Intel Core i5-2300

The Intel Core i5-2300 is a desktop processor from Intel built on the Sandy Bridge architecture and fabricated on a 32 nm process with 1,160 million transistors on a 216 mm² die. It was released in January 2011, has four cores and four threads, runs at a 2.80 GHz base clock and a 3.10 GHz boost clock, and carries a 95 W TDP. The processor uses Intel Socket 1155, supports DDR3 memory on a dual-channel bus, and includes Intel HD 2000 integrated graphics. In the benchmark database, the i5-2300 records an average benchmark score of 1013 and sits at the 27th percentile among all CPUs.

Single-Thread vs Multi-Thread Behavior

The i5-2300’s Cinebench results show a clear split between serial and parallel execution. In Cinebench R20, the single-core score is 174, while the multi-core score is 1236. In Cinebench R23, the single-core score is 415 and the multi-core score is 2944. These figures indicate that applications able to distribute work across all four physical cores will produce substantially higher scores than applications limited to one thread. The R15 multi-core score of 296, while from an older benchmark version, reinforces the same pattern.

The thread-to-core relationship is direct: four cores and four threads means there are no extra threads beyond the physical cores. Every thread that is scheduled must map to one of the four Sandy Bridge cores. This matters for multi-threaded scaling because the processor cannot mask serial bottlenecks with additional logical processors. Workloads with many small parallel tasks will still be limited by the fact that the entire CPU offers exactly four threads.

The clock data helps explain the single-thread results. The 2.80 GHz base clock is the processor’s rated operating point, and the 3.10 GHz boost clock provides a higher ceiling for lightly threaded bursts. The single-core Cinebench figures of 174 in R20 and 415 in R23 are the benchmark results associated with that boost behavior. In practice, this means the i5-2300 will feel much stronger in workloads that keep one or two cores busy than its overall database position might suggest, but it will not deliver high throughput in heavily threaded applications.

The shared 6 MB L3 cache is available to all four cores, which helps workloads with shared data and reduces some of the pressure from the relatively modest core count. Still, the benchmark results indicate that the gap between single-core and multi-core performance is large, and that gap is the defining performance characteristic for this processor.

Who Should Consider It

The i5-2300 is positioned in the lower portion of the benchmark database, with an average score of 1013 and a 27th percentile rank. That rank means most CPUs in the database score above it. For workloads that need high multi-threaded throughput, the Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 2944 is the strongest number available for this CPU, but it is still a modest figure relative to the database population. Users whose primary applications are rendering, video encoding, or other scalable parallel workloads should look for processors with higher multi-core scores.

For gaming, the relevant scores are the single-core results. The Cinebench R20 single-core score of 174 and the Cinebench R23 single-core score of 415 both indicate limited headroom for workloads that depend heavily on one thread. Games that scale well across many cores may use the four cores available, but any significant serial portion of the workload will be constrained by the single-core figures. The processor’s low overall percentile reinforces this analysis.

For office-oriented use, the i5-2300 has enough cores and threads for basic desktop productivity: four threads and DDR3 dual-channel memory support provide a functional base. The integrated Intel HD 2000 graphics means a display output is available without a discrete graphics card, which is appropriate for simple desktop tasks. However, the thread count is limited to four, so multitasking between several demanding applications will cause contention.

The i5-2300 is an end-of-life product, and its multiplier is not unlocked. Users on a Socket 1155 platform with a compatible motherboard might consider it if they need a replacement part with four cores and four threads. Users targeting modern workloads or seeking high parallel performance should not expect this processor to move meaningfully beyond the 27th percentile.

How It Compares

Against the Intel Xeon W5580, the i5-2300 averages 1013 versus 1012, a delta of 0.1%. These two processors are effectively tied in aggregate benchmark score. The i5-2300 holds a marginal edge, but the difference is small enough that individual workload mix will determine which part scores higher.

Against the Intel Core i7-5600U, the i5-2300 is ahead by 0.4%. The Core i7-5600U posts an average score of 1009, so the two parts sit within a rounding error of each other in the database. Despite the difference in product positioning, the aggregate benchmark results place them in the same performance class.

Against the Intel Processor N100, the i5-2300 is also ahead by 0.4%. The N100’s average score is 1009, matching the Core i7-5600U exactly. The i5-2300’s 1013 average gives it a narrow lead, but both are clustered at the same overall level.

Against the Intel Core i3-4340, the i5-2300 trails by 0.5%. The Core i3-4340 averages 1018, while the i5-2300 averages 1013. This is the largest delta among the listed rivals, yet it remains a small percentage difference, and the two parts occupy nearly the same aggregate performance tier.

FAQ

Q: What is the average benchmark score of the Intel Core i5-2300?

A: The average benchmark score is 1013, and the processor ranks at the 27th percentile among all CPUs in the database.

Q: How many cores and threads does the i5-2300 have?

A: It has 4 cores and 4 threads, with a 2.80 GHz base clock and a 3.10 GHz boost clock.

Q: What Cinebench scores are listed for this processor?

A: Cinebench R15 multi-core is 296; Cinebench R20 multi-core is 1236 and single-core is 174; Cinebench R23 multi-core is 2944 and single-core is 415.

Q: What memory configuration does the i5-2300 support?

A: It supports DDR3 memory on a dual-channel bus, and ECC memory is not supported.

Q: Does the i5-2300 have an unlocked multiplier?

A: No, the multiplierUnlocked field is false, meaning the processor does not have an unlocked multiplier.

Q: What is the socket and architecture of the i5-2300?

A: It uses Intel Socket 1155 and is based on the Sandy Bridge architecture, built on a 32 nm process.

Benchmark Performance

The benchmark data places the i5-2300 in a clear position: an average score of 1013 at the 27th percentile. The Cinebench results provide the detailed shape of that performance. In Cinebench R20, the processor scores 174 in single-core and 1236 in multi-core. In Cinebench R23, it scores 415 in single-core and 2944 in multi-core. The older Cinebench R15 multi-core result of 296 adds a third multi-threaded data point, all of which are consistent with a low-to-mid-range database position.

The nearest rival comparisons are remarkably tight. The i5-2300 is 0.1% ahead of the Intel Xeon W5580, whose average score is 1012. It is 0.4% ahead of both the Intel Core i7-5600U and the Intel Processor N100, each of which averages 1009. It is 0.5% behind the Intel Core i3-4340, which averages 1018. This creates a very dense cluster around the 1009–1018 range. The average benchmark score alone will not cleanly separate these processors; workload distribution, platform-level differences, and system memory configuration are likely to matter more than the aggregate delta.

The single-core data is particularly important for interpreting the 27th percentile rank. Single-core scores of 174 in R20 and 415 in R23 are the numbers that will govern serial performance. Multi-core scores of 1236 and 2944 show the advantage of using all four cores, but the four-thread limit is a hard constraint. There are no additional threads to hide scheduling inefficiencies or background load.

The i5-2300 also carries platform characteristics that are relevant to its performance profile. It has a 95 W TDP, 6 MB of shared L3 cache, and 1,160 million transistors on a 32 nm process. The memory interface is DDR3 dual-channel, and PCIe is Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The integrated graphics are Intel HD 2000. None of these features offset the core and thread ceiling, and the locked multiplier means the processor’s rated clocks are the only clocks available to the user.

Overall, the benchmark results describe a processor that sits near the lower end of the database but very close to four similarly scoring rivals. The 27th percentile rank is the summary measure, the average score of 1013 is the aggregate reference point, and the Cinebench figures identify the single-thread and multi-thread characteristics that define its real workload behavior.