Intel Core i5-2310

The Intel Core i5-2310 is a desktop processor built on the Sandy Bridge architecture, featuring four cores and four threads with a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 3.20 GHz. It was released on May 21, 2011, and is now end-of-life. With a 95 W TDP, it targets mainstream desktops, and its benchmark scores place it in the 29th percentile of all CPUs.

How It Compares

The i5-2310’s average benchmark score of 1071 is exactly equal to the Intel Core i3-4170T’s average score of 1071, with a delta of 0%. This indicates performance parity between the two processors in the aggregated benchmark set. The i3-4170T is a lower-power part, but the i5-2310 matches its overall throughput, suggesting that the quad-core Sandy Bridge design holds its own against a more modern dual-core with hyper-threading.

Against the AMD Opteron 3380, the i5-2310 again records an identical average score of 1071 and a delta of 0%. The Opteron is a server-oriented chip, yet the desktop i5-2310 delivers equivalent average performance in the benchmark suite. This parity highlights how the i5-2310’s four full cores and high clock speeds can compensate for differences in architecture and core count in mixed workloads.

The AMD Athlon X4 880K also posts an average score of 1071, matching the i5-2310 exactly. The delta is 0%, meaning the two processors are statistically indistinguishable in this comparison. Despite the Athlon being a later release, the i5-2310’s older Sandy Bridge design still achieves the same aggregate result, likely due to its efficient memory subsystem and higher boost clock.

The closest rival by score is the Intel Core i5-4440S, which averages 1070. The i5-2310 holds a 0.1% advantage, a negligible margin that falls within run-to-run variance. Both are quad-core parts, but the i5-4440S is a lower-TDP variant of the Haswell generation. The near-identical scores suggest that for typical desktop applications, the i5-2310 remains competitive with a much newer low-power processor.

Power and Thermals

The i5-2310 carries a TDP of 95 W, placing it in a power class that requires a cooling solution capable of dissipating that level of heat. For a quad-core desktop processor, this TDP implies a need for a standard tower air cooler or an equivalent aftermarket solution to maintain sustained performance under load. The 95 W figure is moderate for its era; it is not a low-power part, but it also does not demand exotic liquid cooling. In a well-ventilated case with a decent heatsink, the i5-2310 can operate within its thermal envelope without throttling.

The Sandy Bridge architecture, manufactured on a 32 nm process, contributes to this power profile. The die size is 216 mm², with 1,160 million transistors. The 95 W TDP is the only thermal specification provided; no cooler size or specific thermal solution is mentioned in the data. Users should ensure their cooling solution is rated for at least 95 W to avoid thermal throttling during intensive tasks such as video encoding or multi-threaded rendering.

Benchmark Performance

The i5-2310 delivers a set of Cinebench scores that reflect its quad-core, four-thread configuration. In Cinebench R23, it scores 3111 points in the multi-core test and 439 points in the single-core test. The R20 results are 1306 multi-core and 184 single-core, while the older R15 test yields a multi-core score of 313. These numbers, taken together, show a processor that scales reasonably well across its four physical cores, though the single-core performance is modest by modern standards.

The average benchmark score across all tests is 1071, which places the i5-2310 in the 29th percentile of all CPUs. This percentile indicates that it outperforms roughly 29% of the processors in the database, putting it in the lower-mid range of current and historical parts. The nearest rivals all cluster around the same average score, confirming that the i5-2310’s performance is closely matched by several other CPUs from different vendors and generations.

The delta percentages against the nearest rivals are all 0% or 0.1%, meaning the i5-2310 offers no meaningful performance advantage or disadvantage in aggregate. However, the Cinebench results provide a more granular view: the multi-core R23 score of 3111 is the highest among the listed benchmarks, while the single-core score of 439 is relatively low compared to newer architectures. This suggests that the i5-2310 is best suited for multi-threaded workloads where all four cores can be utilized, rather than lightly-threaded tasks that rely on high per-core performance.

Platform and Compatibility

The i5-2310 uses the Intel Socket 1155, which was the mainstream desktop socket for Sandy Bridge and later Ivy Bridge processors. It supports dual-channel DDR3 memory, with the memory bus running at the standard DDR3 speed. The processor does not support ECC memory, as indicated by the false value for eccMemory. For storage and graphics, the CPU provides 16 PCIe Gen3 lanes (CPU only), which is sufficient for a single discrete graphics card and some expansion cards. The integrated graphics are Intel HD 2000, a basic solution that can handle display output but is not intended for gaming or GPU-accelerated tasks.

The platform’s upgrade path is limited by the socket’s end-of-life status. The i5-2310 itself is marked as end-of-life, and the 1155 socket has been succeeded by newer sockets. However, within the same socket generation, users could potentially swap in a higher-end Sandy Bridge or Ivy Bridge processor, though the fact pack does not list specific compatible models. The release date of May 21, 2011, places this CPU in the early days of the Sandy Bridge family. The part number is SR02K, which can be used to identify the exact stepping.

The memory support is dual-channel DDR3, with no maximum capacity or speed listed. The lack of ECC support means it is aimed at consumer desktops rather than servers or workstations. The PCIe Gen3 support is a notable feature for its time, as it allowed for faster data transfer to compatible graphics cards. The integrated HD 2000 graphics have no dedicated memory, instead sharing system memory, which is typical for Intel iGPUs of that era.

FAQ

Q: What is the socket type for the Intel Core i5-2310?

A: The i5-2310 uses the Intel Socket 1155.

Q: Does the i5-2310 support ECC memory?

A: No, the processor does not support ECC memory.

Q: What integrated graphics does the i5-2310 include?

A: It includes Intel HD 2000 integrated graphics.

Q: What is the TDP of the i5-2310?

A: The TDP is 95 W.

Q: When was the i5-2310 released?

A: It was released on May 21, 2011.

Q: What is the process node of the i5-2310?

A: It is manufactured on a 32 nm process.