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Intel Core i5-2405S

Intel Core i5-2405S: A Retrospective and Relevance in 2025

Introduction

Even 14 years after its release, Intel Sandy Bridge processors continue to find applications in budget systems. The Intel Core i5-2405S is one such "veteran." In this article, we will explore who might be interested in this CPU in 2025, its strengths and weaknesses, and how to build a functional PC around it.

1. Key Specifications: Architecture and Performance

Sandy Bridge Architecture

Released in 2011, the i5-2405S belongs to the Sandy Bridge generation—a revolutionary architecture for its time. It offered a 10-15% improvement in IPC (Instructions Per Cycle) compared to its predecessor, Nehalem. However, by 2025, it is noticeably outdated due to the lack of support for PCIe 3.0, modern AVX2/AVX-512 instructions, and energy-efficient modes.

32nm Process Technology

The 32nm technology appears archaic in 2025 compared to 5-7nm chips (like Intel Alder Lake or AMD Ryzen 7000). This results in higher heat output and limited miniaturization opportunities.

Performance

- Geekbench 6: Single-Core — 557, Multi-Core — 1480. For comparison, the budget Intel Celeron G6900 (2023) scores around 1500/3000.

- 4 Cores/4 Threads: Limited parallel processing, which is critical for multitasking.

Key Features

- Support for AES-NI for encryption.

- No Hyper-Threading technology—only 4 threads.

- Integrated Intel HD Graphics 2000: adequate for display output but not for gaming.

2. Compatible Motherboards

LGA1155 Socket

The processor requires motherboards with the LGA1155 socket. In 2025, new boards are no longer being produced—only used options are available.

Chipsets

- H61, B65: Budget solutions without overclocking and some features.

- H67, P67, Z68: Overclocking support (only for CPUs with a K multiplier, such as i5-2500K), SATA III, and USB 3.0 (on some models).

Selection Tips

- Look for boards with USB 3.0 and SATA III (e.g., ASUS P8H67) to enhance performance with SSDs and external drives.

- Check the condition of capacitors and the socket when buying used.

3. Supported Memory

Memory Type

The i5-2405S only works with DDR3:

- Frequencies: 1066/1333 MHz.

- Maximum capacity: up to 32 GB (depends on the motherboard).

Limitations

DDR4/DDR5 is not supported. Even inexpensive DDR3-1600 modules will operate at the reduced frequency of 1333 MHz.

Recommendations

- Use dual-channel configuration (2x8 GB) to enhance performance.

- An SSD is essential: even a SATA III drive will "revive" the system.

4. Power Supply: Power Calculation

TDP 65W

The processor is energy-efficient, but it's important to consider other components:

- Graphics card: For example, GTX 1650 (TDP 75W)—requires 300–350W.

- Drives and peripherals: +50W.

Recommended PSUs

- Without a discrete graphics card: 300W (e.g., be quiet! SFX Power 3).

- With a graphics card: 450-500W (Corsair CX450).

Important

- Choose power supplies with an 80+ Bronze certification or higher.

- Avoid no-name brands—a higher risk of failure.

5. Pros and Cons

Advantages

- Low price: A used processor costs around $15–25.

- Reliability: Sandy Bridge CPUs are known for their long lifespan.

- Suitable for basic tasks: office use, browsing, HD video.

Disadvantages

- No support for modern technologies: PCIe 3.0, USB 3.1, NVMe.

- Poor performance in multi-threaded applications.

- Limited upgradability: replacing it with a more powerful CPU would require a platform change.

6. Use Cases

Office Tasks

- Example: PC with 8GB DDR3, 240GB SSD, and HD Graphics 2000.

- Document editing, Zoom conferences, working in 10+ browser tabs (with light websites).

Multimedia

- Playing 1080p/60fps: manageable, but 4K or HDR is not supported.

- Connecting to a TV via HDMI: possible, but without hardware decoding for modern codecs (AV1, VP9).

Gaming

- Older titles: Half-Life 2, CS:GO (at low settings — ~40-60 fps).

- Emulators: PlayStation 2 — acceptable performance.

