Intel Core i5-2310 vs Intel Core i5-2450P Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark database shows a clear and consistent performance hierarchy between these two Sandy Bridge desktop processors. In every recorded head-to-head test, the Intel Core i5-2450P finishes ahead of the Intel Core i5-2310. The margin is remarkably uniform across all five comparisons, which indicates the advantage comes from the fundamental operating characteristics of the two chips rather than from any workload-specific behavior.

Starting with multi-threaded rendering, the Cinebench R15 multicore test shows the i5-2450P scoring 366 against 314 for the i5-2310. That is a 16.6% difference. The same pattern appears in Cinebench R20 multicore, where the i5-2450P scores 1525 and the i5-2310 scores 1309, a 16.5% gap. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the i5-2450P reaches 3632 while the i5-2310 manages 3118, again a 16.5% advantage.

Single-core performance tells the same story. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the i5-2450P scores 215 versus 184 for the i5-2310, a 16.8% lead. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the i5-2450P posts 512 against 440, a 16.4% edge. These are the largest and smallest deltas in the entire head-to-head set, but all five tests sit within a narrow band between 16.4% and 16.8%. That consistency is notable: it means the i5-2450P is not tuned for one type of workload, it is simply faster across the board.

The i5-2450P also has a small overall benchmark average advantage. Its average benchmark score is 1086, while the i5-2310 averages 1073. That puts the i5-2450P about 1.2% higher on average, which is modest compared to the double-digit Cinebench gaps, but it reflects that the two processors occupy similar positions in the broader CPU landscape. Both sit at the 30th percentile of all CPUs in the database.

The nearest rivals in the database reinforce this positioning. The i5-2450P sits within 0.3% of the Intel Core i5-2320, which averages 1083, and within 0.2% of the AMD Athlon 220GE, which averages 1088. The i5-2310, meanwhile, is within 0.1% of the Intel Core i3-4170T and the Intel Core i5-5287U, both averaging 1072, and within 0.1% of the AMD Athlon X4 880K at 1071. In other words, the i5-2450P competes with a slightly faster group of chips than the i5-2310 does.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on the same Sandy Bridge architecture and share the same 32 nm process node, with Intel as the foundry for both. Each die contains 1,160 million transistors on a 216 mm² die size. The cache layout is identical: 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3. Both are quad-core, four-thread desktop parts with a 95 W TDP and an Intel Socket 1155 interface. Neither has an unlocked multiplier.

The meaningful architectural difference is clock speed. The i5-2450P has a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 3.50 GHz. The i5-2310 runs at 2.90 GHz base and 3.20 GHz boost. That means the i5-2450P starts 300 MHz higher and can boost 300 MHz higher. Given that everything else about the core design, cache hierarchy, and manufacturing process is the same, the clock frequency difference is the most plausible explanation for the consistent 16.4% to 16.8% benchmark advantage.

There is also a difference in integrated graphics. The i5-2310 includes Intel HD 2000 graphics, while the i5-2450P has no integrated graphics listed in the database. For a desktop build that already has a discrete GPU, this changes little, but it matters for anyone relying on the CPU's own display outputs. The i5-2450P requires a separate graphics card, while the i5-2310 can output video on its own.

The release dates differ as well. The i5-2310 was released in 2011, while the i5-2450P came later in 2012. The i5-2310 is also marked as end-of-life in the database, while the i5-2450P has no production status listed. Both support DDR3 memory in dual-channel configuration, and both have PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. Neither supports ECC memory.

The Verdict

The recorded data points to a straightforward conclusion: the Intel Core i5-2450P is the faster processor in every benchmark the database tracks. It wins all five head-to-head comparisons, with margins between 16.4% and 16.8%. Anyone choosing between these two for a new build, or an upgrade on the same socket, should take the i5-2450P if the price difference is not a concern. The lack of integrated graphics on the i5-2450P is the only real functional drawback, and it only matters if the system will not have a discrete GPU.

