-2300 has a TDP of 95 watts and uses Intel Socket 1155. The i3-4340 integrates Intel HD 4600 graphics, while the i5-2300 integrates the older Intel HD 2000. Both support DDR3 memory in dual-channel mode and neither supports ECC memory. Both use PCIe Gen 3, though the i5-2300 specifies 16 lanes (CPU only). The i3-4340 was released in 2013, while the i5-2300 came out in 2011, and the i5-2300 is marked as end-of-life in the database. Neither has an unlocked multiplier.

The Verdict

Based purely on the recorded data, the Intel Core i3-4340 is the better performer in every measured category. It wins all five head-to-head benchmarks by margins ranging from 1.1% to 1.4%. Its average benchmark score of 1026 is 12 points higher than the i5-2300's 1014. Both sit at the 28th percentile among all CPUs, so neither is a standout in the broader market, but within this comparison, the i3-4340 is consistently ahead.

The choice between them should hinge on platform and efficiency considerations rather than raw performance, since the performance gap is small. The i3-4340 offers a lower TDP of 54 watts versus 95 watts, which makes it more suitable for compact or power-conscious builds. It also comes from a newer architecture (Haswell on 22 nm) and has a more recent integrated GPU (HD 4600 versus HD 2000). The i5-2300, while having more physical cores and a larger L3 cache, does not convert those advantages into benchmark wins. Its only potential appeal is the LGA 1155 platform, which may be relevant for users upgrading an existing Sandy Bridge system, but the data shows no performance benefit.

For anyone selecting between these two specific processors, the i3-4340 is the clear choice from a performance standpoint. The i5-2300 is end-of-life, uses more power, and loses every test. The i3-4340 is not overwhelmingly faster, but it is faster, and it does so with lower power consumption and a newer feature set. The verdict from the database is unambiguous: the i3-4340 wins on all measured criteria.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher multi-core score in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core i3-4340 scores 2983 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, while the Intel Core i5-2300 scores 2947, giving the i3-4340 a 1.2% lead.

Q: How do the single-core scores compare?

A: In Cinebench R20 single-core, the i3-4340 scores 176 versus 174 for the i5-2300, a 1.1% difference. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the i3-4340 scores 421 versus 416, a 1.2% difference.

Q: Does the i5-2300's four physical cores give it an advantage?

A: No, the benchmark data shows the i5-2300 losing all five head-to-head tests despite having 4 cores versus the i3-4340's 2 cores. The i3-4340's higher base clock of 3.60 GHz appears to compensate for the core deficit.

Q: What are the TDP differences between the two?

A: The i3-4340 has a TDP of 54 watts, while the i5-2300 has a TDP of 95 watts. The i3-4340 consumes significantly less power.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: The i5-2300 has 6 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i3-4340 has 4 MB of shared L3 cache. Despite this, the i3-4340 still wins all benchmarks.

Q: What are their average benchmark scores?

A: The i3-4340 has an average benchmark score of 1026, while the i5-2300 has an average of 1014. Both are at the 28th percentile among all CPUs in the database.