Intel Core i3-6300 vs Intel Core i5-2405S Comparison

# Intel Core i5-2405S vs Intel Core i3-6300

The Intel Core i5-2405S and the Intel Core i3-6300 are two desktop processors from different architectural generations. The i5-2405S is a Sandy Bridge era chip, built on a 32nm process, while the i3-6300 is a Skylake part fabricated on a 14nm node. This generational gap drives most of the observable differences in performance and features.

The database records a significant performance advantage for the newer i3-6300. In the Cinebench R15 multi-core test, the i3-6300 scores 340 against 291 for the i5-2405S, a 14.4% lead. This pattern repeats across the entire benchmark suite. The i3-6300 is ahead by 14.5% in Cinebench R20 multi-core (1419 vs 1213), Cinebench R20 single-core (200 vs 171), Cinebench R23 multi-core (3380 vs 2890), and Cinebench R23 single-core (477 vs 408). It is notably the i3-6300 wins all five head-to-head comparisons in the recorded data, with a consistent margin of roughly 14.5% in most tests.

The average benchmark score for the i3-6300 is 978, placing it in the 26th percentile of all tested CPUs. The i5-2405S averages 991, which places it in the 27th percentile. Despite the older chip having a slightly higher average score, this is driven by a different mix of workloads, and the direct head-to-head comparisons show the i3-6300 as the clear winner.

FAQ

Q: How many cores does the Intel Core i5-2405S have?

A: The Intel Core i5-2405S has 4 cores and 4 threads. This is the same core and thread count as the Intel Core i3-6300.

Q: What is the base clock speed of the Intel Core i5-2405S?

A: The i5-2405S has a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 3.30 GHz. The i3-6300 has a base clock of 3.80 GHz, though the data does not list a boost clock for this model.

Q: Which processor supports DDR3 memory?

A: The Intel Core i5-2405S supports DDR3 memory. The Intel Core i3-6300 supports DDR4 memory.

Q: What is the socket for the i5-2405S?

A: The i5-2405S uses Intel Socket 1155. The i3-6300 uses Intel Socket 1151.

Q: What is the process node for these chips?

A: The i5-2405S is built on a 32 nm process, while the i3-6300 is built on a 14 nm process. The newer node allows for a smaller die size (150 mm² for the i3-6300 vs 216 mm² for the i5-2405S).

Q: Do these CPUs include integrated graphics?

A: Yes. The i5-2405S includes the Intel HD 3000, and the i3-6300 includes the Intel HD 530.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i5-2405S and Core i3-6300 belong to different architectural eras. The i5-2405S is a Sandy Bridge part, with a 32nm process, a die size of 216 mm², and 1,160 million transistors. It uses the Intel Socket 1155 and supports DDR3 memory over a dual-channel bus.

The i3-6300 is a Skylake architecture chip, built on a 14nm process with a smaller 150 mm² die and a higher 1,400 million transistor count. It fits the Intel Socket 1151 and supports DDR4 memory over a dual channel bus, with a memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s.

The i5-2405S has a 6 MB shared L3 cache, while the i3-6300 has a 4 MB shared L3 cache. Both parts feature a per-core L1 and L2 cache. The i3-6300's iGPU is the Intel HD 530; the i5-2405S is equipped with the Intel HD 3000.

The newer Skylake chip also includes a higher PCIe generation (Gen 3, 16 lanes) compared to the Sandy Bridge part, which is also Gen 3 with 16 lanes. The i3-6300 is a newer part, still in active production, whereas the i5-2405S is end-of-life.

The Verdict

Based strictly on recorded benchmark results, the Intel Core i3-6300 is the stronger processor. It wins all five head-to-head comparisons, including both single and multi-core Cinebench tests.

The i3-6300 is consistently about 14.5% faster in the Cinebench suite. For example, it posts a 477 score to the i5-2405S's 408 in Cinebench R23 single-core, and a 3380 versus 2890 in the multi-core test. This is a significant margin across every workload.

The i5-2405S's only advantage is a slightly higher average score across all CPUs in the database, 991 versus 978, but this is due to a more favorable average, not to winning any specific test. The i3-6300 is the recommended pick for users that prioritize raw performance, based on the recorded measurements.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-2405S | Intel Core i3-6300 |

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

| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 2 / 4 |

| Base Clock | 2.50 GHz | 3.80 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.30 GHz | Not listed |

| Cache L1 / L2 / L3 | 64 KB (per core) / 256 KB (per core) / 6 MB (shared) | 64 KB (per core) / 256 KB (per core) / 4 MB (shared) |

| Process | 32 nm | 14 nm |

| Transistors / Die Size | 1,160 million / 216 mm² | 1,400 million / 150 mm² |

| Memory Support | DDR3 | DDR4 |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1155 | Intel Socket 1151 |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 3000 | Intel HD 530 |

| Release | 2011-05-21 | 2015-08-31 |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Desktop |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Core i3-6300 dominates the recorded head-to-head comparisons. It wins all five benchmark comparisons in the database.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i3-6300 scores 340 against the i5-2405S's 291, a 14.4% difference. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, it is 1419 versus 1213 (14.5% faster). The single-core R20 test shows 200 against 171, also a 14.5% margin.

The Cinebench R23 tests continue the trend: the i3-6300 posts 3380 in multi-core and 477 in single-core, while the i5-2405S records 2890 and 408 respectively, a 14.5% difference in both cases. The data consistently shows the i3-6300 as the faster CPU in every workload tested.

The i5-2405S has zero wins in the head-to-head records. The i3-6300 wins all five comparisons. This is a clean sweep, not a narrow win. The margin is stable at around 14.5% across all tests, which reinforces the result.