Intel Core i3-2328M

The Intel Core i3-2328M is a 2-core, 4-thread mobile processor from the Sandy Bridge architecture, running at a 2.20 GHz base clock with a 35 W TDP. It was released on August 31, 2012, and includes Intel HD 3000 integrated graphics. The chip carries 64 KB of L1 cache and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, plus 3 MB of shared L3 cache. Across recorded benchmarks, it averages 399 points and sits in the 5th percentile of all CPUs, which immediately frames it as a low-end part in the current database.

Who Should Consider It

The 5th percentile ranking and 399 average score place this processor firmly in the low end of the performance spectrum. That makes it unsuitable for demanding workloads such as modern video rendering, 3D modeling, or competitive gaming. The Cinebench R23 multicore score of 1048, Cinebench R20 multicore score of 440, and Cinebench R15 multicore score of 105 all point in the same direction: this is not a content-creation CPU.

The realistic use case is basic portable productivity. Two cores and four threads are enough to keep a light operating system session responsive when handling documents, email, and similar tasks that do not stress the CPU continuously. The integrated Intel HD 3000 graphics also means a system can provide display output without a discrete video card. The dual-channel DDR3 memory support gives the memory subsystem enough bandwidth for those workloads.

Users who need single-thread performance should avoid this chip. The Geekbench single-core score of 330 and Cinebench R23 single-core score of 147 show that heavily serial tasks will hit the 2.20 GHz base clock and have no boost headroom to escape it. The same applies to gaming workloads that rely on per-core speed. This is a functioning processor for a secondary or legacy machine, not a primary performance part.

How It Compares

The nearest rivals in the database are tightly packed around the i3-2328M’s 399 average score. None of the listed competitors is separated by more than a fraction of the overall benchmark average, so the comparisons are close.

Against the Intel Core i3-3217UE, the i3-2328M records an average score of 399 versus 398, with a deltaPct of 0.3%. That is effectively a tie. A system using either processor would land in the same performance class, and the small delta will be invisible in practical use.

Against the Intel Core i3-4010Y, the average score is 399 versus 397, with a deltaPct of 0.6%. The 2328M is still ahead, but only by a marginal amount. The benchmark database does not indicate that this difference would be perceptible outside synthetic workloads.

Against the AMD Athlon II X2 280, the i3-2328M averages 399 versus 396, with a deltaPct of 0.8%. The gap remains negligible. The data places these chips in the same tier despite the differences between the two designs.

Against the Intel Core i3-2332M, the i3-2328M averages 399 versus 396, with a deltaPct of 0.9%. This is the largest gap in the nearest-rival list, and it is still tiny. These two i3 mobile parts deliver essentially interchangeable results in the recorded benchmarks.

Power and Thermals

The 35 W TDP defines the thermal class for this processor. It is a mobile Sandy Bridge chip built on Intel’s 32 nm process, with 624 million transistors and a 149 mm² die. Those physical characteristics, combined with the 35 W power envelope, mean a modest active cooling solution is expected. This is not a fanless-class part; it needs airflow to shed sustained heat.

Because no boost clock is recorded in the database, the chip does not have a turbo state to raise the frequency above the 2.20 GHz base. That simplifies thermal behavior: sustained load is steady rather than bursty. Under a fully threaded workload, the CPU draws at its 35 W design point, and the cooler needs to handle that continuous load. In a well-designed mobile chassis, the thermal load is manageable, but a thin passive system would struggle.

FAQ

Q: What socket does the Core i3-2328M use?

A: Intel Socket G2 (988B).

Q: Does it include integrated graphics?

A: Yes, it includes Intel HD 3000 graphics.

Q: What memory does it support?

A: DDR3 memory on a dual-channel bus. ECC memory is not supported.

Q: Can it be overclocked?

A: No. The multiplier is not unlocked, and no boost clock is listed, so this CPU operates at its fixed 2.20 GHz base clock.

Q: How many cores and threads does it have?

A: Two cores and four threads.

Q: When was it released?

A: August 31, 2012.

Single-Thread vs Multi-Thread Behavior

The split between single-thread and multi-thread scores is distinct. In Geekbench, the single-core score is 330 and the multi-core score is 661. In Cinebench R23, the single-core score is 147 and the multi-core score is 1048. In Cinebench R20, the single-core score is 61 and the multi-core score is 440. The multi-core figures are clearly higher, which shows that the two physical cores and four threads can be used effectively when a workload is spread across threads.

That does not rescue the processor from its low single-thread capability. The Cinebench R20 single-core result of 61 and the Cinebench R23 single-core result of 147 indicate that any application dominated by one heavily loaded thread will hit the 2.20 GHz base clock quickly. There is no boost clock to provide temporary relief.

The result is a workload profile that favors threaded batch work over interactive single-threaded performance. A task that can be divided cleanly across four threads will see better throughput than a task that cannot. The Cinebench R15 multicore score of 105 follows the same pattern: the CPU can organize work across threads, but the overall performance level is still low.

Platform and Compatibility

The i3-2328M is a mobile-market processor designed for the Intel Socket G2 (988B). It belongs to the Sandy Bridge architecture and is manufactured on a 32 nm process. The memory controller supports DDR3 with a dual-channel bus, and ECC is not available. Cache layout is fixed at 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 3 MB of shared L3 cache.

Because this is a mobile socket, the upgrade path is limited by the laptop’s board and firmware. Any replacement chip must be compatible with the same socket family and with the system’s support limitations. The database does not record a PCIe configuration for this part, so expansion capabilities are dependent on the motherboard rather than on the CPU itself. The locked multiplier further reduces flexibility for enthusiasts. In summary, the i3-2328M is a platform-bound mobile processor with modest performance and modest thermal requirements, best suited to basic tasks.