CPU Comparison

The Intel Core i3-6320 and Intel Core i5-3335S occupy the same performance percentile, but they achieve it through completely different designs. The i3-6320 is a newer Skylake part with fewer physical cores, while the i5-3335S is an older Ivy Bridge quad-core. Benchmark data shows the i3-6320 winning every head-to-head test, yet the average scores of the two parts are nearly identical. This dynamic creates a compelling comparison between architectural efficiency and raw core count.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i3-6320 has an average benchmark score of 1085, while the Intel Core i5-3335S scores 1083. The difference is only 0.2 percent, placing both CPUs at the 30th percentile among all processors.

Q: How do the two CPUs compare in multi-core rendering workloads?

A: The i3-6320 wins every multi-core test in the head-to-head data. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 3753 versus 3121 for the i5-3335S, a 20.2 percent advantage. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the margin is 20.3 percent (1576 versus 1310).

Q: Which processor has more physical cores?

A: The Intel Core i5-3335S has four physical cores, while the Intel Core i3-6320 has two physical cores. Both processors support four threads total, meaning the i5-3335S has no hyper-threading while the i3-6320 does.

Q: What is the single-core performance difference?

A: The i3-6320 leads substantially in single-core tests. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 529 versus 440, a 20.2 percent lead. Cinebench R20 single-core shows a 20.7 percent difference (222 versus 184).

Q: Do these processors use the same memory type?

A: No. The Intel Core i3-6320 supports DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus and 34.1 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel Core i5-3335S supports DDR3 memory with a dual-channel bus; no bandwidth figure is listed for the i5-3335S.

Q: Which processor has a higher base clock speed?

A: The Intel Core i3-6320 has a base clock of 3.90 GHz. The Intel Core i5-3335S has a base clock of 2.70 GHz and a boost clock of 3.20 GHz. The i3-6320 does not have a boost clock.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different manufacturing eras. The Intel Core i3-6320 is built on the Skylake architecture using a 14 nm process node, while the Intel Core i5-3335S uses the Ivy Bridge architecture on a 22 nm process node. Both are fabricated by Intel, but the transistor counts are close: 1,400 million for the i3-6320 and 1,480 million for the i5-3335S. Die size is also similar, at 150 mm² for the i3-6320 and 160 mm² for the i5-3335S.

The core configurations differ fundamentally. The i3-6320 has 2 cores and 4 threads, relying on hyper-threading to reach four threads. The i5-3335S has 4 cores and 4 threads, with no hyper-threading. The i3-6320 compensates for fewer cores with a much higher base clock of 3.90 GHz, while the i5-3335S operates at 2.70 GHz base and 3.20 GHz boost.

Cache layouts also differ. The i3-6320 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, with 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The i5-3335S has the same per-core L1 and L2 cache sizes, but a larger 6 MB of shared L3 cache. This gives the quad-core part more total cache to work with.

Memory support is another major split. The i3-6320 uses DDR4 memory, while the i5-3335S uses DDR3. Both have dual-channel memory buses, but only the i3-6320 lists a memory bandwidth figure of 34.1 GB/s. Neither processor supports ECC memory. Both use PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU.

Integrated graphics differ as well. The i3-6320 includes Intel HD 530, while the i5-3335S includes Intel HD 4000. The socket types are incompatible: the i3-6320 uses Socket 1151, and the i5-3335S uses Socket 1155.

Where Each One Wins

The i3-6320 wins every benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, making its strengths clear. It dominates in both single-core and multi-core Cinebench tests. The single-core advantage is 20.2 to 20.7 percent across R20 and R23 tests, reflecting the Skylake architecture's higher instructions-per-clock and the 3.90 GHz base clock. The multi-core advantage is similar, ranging from 20.2 to 20.4 percent in R15, R20, and R23 tests. This means the i3-6320 is the stronger choice for both lightly-threaded and heavily-threaded workloads, despite having only two physical cores.

The i5-3335S does not win any head-to-head benchmark, but its value lies in its physical core count and larger cache. With four physical cores and 6 MB of L3 cache, it offers a different structural profile. The i5-3335S also has a boost clock of 3.20 GHz, which the i3-6320 lacks entirely. For workloads that benefit from more cache or from the presence of four independent cores, the i5-3335S provides a design that the i3-6320 cannot match, even though the data shows the i3-6320 outperforming it in all tested scenarios.

