Intel Core i3-4360 vs Intel Core i5-2310 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data tells a remarkably consistent story for these two desktop processors. Across every recorded Cinebench test, the Intel Core i5-2310 takes the win, though the margins are narrow. The largest gap appears in Cinebench R15 multicore, where the i5-2310 scores 314 against the i3-4360's 310, a 1.3% advantage. That pattern holds through the entire suite: the i5-2310 leads by 1.2% in Cinebench R20 multicore (1309 vs 1294) and by the same 1.2% margin in Cinebench R23 multicore (3118 vs 3082).

Single-core results are even tighter. The i5-2310 edges ahead by 1.1% in both Cinebench R20 single-core (184 vs 182) and Cinebench R23 single-core (440 vs 435). What is striking about these numbers is that the i3-4360 runs at a higher base clock of 3.70 GHz compared to the i5-2310's 2.90 GHz base and 3.20 GHz boost. Despite that clock disadvantage, the older Sandy Bridge chip still manages to pull ahead in every recorded workload.

When looking at the broader database performance, the i5-2310 holds an average score of 1073 across all benchmarks, while the i3-4360 averages 1061. That places the i5-2310 in the 30th percentile of all CPUs, one point above the i3-4360's 29th percentile. The i5-2310's closest rival in the database is the Intel Core i3-4170T, which scores 1072, a delta of just 0.1%. The i3-4360, meanwhile, sits alongside the AMD Opteron 4376 HE at 1061 with no delta, and within 0.2% of both the AMD FX-8320E (1059) and Intel Core i5-2380P (1063).

The cumulative record shows five wins for the i5-2310 and none for the i3-4360. Every Cinebench iteration, from R15 through R23, multicore and single-core, lands in the older Sandy Bridge chip's favor. The margins are small enough that real-world differences would be hard to notice, but the data is unambiguous: the i5-2310 is the faster processor in this head-to-head matchup.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher multicore score in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core i5-2310 scores 3118 in Cinebench R23 multicore, while the Intel Core i3-4360 scores 3082. That is a 1.2% difference in favor of the i5-2310.

Q: Is there any benchmark where the Intel Core i3-4360 wins?

A: No. Across five recorded Cinebench tests (R15 multicore, R20 multicore, R20 single-core, R23 multicore, R23 single-core), the i5-2310 wins all five with deltas ranging from 1.1% to 1.3%.

Q: How do the two chips compare in average benchmark score?

A: The i5-2310 has an average benchmark score of 1073, while the i3-4360 averages 1061. The i5-2310 also sits in the 30th percentile of all CPUs, one point above the i3-4360's 29th percentile.

Q: What are the closest rival processors to each chip in the database?

A: For the i5-2310, the closest rival is the Intel Core i3-4170T at 1072 (a 0.1% delta) and the Intel Core i5-5287U also at 1072 (a 0.1% delta). For the i3-4360, the AMD Opteron 4376 HE matches at 1061 (0% delta), while the Intel Core i5-4570TE is at 1062 (a -0.1% delta).

Q: Does the i5-2310 have a boost clock, and does the i3-4360 have one?

A: Yes, the i5-2310 has a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 3.20 GHz. The i3-4360 has a base clock of 3.70 GHz but no boost clock listed in the database.

Q: Which processor uses more processing cores?

A: The i5-2310 has four physical cores with four threads, while the i3-4360 has two physical cores with four threads via Hyper-Threading. Both share the same thread count of four.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel architectural generations. The Intel Core i5-2310 is built on the Sandy Bridge architecture, a 32 nm process manufactured by Intel, with a transistor count of 1,160 million on a 216 mm² die. The Intel Core i3-4360 belongs to the Haswell architecture, using a 22 nm process, with 1,400 million transistors on a smaller 177 mm² die. The Haswell chip packs more transistors into less space, a sign of the newer process technology.

Cache configurations differ as well. Both processors have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core. The shared L3 cache, however, is larger on the i5-2310: 6 MB shared, versus 4 MB shared on the i3-4360. That extra 2 MB of L3 gives the Sandy Bridge chip more room for frequently accessed data, which can help in multicore workloads.

The integrated graphics are also different generations. The i5-2310 carries Intel HD 2000, while the i3-4360 uses Intel HD 4600. The Haswell iGPU is a more capable part, though the database does not record gaming or graphics benchmarks for either chip.