The Intel Core i5-2310 still holds a place for specific situations. Because it includes Intel HD 2000 graphics, it can serve as a complete budget system without a separate video card. The database shows it performs at the 30th percentile of all CPUs, with an average score of 1073, and it sits close to chips like the Intel Core i3-4170T and the Intel Pentium Gold G6505. For a basic desktop, office machine, or home theater PC that does not need gaming or heavy rendering, the i5-2310 is sufficient.

The i5-2450P, by contrast, is the pick for anyone who already owns a discrete GPU and wants the maximum performance available between these two chips. Its average score of 1086 and 30th percentile ranking place it alongside the Intel Core i5-3350P and the AMD Athlon 220GE. It is not a high-end part by modern standards, but within this pair, it is clearly superior.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The Intel Core i5-2450P scores 3632 in Cinebench R23 multicore, while the Intel Core i5-2310 scores 3118. That is a 16.5% advantage for the i5-2450P.

Q: Do both CPUs have the same number of cores and threads?

A: Yes, both have 4 cores and 4 threads.

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-2310 have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, the i5-2310 includes Intel HD 2000 graphics. The i5-2450P has no integrated graphics listed in the database.

Q: How much L3 cache does each processor have?

A: Both have 6 MB of shared L3 cache, along with 64 KB of L1 per core and 256 KB of L2 per core.

Q: What is the TDP of these processors?

A: Both have a 95 W TDP.

Q: Which CPU has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i5-2450P boosts to 3.50 GHz, while the Intel Core i5-2310 boosts to 3.20 GHz.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-2450P wins in every benchmark category recorded in the database. In multi-core workloads, it leads by 16.6% in Cinebench R15, 16.5% in Cinebench R20, and 16.5% in Cinebench R23. In single-core workloads, it leads by 16.8% in Cinebench R20 and 16.4% in Cinebench R23. This makes it the better choice for rendering, video encoding, compile jobs, or any software that scales with CPU throughput.

The Intel Core i5-2310 does not win any benchmark category, but it has one practical advantage: integrated graphics. The database lists Intel HD 2000 for the i5-2310 and no integrated graphics for the i5-2450P. That makes the i5-2310 the only one of the two that can run a complete system without a discrete GPU. For a simple office PC, media playback machine, or a secondary build where a graphics card is not available, the i5-2310 is the functional choice despite its lower scores.

The i5-2450P requires a separate graphics card, which means its total system cost will be higher in a new build. However, for anyone upgrading an existing Socket 1155 system that already has a GPU, the i5-2450P delivers a meaningful performance increase across all tested workloads. The i5-2310's end-of-life status in the database also suggests it is the older part, released in 2011 versus 2012 for the i5-2450P.

Specification Differences

The two processors share more specifications than they differ on, but the differences are important.

The base clock differs: the Intel Core i5-2450P runs at 3.20 GHz, while the Intel Core i5-2310 runs at 2.90 GHz. The boost clock also differs: 3.50 GHz for the i5-2450P versus 3.20 GHz for the i5-2310.

Integrated graphics is a major difference. The i5-2310 has Intel HD 2000, while the i5-2450P has no integrated graphics listed.

The release date differs: the i5-2310 was released in 2011, and the i5-2450P was released in 2012.

Production status differs: the i5-2310 is marked as end-of-life, while the i5-2450P has no production status listed in the database.

The part numbers differ: the i5-2450P is SR0G1, and the i5-2310 is SR02K.

Average benchmark score differs: the i5-2450P averages 1086, and the i5-2310 averages 1073.

The nearest rival sets differ. The i5-2450P's closest competitors include the Intel Core i3-6320 at 1085, the Intel Core i5-3350P at 1088, the AMD Athlon 220GE at 1088, and the Intel Core i5-2320 at 1083. The i5-2310's closest competitors include the Intel Core i3-4170T at 1072, the Intel Pentium Gold G6505 at 1074, the Intel Core i5-5287U at 1072, and the AMD Athlon X4 880K at 1071.

Everything else is identical: 4 cores, 4 threads, 95 W TDP, Intel Socket 1155, Sandy Bridge architecture, 32 nm process node, 1,160 million transistors, 216 mm² die size, 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, 6 MB shared L3, DDR3 memory support, dual-channel memory bus, no ECC support, PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, locked multiplier, and desktop market segment.