Intel Core i3-3250 vs Intel Core i7-2600

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i3-3250 and Intel Core i7-2600 processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Graphics, Graphics interfaces, Compatibility, Peripherals, Security & Reliability, Advanced Technologies, Virtualization. Benchmark processor performance analysis: PassMark - Single thread mark, PassMark - CPU mark, Geekbench 4 - Single Core, Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core, 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score, CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s), GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Frames), GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Fps), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s).

 

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i3-3250

  • A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 22 nm vs 32 nm
  • Around 73% lower typical power consumption: 55 Watt vs 95 Watt
  • Around 6% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1837 vs 1740
Specifications (specs)
Manufacturing process technology 22 nm vs 32 nm
Thermal Design Power (TDP) 55 Watt vs 95 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark 1837 vs 1740

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-2600

  • 2 more cores, run more applications at once: 4 vs 2
  • 4 more threads: 8 vs 4
  • Around 11% higher maximum core temperature: 72.6°C vs 65.3°C
  • 2.2x better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 5343 vs 2442
  • Around 9% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 727 vs 664
  • Around 90% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 2727 vs 1438
  • Around 80% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 74.312 vs 41.201
Specifications (specs)
Number of cores 4 vs 2
Number of threads 8 vs 4
Maximum core temperature 72.6°C vs 65.3°C
Benchmarks
PassMark - CPU mark 5343 vs 2442
Geekbench 4 - Single Core 727 vs 664
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core 2727 vs 1438
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s) 74.312 vs 41.201

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i3-3250
CPU 2: Intel Core i7-2600

PassMark - Single thread mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
1837
1740
PassMark - CPU mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
2442
5343
Geekbench 4 - Single Core
CPU 1
CPU 2
664
727
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core
CPU 1
CPU 2
1438
2727
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
41.201
74.312
Name Intel Core i3-3250 Intel Core i7-2600
PassMark - Single thread mark 1837 1740
PassMark - CPU mark 2442 5343
Geekbench 4 - Single Core 664 727
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core 1438 2727
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score 0 3000
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s) 41.201 74.312
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Frames) 1444
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Fps) 1444
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s) 4.393
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s) 0.54
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s) 2.109
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s) 5.019

Compare specifications (specs)

Intel Core i3-3250 Intel Core i7-2600

Essentials

Architecture codename Ivy Bridge Sandy Bridge
Launch date Q2'13 January 2011
Place in performance rating 2298 2304
Processor Number i3-3250 i7-2600
Series Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status Launched Launched
Vertical segment Desktop Desktop
Launch price (MSRP) $247
Price now $148.99
Value for money (0-100) 16.20

Performance

64 bit support
Base frequency 3.50 GHz 3.40 GHz
Bus Speed 5 GT/s DMI 5 GT/s DMI
Manufacturing process technology 22 nm 32 nm
Maximum core temperature 65.3°C 72.6°C
Number of cores 2 4
Number of threads 4 8
Die size 216 mm
L1 cache 64 KB (per core)
L2 cache 256 KB (per core)
L3 cache 8192 KB (shared)
Maximum frequency 3.80 GHz
Transistor count 1160 million

Memory

Max memory channels 2 2
Maximum memory bandwidth 25.6 GB/s 21 GB/s
Maximum memory size 32 GB 32 GB
Supported memory types DDR3 1333/1600 DDR3 1066/1333

Graphics

Device ID 0x152 0x102
Graphics base frequency 650 MHz 850 MHz
Graphics max dynamic frequency 1.05 GHz 1.35 GHz
Intel® Clear Video HD technology
Intel® Flexible Display Interface (Intel® FDI)
Intel® InTru™ 3D technology
Intel® Quick Sync Video
Processor graphics Intel® HD Graphics 2500 Intel® HD Graphics 2000
Graphics max frequency 1.35 GHz

Graphics interfaces

Number of displays supported 3 2
Wireless Display (WiDi) support

Compatibility

Low Halogen Options Available
Max number of CPUs in a configuration 1 1
Package Size 37.5mm x 37.5mm 37.5mm x 37.5mm
Sockets supported FCLGA1155 LGA1155
Thermal Design Power (TDP) 55 Watt 95 Watt
Thermal Solution 2011C

Peripherals

PCI Express revision 2.0 2.0
PCIe configurations up to 1x16, 2x8, 1x8 & 2x4
Max number of PCIe lanes 16

Security & Reliability

Anti-Theft technology
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Identity Protection technology
Intel® Secure Key technology
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)

Advanced Technologies

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Idle States
Instruction set extensions Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX
Intel 64
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® My WiFi technology
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility
Thermal Monitoring
Flexible Display interface (FDI)
Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX)
Intel® Fast Memory Access
Intel® Flex Memory Access

Virtualization

Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)