Intel Core i5-2380P vs Intel Core i5-5287U Comparison

# Intel Core i5-5287U vs Intel Core i5-2380P

The Intel Core i5-5287U and Intel Core i5-2380P represent two very different philosophies from Intel’s lineup: one is a low-power mobile chip built for thin laptops, the other a desktop part from an older generation designed for raw multi-threaded throughput. The benchmark data is unambiguous—the i5-2380P wins all five head-to-head tests—but the story is more nuanced when you factor in power, integrated graphics, and platform positioning.

Where Each One Wins

The i5-2380P dominates every single benchmark in the comparison, taking all five head-to-head tests with deltas ranging from -16% to -16.4% in its favor. That is not a narrow margin; it is a consistent, across-the-board advantage in both single-core and multi-core workloads. In multi-core tests like Cinebench R23, the i5-2380P scores 3090 versus the i5-5287U’s 2596, a 16% gap that reflects its four physical cores versus the i5-5287U’s two.

However, the i5-5287U has its own domain where it clearly wins: mobility and power efficiency. With a TDP of 28 watts versus the i5-2380P’s 95 watts, the i5-5287U consumes roughly a third of the power. That enables it to fit into ultraportable laptops with a BGA 1168 socket, whereas the i5-2380P requires a desktop Socket 1155 motherboard. The i5-5287U also includes Intel Iris 6100 integrated graphics, while the i5-2380P has no integrated graphics at all—meaning the desktop chip requires a discrete GPU, while the mobile chip can drive a display on its own.

For single-threaded tasks, the i5-2380P still wins, but the margin is similar to the multi-core gap. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the i5-2380P scores 183 against the i5-5287U’s 153, a 16.4% difference. This is notable because the i5-5287U has a higher base clock (2.90 GHz) than the i5-2380P (3.10 GHz) but a lower boost clock (3.30 GHz vs 3.40 GHz). The older Sandy Bridge architecture simply delivers more instructions per clock in this comparison.

Architecture Differences

The i5-5287U is built on Broadwell, Intel’s 14 nm process, with 1,900 million transistors packed into a 133 mm² die. The i5-2380P uses Sandy Bridge, a 32 nm process, with 1,160 million transistors on a much larger 216 mm² die. This is a classic example of process scaling: the newer, smaller node allows the i5-5287U to nearly double the transistor count while using far less die area and much lower power.

The core configurations differ significantly. The i5-5287U has 2 cores and 4 threads, relying on Hyper-Threading to handle four concurrent threads. The i5-2380P has 4 physical cores and 4 threads, with no Hyper-Threading. This is why the i5-2380P wins multi-core tests by roughly 16%—it has twice the physical cores, and while each core is older and less efficient, the sheer core count advantage is decisive.

Cache hierarchies also diverge. Both have 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, but the i5-2380P has 6 MB of shared L3 cache, double the i5-5287U’s 3 MB. This larger cache likely helps the desktop chip in workloads that benefit from frequent data reuse, though the benchmark data shows the performance gap is consistent across both single and multi-threaded tests.

Memory support is similar—both use DDR3 with dual-channel buses—but the i5-5287U lists a memory bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s, while the i5-2380P does not specify a bandwidth figure. The i5-5287U also uses PCIe Gen 2 with 12 lanes, while the i5-2380P uses Gen 3 with 16 lanes, giving the desktop chip more headroom for expansion cards and faster data transfer.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

Looking at the five head-to-head results, the i5-2380P wins every test with a remarkably consistent margin. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-2380P scores 311 against the i5-5287U’s 261, a delta of -16.1%. Moving to Cinebench R20 multi-core, the scores are 1297 versus 1090, a -16% delta. The single-core tests tell the same story: R20 single-core shows 183 versus 153 (-16.4%), and R23 single-core shows 436 versus 366 (-16.1%).

The consistency of these margins is striking. Whether the workload is single-threaded or multi-threaded, the i5-2380P maintains roughly a 16% advantage. This suggests the performance gap is not workload-dependent but rather a fundamental architectural advantage in terms of raw compute throughput per clock and core count. The i5-5287U’s newer process and higher transistor count do not translate into a clock-for-clock advantage; in fact, the data shows the opposite.

