Intel Core i5-3230M vs Intel Core i5-670 Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data paints a remarkably consistent picture for these two dual-core, four-thread processors. The Intel Core i5-3230M wins every single recorded head-to-head benchmark, taking all five tests in the database. There is no test where the Intel Core i5-670 comes out ahead. This is not a case of one chip dominating in certain workloads while losing in others; the i5-3230M holds a narrow but uniform advantage across both multi-core and single-core rendering tasks.

The i5-3230M's wins are all in Cinebench workloads, which stress both multi-threaded rendering and single-threaded responsiveness. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-3230M scores 220 against 216 for the i5-670, a 1.9% lead. The margin shrinks slightly in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where 917 beats 904 by 1.4%. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i5-3230M posts 2184 versus 2153, again a 1.4% advantage. Single-core tests show similar patterns: Cinebench R20 single-core gives the i5-3230M a 129 to 127 win (1.6%), and Cinebench R23 single-core gives 308 to 304 (1.3%).

What does this mean for real-world use? The i5-3230M is a mobile processor, while the i5-670 is a desktop part, yet the data shows the younger mobile chip consistently edging out the older desktop chip in every benchmark category. The wins are small, never exceeding 2%, but they are absolute. There is no workload category in the recorded data where the i5-670 would be the better choice based on performance. The i5-3230M wins purely on benchmark scores, not on any architectural feature that shows up in the numbers.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different generations and target different market segments, which explains much of the performance gap despite similar core and thread counts. The i5-3230M uses the Ivy Bridge architecture on a 22 nm process node, while the i5-670 uses the Westmere architecture (codenamed Clarkdale) on a 32 nm process. The smaller process node gives the i5-3230M a manufacturing advantage, allowing for the same functionality in a more efficient design.

The i5-3230M is a mobile part, with a 35 W TDP and an Intel Socket G2 (988B) connection. The i5-670 is a desktop part with a 73 W TDP and an Intel Socket 1156 connection. The i5-670 draws more than double the power, yet still loses in performance. This is a striking result: the desktop chip's higher power budget does not translate into higher benchmark scores.

Cache configurations differ slightly. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, but the i5-3230M has 3 MB of shared L3 cache while the i5-670 has 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The i5-670 also has a larger memory bandwidth figure of 21.3 GB/s, while the i5-3230M's memory bandwidth is not recorded in the database. The i5-670 has 382 million transistors and a die size of 81 mm², while the i5-3230M's transistor count is not recorded and its die size is 118 mm².

Both support DDR3 memory in dual-channel mode, and neither supports ECC memory. The i5-3230M has integrated Intel HD 4000 graphics, while the i5-670 has older Intel HD graphics. The i5-670 has PCIe Gen 2 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i5-3230M's PCIe configuration is not recorded. The i5-670 was released in January 2010, while the i5-3230M came out at the end of December 2012. The i5-670 has a launch MSRP of $284 and is marked as end-of-life, while the i5-3230M has no recorded launch MSRP or production status.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench R15 multi-core test shows the i5-3230M at 220 points versus 216 for the i5-670, a 1.9% difference. This is the largest margin of victory in any recorded test. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the i5-3230M scores 917 against 904, a 1.4% lead. The Cinebench R23 multi-core test follows the same pattern: 2184 for the i5-3230M and 2153 for the i5-670, again 1.4% apart.

Single-core results are closer but still favor the i5-3230M. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the i5-3230M posts 129 versus 127, a 1.6% advantage. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the scores are 308 and 304, a 1.3% difference. Across all five tests, the average delta is around 1.5%, with the i5-3230M never losing a single benchmark.

The average benchmark score in the database reinforces this picture. The i5-3230M has an average benchmark score of 754, while the i5-670 sits at 741. The i5-3230M's nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon X5460 at an identical 754 (0% delta), the Intel Core i5-4250U at 756 (-0.2%), and the Intel Xeon E5450 at 756 (-0.3%). The i5-670's nearest rivals include the AMD Phenom II X4 B97 at 741 (0% delta), the Intel Xeon E5520 at 742 (-0.1%), and the Intel Core i7-860S at 740 (0.1%). Both processors sit at the 20th percentile among all CPUs in the database, meaning they are in the lower fifth of all recorded processors, but the i5-3230M sits slightly higher in raw average score.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i5-3230M outperforms the Intel Core i5-670 in every recorded benchmark. With 5 wins and 0 losses in head-to-head tests, the i5-3230M is the better performer across the board. The margins are small, ranging from 1.3% to 1.9%, but they are consistent. No single test favors the i5-670.

For users choosing between these two, the i5-3230M is the pick for anyone prioritizing benchmark performance, whether in multi-core rendering or single-core tasks. It achieves this while consuming less than half the power (35 W versus 73 W), a remarkable efficiency advantage. The i5-3230M is also the newer part, released about three years later, and comes with more modern integrated graphics.

The i5-670 does have some theoretical advantages: more L3 cache (4 MB versus 3 MB), a higher base clock (3.47 GHz versus 2.60 GHz), a higher boost clock (3.73 GHz versus 3.20 GHz), and a recorded memory bandwidth figure (21.3 GB/s). Yet none of these translate into benchmark wins. The i5-3230M's newer architecture and smaller process node apparently compensate for the clock speed and cache deficits. The i5-670 also has a recorded launch MSRP of $284, but no pricing comparison should be drawn from the data.

The verdict from the database: the i5-3230M is the superior processor in every measured dimension. The i5-670 remains a functional desktop part, but the data shows no scenario where it outranks the i5-3230M.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i5-3230M has an average benchmark score of 754, while the Intel Core i5-670 has 741.

Q: How many head-to-head benchmarks does the i5-3230M win?

A: The i5-3230M wins all 5 recorded head-to-head benchmarks, with the i5-670 winning 0.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two in any test?

A: The largest gap is in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where the i5-3230M leads by 1.9% (220 versus 216).

Q: Do the two processors have the same core and thread counts?

A: Yes, both have 2 cores and 4 threads.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core i5-670 has 4 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Intel Core i5-3230M has 3 MB.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The i5-3230M has a TDP of 35 W, while the i5-670 has a TDP of 73 W.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-3230M | Intel Core i5-670 |

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

| Base Clock | 2.60 GHz | 3.47 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.20 GHz | 3.73 GHz |

| TDP | 35 W | 73 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket G2 (988B) | Intel Socket 1156 |

| Architecture | Ivy Bridge | Westmere |

| Codename | Ivy Bridge | Clarkdale |

| Generation | Core i5 (Ivy Bridge) | Core i5 (Clarkdale) |

| Process Node | 22 nm | 32 nm |

| Transistors | Not recorded | 382 million |

| Die Size | 118 mm² | 81 mm² |

| L3 Cache | 3 MB (shared) | 4 MB (shared) |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not recorded | 21.3 GB/s |

| PCIe | Not recorded | Gen 2, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 4000 | Intel HD |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Production Status | Not recorded | End-of-life |

| Release Date | 2012-12-31 | 2010-01-06 |

| Launch MSRP | Not recorded | $284 |

| Part Number | SR0WY | SLBLT |

| Average Benchmark Score | 754 | 741 |

| Percentile vs All CPUs | 20 | 20 |