Intel Core i5-2320 vs Intel Core i5-3335S Comparison

The Verdict

The data presents an unusually close pairing. Both processors land on the exact same average benchmark score of 1083 and share the same 30th percentile ranking against all CPUs. The Intel Core i5-2320, built on Sandy Bridge, wins all five head-to-head Cinebench comparisons, but its margins are razor-thin—ranging from just 0.8% to 1.1%. This is not a case of one chip being clearly superior; it is a case of marginal differences that may not translate into perceptible real-world distinctions.

For users prioritizing raw multi-threaded compute in legacy applications, the i5-2320 holds a consistent, if small, edge. Its higher base clock of 3.00 GHz and boost clock of 3.30 GHz, compared to the i5-3335S’s 2.70 GHz and 3.20 GHz, explain its narrow victories across every Cinebench iteration. However, the i5-3335S counters with a dramatically lower thermal design power of 65 watts versus 95 watts, alongside a newer Ivy Bridge architecture on a 22 nm process. For system builders concerned with thermals, power delivery, or quieter operation in compact desktops, the i5-3335S is the more sensible engineering choice despite losing every benchmark.

The verdict splits cleanly: choose the i5-2320 if maximum benchmark scores are the sole criterion and the power budget is flexible; choose the i5-3335S for its superior process node, lower power draw, and more capable integrated graphics. Neither chip offers a meaningful performance advantage—the largest delta is 1.1% in single-core Cinebench R20. The i5-3335S also brings integrated Intel HD 4000 graphics against the i5-2320’s HD 2000, which is a qualitative advantage not reflected in CPU-only benchmarks but relevant for systems without discrete GPUs.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent successive Intel generations on the same socket. The i5-2320 uses the Sandy Bridge architecture on a 32 nm process, while the i5-3335S uses Ivy Bridge on a 22 nm node. This process shrink is substantial: the i5-3335S packs 1,480 million transistors into a 160 mm² die, whereas the i5-2320 fits 1,160 million transistors into a larger 216 mm² die. The newer part achieves higher transistor density and greater power efficiency simultaneously.

Both chips have identical core and thread counts—4 cores and 4 threads—with no hyper-threading. Cache hierarchies match exactly: 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. Memory support is also identical: dual-channel DDR3 without ECC. PCIe connectivity is the same generation and lane count: Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU.

Clock speeds differ notably. The i5-2320 runs at a 3.00 GHz base and 3.30 GHz boost, while the i5-3335S operates at 2.70 GHz base and 3.20 GHz boost. The i5-2320 holds a 0.30 GHz base-clock advantage and a 0.10 GHz boost-clock advantage. This clock gap is the primary driver of its benchmark wins.

The most significant differentiators are power and graphics. The i5-3335S’s 65 W TDP is 31.6% lower than the i5-2320’s 95 W TDP, a substantial efficiency gain from the 22 nm node. Integrated graphics also differ: the i5-3335S carries Intel HD 4000, while the i5-2320 has HD 2000. Both are locked (multiplier-unlocked: false) and target the desktop market segment. The i5-2320 is marked end-of-life; the i5-3335S has no production status listed.

Where Each One Wins

The i5-2320 wins every head-to-head benchmark listed, but the margins are small enough that the wins are more symbolic than practical. Its largest victory is 1.1% in Cinebench R20 single-core (186 vs. 184). Its other wins are 1% in Cinebench R15 multi-core (317 vs. 314), 0.8% in Cinebench R20 multi-core (1321 vs. 1310), 0.8% in Cinebench R23 multi-core (3146 vs. 3121), and 0.9% in Cinebench R23 single-core (444 vs. 440). These results indicate that the i5-2320’s clock advantage translates consistently across both single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads, but the effect is minimal.

The i5-3335S wins no benchmarks in the head-to-head set. Its strengths lie outside raw compute scores. The 65 W TDP makes it the clear choice for thermally constrained systems, small-form-factor builds, or any scenario where power efficiency matters. The 22 nm process and 1,480 million transistors suggest architectural refinements that improve efficiency per clock, even if the clocks are lower. The HD 4000 integrated graphics provide a qualitative upgrade over HD 2000 for basic display output or light media tasks without a discrete GPU.

For gaming or general desktop use where CPU performance is not the bottleneck, the practical difference between these two is negligible. For sustained all-core workloads, the i5-2320’s higher clock gives it a slight edge, but the i5-3335S’s lower power draw may allow it to maintain boost clocks longer in poorly cooled systems—a scenario not captured by the benchmark data.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has a higher clock speed?

A: The Intel Core i5-2320 has both a higher base clock (3.00 GHz vs. 2.70 GHz) and a higher boost clock (3.30 GHz vs. 3.20 GHz) than the i5-3335S.

Q: Are these processors equally matched in overall performance?

A: Yes. Both have an identical average benchmark score of 1083 and the same 30th percentile ranking. The largest performance delta in any head-to-head test is 1.1%.

Q: Which CPU is more power-efficient?

A: The i5-3335S has a TDP of 65 watts, which is significantly lower than the i5-2320’s 95 watts. It also uses a smaller 22 nm process node versus 32 nm.

Q: Do both CPUs support the same memory and expansion?

A: Yes. Both support dual-channel DDR3 without ECC, and both use PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. They share the same Intel Socket 1155.

Q: Which CPU has better integrated graphics?

A: The i5-3335S features Intel HD 4000, while the i5-2320 features Intel HD 2000. This is a qualitative advantage for the i5-3335S, though no graphics benchmarks are provided.

Q: In which benchmark does the i5-2320 have its biggest win?

A: The i5-2320’s largest margin is 1.1% in Cinebench R20 single-core, scoring 186 versus 184.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The five Cinebench comparisons form a complete picture of these two chips’ relative performance. Across all tests, the i5-2320 wins by margins that are consistent but hardly decisive. The single largest gap appears in Cinebench R20 single-core, where the i5-2320 scores 186 against 184—a 1.1% advantage. This is the only test where the delta exceeds 1%. The smallest gap is a tie-breaker in Cinebench R20 multi-core and Cinebench R23 multi-core, both at 0.8%.

In multi-core workloads, the i5-2320’s advantage is driven entirely by its higher clocks, since both CPUs have 4 cores and 4 threads with identical cache hierarchies. Cinebench R15 multi-core shows 317 for the i5-2320 versus 314 for the i5-3335S, a 1% lead. Cinebench R20 multi-core narrows that to 1321 versus 1310 (0.8%), and Cinebench R23 multi-core shows 3146 versus 3121 (0.8%). These results suggest that the newer Ivy Bridge architecture of the i5-3335S partially compensates for its lower clocks through better instructions-per-clock, but not enough to overcome the i5-2320’s raw frequency advantage.

Single-core results follow the same pattern. Cinebench R20 single-core gives the i5-2320 a 186-to-184 win (1.1%), and Cinebench R23 single-core shows 444 versus 440 (0.9%). The i5-3335S does not achieve a single victory in any of the five tests. Its only benchmark data outside the head-to-head set comes from Geekbench, where it scores 1647 multi-core and 562 single-core—but no comparable Geekbench scores exist for the i5-2320 in the data, so a cross-processor comparison on that test is impossible.

The pattern is clear: the i5-2320 is the faster processor in every measured metric, but the margins are within the range of run-to-run variance on many systems. A user upgrading from one to the other would see no practical performance change. The i5-3335S’s case rests entirely on its efficiency and architectural advantages, not on benchmark supremacy.