Intel Core i3-4350 vs Intel Core i5-2380P Comparison

The Intel Core i5-2380P and Intel Core i3-4350 represent two distinct approaches to desktop computing from different eras of Intel’s lineup. The i5-2380P is a quad-core Sandy Bridge part from early 2012, while the i3-4350 is a dual-core Hyper-Threading Haswell chip from mid-2014. Despite the generational gap, benchmark results place them in nearly identical performance territory, with the older i5 edging out the newer i3 in every recorded test. The data shows a statistical dead heat, with the i5-2380P holding a 0.5% to 0.6% lead across all Cinebench workloads. Both processors land at the 29th percentile of all CPUs, underscoring their shared position as entry-level desktop parts in the modern benchmark landscape.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core i5-2380P wins all multi-core tests, but by a razor-thin margin. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 3090 versus 3076 for the i3-4350, a 0.5% difference. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5 scores 311 against 309, a 0.6% lead.

Q: How do the two compare in single-core performance?

A: The i5-2380P also takes single-core tests, scoring 436 in Cinebench R23 single-core versus 434 for the i3-4350. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the margin is 183 to 182. The i3’s higher 3.60 GHz base clock is not enough to overcome the i5’s architecture in these benchmarks.

Q: What are the core and thread configurations?

A: The i5-2380P has 4 physical cores and 4 threads, with no Hyper-Threading. The i3-4350 has 2 physical cores and 4 threads, relying on Hyper-Threading to reach its thread count. The i5’s two additional physical cores give it a structural advantage in raw multi-threaded throughput.

Q: Which chip has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The i5-2380P averages 1063 points across all benchmarks, while the i3-4350 averages 1058 points. That 5-point gap places the i5 less than 0.5% ahead, a margin that is effectively negligible in real-world usage.

Q: What are the architectural nodes and release dates?

A: The i5-2380P is built on Intel’s 32 nm Sandy Bridge process and launched January 29, 2012. The i3-4350 uses the 22 nm Haswell architecture and launched April 30, 2014. The i3 is over two years newer and uses a more advanced manufacturing node.

Q: Do these processors support integrated graphics?

A: The i3-4350 includes Intel HD 4600 integrated graphics. The i5-2380P has no integrated graphics, as indicated by the “P” suffix, which historically denoted a chip without the graphics engine. This makes the i3 a more self-contained solution for systems without a discrete GPU.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations, which explains several key differences in their design. The i5-2380P is based on Sandy Bridge, Intel’s 32 nm microarchitecture, while the i3-4350 uses Haswell, built on a more refined 22 nm process. The process shrink allowed Haswell to pack 1,400 million transistors into a 177 mm² die, whereas Sandy Bridge fits 1,160 million transistors into a larger 216 mm² die. This density improvement is a hallmark of the newer architecture.

Core counts diverge significantly. The i5-2380P features 4 physical cores with 4 threads, operating at a base clock of 3.10 GHz and a boost clock of 3.40 GHz. The i3-4350 has only 2 physical cores but uses Hyper-Threading to present 4 threads, running at a fixed 3.60 GHz with no boost capability. The i3’s higher base clock partially compensates for its fewer physical cores, but the i5’s two extra cores provide more raw execution resources.

Cache configurations also differ. Both chips have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core. However, the shared L3 cache is larger on the i5, at 6 MB versus 4 MB on the i3. This 2 MB difference gives the i5 more room for frequently accessed data across its four cores. Memory support is identical in type—DDR3 in dual-channel mode—but the platforms differ: the i5 uses Intel Socket 1155, while the i3 uses Intel Socket 1150.

