Intel Core i5-3230M vs Intel Core i5-680 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark record shows a consistent, if narrow, victory for the Intel Core i5-680 across every shared test in the database. The desktop part wins all five head-to-head comparisons, but the margins are slim, never exceeding 2.7%. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i5-680 scores 226 against 220 for the i5-3230M, a 2.7% advantage. The same 2.7% delta appears in Cinebench R20 multicore, where the i5-680 posts 942 versus 917.

Single-core results follow the same pattern. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the i5-680 leads 132 to 129, a 2.3% edge. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 316 versus 308, a 2.6% gap. The largest relative difference is 2.7%, meaning neither processor ever pulls away decisively. The i5-680’s multicore win in Cinebench R23, 2243 against 2184, represents a 59-point gap that is meaningful but far from a generational leap.

The i5-3230M has two additional Geekbench entries in the database, but no direct comparison exists for those tests. Its Geekbench multicore score is 1018 and single-core is 505. Without a matching i5-680 result, those numbers stand alone as reference points for the mobile chip.

Context from the nearest rivals helps frame these scores. The i5-680 sits at the 21st percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 772. Its closest competitor, the Intel Core i7-3687U, scores 773, a 0.1% difference. The i5-3230M lands at the 20th percentile with an average of 754, and its nearest rival, the Intel Xeon X5460, matches that 754 exactly. The delta between the two processors in average score is 18 points, or roughly 2.3%, which aligns with the head-to-head deltas.

A 2.7% multicore advantage is within the range of run-to-run variance for many workloads, but the consistency across five separate Cinebench tests suggests the i5-680 genuinely holds a small edge. The recorded data does not show a single test where the i5-3230M wins, underscoring a uniform, if modest, performance hierarchy.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural eras and target different market segments. The Intel Core i5-680 is a desktop part built on Westmere, with the Clarkdale codename, and released in April 2010. It uses a 32 nm process node with 382 million transistors on an 81 mm² die. The i5-3230M is a mobile processor based on Ivy Bridge, released in late December 2012, fabricated on a 22 nm node with a 118 mm² die. Transistor count for the mobile chip is not recorded in the database.

Both are dual-core, four-thread parts, but their physical configurations differ. The i5-680 carries 4 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i5-3230M has 3 MB. L1 and L2 cache are identical in structure: 64 KB per core and 256 KB per core, respectively. The die size difference is notable, 81 mm² for the desktop chip versus 118 mm² for the mobile chip, though the newer 22 nm node allows for a different transistor density.

Clock speeds tell a clear story. The i5-680 has a 3.60 GHz base clock and a 3.87 GHz boost clock. The i5-3230M runs at 2.60 GHz base and 3.20 GHz boost. That is a 1.0 GHz gap at base and 0.67 GHz at boost, which explains why the older desktop chip stays ahead despite the newer architecture. The i5-680’s thermal design power is 73 watts, while the i5-3230M draws only 35 watts. That power envelope difference is typical of desktop versus mobile parts and reflects the i5-680’s higher clock speeds.

Memory support is DDR3 dual-channel for both, but the i5-680 records a memory bandwidth of 21.3 GB/s, while the i5-3230M’s bandwidth is not listed. Neither part supports ECC memory. The i5-680 uses PCIe Gen 2 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i5-3230M has no PCIe data recorded.

Integrated graphics differentiate the pair. The i5-680 includes Intel HD, while the i5-3230M steps up to Intel HD 4000. The newer mobile part’s graphics is a more capable generation, though the database does not include graphics benchmark scores for either. Both processors have locked multipliers, and neither is overclockable by conventional means.

The i5-680 uses Intel Socket 1156, while the i5-3230M fits Intel Socket G2 (988B). The production status for the i5-680 is listed as end-of-life, while the i5-3230M has no status recorded. The i5-680’s part number is SLBTM; the i5-3230M’s is SR0WY.

Where Each One Wins

The i5-680 wins every head-to-head benchmark in the database, making it the clear choice for raw Cinebench performance. Its higher base and boost clocks, 3.60 GHz and 3.87 GHz versus 2.60 GHz and 3.20 GHz, drive a consistent 2.3% to 2.7% advantage across all five tests. For desktop users running CPU-bound tasks that scale with clock speed, the i5-680 is the stronger part.

The i5-3230M’s case rests on efficiency and mobility rather than absolute performance. Its 35 watt TDP is less than half of the i5-680’s 73 watts. That makes it suitable for thin-and-light laptops where thermals and battery life matter more than peak throughput. The Ivy Bridge architecture and 22 nm process node are newer, and the Intel HD 4000 integrated graphics outclass the older Intel HD solution in the i5-680. The database does not include graphics tests, but the architectural generation gap favors the mobile chip in that area.

For a desktop build with adequate cooling, the i5-680 offers higher scores across the board. Its 4 MB L3 cache, 1.0 GHz base clock advantage, and 2243 Cinebench R23 multicore score make it the better compute option. The i5-3230M counters with a 35 watt envelope, a smaller footprint, and a 2012 release date, meaning it benefits from two additional years of architectural improvements in power management and integrated graphics.

The usage split is straightforward: the i5-680 for stationary, performance-oriented tasks, and the i5-3230M for portable systems where power draw and heat output are primary constraints. Neither processor is a performance leader by modern standards, with percentiles of 21 and 20 respectively, but each serves its intended market segment adequately.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i5-680 has an average benchmark score of 772, while the Intel Core i5-3230M averages 754.

Q: How large is the performance gap in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The i5-680 scores 2243 against 2184 for the i5-3230M, a 2.7% advantage.

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

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

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The i5-680 has a 73 watt TDP, while the i5-3230M has a 35 watt TDP.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: The i5-680 has 4 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i5-3230M has 3 MB.

Q: Are both processors unlocked for overclocking?

A: No, both have locked multipliers.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-680 | Intel Core i5-3230M |

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

| Base clock | 3.60 GHz | 2.60 GHz |

| Boost clock | 3.87 GHz | 3.20 GHz |

| TDP | 73 W | 35 W |

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

| Architecture | Westmere | Ivy Bridge |

| Codename | Clarkdale | Ivy Bridge |

| Process node | 32 nm | 22 nm |

| Transistors | 382 million | Not recorded |

| Die size | 81 mm² | 118 mm² |

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

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

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

| Integrated graphics | Intel HD | Intel HD 4000 |

| Market segment | Desktop | Mobile |

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

| Release date | 2010-04-18 | 2012-12-31 |

| Launch MSRP | $294 | Not recorded |

| Part number | SLBTM | SR0WY |

The specification sheet shows a desktop part optimized for clock speed and a mobile part optimized for power efficiency. The i5-680’s 3.87 GHz boost clock is its defining feature, while the i5-3230M’s 35 watt TDP and 22 nm node represent a newer, more efficient design. The i5-680 carries a launch MSRP of $294, a figure only recorded for the desktop chip. Both parts are dual-core with Hyper-Threading, support DDR3 dual-channel memory, and lack ECC support. The i5-3230M’s newer architecture does not translate into higher benchmark scores, as the i5-680’s clock advantage proves decisive in every recorded test.