Intel Core i5-2405S vs Intel Core i7-880 Comparison

The Intel Core i7-880 and the Intel Core i5-2405S represent two distinct approaches to desktop processing from the same manufacturer, separated by a full architectural generation. The i7-880 belongs to the Nehalem family, while the i5-2405S is a Sandy Bridge part. Both are end-of-life desktop chips, but their benchmark data reveals a fascinating near-parity in performance despite significant internal differences. The recorded measurements show the older, higher-end part holding a slim edge across every tested workload, while the newer, lower-tier chip counters with superior efficiency and platform features. This analysis examines the data to determine what each processor does best and where the real trade-offs lie.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are remarkably consistent. The Intel Core i7-880 wins all five recorded comparisons, but by margins that are almost negligible in real-world terms. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i7-880 scores 294 against 291 for the i5-2405S, a lead of roughly 1 percent. The pattern repeats in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the i7-880 posts 1227 versus 1213, a 1.2 percent advantage. Single-core tests tell the same story: in Cinebench R20 single-core, the i7-880 reaches 173 while the i5-2405S manages 171, again a 1.2 percent gap. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows 2923 for the i7-880 and 2890 for the i5-2405S, a 1.1 percent difference, and Cinebench R23 single-core finishes at 412 versus 408, a 1 percent edge.

What is striking here is not the winner, but the closeness of the contest. The i7-880 brings eight threads to the fight, while the i5-2405S has only four. Despite that doubling of thread count, the multi-core advantage for the i7-880 never exceeds 1.2 percent. This suggests that the i5-2405S, despite having fewer threads, is extracting more work per clock from its newer architecture. The average benchmark scores support this interpretation: the i7-880 averages 1006 across its recorded tests, while the i5-2405S averages 991. The i7-880 also has a unique Geekbench result for the i5-2405S, showing a multi-core score of 1425 and a single-core score of 541, but there is no matching Geekbench data for the i7-880 in the database, so a direct comparison on that test is not possible.

Both processors sit at the 27th percentile among all CPUs in the database. The nearest rivals for the i7-880 include the Intel Core i5-10210Y and AMD FX-9830P, both matching its average score of 1006 exactly, as well as the Intel Core i7-2630QM at 1005 and the Intel Processor N100 at 1007. The i5-2405S, meanwhile, sits near the Intel Core i7-960, Intel Core i7-965, and Intel Xeon W3565, all at 993, and the AMD Phenom II X6 1065T, also at 993. This places the i5-2405S in the company of older high-end desktop parts, which underscores how competitive its performance remains.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two chips is substantial. The i7-880 is built on the Nehalem architecture, using the Lynnfield codename, and fabricated on a 45 nm process node. It contains 774 million transistors on a 296 mm² die. The i5-2405S moves to the Sandy Bridge architecture, also bearing the Sandy Bridge codename, on a 32 nm process. That shrink allows 1,160 million transistors on a smaller 216 mm² die. The transistor count increases by roughly 50 percent while the die area shrinks by about 27 percent, a clear demonstration of the denser manufacturing process.

Cache configurations also differ. Both chips have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core. The shared L3 cache, however, favors the i7-880 with 8 MB shared, while the i5-2405S has 6 MB shared. This 2 MB difference may contribute to the i7-880's slight benchmark edge, particularly in multi-threaded workloads where more shared cache can reduce memory traffic.

The i7-880 supports PCIe Gen 2 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the i5-2405S upgrades to PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes. This is a meaningful platform difference for storage and graphics expansion. The i7-880 has no integrated graphics, which means a discrete GPU is mandatory. The i5-2405S includes Intel HD 3000 integrated graphics, offering a fallback display output and basic graphical capabilities without a separate card.

Memory support is identical in type and channel configuration: both use DDR3 in dual-channel mode. Neither supports ECC memory. Both processors have locked multipliers, so neither is officially unlocked for overclocking. The sockets differ as well, with the i7-880 using Intel Socket 1156 and the i5-2405S using Intel Socket 1155, meaning they are not interchangeable on the same motherboard.

Clock speeds show the i7-880 with a higher base clock of 3.07 GHz and a boost clock of 3.73 GHz. The i5-2405S runs at a 2.50 GHz base and 3.30 GHz boost. Despite the lower clocks, the i5-2405S nearly matches the i7-880 in every benchmark, which points to a significant instructions-per-clock advantage in the Sandy Bridge design. The i7-880 compensates with higher frequencies and more threads, but only barely.

The i7-880 was released in May 2010, while the i5-2405S followed in May 2011, a year later. The i7-880 carries the part number SLBPS, and the i5-2405S is marked SR0BB. The i7-880 has a thermal design power of 95 watts, while the i5-2405S draws only 65 watts, a 30 watt difference that has practical implications for cooling and power delivery.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core i7-880 wins every recorded multi-core test. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 294 versus 291 for the i5-2405S. In R20 multi-core, it scores 1227 versus 1213. In R23 multi-core, it scores 2923 versus 2890. The margins are consistently around 1 to 1.2 percent.

