Intel Core i3-3250 vs Intel Core i7-2600K

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i3-3250 and Intel Core i7-2600K 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).

Intel Core i3-3250

Intel Core i7-2600K

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 5% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1837 vs 1745

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 1745

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-2600K

Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
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: 5489 vs 2442
Around 22% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 811 vs 664
2.2x better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 3117 vs 1438
Around 89% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 77.745 vs 41.201

Specifications (specs)
Unlocked	Unlocked vs Locked
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	5489 vs 2442
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	811 vs 664
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	3117 vs 1438
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	77.745 vs 41.201

Compare benchmarks

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

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1837

1745

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2442

5489

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

664

811

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

1438

3117

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

41.201

77.745

Name	Intel Core i3-3250	Intel Core i7-2600K
PassMark - Single thread mark	1837	1745
PassMark - CPU mark	2442	5489
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	664	811
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1438	3117
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	0	1845
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	41.201	77.745
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Frames)	1444
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Fps)	1444
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)		4.524
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)		0.602
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)		2.129
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)		5.018

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i3-3250	Intel Core i7-2600K
Essentials
Architecture codename	Ivy Bridge	Sandy Bridge
Launch date	Q2'13	3 January 2011
Place in performance rating	2298	2303
Processor Number	i3-3250	i7-2600K
Series	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status	Launched	Discontinued
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Launch price (MSRP)		$317
Price now		$189.99
Value for money (0-100)		13.10
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		1024 KB
L3 cache		8192 KB
Maximum frequency		3.80 GHz
Transistor count		995 Million
Unlocked
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	0x112
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 3000
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)