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Intel Core i3-2370M

Intel Core i3-2370M: an Outdated Warrior for Basic Tasks

Analysis of the 2012 Processor in the Context of 2025

Architecture and Process Technology: Sandy Bridge and Modest Ambitions

The Intel Core i3-2370M, released in 2012, is based on the Sandy Bridge microarchitecture and a 32nm process technology. This dual-core CPU supports Hyper-Threading, providing 4 virtual threads. Its base clock speed is fixed at 2.4 GHz—lacking Turbo Boost technology, which limits its adaptability under load.

Integrated Graphics are represented by the Intel HD Graphics 3000 with clock speeds ranging from 650 to 1200 MHz. It supports DirectX 10.1 and basic video decoding (e.g., H.264) but is unsuitable for modern APIs (Vulkan, DirectX 12). The L3 cache is 3 MB, which is extremely low even for office tasks by 2025 standards.

Power Consumption and TDP: A High Price for Modest Power

The processor has a TDP of 35 W, which was typical for mobile devices in the 2010s but seems archaic in 2025. In comparison, modern Intel Core U-series processors (e.g., Core i5-1335U) offer 3-4 times higher performance at a TDP of 15 W.

The high power consumption of the i3-2370M is attributed to:

- Lack of advanced power-saving modes (comparable to modern Intel Thread Director).

- Outdated 32nm process technology, which is less efficient than 7nm or 5nm chips from AMD and Apple.

Performance: Extracting Maximum from Minimum

Geekbench 6:

- Single-Core: 377;

- Multi-Core: 736.

These scores in 2025 correspond to budget smartphones (e.g., Snapdragon 7 Gen 2), but not laptops.

Real-world Tasks:

- Office Work: Microsoft Office, a browser with 5-10 tabs—acceptable but with delays when running Zoom simultaneously.

- Multimedia: Watching Full HD video (YouTube, Netflix) is possible, but 4K is not supported hardware-wise.

- Gaming: Only older games (e.g., Half-Life 2, Minecraft on low settings). CS:GO runs at 20-25 frames per second at 720p.

There is no Turbo mode, so under load, the frequency does not increase. In cases of overheating (e.g., in laptops with poor cooling), throttling and performance drops may occur.

Usage Scenarios: Who is this Processor Relevant for in 2025?

- Students: Typing, working with PDFs, online lectures.

- Office Workers: Email, Excel spreadsheets, Google Docs.

- Elderly Users: Simple tasks without multitasking.

Not Suitable For:

- Video editing (even at 1080p).

- Modern gaming and VR.

- Running neural network applications (e.g., Stable Diffusion).

Battery Life: A Compromise Between Power and Usage Time

Laptops with the i3-2370M in 2025 are either refurbished devices or old models in stock. A typical 40-50 Wh battery provides 3-4 hours of usage under moderate load.

Power-saving Technologies:

- Intel SpeedStep: Dynamic frequency management.

- C1/C3 States: Energy consumption reduction during idle time.

However, these technologies lag behind modern counterparts, such as AMD Precision Boost or Intel Hybrid Architecture.

Comparison with Competitors: How Does the i3-2370M Stack Up Against Others?

- AMD A6-3420M (Llano, 2011): 4 cores but weaker in single-threaded performance (Geekbench 6 Single-Core ~300). Suitable for multitasking but weaker in energy efficiency.

- Intel Core i5-3320M (Ivy Bridge, 2012): TDP of 35 W, but with higher frequencies (2.6-3.3 GHz) and Turbo Boost support. Geekbench 6 Single-Core ~450.

- Apple A14 Bionic (2020): Even Apple’s mobile chip outperforms the i3-2370M in multi-threading (Geekbench 6 Multi-Core ~4000).

Pros and Cons: Balancing Capabilities

Strengths:

- Low cost: Laptops with this CPU sell for $150-$250 (new old stock).

- Reliability: Sandy Bridge is known for its stability.

- Sufficient for basic tasks.

Weaknesses:

- No support for modern instructions (AVX2, AES-NI).

- High power consumption.

- Outdated ports (often missing USB 3.0, HDMI 1.4).

Recommendations for Laptop Selection

If you are considering a device with the i3-2370M in 2025, pay attention to:

1. Type of Device: Budget laptops (HP ProBook 4540s, Lenovo ThinkPad T430) or refurbished models.

2. Upgrade:

- Replacing HDD with SSD (SATA III) will speed up the system by 2-3 times.

- Increasing RAM to 8 GB (minimum for Windows 10/11).