Q: Does the i5-2405S have any advantage in single-core performance?

A: No. The i7-880 also wins all recorded single-core tests. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the i7-880 scores 173 against 171. In R23 single-core, it scores 412 against 408. The i5-2405S does not win any of the five head-to-head benchmarks.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The i7-880 has an average benchmark score of 1006, while the i5-2405S averages 991. Both processors are at the 27th percentile among all CPUs in the database.

Q: What architectural generation does each processor belong to?

A: The i7-880 uses the Nehalem architecture with the Lynnfield codename on a 45 nm process. The i5-2405S uses the Sandy Bridge architecture on a 32 nm process.

Q: Do both processors support integrated graphics?

A: No. The i7-880 has no integrated graphics. The i5-2405S includes Intel HD 3000 integrated graphics.

Q: Are the processors compatible with the same motherboard socket?

A: No. The i7-880 uses Intel Socket 1156, while the i5-2405S uses Intel Socket 1155. They require different motherboards.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across several core specifications. The i7-880 has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the i5-2405S has 4 cores and 4 threads. This is the most fundamental difference in processing capability. The i7-880 runs at a base clock of 3.07 GHz and boosts to 3.73 GHz. The i5-2405S runs at 2.50 GHz base and 3.30 GHz boost. Both are locked multipliers.

Thermal design power differs significantly: the i7-880 is rated at 95 watts, the i5-2405S at 65 watts. The process node differs, with the i7-880 at 45 nm and the i5-2405S at 32 nm. Transistor counts are 774 million for the i7-880 and 1,160 million for the i5-2405S. Die sizes are 296 mm² for the i7-880 and 216 mm² for the i5-2405S.

The L3 cache differs, with 8 MB shared on the i7-880 and 6 MB shared on the i5-2405S. L1 and L2 caches are identical at 64 KB and 256 KB per core respectively. The socket changes from Intel Socket 1156 to Intel Socket 1155. PCIe support moves from Gen 2 with 16 lanes on the i7-880 to Gen 3 with 16 lanes on the i5-2405S. Integrated graphics are absent on the i7-880 and present as Intel HD 3000 on the i5-2405S.

The architecture and codename differ, with Nehalem and Lynnfield for the i7-880 versus Sandy Bridge for the i5-2405S. Release dates are May 2010 for the i7-880 and May 2011 for the i5-2405S. Part numbers are SLBPS for the i7-880 and SR0BB for the i5-2405S. Both use DDR3 memory in dual-channel mode, and neither supports ECC.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-880 wins on raw benchmark performance across every recorded test. It takes all five head-to-head comparisons, with margins ranging from 1 to 1.2 percent. It also has a higher average benchmark score, 1006 versus 991, and sits at the same 27th percentile as the i5-2405S. For users who prioritize maximum Cinebench scores, the i7-880 is the clear choice, though the advantage is small.

The i7-880 also offers more threads, with 8 threads against 4, which can benefit workloads that scale with thread count. Its larger 8 MB L3 cache versus 6 MB provides additional headroom for data-heavy applications. Higher base and boost clocks, 3.07 GHz and 3.73 GHz, give it a frequency advantage as well.

The Intel Core i5-2405S wins on efficiency and platform modernity. Its 65 watt thermal design power is significantly lower than the i7-880's 95 watts, making it a more attractive option for compact or thermally constrained systems. The 32 nm process node delivers a transistor density advantage, packing 1,160 million transistors into a 216 mm² die, compared to 774 million in 296 mm² for the i7-880.

The i5-2405S also brings PCIe Gen 3 support, doubling the potential bandwidth for compatible devices compared to the i7-880's PCIe Gen 2. Integrated Intel HD 3000 graphics mean the i5-2405S can operate without a discrete GPU, which is not possible with the i7-880. The newer Sandy Bridge architecture, released a year later, provides a more modern foundation despite the lower clock speeds.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear but narrow victory for the Intel Core i7-880 in pure performance. It wins all five head-to-head benchmarks, posts a higher average score, and offers more threads and a larger cache. The margins, however, are small enough that most users would struggle to notice the difference in everyday use. A 1 to 1.2 percent lead in Cinebench tests is statistically present but practically minor.

The Intel Core i5-2405S is the better choice for builds where power consumption and platform features matter more than a marginal performance edge. Its 65 watt power draw, integrated graphics, and PCIe Gen 3 support make it a more versatile and efficient component. The benchmark results show that its Sandy Bridge architecture nearly closes the gap with the older i7-880 despite lower clocks and half the threads.

For a user building a system from Socket 1156 parts, the i7-880 is the superior processor. For a user on Socket 1155, the i5-2405S offers competitive performance with better efficiency. Given the recorded data, the i7-880 is the faster chip, but the i5-2405S is the more balanced one. The choice depends on whether raw score or operational efficiency takes priority.