CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-2400 vs Intel Core i5-2400S
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i5-2400 served as the baseline standard-power quad-core processor for the Sandy Bridge generation. Operating at a 95W TDP, it removed the power constraints of the 'S' series, allowing for a higher 3.1 GHz base clock and a 3.4 GHz turbo boost. Like other non-K i5s of its era, it operates without Hyper-Threading, strictly limiting it to four concurrent threads. It features the full 6 MB L3 cache and Intel HD 2000 integrated graphics. This chip was the quintessential mainstream desktop CPU of early 2011, offering a significant leap in IPC (Instructions Per Clock) over the previous Lynnfield architecture.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Handles legacy Office suites well, but slow for modern web apps.
Handles basic office tasks but struggles with heavy spreadsheets or modern web apps.
Gaming
Bottlenecks modern GPUs heavily, but great for pre-2015 games.
Cannot handle modern AAA games, even at lowest settings.
Virtualization
Adequate for a basic pfSense router or NAS OS.
Can run a basic NAS OS or light VM, but limited by 4 threads.
Efficiency
Consumes more power per percentage of performance than modern chips.
Good power-to-core ratio for the 32nm era.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No AI acceleration
- Cannot run modern local LLMs at usable speeds
- No AI hardware capabilities
- Too slow for practical machine learning inference
Content Creation
Gaming
- 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
- HD 2000 graphics lack driver support for modern titles
- Even with a discrete GPU, CPU bottlenecks severely
- Playable only in legacy esports like CS 1.6
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
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
Pros
- True quad-core CPU
- Low 65W power draw
- Cool and quiet operation
- Full 6 MB L3 cache
Cons
- No Hyper-Threading
- Low clock speeds
- Outdated HD 2000 graphics
- Not Windows 11 compatible
- Locked multiplier
Competitors & Alternatives
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.
Intel Core i5-2400S
- AMD Phenom II X4 960TRival
Desktop
- AMD FX-4100Rival
Desktop
- AMD A8-3800Rival
Desktop APU
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-2390TRival
Desktop
- Intel Core i3-2125Rival
Desktop
Standard power, faster clocks for tower PCs.
Compare head-to-headSame power, better integrated graphics.
Compare head-to-head- AMD FX-4300Alt
Slightly newer platform with more upgrade paths.
- Intel Core i7-2600SAlt
Same 65W TDP but adds Hyper-Threading.
- Intel Xeon E3-1235Alt
Similar specs with better graphics, though 80W TDP.
Our Verdict on Each
An 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 reviewA power-efficient quad-core chip that is now strictly relegated to keeping legacy small form factor office PCs operational.
Best for: Direct replacement for a failed CPU in a Dell Optiplex SFF
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i5-2400 or Intel Core i5-2400S?
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 i5-2400 or Intel Core i5-2400S?
For gaming, the Intel Core i5-2400 leads with a gaming performance score of 20/100 among Intel Core i5-2400 and Intel Core i5-2400S.
Which uses less power?
The Intel Core i5-2400S has the lowest rated TDP. Power draw across these chips: Intel Core i5-2400 (95 W), Intel Core i5-2400S (65 W).
Do Intel Core i5-2400 and Intel Core i5-2400S use the same socket?
Yes — all of these CPUs use the LGA 1155 socket, so they share compatible motherboards.
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Intel Core i5-2400 posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i5-2400 (2,800), Intel Core i5-2400S (2,400). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.