Intel Core i3-5020U vs Intel Core i5-3230M Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark split between these two mobile processors is unusually clean: the Intel Core i5-3230M dominates every Cinebench workload, while the Intel Core i3-5020U wins both Geekbench tests by a wide margin. This is not a close contest with mixed results; it is a story of two different benchmark methodologies pointing in opposite directions.

The Core i5-3230M takes five of the seven head-to-head comparisons. Its victories span Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, covering both single-core and multi-core rendering tests. The margins are consistent, ranging from 14.1% to 14.7% across all five Cinebench tests. This consistency suggests a fundamental advantage in sustained CPU throughput, not a workload-specific quirk.

The Core i3-5020U wins the remaining two tests, both from Geekbench. Its advantages are much larger in percentage terms: 35.5% in multi-core and 37.8% in single-core. These are substantial gaps, but they come from a benchmark that measures different aspects of processor behavior, including memory latency, integer performance, and cryptography.

For practical use-case classification, the data points to the Core i5-3230M as the stronger choice for rendering tasks, content creation, and any workload that stresses raw CPU execution over an extended period. The Core i3-5020U appears better suited to short-burst responsiveness, desktop application snappiness, and tasks that benefit from its newer architecture's efficiency improvements.

Architecture Differences

These two processors come from different Intel generations built on different manufacturing processes. The Core i3-5020U uses the Broadwell architecture, specifically Broadwell-U, fabricated on a 14 nm process. The Core i5-3230M uses the older Ivy Bridge architecture on a 22 nm process. The die size reflects this: the Broadwell chip measures 82 mm², while the Ivy Bridge chip is larger at 118 mm².

Both processors have 2 cores and 4 threads, so the parallel thread count is identical. Cache configurations also match: 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 3 MB of shared L3. Neither supports ECC memory, and both run on DDR3 with a dual-channel memory bus.

The Core i5-3230M has a higher base clock at 2.60 GHz, plus a boost clock of 3.20 GHz. The Core i3-5020U has a fixed base clock of 2.20 GHz with no boost capability, since the i3 lineup lacks Turbo Boost. This clock difference is likely the primary driver of the Cinebench results, given the identical core and thread counts.

Thermal design power differs significantly: the Core i3-5020U is rated at 15 W, while the Core i5-3230M is rated at 35 W. The lower TDP of the Broadwell chip comes with a smaller die and a more modern process node, enabling better performance-per-watt, though not higher absolute performance.

The integrated graphics also differ: the Core i3-5020U carries Intel HD 5500, while the Core i5-3230M has Intel HD 4000. The socket types are different as well, with the i3-5020U using Intel BGA 1168 and the i5-3230M using Intel Socket G2 (988B). The Core i3-5020U supports PCIe Gen 2 with 12 lanes from the CPU, while the database records no PCIe information for the Core i5-3230M.

The Core i3-5020U was released in February 2015 and is marked as end-of-life. The Core i5-3230M was released in December 2012. The Core i3-5020U has a recorded launch MSRP of $281; no launch MSRP is recorded for the Core i5-3230M.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench results show a decisive edge for the Core i5-3230M. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-3230M scores 220 against 188 for the i3-5020U, a 14.5% advantage. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the gap narrows slightly to 14.2%, with scores of 917 and 787 respectively. Single-core Cinebench R20 tells a similar story: 129 for the i5-3230M versus 110 for the i3-5020U, a 14.7% lead.

Cinebench R23 reinforces the pattern. Multi-core scores are 2184 for the i5-3230M and 1876 for the i3-5020U, a 14.1% difference. Single-core R23 results are 308 versus 264, a 14.3% gap. Across all five Cinebench tests, the i5-3230M holds roughly the same 14% to 15% advantage, which points to a consistent clock-driven performance edge rather than a workload-specific anomaly.

The Geekbench results flip the narrative completely. In Geekbench multi-core, the i3-5020U scores 1379 against 1018 for the i5-3230M, a 35.5% lead. Geekbench single-core shows 696 versus 505, a 37.8% advantage for the i3-5020U. These are the largest percentage differences in the entire comparison, and they favor the newer, lower-TDP chip.

