Intel Core i5-2320 vs Intel Core i7-4610M Comparison
Intel Core i5-2320
Core i7-4610M
PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS
Analysis: Intel Core i5-2320 vs Intel Core i7-4610M
# The Verdict
The data points decisively toward the Intel Core i5-2320 for most buyers. It wins every single head-to-head benchmark in the database, by margins between 12.6% and 12.9%. The Core i5-2320 posts an average benchmark score of 1083, while the i7-4610M sits at 1094. The gap is narrow in raw average, but the i5 wins every application-level test.
The Intel Core i7-4610M is a niche part. It is a mobile, dual-core processor with Hyper-Threading, and it trails the i5-2320 in all recorded multi-threaded and single-threaded workloads. The i5-2320, a desktop quad-core with four physical threads, shows a clear advantage in every Cinebench test: it beats the i7-4610M by 12.6% in Cinebench R15 multi-core, and by 12.6% in both Cinebench R20 and R23 multi-core runs. Single-core margins are identical in percentage terms at 12.9%.
The verdict is simple: for raw performance, choose the Intel Core i5-2320. The i7-4610M only makes sense in a compact, low-power mobile system where its smaller core count and higher efficiency are acceptable trade-offs.
Where Each One Wins
Intel Core i5-2320 wins in every recorded benchmark. The database lists five head-to-head tests: Cinebench R15 multi-core, Cinebench R20 multi-core and single-core, and Cinebench R23 multi-core and single-core. The i5-2320 wins all five. The i7-4610M wins zero.
The i5-2320 also has a lower launch MSRP, but the i7-4610M is a later-generation part with a different market segment. The only measurable advantage for the i7-4610M is its lower TDP: 37 W compared to 95 W for the i5-2320. For a mobile platform, that power envelope is the main reason to choose it.
Architecture Differences
The two processors come from different design generations and target different sockets.
| Feature | Intel Core i7-4610M | Intel Core i5-2320 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | Intel Socket G3 | Intel Socket 1155 |
| Process node | 22 nm | 32 nm |
| Cores / Threads | 2 cores / 4 threads | 4 cores / 4 threads |
| Base / Boost clock | 3.00 GHz / 3.70 GHz | 3.00 GHz / 3.30 GHz |
| Cache L1 / L2 / L3 | 64 KB per core / 256 KB per core / 4 MB shared | 64 KB per core / 256 KB per core / 6 MB shared |
| Memory support | DDR3 | DDR3 |
| Memory bus | Dual-channel | Dual-channel |
| Integrated graphics | Intel HD 4600 | Intel HD 2000 |
| PCIe | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |
| Transistors / die size | 960 million / 131 mm² | 1,160 million / 216 mm² |
The i7-4610M is built on the 22 nm Haswell process with 960 million transistors on a 131 mm² die. The i5-2320 uses the older 32 nm Sandy Bridge process, with 1,160 million transistors on a 216 mm² die. The i5 has four physical cores without Hyper-Threading, while the i7 has two cores with four threads. The i7's boost clock reaches 3.70 GHz versus the i5's 3.30 GHz, but the i5's larger shared L3 cache (6 MB vs 4 MB) helps it pull ahead.
Both support DDR3 memory in dual-channel mode. The i7-4610M integrates the Intel HD 4600 graphics; the i5-2320 ships with the older Intel HD 2000. The i7 has an unlocked multiplier? No, the database lists the multiplier as locked for both. The i5-2320 was released September 2011 (End-of-life); the i7-4610 was released January 2014 (End-of-life).
FAQ
Q: Which CPU is faster, the Intel Core i7-4610M or the Intel Core i5-2320?
A: In every recorded benchmark, the Intel Core i5-2320 wins. It is 12.6% to 12.9% ahead in Cinebench multi-core, and 12.9% ahead in single-core tests.
Q: Is the Core i7-4610M a good match for a desktop system?
A: No. It is a mobile, 37 W part with only 2 cores. The i5-2320 is a 95 W desktop quad-core and beats it in every recorded workload.
Q: Which CPU has more L3 cache?
A: The Intel Core i5-2320 with 6 MB shared L3. The i7-4610M has 4 MB shared L3.
Q: Do both CPUs support dual-channel memory?
A: Yes. Both support dual-channel DDR3 memory.
Q: Which part supports PCIe Gen 3?
A: Both support PCIe Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes.
Head-to-Head Benchmarks
The database includes five direct comparison runs. The Intel Core i5-2320 wins all five.
| Test | Core i7-4610M | Core i5-2320 | Winner | Delta |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cinebench R15 multi | 277 | 317 | i5-2320 | -12.6% |
| Cinebench R20 multi | 1155 | 1321 | i5-2320 | -12.6% |
| Cinebench R20 single | 162 | 186 | i5-2320 | -12.9% |
| Cinebench R23 multi | 2750 | 3146 | i5-2320 | -12.6% |
| Cinebench R23 single | 388 | 444 | i5-2320 | -12.6% |
The largest single margin is in Cinebench R20 single-core: 12.9%. The smallest margin is 12.6%, and it appears consistently across every test. The i5-2320 is the definitive performance pick. The i7-4610M is only preferable when the 37 W TDP and a smaller 22 nm die are the primary selection criteria.
Specification Differences
The fields below highlight only the specifications where these two parts differ.
| Field | Intel Core i7-4610M | Intel Core i5-2320 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | Intel Socket G3 | Intel Socket 1155 |
| Architecture / codename | Haswell | Sandy Bridge |
| Process | 22 nm | 32 nm |
| Transistors | 960 million | 1,160 million |
| Die size | 131 mm² | 216 mm² |
| Cores / threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost clock | 3.70 GHz | 3.30 GHz |
| L3 cache | 4 MB shared | 6 MB shared |
| Integrated graphics | Intel HD 4600 | Intel HD 2000 |
| Market segment | Mobile | Desktop |
| Release date | 2014-01-31 | 2011-09-03 |
| Production status | End-of-life | End-of-life |