Intel Core i5-2310 vs Intel Core i5-3335S Comparison

Intel Core i5-3335S and Intel Core i5-2310 are both quad-core desktop processors from Intel, sharing the same LGA 1155 socket and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The recorded benchmark data shows an exceptionally close contest: the i5-3335S wins all five head-to-head comparisons, but the margins are almost entirely within rounding error. The average benchmark score for the i5-3335S is 1083, placing it at the 30th percentile of all CPUs, while the i5-2310 averages 1073, also at the 30th percentile. This places them in the same performance tier, with the newer Ivy Bridge part holding a nominal edge across every tested workload.

Where Each One Wins

The i5-3335S takes the win in every recorded benchmark, but the practical differences are negligible. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, both processors score exactly 314, meaning neither has a measurable advantage in that rendering workload. The i5-3335S leads by 0.1% in Cinebench R20 multi-core (1310 vs 1309) and by the same 0.1% in Cinebench R23 multi-core (3121 vs 3118). In single-core tests, the two are identical: both score 184 in Cinebench R20 single-core and 440 in Cinebench R23 single-core. The Geekbench results show a wider gap, with the i5-3335S at 1647 multi-core and 562 single-core, while the i5-2310 lacks Geekbench scores in the database.

The i5-3335S is the clear pick for any workload that benefits from the slightly higher multi-core throughput, such as video encoding or 3D rendering, though the difference is small enough that real-world performance would be indistinguishable. The i5-2310 does not win a single benchmark, but its lower average score of 1073 versus 1083 is within 1% of its rival, meaning it is not a loss in any practical sense. For users who already own an i5-2310, there is no compelling reason to upgrade to the i5-3335S based on these scores alone.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent two consecutive Intel architectures on the same socket. The i5-3335S is built on Ivy Bridge, using a 22 nm process node, while the i5-2310 uses Sandy Bridge on a 32 nm node. The die size reflects this difference: the i5-3335S measures 160 mm² with 1,480 million transistors, whereas the i5-2310 is larger at 216 mm² with 1,160 million transistors. The newer process allows the i5-3335S to pack more transistors into a smaller die, which contributes to its lower power draw.

Both chips have 4 cores and 4 threads, with identical cache layouts: 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 6 MB shared L3. Memory support is the same: dual-channel DDR3, with no ECC. PCI Express support is identical as well, Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The integrated graphics differ, with the i5-3335S featuring Intel HD 4000 while the i5-2310 comes with Intel HD 2000. The i5-3335S has a base clock of 2.70 GHz and boost clock of 3.20 GHz, while the i5-2310 has a higher base clock of 2.90 GHz but the same 3.20 GHz boost. The power envelope is a key differentiator: the i5-3335S has a TDP of 65 W, while the i5-2310 is rated at 95 W. The i5-2310 is marked as end-of-life, while the i5-3335S has no production status listed. Both are locked multipliers, and the i5-2310 has a part number of SR02K.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has better multi-core performance?

A: The i5-3335S leads in all multi-core tests. It scores 314 vs 314 in Cinebench R15, 1310 vs 1309 in R20, and 3121 vs 3118 in R23. The margins are 0.1% or less, so the advantage is real but minimal.

Q: Are both CPUs compatible with the same motherboards?

A: Yes, both use Intel Socket 1155 and support dual-channel DDR3 memory. They also share the same PCIe Gen 3, 16-lane configuration, so they can be swapped in the same board assuming BIOS support.

Q: Which processor draws less power?

A: The i5-3335S, with a TDP of 65 W, is significantly more power-efficient than the i5-2310, which is rated at 95 W. This is a much larger difference than the 0.1% performance gap.

Q: Is the i5-3335S faster in single-core tasks?

A: In the tested single-core workloads, they are exactly tied. Both score 184 in Cinebench R20 single-core and 440 in Cinebench R23 single-core. The higher base clock of the i5-2310 (2.90 GHz vs 2.70 GHz) does not translate into a single-core win.

Q: Do these CPUs have different integrated graphics?

A: Yes. The i5-3335S has Intel HD 4000, while the i5-2310 has Intel HD 2000. This makes the i5-3335S more capable for basic graphics tasks without a discrete GPU, though the database does not include graphics benchmark scores.

Q: Which CPU has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The i5-3335S has an average score of 1083, while the i5-2310 scores 1073. That is a 0.9% difference, within the range of run-to-run variation.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications. The i5-3335S has a base clock of 2.70 GHz, compared to the i5-2310's 2.90 GHz, but both boost to 3.20 GHz. The TDP is 65 W for the i5-3335S and 95 W for the i5-2310. The process node is 22 nm for the i5-3335S and 32 nm for the i5-2310. Transistor count is 1,480 million for the i5-3335S versus 1,160 million for the i5-2310, and die size is 160 mm² versus 216 mm². The integrated graphics are HD 4000 on the i5-3335S and HD 2000 on the i5-2310. The architectures are Ivy Bridge for the i5-3335S and Sandy Bridge for the i5-2310. The i5-2310 is marked as end-of-life, and it has a part number (SR02K) that the i5-3335S lacks. Both share cores, threads, cache sizes, memory support, memory bus, PCIe version, and ECC support (false for both).

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded head-to-head results show a dominant but narrow win for the i5-3335S across all five tests. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the score is exactly tied at 314, with the i5-3335S credited as the winner due to a 0% delta. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the i5-3335S scores 1310 against 1309, a 0.1% advantage. The R20 single-core test is a tie at 184 each, again awarded to the i5-3335S. Cinebench R23 multi-core gives the i5-3335S a 3121 vs 3118 win (0.1%), and R23 single-core is a tie at 440. The i5-3335S also has Geekbench scores of 1647 multi-core and 562 single-core, which the i5-2310 does not have in the database.

The biggest actual performance gap is 0.1%, which appears in the two multi-core Cinebench tests. The other three tests are exact ties. This means the i5-3335S is not meaningfully faster in any practical sense; the verdict is more that the i5-2310 is evenly matched in raw compute, but the i5-3335S has the advantage of being a newer, more power-efficient design. The 95 W i5-2310 draws more power than the 65 W i5-3335S while failing to outperform it in any benchmark, a clear indicator of Ivy Bridge's efficiency gains.

The Verdict

The data makes a clear recommendation for users building a new system from these two options: the i5-3335S is the better choice. It wins every benchmark, even if by a hair, and it does so while consuming 30 W less power. The 65 W TDP makes it easier to cool and cheaper to run, and the HD 4000 graphics are a step up from HD 2000. There is no scenario where the i5-2310 is the better pick from the recorded measurements.

For users upgrading from a Sandy Bridge system, the i5-3335S is not a worthwhile upgrade. The performance delta of 0.1% in multi-core and 0% in single-core means you would not notice any difference in everyday use. The i5-2310 remains fully capable, with the same 4 cores, 4 threads, and 6 MB L3 cache. The only reason to switch would be for the lower power draw or the better integrated graphics, but not for compute performance.

The i5-3335S is the pick for anyone building a low-power desktop or a media center PC, thanks to its 65 W TDP and HD 4000 GPU. The i5-2310 is best left in legacy systems, where it still performs at the 30th percentile of all CPUs, matching the i5-3335S in most workloads. Neither processor is a performance leader by modern standards, but between them, the i5-3335S is the better engineered part, with a smaller die, more transistors, and a lower power draw. The i5-2310s only advantage is its higher base clock of 2.90 GHz, which fails to produce a win in any test. The data is clear: i5-3335S wins on every metric that matters, even if the wins are narrow.