Intel Core i5-3230M vs Intel Core i7-860S Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a lopsided contest, with the Intel Core i5-3230M taking 6 of 7 head-to-head wins. The only victory for the Intel Core i7-860S comes in Geekbench multicore, where it scores 1298 against the i5-3230M's 1018, a substantial 21.6% advantage. This is a significant outlier in the dataset, but it is the sole bright spot for the older desktop part.

Across all Cinebench tests, the i5-3230M holds a consistent lead. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i5-3230M scores 220 versus 202 for the i7-860S, an 8.9% margin. That pattern repeats in Cinebench R20 multicore, with scores of 917 and 844 respectively, a difference of 8.6%. The newer Cinebench R23 multicore test shows the same story: 2184 for the i5-3230M against 2010 for the i7-860S, an 8.7% edge.

Single-core performance tells a similar tale, and the gaps are slightly wider. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the i5-3230M posts 129 versus 118 for the i7-860S, a 9.3% lead. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 308 versus 283, an 8.8% difference. The most pronounced single-core margin is in Geekbench single-core, where the i5-3230M scores 505 against 425, a commanding 18.8% advantage.

Interpreting these numbers requires context. The i7-860S has double the physical cores and threads, yet it loses every multithreaded Cinebench test by roughly 9%. That is a striking result. The i5-3230M wins Cinebench R15 multicore by 18 points, R20 by 73 points, and R23 by 174 points. These are not marginal wins; they represent a clear generational efficiency advantage that overcomes a 2x core deficit in the Cinebench workload.

However, the Geekbench multicore result flips the script entirely. The i7-860S's 1298 score is 280 points higher than the i5-3230M's 1018. This suggests that Geekbench's multicore workload scales better with the additional physical cores and threads of the i7-860S, whereas Cinebench's rendering engine benefits more from the architectural improvements in the i5-3230M. The delta of 21.6% is the largest margin recorded in either direction across all tests.

Looking at the aggregate data, the i5-3230M has an average benchmark score of 754 across all tests, while the i7-860S averages 740. The i5-3230M sits at the 20th percentile of all CPUs, with its nearest rivals including the Intel Xeon X5460 at an identical 754 (0% delta) and the Intel Core i5-4250U at 756 (-0.2%). The i7-860S also holds the 20th percentile, with its closest competitor being the Intel Pentium G4400 at 740 (0.1% delta). Both processors occupy the same performance tier in the overall database, but the i5-3230M edges ahead by 1.9% in average score.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different eras of Intel design. The i5-3230M is built on the Ivy Bridge architecture using a 22 nm process node, while the i7-860S uses the older Nehalem architecture on a 45 nm node. This process shrink is the primary driver of the performance-per-clock advantage seen in the benchmarks.

The die sizes tell a dramatic story. The i7-860S has a die size of 296 mm² and contains 774 million transistors. The i5-3230M, by contrast, has a die size of only 118 mm², and the database records no transistor count for it. Despite being less than half the physical size, the i5-3230M delivers higher benchmark scores in most tests, illustrating the efficiency gains from the smaller manufacturing process.

Core and thread counts differ significantly. The i7-860S offers 4 cores and 8 threads, while the i5-3230M provides 2 cores and 4 threads. This is a 2x advantage in both metrics for the older chip. Cache configurations also favor the i7-860S: it has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, whereas the i5-3230M has only 3 MB. Both share the same per-core L1 (64 KB) and L2 (256 KB) allocations.

Clock speeds are close but not identical. The i5-3230M has a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 3.20 GHz. The i7-860S starts lower at 2.53 GHz but boosts higher to 3.47 GHz. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, so these are fixed operating points.

Thermal and power characteristics diverge sharply. The i5-3230M has a TDP of 35 watts, while the i7-860S consumes 82 watts, more than double. This aligns with their market segments: the i5-3230M is a mobile processor designed for laptops, while the i7-860S is a desktop part. The socket types are incompatible: the i5-3230M uses Intel Socket G2 (988B), and the i7-860S uses Intel Socket 1156.

Integrated graphics also differentiate the pair. The i5-3230M includes Intel HD 4000 graphics, while the i7-860S has no integrated graphics at all, requiring a discrete GPU for any display output. The i7-860S does offer PCIe Gen 2 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the database records no PCIe information for the i5-3230M.

Memory support is similar: both support DDR3 with a dual-channel memory bus, and neither supports ECC memory. The release dates are separated by nearly three years, with the i7-860S launching in January 2010 and the i5-3230M in December 2012. The i7-860S is marked as end-of-life production status, while no production status is listed for the i5-3230M.

