Intel Core i5-2380P socket: LGA 1155

What the Core i5-2380P is

Intel Core i5-2380P is a quad core Sandy Bridge desktop processor that Intel released in January 2012 for towers that already carry a discrete graphics card. It runs at 3.1 GHz base with Turbo Boost 2.0 to 3.4 GHz, with 6 MB Intel Smart Cache and 4 threads. Power is rated at 95 W on a 32 nm process. The P suffix marks the missing graphics block.

The lack of an iGPU changes every build. Even a single office monitor needs a PCIe card, while the cores match graphics equipped i5 quads clock for clock. The on die controller takes DDR3 at 1066 or 1333 MT/s, and the chip adds AVX and virtualization support.

Clock position sits at the lower end of Sandy quads, which suited budget towers with a discrete card already fitted. Systems pair it with H61, B75 or P67 boards and a mainstream card of the period. The How to find your CPU socket type guide shows how to confirm the socket before a used purchase.

Socket and motherboard compatibility

The Core i5-2380P fits LGA 1155 in FCLGA1155 form. Both 6 series and 7 series boards boot Sandy Bridge directly, so H61, H67, P67, Z68, B75 and H77 all work. P67 boards suit it well, since that chipset cannot use integrated graphics in any case.

A discrete card is mandatory, so the board must provide a 16 lane slot with clearance. At 95 W the CPU needs a standard tower power design and cooler. The Socket vs chipset: what decides whether a CPU works guide covers the chipset split, and Intel Core i7-2600K shows a graphics equipped Sandy quad on the same socket.

Memory, PCIe and cooling

Memory support is DDR3-1066 and 1333, two channels, up to 32 GB. Two matched DIMMs give the rated bandwidth to four cores. ECC is not supported, and DDR4 needs a newer socket.

PCI Express is 16 lanes from the CPU at PCIe 2.0. The first slot almost always holds the required graphics card, so second card or fast SSD plans need a look at lane sharing. A mainstream 2012 card matches the quad cores without either side sitting idle long.

Cooling follows the 95 W desktop pattern with a larger stock heatsink than 65 W parts. Towers with fair airflow hold the 3.4 GHz single core peak. Mounting is 75 × 75 mm push pin.

Upgrade paths

Within LGA 1155 the Core i5-2380P can move to graphics equipped Sandy or Ivy quads on the same board, which removes the discrete card requirement for office use. Ivy models need a current BIOS. Memory, storage and the cooler carry over in most swaps.

A platform change to DDR4 boards such as LGA 1200 needs a new board, new RAM and a new mount. Keep the 2380P tower for lab duty where four Sandy cores with a discrete slot still work.