Intel Core i5-2320 vs Intel Core i5-2450P Comparison

The Intel Core i5-2450P and Intel Core i5-2320 are two quad-core Sandy Bridge desktop processors that appear nearly identical on paper, yet the benchmark data reveals a clear and consistent performance gap. Both chips share the same 32 nm process node, the same 1,160 million transistor count, and the same 216 mm² die size. The i5-2450P holds a decisive edge in every measured workload, with the i5-2320 never managing a single victory across the five head-to-head tests. The data shows a methodical, uniform advantage for the newer part, which is striking given their architectural kinship.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The i5-2450P wins all five recorded benchmark comparisons, with margins that are remarkably consistent across both single-threaded and multi-threaded tests. Starting with Cinebench R23, the i5-2450P scores 3632 in multi-core against the i5-2320’s 3146, a 15.4% lead. The single-core result in the same test is similarly lopsided: 512 versus 444, a 15.3% advantage. These are not marginal wins; they represent a generation-defining gap that persists across every application.

The pattern holds in Cinebench R20, where the i5-2450P posts 1525 multi-core and 215 single-core, versus 1321 and 186 for the i5-2320. That translates to deltas of 15.4% and 15.6% respectively — the single-core margin is actually the largest of any test. Cinebench R15 multi-core shows the same story: 366 for the i5-2450P versus 317 for the i5-2320, a 15.5% difference. Every delta sits between 15.3% and 15.6%, which suggests the performance gap is not workload-dependent but rather a fundamental clock-speed and feature advantage that scales uniformly.

The average benchmark scores corroborate this. The i5-2450P averages 1086 across all tests, while the i5-2320 averages 1083. That is a slim 0.3% gap in aggregate, but the head-to-head deltas tell a more precise story. The i5-2450P’s nearest rival list includes the i5-2320 with a deltaPct of 0.3, meaning the two are statistically close in overall average. Yet the targeted Cinebench comparisons reveal the i5-2450P is consistently 15% faster in those specific workloads. The discrepancy arises because the i5-2450P’s benchmark suite includes Geekbench scores (1796 multi-core, 590 single-core) that the i5-2320 lacks, pulling the averages together.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on the Sandy Bridge architecture, share the same "Sandy Bridge" codename, and use the Intel 32 nm process node. They both pack 4 cores and 4 threads, with identical cache hierarchies: 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 6 MB shared L3. The transistor count is the same at 1,160 million, and the die size is identical at 216 mm². Both are fabricated by Intel and use the Intel Socket 1155 socket. Memory support is also identical: DDR3 with a dual-channel bus, no ECC support, and the same PCIe Gen 3, 16 lanes (CPU only) configuration.

The key architectural difference lies in the integrated graphics. The i5-2450P ships without any integrated graphics, while the i5-2320 includes Intel HD 2000. That is a significant functional divergence for a desktop part. The absence of iGPU on the i5-2450P means it requires a discrete graphics card to output any video, whereas the i5-2320 can drive a display on its own. The i5-2450P compensates with higher clock speeds: its base clock is 3.20 GHz versus 3.00 GHz for the i5-2320, and its boost clock is 3.50 GHz versus 3.30 GHz. These higher clocks are the primary driver of the benchmark advantage, as both chips have the same core count, cache, and process node.

The release dates differ by roughly five months. The i5-2320 was released on 2011-09-03, while the i5-2450P arrived on 2012-01-29. The i5-2320 is marked as end-of-life, while the i5-2450P has no production status listed. Both are part of the Core i5 (Sandy Bridge) generation, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. Their part numbers differ (SR0G1 for the i5-2450P, SR02L for the i5-2320), but the underlying silicon is essentially the same, binned and configured differently.

Where Each One Wins

The i5-2450P wins every benchmark category in the data, so the use-case split is straightforward. For multi-threaded productivity, the i5-2450P is clearly superior. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 3632 versus 3146, a 15.4% lead that will translate to faster rendering times in 3D applications and video encoding workloads. The R20 multi-core result (1525 vs 1321) reinforces this, as does the R15 multi-core score (366 vs 317). Any task that scales across all four cores — such as batch photo processing, software compilation, or scientific simulation — will finish noticeably faster on the i5-2450P.