7. Comparison with Competitors

AMD Phenom II X4 965

- Pros: Cheaper (~$10), unlocked multiplier.

- Cons: Higher TDP (125W), weaker in single-threaded tasks.

Intel Core i3-10100 (2020)

- Pros: 4 cores/8 threads, supports DDR4, PCIe 3.0.

- Cons: New platform is more expensive (motherboard + $70).

8. Assembly Tips

Components

- Motherboard: ASUS P8Z68-V LX (used, ~$30–50).

- RAM: 2x8 GB DDR3-1333 (~$25).

- Storage: Kingston A400 480GB ($35).

Optimization

- Install Linux (Lubuntu) to speed up performance on weak hardware.

- Disable unnecessary services in Windows 10/11.

9. Conclusion: Who is the i5-2405S Suitable for in 2025?

This processor is suitable for:

1. Retro computer enthusiasts: Building a PC for old games or experiments.

2. Budget office systems: If you need a PC for $100–150 (considering used components).

3. Backup solutions: Media center, file storage server.

Why Not?

- Insufficient performance for modern gaming, video editing, or AI tasks.

- New processors (like AMD Ryzen 3 5300G) offer better price/performance ratios.

Conclusion

The Intel Core i5-2405S is an example of a "workhorse" CPU that remains useful in niche scenarios after many years. However, in 2025, it should only be considered as a temporary or specialized solution. For most users, investing in modern platforms that support current technologies makes more sense.

Basic

Label Name

Intel

Platform

Desktop

Launch Date

May 2011

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.

i5-2405S

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.

Basic Frequency

2.50 GHz

Max Turbo Frequency

Max Turbo Frequency is the maximum single-core frequency at which the processor is capable of operating using Intel® Turbo Boost Technology and, if present, Intel® Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 and Intel® Thermal Velocity Boost. Frequency is typically measured in gigahertz (GHz), or billion cycles per second.

3.30 GHz

Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 Frequency

3.30 GHz

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.

2.0

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.

CPU Socket

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

FCLGA1155 | LGA1155

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

TDP

65 W

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

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.

32 GB

Memory Channels

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

Bus Speed

5 GT/s

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 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.

850 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.

1.10 GHz

Number of Displays Supported

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® SSE4.1 | Intel® SSE4.2 | 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

Cache

CPU Cache is an area of fast memory located on the processor. Intel® Smart Cache refers to the architecture that allows all cores to dynamically share access to the last level cache.

6 MB Intel® Smart Cache

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.

Yes

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

557

Geekbench 6

Multi Core Score

1480

Geekbench 5

Single Core Score

593

Geekbench 5

Multi Core Score

1711

Passmark CPU

Single Core Score

1434

Passmark CPU

Multi Core Score

3157

Compared to Other CPU

Geekbench 6 Single Core

Core i7-3540M

634 +13.8%

Pentium G4560T

593 +6.5%

Core i5-2405S

557

Celeron N4500

515 -7.5%

Pentium G645

482 -13.5%

Geekbench 6 Multi Core

Core i5-3470

1767 +19.4%

Core i7-3632QM

1620 +9.5%

Core i5-2405S

1480

FX-4170

1303 -12%

Core i3-3250T

1146 -22.6%

Geekbench 5 Single Core

Xeon E3-1265L v3

642 +8.3%

Xeon E7-8880 v2

616 +3.9%

Core i5-2405S

593

Celeron G4930E

574 -3.2%

Xeon E5-4620

557 -6.1%

Geekbench 5 Multi Core

Core i3-1115GRE

1980 +15.7%

Athlon 3000G

1867 +9.1%

Core i5-2405S

1711

Core i3-9100HL

1607 -6.1%

Core m3-7Y32

1506 -12%

Passmark CPU Single Core

FX-6300

1489 +3.8%

Pentium G870

1467 +2.3%

Core i5-2405S

1434

Pentium Silver J5040

1400 -2.4%

Athlon X4 740

1368 -4.6%

Passmark CPU Multi Core

Xeon E5620

3502 +10.9%

Athlon X4 840

3315 +5%

Core i5-2405S

3157

Xeon L5630

3018 -4.4%

Core i7-3520M

2865 -9.2%