Intel Core i3-8130U vs Intel Core i5-2405S Comparison

The Intel Core i3-8130U and Intel Core i5-2405S are separated by seven years of architecture, yet the benchmark data shows the newer mobile chip winning every single head-to-head test. The most striking result is in Geekbench single-core, where the i3-8130U scores 898 against the i5-2405S's 541, a 66% advantage. This is not a close contest; the i3-8130U leads by double digits in every workload measured, making the i5-2405S a strictly inferior choice on performance alone.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench suite reveals a consistent pattern of modest but uniform superiority for the i3-8130U. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i3-8130U scores 301 versus 291 for the i5-2405S, a 3.4% lead. The margin widens slightly in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the i3-8130U posts 1257 against 1213, a 3.6% difference. Cinebench R23 multi-core follows the same trajectory: 2995 for the i3-8130U versus 2890 for the i5-2405S, again a 3.6% gap. These are small margins, but they are consistent across every multi-threaded test, indicating the i3-8130U's two cores with Hyper-Threading are handling threaded workloads at least as well as the i5-2405S's four physical cores.

Single-core performance tells a more decisive story. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the i3-8130U scores 177 against 171, a 3.5% lead. Cinebench R23 single-core shows a 3.4% advantage, with scores of 422 and 408. While these Cinebench single-core margins are modest, the Geekbench single-core test reveals the true architectural gap. Here, the i3-8130U scores 898, a massive 66% improvement over the i5-2405S's 541. This is the single largest delta in the entire comparison, and it underscores how much IPC (instructions per clock) has improved from Sandy Bridge to Kaby Lake-R.

The Geekbench multi-core result is also lopsided, though less extreme. The i3-8130U scores 1762 versus 1425 for the i5-2405S, a 23.6% advantage. This is a far larger margin than the Cinebench multi-core numbers suggest, indicating that Geekbench's workload mix favors the newer architecture's memory subsystem and execution resources more heavily. Across all seven head-to-head tests, the i3-8130U wins 7 and the i5-2405S wins 0. The average benchmark score reflects this: 994 for the i3-8130U against 991 for the i5-2405S, a razor-thin 0.3% overall difference that masks the distribution of wins.

Where Each One Wins

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i3-8130U wins every benchmark category. There is no test in the FACT PACK where the i5-2405S comes out ahead. This means the i3-8130U is the better choice for single-threaded applications, multi-threaded rendering, and mixed productivity workloads alike. The i3-8130U's Geekbench single-core score of 898 versus 541 is particularly decisive for applications that rely on snappy, per-thread responsiveness, such as web browsing, office document editing, and light code compilation. The 66% lead in this metric suggests the i3-8130U will feel dramatically more responsive in everyday tasks.

For multi-threaded workloads like video encoding or 3D rendering, the i3-8130U still wins, but the margin is smaller. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i3-8130U scores 2995 against 2890, a 3.6% lead. This is enough to declare a winner, but not enough to suggest a transformative upgrade for heavily threaded tasks. The i5-2405S's four physical cores do help it stay competitive in pure throughput, but the newer architecture's efficiency and higher boost clock (3.40 GHz for the i3-8130U versus 3.30 GHz for the i5-2405S) give the edge to the mobile part. The i5-2405S's only claim to relevance is its legacy desktop platform, not its performance, which is strictly inferior in every measured test.

The Verdict

The Intel Core i3-8130U is the clear winner on every benchmark metric. If you are choosing between these two processors purely on performance, the i3-8130U is the only sensible pick. It offers a 66% lead in Geekbench single-core, a 23.6% lead in Geekbench multi-core, and consistent 3.4-3.6% leads across the Cinebench suite. The i5-2405S cannot win a single test, and its 27th percentile ranking among all CPUs is identical to the i3-8130U's, but the raw scores show the newer chip is faster across the board.

