Core i3-6100T vs Core i5-2320

The Core i3-6100T packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i5-2320 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Core i5-2320 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the Core i3-6100T versus 3.3 GHz on the Core i5-2320 — a 3.1% clock advantage for the Core i5-2320 (base: 3.2 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Core i3-6100T uses the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i5-2320 uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-6100T scores 3,641 against the Core i5-2320's 3,688 — a 1.3% lead for the Core i5-2320. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,041 vs 560, a 60.1% lead for the Core i3-6100T that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 3 MB on the Core i3-6100T vs 6 MB (total) on the Core i5-2320.

The Core i3-6100T uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i5-2320 uses LGA1155 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2133 on the Core i3-6100T versus DDR3-1333 on the Core i5-2320 — the Core i3-6100T supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i3-6100T supports up to 64 GB of RAM compared to 32 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: H110,B150,H170,Z170 (Core i3-6100T) and H61,H67,P67,Z68,B75,Z77 (Core i5-2320).

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i3-6100T) vs VT-x, EPT (Core i5-2320). Both include integrated graphics — HD Graphics 530 (Core i3-6100T) and HD Graphics 2000 (Core i5-2320) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-6100T targets Budget, Core i5-2320 targets Legacy Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i5-2320 rivals Phenom II X4 965.

The Core i3-6100T launched at $117 MSRP, while the Core i5-2320 debuted at $177. At current prices ($20 vs $22), the Core i3-6100T is $2 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i3-6100T delivers 182.1 pts/$ vs 167.6 pts/$ for the Core i5-2320 — making the Core i3-6100T the 8.2% better value option.