Intel Core i3-6320 vs Intel Core i5-2310 Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data splits cleanly along architectural lines. The Intel Core i3-6320 wins every recorded head-to-head test, taking all five Cinebench comparisons. Its advantage is consistent and substantial, ranging from 20.2% to 20.7% across single-core and multi-core workloads. The Intel Core i5-2310 does not record a single win in any of the five measured tests.

The i3-6320’s victories are not narrow margins. In multi-core tests, it leads by a near-uniform 20.4% in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23. In single-core tests, the gap is slightly larger: 20.7% in R20 and 20.2% in R23. This suggests the i3-6320’s advantage comes from a fundamentally more efficient architecture rather than a single workload-specific edge.

For use-case planning, the data positions the i3-6320 as the stronger choice for both lightly threaded tasks (where its single-core scores are 20% higher) and heavily threaded workloads (where its four threads still outpace the i5-2310’s four physical cores). The i5-2310, despite having twice the physical cores, cannot overcome its older design in any measured scenario.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different eras and design philosophies. The i3-6320 is built on Skylake architecture using a 14 nm process node, while the i5-2310 uses Sandy Bridge on a 32 nm node. This process shrink directly contributes to the i3-6320’s lower 51 W TDP versus the i5-2310’s 95 W TDP.

Core counts differ significantly. The i3-6320 has 2 physical cores with 4 threads via Hyper-Threading. The i5-2310 has 4 physical cores with 4 threads, no Hyper-Threading. Despite fewer physical cores, the i3-6320’s higher base clock of 3.90 GHz (versus 2.90 GHz base, 3.20 GHz boost) helps it stay ahead in all tests.

Cache configurations also differ. The i3-6320 has 64 KB L1 per core and 256 KB L2 per core, with 4 MB shared L3. The i5-2310 matches the per-core L1 and L2 sizes but offers a larger 6 MB shared L3. This larger cache does not translate into benchmark wins for the older chip.

Memory support diverges: the i3-6320 uses DDR4 with dual-channel support and a measured memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s. The i5-2310 uses DDR3 with dual-channel support; no bandwidth figure is recorded for it. Integrated graphics differ as well: the i3-6320 carries Intel HD 530, while the i5-2310 uses Intel HD 2000.

The i3-6320 is listed as Active in production status, with a release date in 2015. The i5-2310 is End-of-life, released in 2011. Both use Intel Socket 1151 and 1155 respectively, both have Gen 3 PCIe with 16 lanes (CPU only), and neither supports ECC memory. Both have locked multipliers.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a consistent pattern of i3-6320 superiority across all five Cinebench tests. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i3-6320 scores 378 against the i5-2310’s 314, a 20.4% advantage. This is the smallest absolute gap in raw points but the same percentage margin as other multi-core tests.

Cinebench R20 multi-core repeats the result: 1576 for the i3-6320 versus 1309 for the i5-2310, again 20.4% ahead. The single-core R20 test shows a slightly larger gap at 20.7%, with scores of 222 and 184 respectively. This indicates the i3-6320’s per-thread performance is its strongest asset.

Cinebench R23 multi-core follows the established pattern: 3753 versus 3118, a 20.4% lead. The single-core R23 test shows 529 versus 440, a 20.2% margin. Across all five tests, the i3-6320 wins by roughly one-fifth of the i5-2310’s score in every scenario.

The consistency of these margins is notable. Whether the workload uses one core or all available threads, the i3-6320 maintains a nearly identical percentage advantage. This suggests the performance gap is architectural and not workload-dependent. The i5-2310’s extra two physical cores do not close the gap in multi-threaded tests, and its lower clock speed leaves it trailing in single-threaded tests.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i3-6320 is the faster processor in every measured benchmark. It wins all five head-to-head tests with margins between 20.2% and 20.7%. For users prioritizing raw performance in Cinebench workloads, the i3-6320 is the clear choice.

The i5-2310’s only theoretical advantage is its two additional physical cores. However, the recorded benchmarks show that this does not help in multi-core tests, where the i3-6320 still leads by 20.4%. The older Sandy Bridge architecture and lower base clock (2.90 GHz versus 3.90 GHz) cannot compensate for the core count difference.

For single-threaded tasks, the i3-6320 is decisively better, with single-core scores 20.2% to 20.7% higher. For multi-threaded tasks, the i3-6320 remains ahead despite having half the physical cores. The i5-2310’s larger 6 MB L3 cache does not translate into any benchmark advantage.

The i3-6320 also offers practical benefits: lower TDP (51 W versus 95 W), newer memory support (DDR4 versus DDR3), and an active production status versus end-of-life. Its smaller process node (14 nm versus 32 nm) and higher transistor count (1,400 million versus 1,160 million) on a smaller die (150 mm² versus 216 mm²) point to a more modern design.

Users should pick the i3-6320 for any workload where single-core speed matters, and even for multi-core workloads despite its lower core count. The i5-2310 remains a functioning desktop processor, but the recorded data offers no scenario where it wins. Its only niche would be in systems already built around the 1155 socket, but even then, the benchmark evidence shows the i3-6320 outperforms it across the board.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more physical cores?

A: The Intel Core i5-2310 has 4 physical cores, while the Intel Core i3-6320 has 2 physical cores with 4 threads via Hyper-Threading.

Q: Does the i5-2310 win any benchmark against the i3-6320?

A: No. The i3-6320 wins all five recorded head-to-head Cinebench tests, with no wins recorded for the i5-2310.

Q: How much faster is the i3-6320 in multi-core workloads?

A: The i3-6320 leads by 20.4% in all three multi-core tests (Cinebench R15, R20, and R23), with scores of 378 versus 314, 1576 versus 1309, and 3753 versus 3118 respectively.

Q: What is the single-core performance difference?

A: The i3-6320 leads by 20.7% in Cinebench R20 single-core (222 versus 184) and by 20.2% in Cinebench R23 single-core (529 versus 440).

Q: Which processor supports DDR4 memory?

A: The Intel Core i3-6320 supports DDR4 memory with dual-channel access and a memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s. The i5-2310 supports DDR3 memory.

Q: Are both processors still in production?

A: No. The i3-6320 has an active production status, while the i5-2310 is listed as end-of-life.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i3-6320 | Intel Core i5-2310 |

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

| Cores | 2 | 4 |

| Threads | 4 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 3.90 GHz | 2.90 GHz |

| Boost Clock | Not applicable | 3.20 GHz |

| TDP | 51 W | 95 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1151 | Intel Socket 1155 |

| Architecture | Skylake | Sandy Bridge |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 32 nm |

| Transistors | 1,400 million | 1,160 million |

| Die Size | 150 mm² | 216 mm² |

| L3 Cache | 4 MB (shared) | 6 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR3 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 34.1 GB/s | Not recorded |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 530 | Intel HD 2000 |

| Production Status | Active | End-of-life |

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

| Part Number | SR2H9 | SR02K |