Intel Core i5-2310 vs Intel Core i5-2320 Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster, the Intel Core i5-2320 or the Intel Core i5-2310?

A: The Intel Core i5-2320 is faster across every recorded benchmark. It wins all five head-to-head tests, with margins ranging from 0.9% to 1.1% over the Intel Core i5-2310.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for both processors?

A: Both the Intel Core i5-2320 and the Intel Core i5-2310 have 4 cores and 4 threads. They are both quad-core parts with no hyper-threading.

Q: How do their clock speeds differ?

A: The Intel Core i5-2320 has a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 3.30 GHz. The Intel Core i5-2310 has a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 3.20 GHz. The i5-2320 holds a 0.10 GHz advantage in both base and boost frequencies.

Q: Do these processors belong to the same architecture?

A: Yes, both are built on the Sandy Bridge architecture using a 32 nm process node. They are both from the Core i5 (Sandy Bridge) generation and are manufactured by Intel.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each CPU?

A: The Intel Core i5-2320 has an average benchmark score of 1083, placing it in the 30th percentile of all CPUs. The Intel Core i5-2310 has an average benchmark score of 1073, also in the 30th percentile.

Q: Which CPU has more cache memory?

A: Neither. Both processors have identical cache configurations: 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear, if modest, winner: the Intel Core i5-2320 outperforms the Intel Core i5-2310 in every single benchmark recorded. The performance delta is small, between 0.9% and 1.1% depending on the test, but it is consistent across both multi-core and single-core workloads. There is no test category in which the i5-2310 pulls ahead. For users choosing strictly on measured performance, the i5-2320 is the superior part.

The differences are entirely clock speed driven. The i5-2320 operates at 3.00 GHz base and 3.30 GHz boost, while the i5-2310 runs at 2.90 GHz base and 3.20 GHz boost. Both chips share the same Sandy Bridge architecture, the same 32 nm process node, the same 4-core/4-thread configuration, and the same 95 W TDP. The i5-2320 simply starts from a higher frequency and extends that advantage through boost.

Neither CPU is unlocked, so the multiplier cannot be adjusted on either part. Both are end-of-life products, and both target the desktop market segment with the Intel Socket 1155 interface. The release dates differ by roughly three and a half months, with the i5-2310 launching in May 2011 and the i5-2320 in September 2011, but this does not translate into any architectural advantage for the later chip.

The verdict is straightforward for database-driven decision making: the Intel Core i5-2320 wins all five head-to-head tests, making it the recommended pick between the two. The i5-2310 remains a functional alternative with essentially identical platform requirements, but every measurable performance metric favors the i5-2320.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are uniform: the Intel Core i5-2320 wins all five recorded tests. The largest margin comes in the Cinebench R20 single-core test, where the i5-2320 scores 186 against 184 for the i5-2310, a 1.1% advantage. The smallest margins, both at 0.9%, appear in three tests: Cinebench R20 multi-core (1321 vs 1309), Cinebench R23 multi-core (3146 vs 3118), and Cinebench R23 single-core (444 vs 440).

The Cinebench R15 multi-core test shows the i5-2320 at 317 and the i5-2310 at 314, a 1% lead. This pattern is notable because it holds in both single-threaded and multi-threaded scenarios. Single-core performance differences, which typically reflect raw clock speed and IPC, show the i5-2320 ahead by 1.1% in R20 and 0.9% in R23. Multi-core results, which scale across all four cores, show the i5-2320 ahead by 0.9% in R20 and R23, and 1% in R15.

The average benchmark scores reinforce the head-to-head outcome. The i5-2320 averages 1083, while the i5-2310 averages 1073, a difference of 10 points on the database scale. Relative to its nearest rivals, the i5-2320 sits at parity with the Intel Core i5-3335S (1083, 0% delta), 0.1% ahead of the Intel Pentium Gold G6505T (1082), 0.2% ahead of the AMD A12-9800 (1081), and 0.2% behind the Intel Core i3-6320 (1085). The i5-2310, meanwhile, sits 0.1% ahead of the Intel Core i3-4170T (1072), at parity with the Intel Core i5-5287U (1072), 0.1% behind the Intel Pentium Gold G6505 (1074), and 0.1% ahead of the AMD Athlon X4 880K (1071).