PCI Express support varies as well. The i5-2380P lists Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i3-4350 lists simply Gen 3 without specifying lane count. The i3 includes Intel HD 4600 integrated graphics, a feature absent from the i5-2380P. Power consumption is notably different: the i5 has a 95 W TDP, while the i3 draws only 54 W. Neither chip supports ECC memory, and both have locked multipliers, preventing overclocking. The transistor count and die size differences reflect the architectural leap, but benchmark results show that leap did not translate into a performance advantage for the newer chip.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data paints a picture of near-total parity, with the i5-2380P winning all five recorded tests. The largest margin comes in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where the i5 scores 311 against the i3’s 309, a 0.6% difference. That test is ancient by modern standards, but it still shows the quad-core i5 holding a measurable edge over the dual-core i3 in a multi-threaded render workload.

In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the i5 scores 1297, while the i3 scores 1291, a 0.5% lead. The single-core variant of the same test shows a 183 to 182 result in favor of the i5. Moving to the more demanding Cinebench R23, the multi-core test yields 3090 for the i5 and 3076 for the i3, again a 0.5% margin. The single-core R23 test shows 436 versus 434, a 0.5% difference. Across all tests, the i5’s advantage is consistent but tiny, never exceeding 0.6%.

The i3-4350’s higher base clock of 3.60 GHz does not overcome the i5’s architectural and core-count advantages. In single-core tests, the i3’s clock speed advantage is nullified by the i5’s older but capable architecture. The i5-2380P also holds a slight edge in average benchmark score, 1063 versus 1058, reinforcing the trend. Neither chip achieves a single win for the i3, as the head-to-head data shows a 5-0 sweep for the i5-2380P.

The differences are so small that they would be imperceptible in everyday use. A 0.5% delta in Cinebench R23 multi-core translates to roughly 14 points, a margin well within run-to-run variance. The i5’s wins are consistent across every workload, but the magnitude is negligible. For users seeking a performance edge, the data shows the i5 is technically faster, but practically identical to the i3.

The Verdict

The benchmark data supports only one conclusion: the Intel Core i5-2380P is marginally faster than the Intel Core i3-4350 in every tested workload. It wins all five head-to-head Cinebench tests, from the older R15 to the current R23, with deltas ranging from 0.5% to 0.6%. Its average benchmark score of 1063 also edges out the i3’s 1058. For any user prioritizing raw compute performance, even by the slimmest margin, the i5-2380P is the data-backed choice.

However, the i3-4350 offers advantages that the benchmark scores do not capture. It includes Intel HD 4600 integrated graphics, making it a complete solution for a basic desktop without a discrete GPU. The i5-2380P lacks integrated graphics entirely, requiring a separate graphics card for any display output. The i3 also consumes significantly less power, with a 54 W TDP versus the i5’s 95 W, and uses a newer 22 nm process with a smaller die. For a low-power or media-center build, the i3’s efficiency and built-in graphics are compelling.

The i5-2380P’s quad-core design and larger 6 MB L3 cache make it the better processor for multi-threaded applications, even though the margin is small. Its 4 physical cores provide a foundation that the i3’s 2 cores plus Hyper-Threading cannot fully match, as evidenced by the consistent wins in multi-core tests. The i5 also supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, which is a plus for discrete GPU users.

In practical terms, the choice hinges on the rest of the system. If you have a dedicated graphics card and want the slight performance edge, the i5-2380P is the winner. If you need integrated graphics, lower power draw, or a newer platform with Socket 1150, the i3-4350 is the sensible alternative. Both chips sit at the 29th percentile of all CPUs, meaning neither offers standout performance by modern standards. The data shows the i5-2380P as the faster processor, but the i3-4350 as the more versatile one.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-2380P | Intel Core i3-4350 |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 4 | 2 |

| Threads | 4 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 3.10 GHz | 3.60 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.40 GHz | None |

| TDP | 95 W | 54 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1155 | Intel Socket 1150 |

| Architecture | Sandy Bridge | Haswell |

| Process Node | 32 nm | 22 nm |

| Transistors | 1,160 million | 1,400 million |

| Die Size | 216 mm² | 177 mm² |

| L3 Cache | 6 MB (shared) | 4 MB (shared) |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 3 |

| Integrated Graphics | None | Intel HD 4600 |

| Release Date | 2012-01-29 | 2014-04-30 |

| Part Number | SR0G2 | None |