Intel Core i5 2400S

The Intel Core i5 2400S is successful in being an energy-efficient CPU that drops down the TDP by 30 Watts. Under load, there is a power savings and a lower heat output thanks to this S-Series Sandy Bridge. Intel achieves this efficiency by a simply reduction in the operating frequency. The Core i5 2400S loses 600MHz to the Core i5 2400 non-S model, but it can Turbo Boost to 3.3GHz when needed. With the Turbo Boost frequencies, the i5-2400S only comes in at 100MHz behind the non-S model with its maximum frequency at 3.4GHz. However, that is about it.

The Core i5 2400S comes at around a $10 USD premium over the 95 Watt CPU, which isn't much and would be a viable choice if you are after an energy-efficient home theater PC or other compact system where heat, power, and noise are concerns equal to or greater than the actual performance. If you are a gamer or enthusiast, you are still best off with a K-Series CPU due to the overclocking options and the much faster Intel HD 3000 graphics, but the HD 2000 is good enough for desktop usage and media playback via VA-API.