Core i5-7300U vs Core i5-2310
Core i5-7300U
Core i5-2310
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 i5-7300U is positioned at rank 611 and the Core i5-2310 is on rank 783, so the Core i5-7300U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-7300U
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-2310
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-7300U | Core i5-2310 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($12) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake (2016−2019) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-7300U | Core i5-2310 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($12) |
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 i5-7300U and Core i5-2310
Core i5-7300U
The Core i5-7300U 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 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 3 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: 3,631 points. Launch price was $281.
Core i5-2310
The Core i5-2310 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 22 May 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 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: 3,664 points. Launch price was $150.
Processing Power
The Core i5-7300U packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i5-2310 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Core i5-2310 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Core i5-7300U versus 3.2 GHz on the Core i5-2310 — a 9% clock advantage for the Core i5-7300U (base: 2.6 GHz vs 2.9 GHz). The Core i5-7300U uses the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i5-2310 uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-7300U scores 3,631 against the Core i5-2310's 3,664 — a 0.9% lead for the Core i5-2310. L3 cache: 3 MB on the Core i5-7300U vs 6 MB (total) on the Core i5-2310.
| Feature | Core i5-7300U | Core i5-2310 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.5 GHz+9% | 3.2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.6 GHz | 2.9 GHz+12% |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB | 6 MB (total)+100% |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB+100% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm-56% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Kaby Lake (2016−2019) | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 3,631 | 3,664 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 565 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 1,740 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-7300U uses the BGA1356 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i5-2310 uses LGA1155 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2133 on the Core i5-7300U versus DDR3-1333 on the Core i5-2310 — the Core i5-7300U 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: 12 (Core i5-7300U) vs 16 (Core i5-2310) — the Core i5-2310 offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.
| Feature | Core i5-7300U | Core i5-2310 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1356 | LGA1155 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2133+33% | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 12 | 16+33% |
Advanced Features
Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-7300U) vs Yes (Core i5-2310). Both include integrated graphics — HD Graphics 620 (Core i5-7300U) and Intel HD Graphics 2000 (Core i5-2310) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-7300U targets Mobile.
| Feature | Core i5-7300U | Core i5-2310 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 620 | Intel HD Graphics 2000 |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | Yes |
| Target Use | Mobile | — |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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