CPU Comparison

The Intel Core i5-2400 and Intel Core i5-3330 are two locked quad-core desktop processors sharing the same Intel Socket 1155 platform, but they represent different architectural generations. Benchmark data shows a consistent, though modest, advantage for the newer i5-3330 across every tested workload, making it the stronger performer in this direct comparison despite its lower clock speeds.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results are unambiguous: the Intel Core i5-3330 wins all five head-to-head comparisons. The largest margin appears in the Cinebench R15 multi-core test, where the i5-3330 scores 351 against the i5-2400’s 329, a 6.3% advantage. This pattern holds steady across the other multi-threaded tests. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the i5-3330 posts 1464 points versus 1374 for the i5-2400, a 6.1% lead. The Cinebench R23 multi-core test shows the same 6.1% delta, with scores of 3486 and 3272 respectively.

Single-threaded performance tells the same story. The i5-3330 scores 206 in Cinebench R20 single-core, which is 5.8% higher than the i5-2400’s 194. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the i5-3330 manages 492 points compared to 462 for the i5-2400, a 6.1% difference. The i5-3330’s clean sweep of five wins out of five tests is notable, especially considering the i5-2400 actually has higher base and boost clocks (3.10 GHz base / 3.40 GHz boost versus 3.00 GHz base / 3.20 GHz boost for the i5-3330). This indicates the architectural improvements in the newer chip more than compensate for its clock-speed deficit.

The average benchmark scores reflect this overall trend. The i5-3330 achieves an average score of 1200, while the i5-2400 sits at 1187. The i5-3330 also holds a slightly higher percentile ranking among all CPUs, at the 34th percentile versus the 33rd percentile for the i5-2400. Both are positioned in the lower-mid range of the overall CPU landscape, but the i5-3330 is consistently a few percentage points ahead in every metric the data provides.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations, which explains the performance gap. The i5-2400 is built on Sandy Bridge, while the i5-3330 uses the newer Ivy Bridge architecture. The manufacturing process shrinks from 32 nm on the i5-2400 to 22 nm on the i5-3330. This die shrink is reflected in the die size, which drops from 216 mm² on the i5-2400 to 133 mm² on the i5-3330. The i5-2400’s transistor count is listed at 1,160 million, while the i5-3330’s transistor count is not provided in the data.

The smaller process node and die size contribute directly to a significant power-consumption advantage for the i5-3330. Its thermal design power (TDP) is rated at 77 watts, versus 95 watts for the i5-2400. This is a substantial reduction in power draw while simultaneously delivering better performance, a hallmark of the architectural refresh. Both chips feature 4 cores and 4 threads, with identical cache hierarchies: 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache.

Integrated graphics also differ. The i5-2400 ships with Intel HD 2000, while the i5-3330 includes the newer Intel HD 2500. Both processors support DDR3 memory in dual-channel configuration, use the same Intel Socket 1155, and offer PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. Neither supports ECC memory, and both have locked multipliers, meaning they are not intended for overclocking. The release dates are separated by roughly 20 months, with the i5-2400 launching in January 2011 and the i5-3330 in September 2012.

Where Each One Wins

Given that the i5-3330 wins every benchmark in the head-to-head data, there is no workload category where the i5-2400 comes out ahead. The i5-3330’s advantage spans both single- and multi-threaded applications. In single-threaded tasks, which are common in older games and lightly threaded productivity software, the i5-3330’s 5.8% to 6.1% lead in Cinebench R20 and R23 single-core tests indicates a meaningful improvement in per-core efficiency. This makes it the better choice for any application that relies heavily on one or two cores.

Multi-threaded workloads show the same story. The i5-3330’s 6.1% to 6.3% advantage in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests means it handles rendering, video encoding, and other parallel tasks more effectively. The i5-2400’s higher clock speeds do not translate into any benchmark victory, which suggests the architectural refinements in Ivy Bridge deliver better instructions-per-clock (IPC) performance. For a user choosing between these two chips for a Socket 1155 system, the data points exclusively toward the i5-3330.

