Intel Core i5-2405S vs Intel Core i5-4300M Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data presents a surprisingly split picture for these two Core i5 parts. The Intel Core i5-2405S, a desktop Sandy Bridge chip, dominates the Cinebench suite, while the Intel Core i5-4300M, a mobile Haswell part, sweeps the Geekbench tests. The most dramatic single result is in Geekbench single-core, where the 4300M scores 882 against the 2405S's 541, a 63% advantage. That is a substantial gap, and it points to the 4300M's architectural efficiency in lighter, latency-sensitive workloads.

The Cinebench results tell the opposite story. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the 2405S scores 291 versus 253 for the 4300M, a 13.1% lead. The pattern holds across every Cinebench iteration. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the desktop chip posts 1213 against 1056, a 12.9% margin. The single-core Cinebench R20 result is also 12.9% in favor of the 2405S, with 171 versus 149. Cinebench R23 shows a near-identical 13% delta in both multi-core (2890 versus 2515) and single-core (408 versus 355). The consistency of the Cinebench margins, all hovering around 13%, suggests a systematic advantage for the 2405S in that workload family, likely tied to its two extra physical cores.

However, the Geekbench results invert the ranking completely. Beyond the 63% single-core blowout, the multi-core Geekbench score favors the 4300M at 1817 versus 1425, a 27.5% lead. This is curious because the Cinebench multi-core tests favor the 2405S, yet Geekbench multi-core favors the 4300M. The data implies that these benchmarks stress the processors in fundamentally different ways. Cinebench appears to reward the 2405S's four physical cores, while Geekbench seems to favor the 4300M's newer architecture and higher boost clock.

The overall average benchmark scores are close: 1004 for the 4300M and 991 for the 2405S. The 4300M sits at the 27th percentile of all CPUs, and the 2405S also sits at the 27th percentile. Their nearest rivals reflect this near-parity. The 4300M's closest competitor is the Intel Core i5-2500S with an identical average score of 1004, and the Intel Core i7-5600U trails by 0.1%. The 2405S's nearest rival is the Intel Core i7-960 at 993, a 0.2% gap. These numbers suggest that despite their different benchmark profiles, both chips occupy a similar overall performance tier.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-2405S is the clear winner in Cinebench-based rendering workloads. Its four physical cores give it a structural advantage in multi-threaded rendering, and even in single-threaded Cinebench tests it holds a consistent edge. Every Cinebench result, from R15 to R23, shows the 2405S ahead by roughly 13%. This makes it the preferable choice for applications that resemble Cinebench's rendering engine, where raw core count and sustained multi-core throughput matter more than architectural refinements.

The Intel Core i5-4300M wins in Geekbench-style workloads. The 63% single-core advantage is the largest delta in the entire comparison, and the 27.5% multi-core win in Geekbench shows that its architectural efficiency can overcome a two-core deficit in some multi-threaded scenarios. The 4300M's higher boost clock of 3.60 GHz against 3.30 GHz for the 2405S likely contributes to its Geekbench single-core dominance. Additionally, the 4300M has a much lower TDP of 37 watts versus 65 watts for the 2405S, which makes it the more efficient part in thermally constrained environments.

The use-case split is therefore clear: the 2405S for rendering and heavily multi-threaded compute that scales with physical cores, the 4300M for general responsiveness, single-threaded applications, and scenarios where power efficiency is a priority. The 4300M's mobile market segment and the 2405S's desktop segment reinforce this division. The 2405S is marked as end-of-life production status, while the 4300M has no such designation in the database.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i5-4300M has an average benchmark score of 1004, while the Intel Core i5-2405S has an average score of 991. The 4300M is 13 points ahead.

Q: How large is the single-core Geekbench gap?

A: The 4300M scores 882 in Geekbench single-core against 541 for the 2405S, a 63% advantage for the mobile chip.

Q: Does the 2405S win any single-core tests?

A: Yes. The 2405S wins all three single-core Cinebench tests. It scores 171 in Cinebench R20 single-core versus 149 for the 4300M, and 408 in Cinebench R23 single-core versus 355, both roughly 13% leads.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The 4300M has 2 cores and 4 threads. The 2405S has 4 cores and 4 threads.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The 2405S has 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The 4300M has 3 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: Are both processors in the same performance percentile?

A: Yes, both are recorded at the 27th percentile of all CPUs.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several fundamental specifications. The 4300M uses an Intel Socket G3, while the 2405S uses an Intel Socket 1155. The 4300M has a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 3.60 GHz. The 2405S has a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 3.30 GHz. The 4300M's TDP is 37 watts, and the 2405S's TDP is 65 watts.

The core counts also differ: the 4300M has 2 cores and 4 threads, while the 2405S has 4 cores and 4 threads. The L3 cache is 3 MB shared for the 4300M and 6 MB shared for the 2405S. The 4300M has a release date of 2013-08-31, while the 2405S has a release date of 2011-05-21. The 2405S has a part number of SR0BB, while the 4300M has no part number recorded.

The 2405S lists a memory bus of dual-channel and PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The 4300M has no memory bus or PCIe data recorded. The 4300M has 1,400 million transistors on a die size of 118 mm². The 2405S has 1,160 million transistors on a die size of 216 mm². The 2405S's production status is end-of-life, while the 4300M has no production status listed.

Architecture Differences

The architectural split is significant. The 4300M is built on the Haswell architecture using a 22 nm process node, while the 2405S uses the Sandy Bridge architecture on a 32 nm process node. Both are manufactured by Intel, but the process shrink gives the 4300M a denser transistor layout: 1,400 million transistors in 118 mm² versus 1,160 million in 216 mm² for the 2405S.

The generations differ as well. The 4300M is listed as Core i5 (Haswell), and the 2405S is Core i5 (Sandy Bridge). The integrated graphics differ, with the 4300M featuring Intel HD 5000 and the 2405S featuring Intel HD 3000. Both support DDR3 memory, and neither supports ECC memory.

The market segments also differ: the 4300M is a mobile processor, while the 2405S is a desktop processor. The 2405S's socket, 1155, is a desktop platform, and the 4300M's Socket G3 is a mobile platform. The 2405S's larger 216 mm² die likely reflects its four physical cores and larger 6 MB L3 cache, while the 4300M's smaller 118 mm² die reflects its two cores and 3 MB L3 cache on a more advanced process node.

The Verdict

The data does not crown a single overall winner, because each processor wins in distinct workload categories. The Intel Core i5-2405S is the choice for Cinebench-style rendering workloads. It wins all five Cinebench tests with a consistent 13% margin, and its four physical cores give it a structural advantage in multi-threaded rendering. Its 6 MB L3 cache and desktop socket also make it a more capable part for sustained multi-core compute.

The Intel Core i5-4300M is the choice for Geekbench-style workloads and power-sensitive scenarios. Its 63% single-core Geekbench win is the largest delta in the comparison, and its 27.5% multi-core Geekbench win shows that its Haswell architecture can outperform a two-core deficit in certain multi-threaded tests. Its 37 watt TDP, compared to 65 watts for the 2405S, makes it the more efficient part. The 4300M also carries Intel HD 5000 graphics, a newer integrated solution than the 2405S's HD 3000.

Users who prioritize rendering performance should select the 2405S. Users who prioritize single-threaded responsiveness, architectural efficiency, or lower power draw should select the 4300M. The two processors land at the same 27th percentile and have near-identical average scores, so the decision ultimately hinges on workload type rather than overall capability.