Intel Core i5-2300 vs Intel Core i7-5600U Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data is decisive: the Intel Core i5-2300 wins all five recorded head-to-head comparisons against the Intel Core i7-5600U. The margin is consistent and substantial, ranging from 16.0% to 16.2% across every test. This is not a narrow victory; the desktop part outperforms the mobile chip by a uniform margin in both single-core and multi-core workloads.

In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i5-2300 scores 296 against 255 for the i7-5600U, a 16.1% advantage. The newer Cinebench R20 multicore test shows a similar story: 1237 versus 1065, a 16.2% lead. The single-core results follow the same pattern. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the i5-2300 posts 174 points versus 150, a 16% lead. Cinebench R23 mirrors this exactly: the i5-2300 scores 416 in single-core versus 358, and 2947 in multicore versus 2537, both representing 16.2% advantages.

The uniformity of these deltas is noteworthy. Across five separate tests spanning Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, the i5-2300 maintains a lead of roughly 16% in every discipline. This consistency suggests the performance gap is structural rather than workload-specific. The i5-2300 simply delivers more compute throughput per unit of work in all measured scenarios.

The average benchmark scores from the database reinforce this picture. The i5-2300 has an average benchmark score of 1014, while the i7-5600U sits at 1005. The i5-2300 also ranks in the 28th percentile of all CPUs in the database, compared to the 27th percentile for the i7-5600U. While these aggregate metrics are close, the head-to-head results show a clear and repeatable winner.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural eras and target different market segments. The i5-2300 is a Sandy Bridge desktop part built on a 32 nm process, while the i7-5600U is a Broadwell-U mobile chip fabricated on a 14 nm node. The process shrink gives the i7-5600U a significant efficiency advantage, but the i5-2300 compensates with a larger physical design: its die size is 216 mm² versus 82 mm² for the i7-5600U. Transistor counts tell a similar story, with the i5-2300 housing 1,160 million transistors and the i7-5600U containing 1,300 million, despite the latter's much smaller die.

Core configuration differs sharply. The i5-2300 has 4 physical cores and 4 threads, while the i7-5600U has 2 physical cores and 4 threads. Both support 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, but the shared L3 cache favors the desktop part: 6 MB shared on the i5-2300 versus 4 MB shared on the i7-5600U.

Clock speeds are relatively close. The i5-2300 runs at a base clock of 2.80 GHz with a boost clock of 3.10 GHz. The i7-5600U has a base clock of 2.60 GHz but a higher boost clock of 3.20 GHz. Despite the higher boost, the i7-5600U cannot overcome the i5-2300's additional physical cores and larger cache in the benchmark results.

Power consumption is a major differentiator. The i5-2300 has a TDP of 95 watts, while the i7-5600U is rated at just 15 watts. This reflects the mobile design goal of the i7-5600U. Socket compatibility also diverges: the i5-2300 uses Intel Socket 1155, while the i7-5600U is soldered to Intel BGA 1168. The i5-2300 supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, while the i7-5600U is limited to PCIe Gen 2 with 12 lanes. Memory support is DDR3 for both, with dual-channel memory buses. The i7-5600U lists a memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s, while the i5-2300 has no recorded bandwidth figure in the database.

Integrated graphics differ as well. The i5-2300 ships with Intel HD 2000, while the i7-5600U includes Intel HD 5500. Neither processor supports ECC memory, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

Where Each One Wins

The i5-2300 wins every benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, so its victories are comprehensive. The multi-core tests show the desktop part's advantage from having two additional physical cores. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the 16.1% lead directly reflects the extra parallel processing capability. The same pattern appears in Cinebench R20 and R23 multicore tests, both showing 16.2% advantages.

The single-core tests are more surprising. Despite the i7-5600U having a higher boost clock of 3.20 GHz versus 3.10 GHz and a much newer architecture, the i5-2300 still leads by 16% in Cinebench R20 single-core and 16.2% in Cinebench R23 single-core. This suggests that the i5-2300's older but higher-power design extracts more performance per clock in these workloads, or that the i7-5600U's 15-watt power envelope limits its sustained performance even in single-threaded tasks.