Single-threaded performance is where the i5-2450P’s higher clock speeds show their value. The 15.6% lead in Cinebench R20 single-core (215 vs 186) and the 15.3% lead in R23 single-core (512 vs 444) indicate that the i5-2450P is also better for lightly-threaded applications like web browsing, office productivity, and legacy games that rely on one or two threads. The i5-2320’s only advantage is its integrated graphics. If a build requires a CPU that can output video without a discrete GPU — for a basic office machine or a low-cost media center — the i5-2320 can do that job, while the i5-2450P cannot.

The i5-2450P also holds a slight edge in the aggregate average benchmark score (1086 vs 1083), though that 0.3% difference is within the noise of the nearest rival comparisons. Both chips sit in the 30th percentile of all CPUs, meaning they are mid-range performers by modern standards. Neither part is a champion, but the i5-2450P is the stronger of the two in every measured benchmark.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in only a handful of listed specifications. Clock speeds are the most consequential divergence: the i5-2450P runs at 3.20 GHz base and 3.50 GHz boost, while the i5-2320 runs at 3.00 GHz base and 3.30 GHz boost. This 200 MHz advantage at both ends explains the consistent 15% benchmark gap. The integrated graphics field is another clear difference — the i5-2450P lists none, while the i5-2320 features Intel HD 2000.

Release dates differ, with the i5-2450P launching on 2012-01-29 and the i5-2320 on 2011-09-03. Production status also differs: the i5-2320 is explicitly marked as end-of-life, while the i5-2450P has no status listed. Part numbers are distinct (SR0G1 vs SR02L). All other fields — cores, threads, TDP, socket, architecture, process node, foundry, transistors, die size, cache, memory support, memory bus, ECC support, PCIe, market segment, and multiplier unlock status — are identical between the two.

Neither processor has a launch MSRP listed in the data, so no pricing information is available for either part. Both are desktop segment CPUs with a 95 W TDP, and neither supports ECC memory. The i5-2450P’s lack of integrated graphics is the only functional specification that could disqualify it from certain builds, but for any system with a discrete GPU, the i5-2450P is the superior choice on paper.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core i5-2450P is faster in every multi-core test. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 3632 versus 3146 for the i5-2320, a 15.4% lead. The R20 multi-core test shows 1525 versus 1321 (15.4% lead), and R15 multi-core shows 366 versus 317 (15.5% lead).

Q: Is there any benchmark where the i5-2320 wins?

A: No. Across the five head-to-head benchmark comparisons — Cinebench R15 multi-core, R20 multi-core, R20 single-core, R23 multi-core, and R23 single-core — the i5-2450P wins all of them. The i5-2320 has zero wins in the recorded data.

Q: Do these processors have integrated graphics?

A: No, not both. The i5-2450P has no integrated graphics, while the i5-2320 includes Intel HD 2000. This means the i5-2320 can output video without a discrete GPU, but the i5-2450P requires a separate graphics card.

Q: What are the clock speed differences?

A: The i5-2450P has a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 3.50 GHz. The i5-2320 has a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 3.30 GHz. The i5-2450P is 200 MHz higher in both modes.

Q: Are they built on the same architecture?

A: Yes. Both are Sandy Bridge parts, fabricated on Intel’s 32 nm process node with 1,160 million transistors and a 216 mm² die size. They also share the same 4-core, 4-thread configuration and identical 6 MB shared L3 cache.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The i5-2450P has an average benchmark score of 1086, while the i5-2320 averages 1083. That is a 0.3% difference in favor of the i5-2450P, though the targeted Cinebench tests show a much larger 15% gap.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i5-2450P is the better processor in every measured dimension. It wins all five head-to-head benchmarks with deltas between 15.3% and 15.6%, a consistent and substantial margin that reflects its higher base and boost clocks. For any workload that benefits from CPU performance — rendering, encoding, compilation, or general desktop responsiveness — the i5-2450P is the correct pick. Its lack of integrated graphics is the only caveat, and that only matters if the system is being built without a discrete GPU.

The i5-2320 is not a bad processor; it sits in the same 30th percentile of all CPUs and its average benchmark score of 1083 is within 0.3% of the i5-2450P’s 1086. But that aggregate similarity masks the reality of the head-to-head data. In the tests where both were run, the i5-2450P is consistently 15% faster. The i5-2320’s sole advantage is its Intel HD 2000 integrated graphics, which makes it viable for a no-GPU build. If that specific use case is not a requirement, the i5-2450P is the superior choice, and its end-of-life status on the i5-2320 suggests the older part is already being phased out. The verdict is simple: buy the i5-2450P unless you absolutely need integrated graphics.