Intel Core i3-4370T vs Intel Core i5-2405S Comparison

The Intel Core i5-2405S and Intel Core i3-4370T represent two different approaches to the same goal: delivering a capable desktop processor without requiring a high-power platform. The i5-2405S arrives from the Sandy Bridge generation with four physical cores, while the i3-4370T comes from the later Haswell generation with only two cores but four threads. The recorded data shows that these two processors end up remarkably close in overall performance, with the i5-2405S scoring an average benchmark score of 991 against 983 for the i3-4370T. That difference of less than one percent across the entire benchmark suite raises a compelling question: how do two chips from different eras, with different core counts and different power envelopes, land so close together?

Where Each One Wins

The head-to-head benchmark results are decisive in one direction: the Intel Core i5-2405S wins all five recorded comparisons. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i5-2405S scores 291 against 287 for the i3-4370T, a 1.4 percent advantage. The pattern continues in Cinebench R20 multicore where the i5-2405S posts 1213 versus 1199, and in Cinebench R23 multicore where the margin is 2890 against 2856. Even the single-core tests, which typically favor newer architectures, go to the older chip. In Cinebench R20 single-core the i5-2405S scores 171 against 169, and in R23 single-core it scores 408 against 403. Every recorded win belongs to the i5-2405S, and the margins are consistently small, ranging from 1.2 to 1.4 percent.

The i3-4370T does not record a single benchmark win in the database, but that does not mean it lacks strengths. Its advantage lies in efficiency rather than raw output. The i3-4370T carries a 35 watt TDP, compared to 65 watts for the i5-2405S, meaning it delivers nearly the same performance while drawing less power. The data shows the i3-4370T trails by only 1.2 to 1.4 percent in every test, so the performance gap is minimal. For workloads that are lightly threaded, the i3-4370T comes within 1.2 percent of the i5-2405S in both Cinebench R20 and R23 single-core tests. The i5-2405S wins the raw performance race, but the i3-4370T makes a strong case for scenarios where power consumption is the primary constraint.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural eras. The Intel Core i5-2405S uses Sandy Bridge, a 32 nm design, while the Intel Core i3-4370T uses Haswell, built on a 22 nm process. The newer manufacturing node gives the i3-4370T a denser transistor layout, with 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die, compared to 1,160 million transistors on a 216 mm² die for the i5-2405S. The i3-4370T packs more transistors into a smaller area, which explains how it can achieve competitive performance with a much lower TDP.

Core configuration differs significantly. The i5-2405S has four physical cores and four threads, meaning no hyper-threading. The i3-4370T has two physical cores and four threads, using hyper-threading to simulate additional logical processors. Despite having half the physical cores, the i3-4370T manages to nearly match the i5-2405S in multicore tests, which speaks to the efficiency of the Haswell architecture and its higher base clock. The i5-2405S runs at a base clock of 2.50 GHz with a boost clock of 3.30 GHz, while the i3-4370T runs at a fixed 3.30 GHz with no boost capability. The i3-4370T holds a 0.80 GHz advantage in base clock, which helps compensate for its lower core count.

Cache hierarchies also differ. Both chips feature 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, but the shared L3 cache differs: the i5-2405S has 6 MB shared, while the i3-4370T has 4 MB shared. The larger L3 cache on the i5-2405S benefits multi-threaded workloads where several cores compete for shared data. The i3-4370T counters with a newer integrated graphics unit, the Intel HD 4600, compared to the Intel HD 3000 on the i5-2405S. Both processors support DDR3 memory over a dual-channel bus, but the i3-4370T records a memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s, while the i5-2405S does not have a recorded bandwidth figure in the database.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench R15 multicore test shows the i5-2405S ahead with a score of 291 against 287, a 1.4 percent margin. This is the largest delta in the entire comparison. Moving to Cinebench R20 multicore, the i5-2405S scores 1213 against 1199, a 1.2 percent lead. The Cinebench R23 multicore test follows the same pattern: 2890 for the i5-2405S versus 2856 for the i3-4370T. Across all three multicore tests, the i5-2405S maintains a lead of roughly 1.2 to 1.4 percent, a remarkably consistent margin given the architectural differences.

