Intel Core i3-4360 vs Intel Core i5-2380P Comparison
Intel Core i3-4360
Core i5-2380P
PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS
Analysis: Intel Core i3-4360 vs Intel Core i5-2380P
The Intel Core i5-2380P and Intel Core i3-4360 occupy nearly the same performance tier despite being separated by two architecture generations and fundamentally different core configurations. Benchmark data shows the i5-2380P edges ahead in every recorded Cinebench test, though the margins are remarkably slim—never exceeding 0.5%. Both processors share the 29th percentile ranking among all CPUs, with average benchmark scores of 1063 and 1061 respectively. The i5-2380P’s four physical cores compensate for its older Sandy Bridge design, while the i3-4360’s newer Haswell architecture and higher clock speed close the gap created by its two-core layout. This head-to-head comparison reveals a near-perfect statistical tie, with architectural trade-offs canceling each other out across the benchmark suite.
FAQ
Q: Which processor has more physical cores?
A: The Intel Core i5-2380P has 4 physical cores and 4 threads, while the Intel Core i3-4360 has 2 physical cores and 4 threads. The i3-4360 uses Hyper-Threading to reach 4 threads, whereas the i5-2380P achieves its thread count through native cores alone.
Q: How do their single-core Cinebench R23 scores compare?
A: The i5-2380P scores 436 in Cinebench R23 single-core, beating the i3-4360’s 435 by 0.2%. Despite the i3-4360’s higher 3.70 GHz base clock versus 3.10 GHz on the i5-2380P, the newer Haswell architecture does not translate into a single-core victory.
Q: Are both CPUs in the same performance percentile?
A: Yes, both the i5-2380P and i3-4360 rank in the 29th percentile of all CPUs. Their average benchmark scores are 1063 and 1061 respectively, a difference of only 0.2%—placing them in the same performance bracket.
Q: Which processor has a higher TDP?
A: The i5-2380P has a TDP of 95W, which is significantly higher than the i3-4360’s 54W. This reflects the i5’s four physical cores and older 32 nm process node versus the i3’s 22 nm node.
Q: What is the architecture generation difference?
A: The i5-2380P is built on Sandy Bridge architecture at 32 nm, released in January 2012. The i3-4360 uses Haswell architecture at 22 nm, released in April 2014. The i3-4360 also has a smaller die size of 177 mm² versus 216 mm² for the i5-2380P.
Q: Does either processor include integrated graphics?
A: Only the i3-4360 includes integrated graphics in the form of Intel HD 4600. The i5-2380P has no integrated graphics listed, meaning it requires a discrete GPU for display output.
Architecture Differences
The two processors represent distinct Intel microarchitectures. The i5-2380P is built on Sandy Bridge, Intel’s second-generation Core architecture, fabricated on a 32 nm process node. It contains 1,160 million transistors across a die size of 216 mm². The i3-4360 uses the newer Haswell architecture, fabricated on a 22 nm node, with 1,400 million transistors packed into a smaller 177 mm² die. This represents a fundamental shift in transistor density, allowing the Haswell chip to fit more transistors into less space.
Core configuration is the most significant architectural divergence. The i5-2380P provides 4 physical cores with 4 threads, while the i3-4360 provides 2 physical cores with 4 threads through Hyper-Threading. Cache hierarchies differ accordingly: both share 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, but the i5-2380P has 6 MB of shared L3 cache versus 4 MB on the i3-4360. The larger L3 cache benefits the i5-2380P in multi-threaded workloads where more data must be shared across cores.
Clock behavior also reflects architectural differences. The i5-2380P has a base clock of 3.10 GHz and a boost clock of 3.40 GHz, while the i3-4360 runs at a fixed 3.70 GHz with no boost capability listed. The i3-4360’s higher base clock partially compensates for having half the physical cores. The i5-2380P’s boost capability allows dynamic scaling under load, whereas the i3-4360 operates at a constant frequency.