The i7-5600U does have its own strengths, but they are not reflected in compute benchmarks. Its 15-watt TDP makes it suitable for thin-and-light mobile devices where power draw and heat dissipation are primary concerns. Its smaller die size of 82 mm² and more advanced 14 nm process point to lower power consumption per unit of work. The integrated Intel HD 5500 graphics are a newer generation than the HD 2000 in the i5-2300. The i7-5600U also has a recorded memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s, which the i5-2300 lacks in the database. However, the only additional benchmark recorded for the i7-5600U, Geekbench, shows a multicore score of 1750 and a single-core score of 917, with no comparable i5-2300 score in the head-to-head set.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear conclusion: the Intel Core i5-2300 is the stronger processor for raw compute performance. It wins all five head-to-head benchmarks with a consistent 16% to 16.2% margin. Its four physical cores and 6 MB of L3 cache deliver measurable advantages in both single-core and multi-core Cinebench workloads. The 28th percentile ranking versus the 27th percentile for the i7-5600U, along with the higher average benchmark score of 1014 versus 1005, confirms the i5-2300 as the better performer overall.

The Intel Core i7-5600U is not without merit, but its advantages lie outside the compute benchmarks. The 15-watt TDP is six times lower than the i5-2300's 95 watts, making it the obvious choice for battery-powered laptops and compact mobile systems. The 14 nm process and 82 mm² die size indicate a more efficient design. The higher boost clock of 3.20 GHz and the newer Broadwell architecture do not translate into benchmark wins, but they do contribute to the i7-5600U's efficiency profile.

For a desktop user prioritizing processing speed, the i5-2300 is the clear pick from the recorded data. For a mobile user prioritizing low power consumption and adequate performance, the i7-5600U is the appropriate choice. The i5-2300 is end-of-life, as is the i7-5600U, so availability in current markets may be limited. The i7-5600U has a recorded launch MSRP of $393; the i5-2300 has no recorded launch MSRP in the database.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core benchmarks?

A: The Intel Core i5-2300 wins all multi-core comparisons. It leads by 16.1% in Cinebench R15 multicore, scoring 296 versus 255, and by 16.2% in both Cinebench R20 multicore (1237 versus 1065) and Cinebench R23 multicore (2947 versus 2537).

Q: Does the i7-5600U win any benchmark?

A: No. In the recorded head-to-head benchmark data, the i5-2300 wins all five tests. The i7-5600U has additional Geekbench scores (1750 multicore, 917 single-core), but there is no comparable i5-2300 score for direct comparison.

Q: Why does the i5-2300 win despite being older and having a lower boost clock?

A: The i5-2300 has 4 physical cores versus 2 for the i7-5600U, plus 6 MB of shared L3 cache versus 4 MB. Its 95-watt TDP also allows sustained high performance, whereas the i7-5600U's 15-watt TDP limits its power draw.

Q: What are the power consumption differences?

A: The i5-2300 has a TDP of 95 watts, while the i7-5600U is rated at 15 watts. This makes the i7-5600U significantly more power-efficient and suitable for mobile devices.

Q: Are these processors still in production?

A: No. Both are marked as end-of-life in the database. The i5-2300 was released on January 8, 2011, and the i7-5600U was released on February 28, 2015.

Q: How do these CPUs rank against all other processors?

A: The i5-2300 ranks in the 28th percentile of all CPUs, while the i7-5600U ranks in the 27th percentile. Their average benchmark scores are 1014 and 1005, respectively.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-2300 | Intel Core i7-5600U |

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

| Cores | 4 | 2 |

| Threads | 4 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 2.80 GHz | 2.60 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.10 GHz | 3.20 GHz |

| TDP | 95 W | 15 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1155 | Intel BGA 1168 |

| Architecture | Sandy Bridge | Broadwell |

| Process Node | 32 nm | 14 nm |

| Die Size | 216 mm² | 82 mm² |

| Transistors | 1,160 million | 1,300 million |

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

| Memory Bandwidth | Not recorded | 25.6 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 2, 12 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 2000 | Intel HD 5500 |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Release Date | 2011-01-08 | 2015-02-28 |

| Launch MSRP | Not recorded | $393 |

| Part Number | SR00D | SR23V |