The i5-2400 does have one practical consideration in its favor, though it is not performance-related. The i5-2400 has a higher TDP of 95 watts, which could imply that it was designed with a more robust power delivery expectation. However, from a benchmark perspective, there is no scenario in the provided data where the i5-2400 wins. Its average benchmark score of 1187 is lower, and its nearest rivals include chips like the Intel Core i3-4170 and AMD Opteron 6234, with scores around 1191 to 1193. The i5-3330, meanwhile, sits alongside the AMD Athlon PRO 200GE and Ryzen 3 2200G in its performance tier.

The Verdict

The choice between these two processors is straightforward based on the data. The Intel Core i5-3330 is the superior performer in every measured benchmark. It wins all five head-to-head tests, achieves a higher average benchmark score (1200 versus 1187), and holds a better percentile rank among all CPUs. The most compelling argument for the i5-3330 is that it accomplishes this while consuming significantly less power, with a 77-watt TDP compared to the i5-2400’s 95-watt TDP.

For anyone building or upgrading a Socket 1155 system, the i5-3330 is the clear pick. Its 6% performance advantage across the board means it will handle both single- and multi-threaded tasks better, from legacy gaming to modern productivity workloads. The i5-2400’s only theoretical advantage is its higher base and boost clocks, but benchmark results show those clocks do not produce winning results. The i5-3330’s architectural efficiency, thanks to the 22 nm Ivy Bridge design versus the 32 nm Sandy Bridge design, fully offsets the clock-speed disadvantage.

The i5-2400 is not a bad processor in absolute terms. It sits in the 33rd percentile of all CPUs, and its average score of 1187 places it within a fraction of the AMD Opteron 6234 and Intel Core i3-4170. But in a direct comparison, it loses every single benchmark. The i5-3330’s 34th percentile ranking and five-out-of-five win record make it the definitive choice. The verdict is simple: if both are available at similar prices, the i5-3330 is the processor to buy. If the i5-2400 is significantly cheaper, the data suggests the performance sacrifice is roughly 6%, which may be acceptable for a strictly budget-oriented build, but that is the only scenario where the i5-2400 makes sense.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core i5-3330 wins all multi-core tests. It scores 351 in Cinebench R15, 1464 in Cinebench R20, and 3486 in Cinebench R23, compared to the i5-2400’s scores of 329, 1374, and 3272 respectively. That is a 6.1% to 6.3% advantage.

Q: Does the i5-2400 win any benchmark due to its higher clock speed?

A: No. Despite having a base clock of 3.10 GHz and a boost clock of 3.40 GHz (versus 3.00 GHz and 3.20 GHz for the i5-3330), the i5-2400 loses all five head-to-head tests. The i5-3330 wins every single-core and multi-core benchmark.

Q: How do the power requirements compare?

A: The i5-3330 has a significantly lower TDP of 77 watts, while the i5-2400 is rated at 95 watts. This makes the i5-3330 more power-efficient while also being faster in all tested workloads.

Q: Are the cache sizes identical?

A: Yes. Both processors have 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The cache hierarchy is exactly the same.

Q: What are the main architectural differences?

A: The i5-2400 is based on Sandy Bridge architecture using a 32 nm process with a 216 mm² die size. The i5-3330 uses Ivy Bridge architecture on a 22 nm process with a 133 mm² die size. They also have different integrated graphics: Intel HD 2000 on the i5-2400 and Intel HD 2500 on the i5-3330.

Q: Which processor has a better overall benchmark ranking?

A: The i5-3330 ranks at the 34th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 1200. The i5-2400 ranks at the 33rd percentile with an average score of 1187.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-2400 | Intel Core i5-3330 |

|---|---|---|

| Architecture | Sandy Bridge | Ivy Bridge |

| Process Node | 32 nm | 22 nm |

| Die Size | 216 mm² | 133 mm² |

| Base Clock | 3.10 GHz | 3.00 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.40 GHz | 3.20 GHz |

| TDP | 95 W | 77 W |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 2000 | Intel HD 2500 |

| Release Date | January 2011 | September 2012 |

| Part Number | SR00Q | SR0RQ |

| Transistor Count | 1,160 million | Not specified |