The Intel Core i5-2300 was a desktop processor with 4 cores, launched in January 2011. It is part of the Core i5 lineup, using the Sandy Bridge architecture with Socket 1155. Core i5-2300 has 6 MB of L3 cache and operates at 2.8 GHz by default, but can boost up to 3.1 GHz, depending on the workload. Intel is building the Core i5-2300 on a 32 nm production process using 1,160 million transistors. The multiplier is locked on Core i5-2300, which limits its overclocking capabilities.
With a TDP of 95 W, the Core i5-2300 consumes a good deal of power, so decent cooling is needed. Intel's processor supports DDR3 memory with a dual-channel interface. For communication with other components in the machine, Core i5-2300 uses a PCI-Express Gen 3 connection. This processor features the Intel HD 2000 integrated graphics solution.
Hardware virtualization is available on the Core i5-2300, which greatly improves virtual machine performance. Programs using Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX) will run on this processor, boosting performance for calculation-heavy applications.