Core i5-2320 vs Ryzen 3 3250U
Core i5-2320
Ryzen 3 3250U
Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Core i5-2320 is positioned at rank 777 and the Ryzen 3 3250U is on rank 983, so the Core i5-2320 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-2320
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 3 3250U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-2320 | Ryzen 3 3250U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($22) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | ✨ Modern (Picasso (2019−2022) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-2320 | Ryzen 3 3250U |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($22) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-2320 and Ryzen 3 3250U
Core i5-2320
The Core i5-2320 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 September 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,688 points. Launch price was $160.
Ryzen 3 3250U
The Ryzen 3 3250U is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 6 January 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Picasso (2019−2022) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FP5. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 3,718 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
The Core i5-2320 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Ryzen 3 3250U offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Core i5-2320 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.3 GHz on the Core i5-2320 versus 3.5 GHz on the Ryzen 3 3250U — a 5.9% clock advantage for the Ryzen 3 3250U (base: 3 GHz vs 2.6 GHz). The Core i5-2320 uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Ryzen 3 3250U uses Picasso (2019−2022) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-2320 scores 3,688 against the Ryzen 3 3250U's 3,718 — a 0.8% lead for the Ryzen 3 3250U. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Core i5-2320 vs 4 MB (total) on the Ryzen 3 3250U.
| Feature | Core i5-2320 | Ryzen 3 3250U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.3 GHz | 3.5 GHz+6% |
| Base Clock | 3 GHz+15% | 2.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB (total)+50% | 4 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 512 kB (per core)+100% |
| Process | 32 nm | 14 nm-56% |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Picasso (2019−2022) |
| PassMark | 3,688 | 3,718 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 560 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-2320 uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Ryzen 3 3250U uses FP5 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i5-2320 | Ryzen 3 3250U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | FP5 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, EPT (Core i5-2320) / not specified (Ryzen 3 3250U). The Core i5-2320 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 2000), while the Ryzen 3 3250U requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-2320 targets Legacy Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i5-2320 rivals Phenom II X4 965.
| Feature | Core i5-2320 | Ryzen 3 3250U |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 2000 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, EPT | — |
| Target Use | Legacy Desktop | — |
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