The discrepancy between benchmark suites is striking. The Cinebench family, which stresses sustained rendering workloads, consistently favors the higher-clocked Ivy Bridge part. Geekbench, which includes a broader mix of memory, encryption, and integer tests, favors the Broadwell architecture. This suggests that the i3-5020U's architectural improvements, including the 14 nm process and lower memory latency characteristics, translate to better performance in certain workload profiles even at a lower clock speed.

In aggregate, the i3-5020U has an average benchmark score of 757, while the i5-3230M averages 754. The average scores are nearly identical, differing by less than half a percent. The head-to-head wins tally is 5 for the i5-3230M and 2 for the i3-5020U, but the average score suggests that the overall performance level is comparable, with the two chips landing within 0.4% of each other in the database's rival comparisons.

The Verdict

The data presents a genuine split decision. For rendering and sustained compute workloads, the Core i5-3230M is the clear winner. Its 14% to 15% lead across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 makes it the better choice for video encoding, 3D rendering, and any task that keeps all threads busy for extended periods. The higher base clock of 2.60 GHz and boost clock of 3.20 GHz provide the raw throughput that Cinebench rewards.

For desktop responsiveness and short-burst workloads, the Core i3-5020U takes the crown. Its 35.5% to 37.8% Geekbench advantages are too large to ignore, and the newer Broadwell architecture with its 14 nm process and Intel HD 5500 graphics offers better integrated graphics performance and lower power consumption at 15 W. The i3-5020U also has the advantage of a smaller die size and more modern design.

The average benchmark scores are effectively tied at 757 versus 754, meaning that neither processor holds a meaningful aggregate advantage. The choice comes down to the workload profile. Users who prioritize rendering speed should select the Core i5-3230M. Users who prioritize general system responsiveness, power efficiency, and integrated graphics quality should select the Core i3-5020U.

The production status also matters: the i3-5020U is recorded as end-of-life, which may influence availability. The i5-3230M has no recorded production status, so the database cannot confirm whether it remains in production.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: Both have 2 cores and 4 threads. The thread count is identical, so there is no parallel processing advantage for either chip.

Q: Why does the Core i5-3230M win all Cinebench tests?

A: The i5-3230M has a higher base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 3.20 GHz, while the i3-5020U is locked at 2.20 GHz with no boost. Cinebench rewards this clock advantage consistently, with the i5-3230M leading by 14.1% to 14.7% across all five Cinebench tests.

Q: How large is the Core i3-5020U's Geekbench advantage?

A: The i3-5020U leads by 35.5% in Geekbench multi-core (1379 versus 1018) and 37.8% in single-core (696 versus 505). These are the largest performance gaps in the entire comparison.

Q: Do the two processors have the same cache configuration?

A: Yes. Both have 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 3 MB of shared L3. The cache hierarchy is identical.

Q: What are the power consumption ratings?

A: The Core i3-5020U is rated at 15 W TDP, while the Core i5-3230M is rated at 35 W TDP. The i3-5020U uses significantly less power.

Q: Which processor has better integrated graphics?

A: The Core i3-5020U carries Intel HD 5500, while the Core i5-3230M has Intel HD 4000. The database does not include graphics benchmark scores, so the comparison is based on model generation only.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i3-5020U | Intel Core i5-3230M |

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

| Base Clock | 2.20 GHz | 2.60 GHz |

| Boost Clock | None | 3.20 GHz |

| TDP | 15 W | 35 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1168 | Intel Socket G2 (988B) |

| Architecture | Broadwell | Ivy Bridge |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 22 nm |

| Die Size | 82 mm² | 118 mm² |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 5500 | Intel HD 4000 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 25.6 GB/s | Not recorded |

| PCIe | Gen 2, 12 Lanes (CPU only) | Not recorded |

| Release Date | 2015-02-28 | 2012-12-31 |

| Production Status | End-of-life | Not recorded |

| Launch MSRP | $281 | Not recorded |

| Part Number | SR240 | SR0WY |

| Transistors | 1,300 million | Not recorded |