The i5-2405S should only be considered if you are constrained to a Socket 1155 motherboard and require four physical cores without Hyper-Threading. However, the data shows that the i3-8130U's two cores with four threads outperform the i5-2405S's four cores in every multi-threaded test. The i5-2405S is end-of-life, while the i3-8130U is still active, and the i3-8130U also features a much lower TDP of 15 watts versus 65 watts, making it the more efficient option. For any new build or upgrade, the i3-8130U is the verdict.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i3-8130U wins decisively. It scores 898 in Geekbench single-core versus 541 for the i5-2405S, a 66% advantage. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it leads 422 to 408, a 3.4% margin.

Q: Does the i5-2405S win any benchmark?

A: No. The i3-8130U wins all seven head-to-head tests, including every Cinebench and Geekbench variant. The i5-2405S has zero wins in the data.

Q: How do the multi-core scores compare?

A: The i3-8130U leads in all multi-core tests. Geekbench multi-core shows 1762 versus 1425, a 23.6% lead. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows 2995 versus 2890, a 3.6% lead. Cinebench R20 multi-core shows 1257 versus 1213, a 3.6% lead.

Q: What are the core and thread counts?

A: The i3-8130U has 2 cores and 4 threads. The i5-2405S has 4 cores and 4 threads. Despite having half the physical cores, the i3-8130U achieves higher multi-threaded scores.

Q: Which CPU has a lower power draw?

A: The i3-8130U has a TDP of 15 watts, while the i5-2405S has a TDP of 65 watts. The i3-8130U is the more power-efficient part.

Q: What is the release date difference?

A: The i3-8130U was released on 2018-02-12, while the i5-2405S was released on 2011-05-21. The i5-2405S is end-of-life, while the i3-8130U remains active.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural eras. The i3-8130U uses the Kaby Lake architecture on a 14 nm process node, with a die size of 123 mm². The i5-2405S uses the Sandy Bridge architecture on a 32 nm process node, with a die size of 216 mm² and 1,160 million transistors. This process shrink is a major factor in the i3-8130U's efficiency and performance gains. The i3-8130U has a shared 4 MB L3 cache, while the i5-2405S has a larger shared 6 MB L3 cache. Both have 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core.

The i3-8130U integrates UHD 620 graphics, while the i5-2405S integrates Intel HD 3000 graphics. The i3-8130U supports DDR4 memory, while the i5-2405S supports DDR3. The i5-2405S uses a dual-channel memory bus, while the i3-8130U's memory bus configuration is not listed. The i5-2405S features PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i3-8130U's PCIe configuration is not specified. The i3-8130U is a mobile part on Intel BGA 1356, while the i5-2405S is a desktop part on Intel Socket 1155. The i3-8130U's codename is Kaby Lake-R, while the i5-2405S's is simply Sandy Bridge.

Specification Differences

The most obvious difference is core count: the i3-8130U has 2 cores and 4 threads, while the i5-2405S has 4 cores and 4 threads. The i3-8130U has a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 3.40 GHz. The i5-2405S has a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 3.30 GHz. The i3-8130U's TDP is 15 watts, while the i5-2405S's is 65 watts. Their sockets differ: Intel BGA 1356 for the i3-8130U, Intel Socket 1155 for the i5-2405S.

The L3 cache differs, with the i3-8130U at 4 MB and the i5-2405S at 6 MB. Memory support differs: DDR4 for the i3-8130U, DDR3 for the i5-2405S. The i5-2405S explicitly lists dual-channel memory support, while the i3-8130U does not specify a memory bus. Integrated graphics differ: UHD 620 for the i3-8130U, HD 3000 for the i5-2405S. Process node differs: 14 nm for the i3-8130U, 32 nm for the i5-2405S. Die size is 123 mm² for the i3-8130U and 216 mm² for the i5-2405S. The i3-8130U is active in production, while the i5-2405S is end-of-life. The i5-2405S has part number SR0BB, while the i3-8130U's is not listed.