Another architectural difference is the PCIe configuration. The i5-2310 lists PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i3-4360 lists PCIe Gen 3 with no lane count specified. This means both support the same PCIe generation, but the i5-2310 has explicit lane allocation.

The socket and platform also separate the two processors. The i5-2310 uses Intel Socket 1155, while the i3-4360 uses Intel Socket 1150. That means they are not drop-in interchangeable; each requires a motherboard with the matching socket. The i5-2310 was released on May 21, 2011, and is marked as end-of-life, while the i3-4360 came later on April 30, 2014.

Neither processor supports ECC memory, both use DDR3 memory, and both employ dual-channel memory buses.

Specification Differences

The specification table shows clear differences between the two chips across several fields. The most obvious is core count: the i5-2310 has four cores while the i3-4360 has two cores. Both have four threads, so the i3-4360 relies on Hyper-Threading to match the thread count of the i5-2310.

Clock speeds differ. The i5-2310 runs at a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 3.20 GHz. The i3-4360 runs at a higher base clock of 3.70 GHz but has no boost clock recorded. This gives the i3-4360 a base clock advantage of 0.80 GHz, yet it still loses in every benchmark.

Thermal design power is a major difference. The i5-2310 draws 95 W, while the i3-4360 is a much more efficient 54 W part. That is a difference of 41 W, meaning the i3-4360 generates less heat and is easier to cool in a compact system.

The socket differs: the i5-2310 uses Socket 1155, and the i3-4360 uses Socket 1150. The architecture differs too, with Sandy Bridge on the i5-2310 and Haswell on the i3-4360. Process node is 32 nm versus 22 nm, and the transistor count is 1,160 million versus 1,400 million. Die size is 216 mm² versus 177 mm².

L3 cache differs as well: the i5-2310 has 6 MB of shared L3, while the i3-4360 has 4 MB. The integrated graphics are different: Intel HD 2000 on the i5-2310 versus Intel HD 4600 on the i3-4360. PCIe configuration is listed as Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only) for the i5-2310, versus Gen 3 with no lane details for the i3-4360.

Production status also differs: the i5-2310 is marked end-of-life, while the i3-4360 has no production status listed. The release dates are nearly three years apart, with the i5-2310 launching in May 2011 and the i3-4360 in April 2014.

The part number is recorded only for the i5-2310 as SR02K. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier, and neither has a launch MSRP in the database.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-2310 wins on raw benchmark performance. In every recorded Cinebench test, it beats the i3-4360, with deltas between 1.1% and 1.3%. The multicore wins are consistent with its extra two physical cores, and the single-core wins suggest that even at a lower base clock, the Sandy Bridge design does enough work per clock to overcome the Haswell chip's frequency advantage. The i5-2310 also has a larger 6 MB L3 cache, which can help in workloads that reuse data frequently.

The i5-2310's nearest rivals in the database, the Intel Core i3-4170T and the Intel Core i5-5287U, both score 1072, essentially matching its 1073 average. This places the i5-2310 in the 30th percentile of all CPUs, a solid result for a chip from its era. The four-core setup is a win for multitasking and threaded productivity applications, even if the margin is slim.

The Intel Core i3-4360 is the winner on efficiency. With a TDP of 54 W versus 95 W, it draws 41 W less power. That makes it a better candidate for small form factor systems, quiet builds, or any scenario where cooling and power budget matter more than top-end multicore performance. It also has a higher base clock of 3.70 GHz, which helps in lightly threaded tasks, though the benchmark data shows the i5-2310 still wins single-core Cinebench by 1.1%.

The i3-4360 also has a more modern integrated GPU, the Intel HD 4600, compared to the i5-2310's Intel HD 2000. For users who rely on integrated graphics for basic display output or light media work, the i3-4360 has the advantage. Neither chip is a gaming part, but the Haswell GPU is the better of the two.

The i3-4360's closest rival is the AMD Opteron 4376 HE at 1061, a perfect match. Its percentile ranking of 29 is just one point below the i5-2310. For single-core workloads, the 3.70 GHz clock could be a useful flex, but the database shows the i5-2310's 3.20 GHz boost still comes out on top.

In summary, choose the i5-2310 if you need the extra physical cores, larger L3 cache, and the benchmark leadership across Cinebench. Choose the i3-4360 if you prioritize lower power draw, quieter operation, and better integrated graphics. The performance gap is real but small, and the decision between the two may come down to platform, socket, and thermal constraints rather than overall speed.