CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-2390T vs Intel Core i5-2400
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i5-2390T is a low-power dual-core processor from the Sandy Bridge generation, featuring Hyper-Threading to handle four threads simultaneously. With a thermal design power of just 35 watts, it was designed specifically for compact desktops and all-in-one PCs where cooling space and power delivery are strictly limited. Despite its small power footprint, it operates at a respectable 2.7 GHz base frequency and can turbo boost up to 3.5 GHz under load. It includes the Intel HD 2000 integrated graphics, providing basic display output without the need for a dedicated graphics card. This chip represents a unique era in computing when dual-core i5s were still prevalent in the market, serving users who needed hyper-threading capabilities and modern instruction sets like AVX without the heat output of a quad-core chip.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Extremely slow for modern office suites and web applications.
Handles legacy Office suites well, but slow for modern web apps.
Gaming
Cannot handle any modern 3D games.
Bottlenecks modern GPUs heavily, but great for pre-2015 games.
Virtualization
Can run a single light VM, but severely bottlenecked.
Adequate for a basic pfSense router or NAS OS.
Efficiency
Excellent power efficiency for its era, drawing very little power.
Consumes more power per percentage of performance than modern chips.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No AI acceleration hardware
- Lacks AVX-512 or modern matrix extensions
- No AI acceleration
- Cannot run modern local LLMs at usable speeds
Content Creation
Gaming
- Lacks modern instruction sets required by current game engines
- HD 2000 graphics cannot run modern APIs like DirectX 12
- Only playable with very old 2D or pre-2010 3D games
- Paired with a GTX 1060, it can run Skyrim and Fallout 3 excellently
- Will severely bottleneck anything above an RTX 2060
- Single-core speed is too low for modern eSports titles like Valorant
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- Very low 35W power consumption
- Hyper-Threading support
- Includes basic integrated graphics
Cons
- Only 2 physical cores
- Reduced 3 MB L3 cache
- No AVX2 support
- Cannot run Windows 11
- Obsolete for modern tasks
Pros
- Very cheap on the used market
- Excellent upgrade path to i7-3770
- Good retro-gaming performance
- Easy to cool
Cons
- No Hyper-Threading
- No modern instruction set support
- High power draw relative to performance
- Locked multiplier
- Weak HD 2000 graphics
Competitors & Alternatives
Intel Core i5-2390T
- AMD Phenom II X4 840Rival
Desktop
- AMD Athlon II X4 645Rival
Desktop
- AMD A8-3850Rival
Desktop APU
- Intel Core i3-2120Rival
Desktop
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-650Rival
Desktop
Much better performance, though higher power draw.
Compare head-to-head- Intel Core i3-2100TAlt
Lower cost, similar power envelope.
- AMD A6-3650Alt
Better integrated graphics performance.
- Intel Core i7-2600TAlt
More threads within the same 65W power envelope.
- Intel Pentium G860Alt
Budget alternative if hyperthreading is not needed.
Intel Core i5-2400
- AMD Phenom II X4 970Rival
Desktop
- AMD FX-4150Rival
Desktop
- AMD A8-3870KRival
Desktop APU
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-760Rival
Desktop
- Intel Xeon E3-1230Rival
Server/Workstation
Better clocks for nearly the same used price.
Compare head-to-head- Intel Core i5-3450Alt
Ivy Bridge upgrade with PCIe 3.0 and lower power.
- AMD FX-6300Alt
More threads for heavily multi-threaded legacy tasks.
- Intel Xeon E3-1245Alt
Better integrated graphics and similar performance.
- Intel Core i7-2600Alt
Adds Hyper-Threading for a significant multi-thread boost.
Our Verdict on Each
An obsolete low-power processor suitable only for keeping legacy slim-profile desktops functional.
Best for: Repairing a broken 2011 all-in-one PC
Read the full reviewAn iconic processor that dominated the 2011 market, now best suited for retro gaming builds and lightweight server tasks.
Best for: Building a cheap retro-gaming PC or home server using recycled parts
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i5-2390T or Intel Core i5-2400?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i5-2400 comes out ahead with a score of 5/10. That said, the best choice depends on your workload — check the spec and performance breakdown above for gaming, productivity and efficiency differences.
Which is faster for gaming, Intel Core i5-2390T or Intel Core i5-2400?
For gaming, the Intel Core i5-2400 leads with a gaming performance score of 20/100 among Intel Core i5-2390T and Intel Core i5-2400.
Which uses less power?
The Intel Core i5-2390T has the lowest rated TDP. Power draw across these chips: Intel Core i5-2390T (35 W), Intel Core i5-2400 (95 W).
Do Intel Core i5-2390T and Intel Core i5-2400 use the same socket?
Yes — all of these CPUs use the LGA 1155 socket, so they share compatible motherboards.
Which has more cores?
The Intel Core i5-2400 has the most cores. Core counts: Intel Core i5-2390T (2 cores), Intel Core i5-2400 (4 cores).
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Intel Core i5-2400 posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i5-2390T (1,200), Intel Core i5-2400 (2,800). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.