3. Screen: Look for an IPS panel—many older models use TN panels with poor viewing angles.

4. Battery: Replacing a worn-out battery will extend usage time.

Avoid:

- Ultrabooks with this CPU—none exist due to the high TDP.

- Purchases without warranty—high risk of component failure.

Final Verdict: Who is the i3-2370M Suitable For?

This processor is a choice for those who need a cheap tool for simple tasks. It is suitable for:

- Learning: writing essays, online courses.

- Working with documents and email.

- As a backup device.

Key Benefits:

- Priced under $250.

- Compatibility with Windows 10/Linux.

- Repairability (many parts are available on the second-hand market).

However, remember: even budget contemporary processors (Intel N100, AMD Ryzen 3 7320U) for the same $300-400 offer vastly better performance, battery life, and support for new technologies. Choose the i3-2370M only if your budget is strictly limited, and your tasks are minimal.

Basic

Label Name

Intel

Platform

Mobile

Launch Date

January 2012

Model Name

The Intel processor number is just one of several factors - along with processor brand, system configurations, and system-level benchmarks - to be considered when choosing the right processor for your computing needs.

i3-2370M

Code Name

Sandy Bridge

CPU Specifications

Total Cores

Cores is a hardware term that describes the number of independent central processing units in a single computing component (die or chip).

Total Threads

Where applicable, Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology is only available on Performance-cores.

Intel Turbo Boost Technology

Intel® Turbo Boost Technology dynamically increases the processor's frequency as needed by taking advantage of thermal and power headroom to give you a burst of speed when you need it, and increased energy efficiency when you don’t.

Intel Hyper-Threading Technology

Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology (Intel® HT Technology) delivers two processing threads per physical core. Highly threaded applications can get more work done in parallel, completing tasks sooner.

Yes

CPU Socket

The socket is the component that provides the mechanical and electrical connections between the processor and motherboard.

PPGA988

Technology

Lithography refers to the semiconductor technology used to manufacture an integrated circuit, and is reported in nanometer (nm), indicative of the size of features built on the semiconductor.

32 nm

Max. Operating Temperature

Junction Temperature is the maximum temperature allowed at the processor die.

85C (PGA); 100C (BGA)

PCI Express Version

PCI Express Revision is the supported version of the PCI Express standard. Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (or PCIe) is a high-speed serial computer expansion bus standard for attaching hardware devices to a computer. The different PCI Express versions support different data rates.

2.0

Number of PCI Express Lanes

A PCI Express (PCIe) lane consists of two differential signaling pairs, one for receiving data, one for transmitting data, and is the basic unit of the PCIe bus. Max # of PCI Express Lanes is the total number of supported lanes.

Intel 64

Intel® 64 architecture delivers 64-bit computing on server, workstation, desktop and mobile platforms when combined with supporting software.¹ Intel 64 architecture improves performance by allowing systems to address more than 4 GB of both virtual and physical memory.

Yes

Instruction Set

The instruction set is a hard program stored inside the CPU that guides and optimizes CPU operations. With these instruction sets, the CPU can run more efficiently. There are many manufacturers that design CPUs, which results in different instruction sets, such as the 8086 instruction set for the Intel camp and the RISC instruction set for the ARM camp. x86, ARM v8, and MIPS are all codes for instruction sets. Instruction sets can be extended; for example, x86 added 64-bit support to create x86-64. Manufacturers developing CPUs that are compatible with a certain instruction set need authorization from the instruction set patent holder. A typical example is Intel authorizing AMD, enabling the latter to develop CPUs compatible with the x86 instruction set.

64-bit

PCI Express Configurations

PCI Express (PCIe) Configurations describe the available PCIe lane configurations that can be used to link to PCIe devices.

1x16 | 2x8 | 1x8 2x4

Memory Specifications

Memory Type

Intel® processors come in four different types: Single Channel, Dual Channel, Triple Channel, and Flex Mode. Maximum supported memory speed may be lower when populating multiple DIMMs per channel on products that support multiple memory channels.

DDR3 1066/1333

Max Memory Size

Max memory size refers to the maximum memory capacity supported by the processor.

16 GB

Memory Channels

The number of memory channels refers to the bandwidth operation for real world application.

Max Memory Bandwidth

Max Memory bandwidth is the maximum rate at which data can be read from or stored into a semiconductor memory by the processor (in GB/s).

21.3 GB/s

ECC Memory Supported

ECC Memory Supported indicates processor support for Error-Correcting Code memory. ECC memory is a type of system memory that can detect and correct common kinds of internal data corruption. Note that ECC memory support requires both processor and chipset support.

