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.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Core i5-2400

2011

Why buy it

✅+1.2% higher PassMark.
✅+50% larger total L3 cache (6 MB vs 4 MB).
✅33.3% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 12) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i5-7360U.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (595 vs 1,112).
❌Launch MSRP is still $184 MSRP, while Core i5-7360U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌533.3% higher power demand at 95W vs 15W.

Core i5-7360U

2017

Why buy it

✅+86.9% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
✅Draws 15W instead of 95W, a 80W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (3,823 vs 3,870).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (4 MB vs 6 MB).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-2400.

Core i5-2400

2011

Core i5-7360U

2017

Why buy it

✅+1.2% higher PassMark.
✅+50% larger total L3 cache (6 MB vs 4 MB).
✅33.3% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 12) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i5-7360U.

Why buy it

✅+86.9% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
✅Draws 15W instead of 95W, a 80W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (595 vs 1,112).
❌Launch MSRP is still $184 MSRP, while Core i5-7360U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌533.3% higher power demand at 95W vs 15W.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (3,823 vs 3,870).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (4 MB vs 6 MB).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-2400.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-7360U better than Core i5-2400?

It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, Core i5-7360U is ahead with a 1.1% average FPS lead across 3 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-2400 pulls ahead with 1.2% better PassMark. Core i5-2400 also has the bigger cache pool with 50% larger total L3 cache (6 MB vs 4 MB).

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-2400 is the better fit. You are getting 1.2% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 50% larger total L3 cache (6 MB vs 4 MB).

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core i5-7360U is the smarter buy by a wide margin for a fresh build. Core i5-7360U is at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $184 MSRP, and it gives you a 1.1% average FPS lead across 3 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-2400 only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that is mostly used-market pricing on an obsolete 2011 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (21.0 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a very cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on LGA1155.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core i5-7360U is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2017 vs 2011). That makes it the safer long-term pick.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

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.

Core i5-2400 Benchmark Check

Core i5-7360U Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-2400	Core i5-7360U
1080p
low	97 FPS	96 FPS
medium	97 FPS	96 FPS
high	97 FPS	96 FPS
ultra	85 FPS	84 FPS
1440p
low	97 FPS	96 FPS
medium	97 FPS	96 FPS
high	87 FPS	86 FPS
ultra	70 FPS	68 FPS
4K
low	62 FPS	68 FPS
medium	56 FPS	56 FPS
high	43 FPS	44 FPS
ultra	34 FPS	34 FPS

Open Core i5-2400 Open Core i5-7360U

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-2400	Core i5-7360U
1080p
low	97 FPS	96 FPS
medium	97 FPS	96 FPS
high	97 FPS	90 FPS
ultra	97 FPS	65 FPS
1440p
low	97 FPS	95 FPS
medium	97 FPS	80 FPS
high	97 FPS	73 FPS
ultra	87 FPS	56 FPS
4K
low	97 FPS	67 FPS
medium	92 FPS	58 FPS
high	71 FPS	40 FPS
ultra	50 FPS	28 FPS

Open Core i5-2400 Open Core i5-7360U

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-2400	Core i5-7360U
1080p
low	97 FPS	96 FPS
medium	97 FPS	96 FPS
high	97 FPS	96 FPS
ultra	97 FPS	96 FPS
1440p
low	97 FPS	96 FPS
medium	97 FPS	96 FPS
high	97 FPS	96 FPS
ultra	97 FPS	96 FPS
4K
low	97 FPS	96 FPS
medium	97 FPS	96 FPS
high	97 FPS	96 FPS
ultra	97 FPS	96 FPS

Open Core i5-2400 Open Core i5-7360U

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-2400	Core i5-7360U
1080p
low	97 FPS	96 FPS
medium	97 FPS	96 FPS
high	97 FPS	96 FPS
ultra	97 FPS	96 FPS
1440p
low	97 FPS	96 FPS
medium	97 FPS	96 FPS
high	97 FPS	96 FPS
ultra	97 FPS	96 FPS
4K
low	97 FPS	96 FPS
medium	97 FPS	96 FPS
high	97 FPS	96 FPS
ultra	97 FPS	96 FPS

Open Core i5-2400 Open Core i5-7360U

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-2400 and Core i5-7360U

Core i5-2400

The Core i5-2400 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 9 January 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 6144 kB (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: 3,870 points. Launch price was $60.

Core i5-7360U

The Core i5-7360U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 January 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1356. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 3,823 points. Launch price was $304.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-2400 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i5-7360U offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Core i5-2400 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.4 GHz on the Core i5-2400 versus 3.6 GHz on the Core i5-7360U — a 5.7% clock advantage for the Core i5-7360U (base: 3.1 GHz vs 2.3 GHz). The Core i5-2400 uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i5-7360U uses Kaby Lake (2016−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-2400 scores 3,870 against the Core i5-7360U's 3,823 — a 1.2% lead for the Core i5-2400. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 595 vs 1,112, a 60.6% lead for the Core i5-7360U that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 6144 kB (total) on the Core i5-2400 vs 4 MB on the Core i5-7360U.

Feature	Core i5-2400	Core i5-7360U
Cores / Threads	4 / 4+100%	2 / 4
Boost Clock	3.4 GHz	3.6 GHz+6%
Base Clock	3.1 GHz+35%	2.3 GHz
L3 Cache	6144 kB (total)+50%	4 MB
L2 Cache	256 kB (per core)	512 kB+100%
Process	32 nm	14 nm-56%
Architecture	Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)	Kaby Lake (2016−2019)
PassMark	3,870+1%	3,823
Geekbench 6 Single	595	1,112+87%
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	2,096

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-2400 uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i5-7360U uses BGA1356 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1333 on the Core i5-2400 versus DDR4-2133 on the Core i5-7360U — the Core i5-7360U supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 32 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i5-2400) vs 12 (Core i5-7360U) — the Core i5-2400 offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H61,H67,P67,Z68,B75,Z77 (Core i5-2400) and Sunrise Point-LP (Core i5-7360U).

Feature	Core i5-2400	Core i5-7360U
Socket	LGA1155	BGA1356
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 3.0+50%
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1333	DDR4-2133+33%
Max RAM Capacity	32 GB	32 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	16+33%	12

🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-2400) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-7360U). Both include integrated graphics — HD Graphics 2000 (Core i5-2400) and Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640 (Core i5-7360U) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-2400 targets Legacy Desktop, Core i5-7360U targets Ultrabook. Direct competitor: Core i5-2400 rivals Phenom II X4 975.

Feature	Core i5-2400	Core i5-7360U
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	HD Graphics 2000	Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640
Unlocked	No	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	Legacy Desktop	Ultrabook