Intel Core i3-5020U vs Intel Core i5-680 Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i5-680 records an average benchmark score of 772, while the Intel Core i3-5020U sits at 757. The i5-680 also places in the 21st percentile of all CPUs, one point above the i3-5020U’s 20th percentile.

Q: How do the two chips compare in multi-core Cinebench R23 performance?

A: The Intel Core i5-680 scores 2243 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, which is 19.6% higher than the i3-5020U’s 1876. This is the largest multi-core margin between the two in the recorded data.

Q: Does the mobile i3-5020U have any single-core advantage?

A: No. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the i5-680 scores 132 versus 110 for the i3-5020U, a 20% lead. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the i5-680 posts 316 against 264, again a 19.7% advantage.

Q: What are the thermal design power (TDP) differences between the two?

A: The i5-680 has a TDP of 73 watts, while the i3-5020U is rated at 15 watts. The i3-5020U is a low-power mobile part, whereas the i5-680 is a desktop processor with a much higher power envelope.

Q: Are there any benchmark tests where the i3-5020U wins?

A: In the head-to-head benchmark set, the i5-680 wins all five tests. The i3-5020U has no recorded wins. However, the i3-5020U was measured in Geekbench tests (single-core 696, multi-core 1379) that the i5-680 does not share, so no direct comparison exists for those workloads.

Q: Which processor supports more PCIe lanes?

A: The i5-680 provides Gen 2 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i3-5020U provides Gen 2 with 12 lanes (CPU only). Both use the same PCIe generation, but the desktop chip has more available lanes.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i5-680 and Intel Core i3-5020U come from different architectural eras. The i5-680 is built on the Westmere architecture, codenamed Clarkdale, and belongs to the Core i5 (Clarkdale) generation. It uses a 32 nm process node with 382 million transistors on an 81 mm² die. The i3-5020U, by contrast, is a Broadwell part, specifically Broadwell-U, built on a 14 nm process. It packs 1,300 million transistors into an 82 mm² die. The transistor count difference is stark: the i3-5020U holds more than three times as many transistors on nearly the same die area, reflecting the denser manufacturing process.

Both processors feature 2 cores and 4 threads, so the thread-level architecture is identical. However, cache allocations differ. The i5-680 carries 4 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i3-5020U has 3 MB of shared L3. L1 and L2 caches are the same at 64 KB per core and 256 KB per core, respectively. The larger L3 on the i5-680 gives it more on-chip storage for frequently accessed data, which can benefit workloads with moderate working sets.

The integrated graphics also differ. The i5-680 uses Intel HD graphics, while the i3-5020U integrates Intel HD 5500. The i3-5020U’s graphics solution is newer and part of the Broadwell generation, but the factor pack does not provide performance numbers for either iGPU, so any comparison is qualitative.

Memory support is DDR3 for both, with dual-channel buses. However, the i3-5020U has a higher theoretical memory bandwidth at 25.6 GB/s versus 21.3 GB/s for the i5-680. The i5-680 operates at a base clock of 3.60 GHz with a boost clock of 3.87 GHz, while the i3-5020U runs at a fixed 2.20 GHz with no boost capability. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking is not supported on either.

The socket situation places them in different market segments. The i5-680 uses Intel Socket 1156 and is a desktop part, whereas the i3-5020U uses Intel BGA 1168 and is a mobile processor. This means the i5-680 is designed for replaceable desktop motherboards, while the i3-5020U is soldered onto mobile boards. Both are end-of-life products, with the i5-680 released on 2010-04-18 and the i3-5020U on 2015-02-28.

Where Each One Wins

The data shows a clear split by workload type. The Intel Core i5-680 wins every shared benchmark, so it is the stronger performer in all measured multi-threaded and single-threaded Cinebench tests. Its higher base and boost clocks (3.60 GHz and 3.87 GHz) versus the i3-5020U’s fixed 2.20 GHz give it a significant throughput advantage in CPU-bound tasks. For desktop users running rendering, encoding, or heavy single-threaded applications, the i5-680 is the better choice based on these numbers.

The Intel Core i3-5020U, however, has its own domain: mobility and power efficiency. Its 15-watt TDP is dramatically lower than the i5-680’s 73 watts. For laptops or compact systems where heat dissipation and battery life are priorities, the i3-5020U is the only viable option of the two, as the i5-680 is a desktop socket part with no mobile footprint. The i3-5020U also has the higher memory bandwidth (25.6 GB/s), which could help in memory-intensive scenarios, though no benchmark in the pack isolates that effect.