GPU Specifications

GPU Name

Intel® HD Graphics 3000

Graphics Base Frequency

Graphics Base frequency refers to the rated/guaranteed graphics render clock frequency in MHz.

650 MHz

Graphics Frequency

Graphics max dynamic frequency refers to the maximum opportunistic graphics render clock frequency (in MHz) that can be supported using Intel® HD Graphics with Dynamic Frequency feature.

1.15 GHz

Number of Displays Supported

Graphics Output

Graphics Output defines the interfaces available to communicate with display devices.

eDP/DP/HDMI/SDVO/CRT

Miscellaneous

Intel Virtualization Technology (VT-x)

Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x) allows one hardware platform to function as multiple “virtual” platforms. It offers improved manageability by limiting downtime and maintaining productivity by isolating computing activities into separate partitions.

Yes

Intel Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)

Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d) continues from the existing support for IA-32 (VT-x) and Itanium® processor (VT-i) virtualization adding new support for I/O-device virtualization. Intel VT-d can help end users improve security and reliability of the systems and also improve performance of I/O devices in virtualized environments.

Instruction Set Extensions

Intel® AVX

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology is an advanced means of enabling high performance while meeting the power-conservation needs of mobile systems. Conventional Intel SpeedStep® Technology switches both voltage and frequency in tandem between high and low levels in response to processor load. Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology builds upon that architecture using design strategies such as Separation between Voltage and Frequency Changes, and Clock Partitioning and Recovery.

Yes

Execute Disable Bit

Execute Disable Bit is a hardware-based security feature that can reduce exposure to viruses and malicious-code attacks and prevent harmful software from executing and propagating on the server or network.

Yes

Intel AES New Instructions

Intel® AES New Instructions (Intel® AES-NI) are a set of instructions that enable fast and secure data encryption and decryption. AES-NI are valuable for a wide range of cryptographic applications, for example: applications that perform bulk encryption/decryption, authentication, random number generation, and authenticated encryption.

Intel Clear Video HD Technology

Intel® Clear Video HD Technology, like its predecessor, Intel® Clear Video Technology, is a suite of image decode and processing technologies built into the integrated processor graphics that improve video playback, delivering cleaner, sharper images, more natural, accurate, and vivid colors, and a clear and stable video picture. Intel® Clear Video HD Technology adds video quality enhancements for richer color and more realistic skin tones.

Yes

Intel VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)

Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT), also known as Second Level Address Translation (SLAT), provides acceleration for memory intensive virtualized applications. Extended Page Tables in Intel® Virtualization Technology platforms reduces the memory and power overhead costs and increases battery life through hardware optimization of page table management.

Yes

Intel InTru 3D Technology

Yes

Intel Flex Memory Access

Yes

Intel Quick Sync Video

Intel® Quick Sync Video delivers fast conversion of video for portable media players, online sharing, and video editing and authoring.

Yes

Benchmarks

Geekbench 6

Single Core Score

377

Geekbench 6

Multi Core Score

736

Geekbench 5

Single Core Score

442

Geekbench 5

Multi Core Score

959

Passmark CPU

Single Core Score

1065

Passmark CPU

Multi Core Score

1368

Compared to Other CPU

Geekbench 6 Single Core

FX-6200

444 +17.8%

Xeon E5649

411 +9%

Core i3-2370M

377

A4-4020

341 -9.5%

A8-5550M

290 -23.1%

Geekbench 6 Multi Core

Xeon E5-2630L v2

970 +31.8%

Athlon II X4 641

884 +20.1%

Core i3-2370M

736

A8-4500M

641 -12.9%

A4-6300

527 -28.4%

Geekbench 5 Single Core

Pentium Silver J5005

479 +8.4%

Xeon E5640

461 +4.3%

Core i3-2370M

442

A4-6300

418 -5.4%

Celeron 3765U

392 -11.3%

Geekbench 5 Multi Core

Core i3-2120T

1109 +15.6%

Athlon Silver 3050C

1056 +10.1%

Core i3-2370M

959

Pentium 2030M

873 -9%

Athlon 5350

802 -16.4%

Passmark CPU Single Core

Opteron 6376

1165 +9.4%

Pentium G640T

1102 +3.5%

Core i3-2370M

1065

Core i3-2348M

1009 -5.3%

A10-5745M

953 -10.5%

Passmark CPU Multi Core

PRO A6-9500E

1662 +21.5%

Pentium G870

1523 +11.3%

Core i3-2370M

1368

Celeron 3765U

1252 -8.5%

Celeron G530

1117 -18.3%