Intel Core i5-2400

The Intel Core i5-2400 is a desktop processor from the Sandy Bridge generation, launched in early 2011 and now end-of-life. It is a 32 nm part with four physical cores and four threads, a base clock of 3.10 GHz, and a boost clock of 3.40 GHz. The data shows a processor that sits in the 32nd percentile of all CPUs tested, with an average benchmark score of 1132, placing it in a tightly contested mid-range segment.

Benchmark Performance

The benchmark results for the i5-2400 paint a picture of a CPU that was once a mainstream workhorse but now operates in a narrow performance band. In Cinebench R23, the multi-core score is 3291, while the single-core score is 464. These figures are consistent with a chip that prioritizes balanced throughput over raw multi-threaded dominance. The Cinebench R20 results show a multi-core score of 1382 and a single-core score of 194, while the older Cinebench R15 multi-core test yields 331. Across these workloads, the processor’s aggregate average score of 1132 places it within a hair’s breadth of its nearest rivals.

The delta percentages against the closest competitors are remarkably small, indicating that the i5-2400 performs almost identically to a cluster of other CPUs from different eras and vendors. Against the AMD Athlon 300U, the i5-2400 trails by just 0.1% in average score, a difference that is effectively a statistical tie. The Intel Core i7-2720QM, a mobile quad-core part, is 0.1% behind the i5-2400, while the Intel Core i5-4690T is 0.1% ahead. The largest gap in the nearest rival group is with the Intel Core i7-3612QM, which sits 0.2% behind. These sub-percent margins mean that in real-world application testing, the i5-2400 is functionally indistinguishable from these peers in overall throughput.

The Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 3291 is roughly 7.1 times the single-core score of 464, which highlights that the chip’s strength is not in lightly threaded tasks but in sustained multi-core loads. The percentile ranking of 32 indicates that the majority of modern CPUs outperform it, yet the tight clustering of rival scores shows that this specific performance tier remains crowded.

Power and Thermals

The i5-2400 carries a thermal design power (TDP) rating of 95 watts. This is a figure that defines its cooling and power delivery requirements. A 95 W TDP class processor is typical of the Sandy Bridge desktop generation, where power consumption was higher than later, more efficient architectures. For a system builder, this TDP implies the need for a capable air cooler, as the stock cooling solution must dissipate that heat under sustained load.

In terms of thermal management, the 95 W envelope means the processor will generate significant heat during multi-threaded workloads, but it is not in the extreme high-TDP tier that would require liquid cooling or oversized tower heatsinks. The 32 nm process node, with 1,160 million transistors on a 216 mm² die, is the underlying factor for this power draw. The integrated graphics, Intel HD 2000, also contribute to the overall package power, though the primary thermal load comes from the CPU cores.

The data does not include specific temperature or power consumption measurements, but the TDP class alone suggests that a mid-range air cooler with a 92 mm or 120 mm fan is sufficient for stock operation. Enthusiasts pushing the boost clock of 3.40 GHz across all cores would want a slightly more robust cooler, but the 95 W rating does not demand exotic cooling solutions. This is a straightforward thermal profile that fits into standard ATX and micro-ATX chassis without special airflow considerations.

Single-Thread vs Multi-Thread Behavior

The split between single-thread and multi-thread performance is telling for the i5-2400’s workload suitability. In Cinebench R20, the single-core score is 194, while the multi-core score is 1382, yielding a ratio of roughly 7.1. Similarly, Cinebench R23 shows a single-core score of 464 against a multi-core score of 3291, again a ratio of about 7.1. This consistent ratio indicates that the four cores scale almost linearly in multi-threaded tasks, with no hyper-threading overhead since the processor has only four threads for four cores.

For real-world workloads, this behavior means that the i5-2400 is well-suited for applications that can utilize all four cores, such as video encoding, 3D rendering, and batch photo processing. The multi-core scores in Cinebench R23, for instance, reflect a CPU that can handle moderate rendering tasks but will lag behind modern six- and eight-core parts. Conversely, the single-core scores are modest by today’s standards, meaning that lightly threaded tasks like web browsing, office applications, and legacy games will perform adequately but not impressively.

The lack of hyper-threading is a notable factor. With four threads matching four cores, the processor does not benefit from the extra logical cores that could help with heavily threaded workloads. The benchmark data shows that the multi-core scores are essentially four times the single-core scores, which is the expected behavior for a true quad-core without SMT. For users running older software that is single-thread bound, the 3.40 GHz boost clock helps, but the architectural age limits the instructions-per-clock efficiency compared to newer designs.

How It Compares

AMD Athlon 300U: The Athlon 300U, a mobile part, posts an average score of 1133, which is 0.1% higher than the i5-2400’s 1132. This is a negligible difference, but it is notable that a modern low-power APU matches a desktop quad-core from 2011. The Athlon 300U achieves this with fewer cores and a lower TDP, indicating that architectural improvements have closed the gap. In practical terms, the i5-2400 holds its own in multi-threaded workloads but loses ground in single-thread efficiency where the newer architecture excels.

Intel Core i7-2720QM: The i7-2720QM, a mobile quad-core with hyper-threading, scores 1131, which is 0.1% lower than the i5-2400. This is a surprising result given that the i7 has eight threads. The data suggests that the mobile chip’s lower clock speeds and thermal constraints prevent it from outpacing the desktop i5. The i5-2400’s advantage in sustained clock speed on desktop power delivery likely compensates for the i7’s extra threads in this average score.

Intel Core i5-4690T: The i5-4690T, a low-power desktop part from a later generation, scores 1134, which is 0.1% higher than the i5-2400. This rival achieves a slightly higher average score while likely operating at a lower TDP, making it a more efficient option. The performance difference is marginal, but the 4690T benefits from newer architecture and better instruction handling, even if its clock speeds are lower.

Intel Core i7-3612QM: The i7-3612QM, another mobile quad-core with hyper-threading, scores 1130, which is 0.2% lower than the i5-2400. This is the largest delta in the rival group, yet still under a quarter of a percent. The i7-3612QM’s lower base and boost clocks, typical of mobile parts, hold it back. The i5-2400’s desktop power budget allows it to sustain higher clocks, resulting in a slight edge in the average benchmark score.

Platform and Compatibility

The i5-2400 uses the Intel Socket 1155 platform, which is specific to the Sandy Bridge architecture. This socket supports the second-generation Core processors, and the i5-2400 is a desktop segment part with the part number SR00Q. The processor is not multiplier-unlocked, meaning overclocking is limited to bus speed adjustments rather than a simple multiplier change.

Memory support is DDR3 with a dual-channel memory bus. This is a legacy memory type that is now largely phased out in favor of DDR4 and DDR5. The lack of ECC memory support indicates that this is aimed at consumer desktop use rather than server or workstation applications. The integrated graphics are Intel HD 2000, which is a basic solution suitable for display output but not for gaming or graphics-intensive tasks.

For PCIe, the processor provides Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU only. This means a single graphics card can run at full x16 bandwidth, but the platform’s chipset would handle additional lanes. The upgrade path from the i5-2400 on Socket 1155 is limited to other Sandy Bridge or Ivy Bridge processors, which are also end-of-life. This is a closed platform by modern standards, with no forward compatibility to newer memory types or PCIe generations beyond what is listed. The 6 MB of shared L3 cache and per-core L1 and L2 caches (64 KB and 256 KB per core, respectively) are fixed attributes of the architecture, and the 32 nm process node with 1,160 million transistors defines the physical characteristics.