In terms of raw benchmark wins, the i5-680 takes all five head-to-head tests. The i3-5020U does not win any. But the i3-5020U’s inclusion of Geekbench results (single-core 696, multi-core 1379) shows it was measured in a broader test suite, even if those results cannot be compared directly to the i5-680 because that chip lacks Geekbench data. So the i3-5020U’s strengths are not in performance but in form factor and power draw.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across several specification fields. Core and thread counts are identical (2 cores, 4 threads), so those are not differentiating factors. The base clock differs: the i5-680 runs at 3.60 GHz, while the i3-5020U runs at 2.20 GHz. The i5-680 also has a boost clock of 3.87 GHz; the i3-5020U has no boost clock listed. TDP is a major divergence: 73 watts for the desktop part, 15 watts for the mobile part.

Socket types are entirely different: Intel Socket 1156 for the i5-680, Intel BGA 1168 for the i3-5020U. The architecture changes from Westmere (Clarkdale) to Broadwell (Broadwell-U), and the process node shrinks from 32 nm to 14 nm. Transistor count jumps from 382 million to 1,300 million, while die size stays nearly constant (81 mm² versus 82 mm²). L3 cache decreases from 4 MB to 3 MB. Memory bandwidth increases from 21.3 GB/s to 25.6 GB/s. PCIe lane count drops from 16 to 12, both on Gen 2.

Integrated graphics differ by name: Intel HD on the i5-680 versus Intel HD 5500 on the i3-5020U. Market segment changes from Desktop to Mobile. Release dates are roughly five years apart (2010-04-18 versus 2015-02-28). The launch MSRP is $294 for the i5-680 and $281 for the i3-5020U. Part numbers also differ: SLBTM for the i5-680, SR240 for the i3-5020U. ECC memory support is false for both, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head benchmark data shows a consistent pattern: the Intel Core i5-680 leads every test by roughly 20%. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-680 scores 226 against 188 for the i3-5020U, a 20.2% advantage. Cinebench R20 multi-core shows 942 versus 787, a 19.7% lead. The single-core tests follow suit: Cinebench R20 single-core is 132 versus 110, a 20% margin, and Cinebench R23 single-core is 316 versus 264, a 19.7% difference.

The largest absolute gap is in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the i5-680 scores 2243 and the i3-5020U scores 1876, a difference of 367 points. The smallest absolute gap is in Cinebench R20 single-core, where the i5-680 leads by 22 points. The consistency of these margins is notable: all five deltas fall between 19.6% and 20.2%. This suggests the performance difference is driven primarily by clock speed, since both chips have the same core and thread configuration, and the i5-680’s 3.60 GHz base clock is 64% higher than the i3-5020U’s 2.20 GHz.

The average benchmark scores reflect the same story. The i5-680’s average is 772, and its nearest rival is the Intel Core i7-3687U at 773, a delta of -0.1%. The i3-5020U’s average is 757, with the Intel Xeon E5450 at 756 as its closest competitor (delta 0.1%). Both chips sit near the bottom of the overall CPU distribution (21st and 20th percentiles), indicating that neither is a high-performance part by modern standards. But within this pairing, the i5-680 is clearly the faster CPU.

The Verdict

From the recorded data, the Intel Core i5-680 is the stronger processor in every measurable shared benchmark. It wins all five head-to-head tests, with margins between 19.6% and 20.2%. Its higher clock speeds, larger L3 cache, and desktop-class power envelope (73 watts) translate directly into better Cinebench performance. Anyone selecting between these two purely for compute throughput should choose the i5-680.

The Intel Core i3-5020U, however, serves a different purpose. Its 15-watt TDP and BGA 1168 socket make it a mobile processor, suitable for laptops where the i5-680 cannot even be installed. It also offers higher memory bandwidth (25.6 GB/s) and a newer 14 nm process with a much higher transistor count. For a system that must run on battery or fit into a slim chassis, the i3-5020U is the only real option, despite its lower benchmark scores.

There is no scenario in the data where the i3-5020U wins on performance. But the verdict depends on context. For desktop workloads where performance matters most, the i5-680 is the clear choice. For mobile use cases where power efficiency and physical compatibility are the primary constraints, the i3-5020U is the appropriate part. The data does not support any other conclusion.