Platform support diverges as well. The i5-2380P uses Intel Socket 1155, while the i3-4360 uses Intel Socket 1150. The i5-2380P supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i3-4360 also supports PCIe Gen 3 but without the specific lane count listed. Both support dual-channel DDR3 memory. The i3-4360 includes Intel HD 4600 integrated graphics, a feature entirely absent from the i5-2380P’s specifications.
Head-to-Head Benchmarks
Across all five Cinebench tests, the i5-2380P wins every encounter, though the margins are consistently sub-1%. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-2380P scores 311 against the i3-4360’s 310, a 0.3% advantage. The R20 multi-core test shows a similar pattern: 1297 versus 1294, a 0.2% lead for the i5-2380P. The widest margin appears in R20 single-core, where the i5-2380P scores 183 against 182, representing a 0.5% gap—still a negligible difference in practical terms.
The R23 results reinforce this near-equality. In multi-core, the i5-2380P scores 3090 versus 3082 for the i3-4360, a 0.3% difference. Single-core R23 shows 436 versus 435, a 0.2% edge. These scores place both processors within statistical noise of each other, suggesting that real-world application performance would be virtually indistinguishable. The i5-2380P’s four physical cores provide a slight advantage in multi-threaded rendering, while the i3-4360’s higher clock speed and newer architecture nearly compensate in single-threaded tasks.
The nearest rival data contextualizes these results. The i5-2380P’s closest competitor is the Intel Core i5-4570TE with an average score of 1062 (0.1% lower), followed by the Intel Xeon W3580 at 1064 (0.1% higher). The i3-4360’s nearest rival is the AMD Opteron 4376 HE at 1061 (0% difference), with the Intel Core i5-2380P itself appearing as a rival at 1063 (0.2% higher). This mutual listing as nearest rivals confirms that the two CPUs are effectively performance equivalents in aggregate benchmarks.
Specification Differences
| Specification | Intel Core i5-2380P | Intel Core i3-4360 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores | 4 | 2 |
| Threads | 4 | 4 |
| Base Clock | 3.10 GHz | 3.70 GHz |
| Boost Clock | 3.40 GHz | None |
| TDP | 95W | 54W |
| 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 | Not listed |
The specification table shows that the i3-4360 achieves its competitive performance despite having fewer cores, lower cache, and no boost clock. It compensates with a 0.60 GHz higher base clock and a more advanced 22 nm process that allows higher frequencies at lower power. The i5-2380P counters with double the physical cores, 2 MB more L3 cache, and a boost clock that boosts its frequency under load.
Where Each One Wins
The i5-2380P wins every benchmark in this comparison, but the margins are so small that the practical winner depends on workload characteristics. Multi-threaded applications that scale across physical cores favor the i5-2380P. Its four native cores provide dedicated execution resources without the overhead of Hyper-Threading. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows 3090 versus 3082, and the pattern holds consistently across all multi-threaded tests. For rendering, video encoding, or compilation workloads that utilize four or more threads, the i5-2380P’s core count provides a structural advantage.
The i3-4360 wins in efficiency and platform features. Its 54W TDP is 41W lower than the i5-2380P’s 95W, making it substantially more power-efficient. The newer Haswell architecture at 22 nm delivers better performance-per-watt. The i3-4360 also includes Intel HD 4600 integrated graphics, enabling systems without discrete GPUs. Its higher 3.70 GHz base clock means single-threaded tasks that do not benefit from additional cores run at a frequency advantage, though benchmark results show this does not translate to a win.
Single-threaded performance is statistically tied. The i5-2380P wins R20 single-core by 0.5% and R23 single-core by 0.2%, but these margins are within run-to-run variance. The i3-4360’s higher clock speed and newer architecture offset the i5-2380P’s architectural age, but not decisively. For users with legacy Socket 1155 platforms, the i5-2380P offers a drop-in upgrade path with four cores. For those building new systems on Socket 1150, the i3-4360 provides comparable performance with lower power consumption and integrated graphics. The aggregate benchmark scores—1063 versus 1061—confirm that neither processor holds a meaningful overall advantage, making platform compatibility and feature requirements the decisive factors.