The i3-6320 also wins on platform modernity. It supports DDR4 memory and uses Socket 1151, while the i5-3335S is tied to DDR3 and Socket 1155. The i3-6320's 14 nm process node is newer than the 22 nm node of the i5-3335S, and its TDP is lower at 51 watts versus 65 watts.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every specification category. The i3-6320 has 2 cores and 4 threads, while the i5-3335S has 4 cores and 4 threads. Clock speeds differ significantly: the i3-6320 runs at 3.90 GHz base with no boost, while the i5-3335S runs at 2.70 GHz base and 3.20 GHz boost. The i3-6320 has a TDP of 51 watts, and the i5-3335S has a TDP of 65 watts.

The socket types are different: Socket 1151 for the i3-6320 and Socket 1155 for the i5-3335S. The architecture is Skylake for the i3-6320 and Ivy Bridge for the i5-3335S. The process node is 14 nm for the i3-6320 and 22 nm for the i5-3335S. Transistor counts are 1,400 million versus 1,480 million, and die sizes are 150 mm² versus 160 mm².

L3 cache differs: 4 MB shared for the i3-6320 and 6 MB shared for the i5-3335S. L1 and L2 cache are the same per core at 64 KB and 256 KB, respectively. Memory support differs, with DDR4 for the i3-6320 and DDR3 for the i5-3335S. The i3-6320 lists a memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s, while the i5-3335S does not list one. Integrated graphics are Intel HD 530 for the i3-6320 and Intel HD 4000 for the i5-3335S.

Release dates differ as well. The i3-6320 was released on 2015-08-31, and the i5-3335S was released on 2012-10-31. The i3-6320 has a production status of Active, while the i5-3335S has no production status listed. Neither processor has a launch MSRP in the data, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data shows a consistent 20 percent advantage for the i3-6320 across all five Cinebench tests. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i3-6320 scores 378 against 314 for the i5-3335S, a 20.4 percent difference. The R20 multi-core test shows 1576 versus 1310, a 20.3 percent margin. The R23 multi-core test shows 3753 versus 3121, again a 20.2 percent margin.

Single-core results follow the same pattern. Cinebench R20 single-core shows 222 for the i3-6320 and 184 for the i5-3335S, a 20.7 percent lead. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 529 versus 440, a 20.2 percent lead. There is no Cinebench R15 single-core score listed for the i5-3335S, so that comparison is absent.

The i3-6320 wins all five head-to-head tests, giving it a 5-0 record. The i5-3335S has no wins. The consistency of the delta percentages across both single-core and multi-core tests suggests the i3-6320's advantage comes from its architectural efficiency rather than any particular workload characteristic. The i3-6320 also has additional benchmark results beyond the head-to-head set, including Cinebench R15 single-core at 53, which the i5-3335S lacks.

The i5-3335S has two Geekbench results that are not in the head-to-head comparison: a multi-core score of 1647 and a single-core score of 562. These are not directly compared to any i3-6320 Geekbench scores, since the i3-6320 has no Geekbench results listed. The average benchmark scores of the two CPUs are nearly identical, at 1085 for the i3-6320 and 1083 for the i5-3335S.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i3-6320 outperforms the Intel Core i5-3335S in every benchmark where both are measured. The i3-6320's 20 percent advantage in both single-core and multi-core Cinebench tests shows that its two Skylake cores with hyper-threading are more effective than four Ivy Bridge cores in these workloads. The i3-6320 also wins on power efficiency, with a 51 watt TDP versus 65 watts, and on platform features, with DDR4 memory support and a newer 14 nm process node.

The i5-3335S is not without its merits. It offers four physical cores and 6 MB of L3 cache, which the i3-6320 cannot match. The i5-3335S also has a boost clock, which the i3-6320 lacks. For users who specifically need four physical cores or the larger cache pool, the i5-3335S provides a structural advantage that the benchmark scores do not capture.

The average benchmark scores tell a different story than the head-to-head results. The i3-6320 averages 1085, and the i5-3335S averages 1083, a negligible 0.2 percent difference. This suggests that outside the specific Cinebench tests, the two processors perform at a similar level overall. The i5-3335S's Geekbench scores, which are not compared head-to-head, may account for some of this parity.

The choice comes down to what the user prioritizes. The i3-6320 wins on measured performance, power consumption, and modern platform support. The i5-3335S offers more physical cores and more L3 cache. For any workload represented in the head-to-head data, the i3-6320 is the stronger option. For workloads that benefit from four independent cores or a larger cache, the i5-3335S offers a design advantage, but the benchmark data shows the i3-6320 still wins in all tested scenarios.