The largest single margin is in Cinebench R20 single-core, where the i5-2380P leads by 16.4%. The smallest is in R20 multi-core and R23 multi-core, both at -16%. This tight clustering implies that the i5-5287U’s 14 nm process and Broadwell architecture do not offer any specific strength in either single-threaded or multi-threaded tasks relative to the older Sandy Bridge design—it simply trails across the board.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification category. The i5-5287U has 2 cores and 4 threads, while the i5-2380P has 4 cores and 4 threads. Base clocks are 2.90 GHz versus 3.10 GHz, and boost clocks are 3.30 GHz versus 3.40 GHz, both favoring the i5-2380P. TDP is the biggest gap: 28 watts versus 95 watts, a 67-watt difference that defines their respective market segments.

Socket types are incompatible: the i5-5287U uses Intel BGA 1168 (soldered), while the i5-2380P uses Intel Socket 1155 (LGA). The process nodes are 14 nm versus 32 nm, with transistor counts of 1,900 million versus 1,160 million and die sizes of 133 mm² versus 216 mm². L3 cache is 3 MB versus 6 MB. The i5-5287U has Intel Iris 6100 integrated graphics; the i5-2380P has none. PCIe support is Gen 2 with 12 lanes versus Gen 3 with 16 lanes. Memory bandwidth is specified for the i5-5287U at 29.9 GB/s, while the i5-2380P’s is not listed. The i5-5287U is a mobile part with a launch MSRP of $315 and an end-of-life production status; the i5-2380P is a desktop part with no listed MSRP and no production status. Both lack an unlocked multiplier, and both support DDR3 memory without ECC.

FAQ

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

A: The i5-2380P is consistently faster in multi-core tests. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 3090 versus the i5-5287U’s 2596, a 16% advantage. The same pattern appears in R15 (311 vs 261) and R20 (1297 vs 1090).

Q: Does the i5-5287U win any benchmark?

A: No. In the five head-to-head benchmarks provided, the i5-2380P wins all of them. The i5-5287U has zero wins in this comparison.

Q: Why is the i5-2380P faster despite being older?

A: The i5-2380P has four physical cores versus the i5-5287U’s two, and it also has higher base and boost clocks (3.10/3.40 GHz vs 2.90/3.30 GHz). It also has 6 MB of L3 cache versus 3 MB. These factors outweigh the i5-5287U’s smaller 14 nm process node.

Q: What is the power consumption difference?

A: The i5-5287U has a TDP of 28 watts, while the i5-2380P has a TDP of 95 watts. This makes the i5-5287U suitable for mobile devices, whereas the i5-2380P requires desktop cooling and power delivery.

Q: Can I use the i5-5287U in a desktop motherboard?

A: No. The i5-5287U uses Intel BGA 1168, a soldered mobile socket, while the i5-2380P uses Intel Socket 1155, a desktop LGA socket. They are physically incompatible.

Q: Does the i5-5287U have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, it includes Intel Iris 6100. The i5-2380P has no integrated graphics, so it requires a discrete GPU for display output.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear performance winner: the i5-2380P beats the i5-5287U in every benchmark by roughly 16%, regardless of workload type. If raw compute performance is the sole criterion, the desktop chip is the obvious choice. Its four physical cores, higher clocks, and double the L3 cache deliver a consistent advantage in both single-threaded and multi-threaded tasks.

However, the i5-5287U is not without its own merits. Its 28-watt TDP, integrated Iris 6100 graphics, and 14 nm process make it a far more efficient and compact solution for mobile computing. The i5-2380P’s 95-watt TDP and lack of integrated graphics mean it is strictly a desktop part that requires a separate GPU and adequate cooling.

The choice between them depends entirely on the use case. For a desktop build where performance is paramount and power consumption is secondary, the i5-2380P is the only sensible pick—it wins all benchmarks and offers PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes for modern expansion. For a thin-and-light laptop where battery life and integrated graphics are critical, the i5-5287U is the appropriate choice, despite its lower benchmark scores. The data does not support any scenario where the i5-5287U outperforms the i5-2380P, but it does support a scenario where the i5-5287U is the only viable option due to platform constraints.