The Verdict

The data points to different strengths for different workloads. For Cinebench rendering tasks, the i5-3230M is the clear winner across every version tested, overcoming a 2x core disadvantage through architectural efficiency. The 8.6% to 9.3% margins in Cinebench tests are consistent and not attributable to noise.

For Geekbench multicore, the i7-860S is the better choice. Its 21.6% advantage in that specific test is the largest recorded delta between the two, and it reflects the workload's ability to utilize the extra cores and threads. Users running Geekbench-heavy applications should favor the i7-860S.

Single-core performance belongs to the i5-3230M. The 18.8% lead in Geekbench single-core is particularly decisive, and the Cinebench single-core margins of 9.3% and 8.8% reinforce this pattern. For lightly threaded applications, the i5-3230M is superior.

Thermal considerations favor the i5-3230M overwhelmingly. With a 35 watt TDP versus 82 watts, the mobile chip generates less than half the heat. This makes it suitable for compact systems and laptops, whereas the i7-860S demands more substantial cooling solutions.

The integrated GPU in the i5-3230M adds functionality that the i7-860S lacks entirely. For systems without a discrete graphics card, the i5-3230M provides a complete solution, while the i7-860S cannot output video without additional hardware.

The i7-860S's end-of-life status and older socket (1156) suggest limited upgrade paths. The i5-3230M's socket G2 (988B) is also platform-specific, but the chip itself is newer. Neither processor is currently competitive in the broader market, both sitting at the 20th percentile of all CPUs.

The choice comes down to workload priorities. Rendering-focused users who value the Cinebench results should select the i5-3230M. Users whose primary applications resemble the Geekbench multicore test should pick the i7-860S. For general productivity and single-threaded tasks, the i5-3230M offers better performance with far lower power consumption.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in the following recorded specifications:

• Cores: 2 (i5-3230M) vs 4 (i7-860S)
• Threads: 4 (i5-3230M) vs 8 (i7-860S)
• Base Clock: 2.60 GHz (i5-3230M) vs 2.53 GHz (i7-860S)
• Boost Clock: 3.20 GHz (i5-3230M) vs 3.47 GHz (i7-860S)
• TDP: 35 W (i5-3230M) vs 82 W (i7-860S)
• Socket: Intel Socket G2 (988B) (i5-3230M) vs Intel Socket 1156 (i7-860S)
• Architecture: Ivy Bridge (i5-3230M) vs Nehalem (i7-860S)
• Codename: Ivy Bridge (i5-3230M) vs Lynnfield (i7-860S)
• Process Node: 22 nm (i5-3230M) vs 45 nm (i7-860S)
• Die Size: 118 mm² (i5-3230M) vs 296 mm² (i7-860S)
• Transistors: Not recorded (i5-3230M) vs 774 million (i7-860S)
• L3 Cache: 3 MB shared (i5-3230M) vs 8 MB shared (i7-860S)
• Integrated Graphics: Intel HD 4000 (i5-3230M) vs None (i7-860S)
• PCIe: Not recorded (i5-3230M) vs Gen 2, 16 Lanes, CPU only (i7-860S)
• Market Segment: Mobile (i5-3230M) vs Desktop (i7-860S)
• Production Status: Not recorded (i5-3230M) vs End-of-life (i7-860S)
• Release Date: December 2012 (i5-3230M) vs January 2010 (i7-860S)
• Part Number: SR0WY (i5-3230M) vs SLBLG (i7-860S)

The specifications are otherwise identical: both use DDR3 memory, dual-channel bus, no ECC support, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The Intel Core i5-3230M scores 2184 versus 2010 for the Intel Core i7-860S, an 8.7% advantage.

Q: Does the Intel Core i7-860S ever win a benchmark?

A: Yes, it wins Geekbench multicore with a score of 1298 against the i5-3230M's 1018, a 21.6% margin.

Q: What is the thermal design power difference between the two?

A: The i5-3230M has a TDP of 35 watts, while the i7-860S has a TDP of 82 watts, making the i5-3230M more than 2x more power-efficient on paper.

Q: Do both processors have integrated graphics?

A: No. The i5-3230M includes Intel HD 4000, while the i7-860S has no integrated graphics and requires a discrete GPU.

Q: How many cores and threads does each processor offer?

A: The i5-3230M has 2 cores and 4 threads. The i7-860S has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each processor?

A: The i5-3230M averages 754 points, while the i7-860S averages 740 points. Both sit at the 20th percentile of all CPUs.