Single-core results tell a similar story. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the i5-2405S scores 171 against 169 for the i3-4370T, a 1.2 percent advantage. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the scores are 408 and 403, again a 1.2 percent margin. The i3-4370T has the higher base clock at 3.30 GHz, but the i5-2405S still edges it out in every recorded single-core test. This suggests that the older Sandy Bridge architecture, despite its 32 nm process, delivers slightly better instructions per clock in these specific workloads, or that the boost clock behavior of the i5-2405S helps it reach higher sustained performance.

The Geekbench results are only recorded for the i5-2405S, which scores 1425 in multicore and 541 in single-core. The i3-4370T has no Geekbench entries in the database, so a direct comparison in that suite is not possible. The overall average benchmark score places the i5-2405S at 991, while the i3-4370T sits at 983. The difference of 8 points represents a 0.8 percent gap in the aggregate.

Specification Differences

The most obvious difference is core count. The i5-2405S has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the i3-4370T has 2 cores and 4 threads. Base clocks differ as well: the i5-2405S runs at 2.50 GHz with a 3.30 GHz boost, while the i3-4370T runs at 3.30 GHz with no boost clock listed. The TDP gap is substantial: 65 watts for the i5-2405S versus 35 watts for the i3-4370T.

Sockets differ, with the i5-2405S using Intel Socket 1155 and the i3-4370T using Intel Socket 1150. The architecture and process node also separate them: Sandy Bridge on 32 nm for the i5-2405S, Haswell on 22 nm for the i3-4370T. The i5-2405S has 1,160 million transistors on a 216 mm² die, while the i3-4370T has 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die. L3 cache favors the i5-2405S at 6 MB shared, compared to 4 MB shared for the i3-4370T. Integrated graphics differ, with the i5-2405S featuring Intel HD 3000 and the i3-4370T featuring Intel HD 4600. The i3-4370T records a memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s, while the i5-2405S does not list one. The i5-2405S was released in May 2011, while the i3-4370T came in March 2015. The i3-4370T carries a launch MSRP of $138. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, and both support DDR3 memory over a dual-channel bus with 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes from the CPU. Both are end-of-life desktop parts.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core i5-2405S wins all recorded multicore tests. In Cinebench R15 multicore it scores 291 against 287, in R20 multicore it scores 1213 against 1199, and in R23 multicore it scores 2890 against 2856.

Q: Does the newer Haswell architecture give the i3-4370T an advantage in single-core tests?

A: No. The i5-2405S wins both single-core tests, scoring 171 against 169 in Cinebench R20 single-core and 408 against 403 in Cinebench R23 single-core.

Q: How do the power requirements compare?

A: The i3-4370T has a TDP of 35 watts, while the i5-2405S has a TDP of 65 watts. The i3-4370T delivers nearly identical performance while using less power.

Q: What is the core and thread configuration of each processor?

A: The i5-2405S has 4 cores and 4 threads. The i3-4370T has 2 cores and 4 threads, using hyper-threading to reach the same thread count.

Q: Which processor has more cache?

A: The i5-2405S has 6 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i3-4370T has 4 MB of shared L3 cache. Both have 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core.

Q: Are these processors still in production?

A: Both are end-of-life parts. The i5-2405S was released in May 2011, and the i3-4370T was released in March 2015.

The Verdict

The recorded data points to the Intel Core i5-2405S as the better performer in every benchmark where both chips were measured. It wins all five head-to-head tests, with margins ranging from 1.2 to 1.4 percent. Its higher core count and larger L3 cache give it a slight edge in both multi-threaded and single-threaded workloads. The average benchmark score of 991 versus 983 confirms this narrow but consistent advantage.

The Intel Core i3-4370T, however, makes a different trade-off. It delivers nearly the same performance, trailing by only 1.2 to 1.4 percent, while consuming 35 watts compared to 65 watts. That efficiency comes from a newer 22 nm Haswell architecture with more transistors on a smaller die. The i3-4370T also offers a newer integrated graphics unit, the Intel HD 4600, and a higher base clock of 3.30 GHz. For users who prioritize low power consumption and do not mind a marginal performance deficit, the i3-4370T is the sensible choice.

The i5-2405S is the pick for anyone who wants the highest recorded performance in this comparison, even if the margin is slim. The i3-4370T is the pick for efficiency-focused builds where the 30 watt TDP difference matters more than a 1.2 percent performance gap. The data does not support calling either chip a clear winner overall. It supports a choice based on whether raw benchmark scores or power efficiency take priority.