The consistent pattern across all five tests indicates that the clock speed difference between the two chips translates directly into measurable performance. No benchmark shows the i5-2310 closing the gap or overtaking the i5-2320. The data is unambiguous: the i5-2320 is the faster processor in every workload recorded.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in only two primary specification areas: clock speeds and release date.

The base clock of the Intel Core i5-2320 is 3.00 GHz, while the Intel Core i5-2310 runs at 2.90 GHz. The boost clock follows the same pattern: 3.30 GHz for the i5-2320 versus 3.20 GHz for the i5-2310. This 0.10 GHz advantage in both base and boost frequencies is the only performance-relevant specification difference between the two parts.

The release dates differ as well. The Intel Core i5-2310 was released on May 21, 2011, while the Intel Core i5-2320 followed on September 3, 2011. The part numbers also differ: the i5-2320 is designated SR02L, and the i5-2310 is designated SR02K.

All other specifications are identical. Both have 4 cores and 4 threads, a 95 W TDP, the Intel Socket 1155 interface, and DDR3 memory support with a dual-channel memory bus. Both lack ECC memory support, both have locked multipliers, and both are classified as end-of-life desktop products.

Architecture Differences

There are no architectural differences between the Intel Core i5-2320 and the Intel Core i5-2310. Both processors are built on the Sandy Bridge architecture, share the same Sandy Bridge codename, and belong to the same Core i5 (Sandy Bridge) generation.

The process node is identical: 32 nm, fabricated by Intel. Both chips contain 1,160 million transistors on a 216 mm² die size. The cache hierarchy matches exactly: 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache.

Both processors integrate the Intel HD 2000 graphics solution and provide PCIe Gen 3 connectivity with 16 lanes (CPU only lanes). Neither chip supports ECC memory, and both use a dual-channel memory bus with DDR3 memory support. The market segment is desktop for both parts.

The i5-2320 and i5-2310 are functionally the same silicon, differentiated only by their operating frequencies. The later release date of the i5-2320 did not introduce any architectural revisions, cache changes, or feature additions. The performance gap between them is purely a product binning outcome, where the i5-2320 was validated to run at higher clock speeds.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-2320 wins in every benchmark category recorded, so the use-case split is heavily one-sided. For users prioritizing raw multi-core throughput, the i5-2320 leads in Cinebench R15 multi-core (317 vs 314), Cinebench R20 multi-core (1321 vs 1309), and Cinebench R23 multi-core (3146 vs 3118). These margins, while small, are consistent across three different generations of the Cinebench test.

For single-core workloads, the i5-2320 also holds the advantage. Cinebench R20 single-core shows 186 vs 184, and Cinebench R23 single-core shows 444 vs 440. This makes the i5-2320 the better choice for lightly threaded applications that depend on single-core performance, such as older games or legacy software that does not scale across cores.

The i5-2310 has no recorded benchmark wins. Its position in the database, with an average score of 1073 versus 1083 for the i5-2320, places it behind in the overall ranking. In the context of nearest rivals, the i5-2310 sits near the Intel Core i5-5287U and Intel Core i3-4170T, both at 1072, and just ahead of the AMD Athlon X4 880K at 1071.

The use-case conclusion is simple: the Intel Core i5-2320 is the pick for every workload category represented in the database. Both CPUs share the same socket, memory support, graphics, and architecture, so there is no platform-level reason to choose the i5-2310. The i5-2310 is a viable alternative only if clock speed differences are irrelevant to the specific application, but based on the recorded data, the i5-2320 is the stronger performer in all scenarios.