Intel Core i5-2500 vs Intel Core i5-2500K

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i5-2500 and Intel Core i5-2500K 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 - Face Detection (mPixels/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/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 i5-2500

Intel Core i5-2500K

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i5-2500

Around 52% better performance in 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score: 2388 vs 1575

Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1702 vs 1698
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	2388 vs 1575

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i5-2500K

Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
Around 13% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 806 vs 712
Around 16% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 2657 vs 2283
Around 10% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 3.325 vs 3.022
Around 37% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 78.071 vs 57.075
Around 3% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 0.384 vs 0.373
Around 3% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s): 1.818 vs 1.772
Around 4% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 4.627 vs 4.47

Specifications (specs)
Unlocked	Unlocked vs Locked
Benchmarks
PassMark - CPU mark	4129 vs 4113
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	806 vs 712
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	2657 vs 2283
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	3.325 vs 3.022
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	78.071 vs 57.075
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.384 vs 0.373
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	1.818 vs 1.772
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	4.627 vs 4.47

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i5-2500
CPU 2: Intel Core i5-2500K

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1702

1698

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

4113

4129

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

712

806

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

2283

2657

3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score

CPU 1

CPU 2

2388

1575

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

3.022

3.325

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

CPU 1

CPU 2

57.075

78.071

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.373

0.384

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

1.772

1.818

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

4.47

4.627

Name	Intel Core i5-2500	Intel Core i5-2500K
PassMark - Single thread mark	1702	1698
PassMark - CPU mark	4113	4129
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	712	806
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	2283	2657
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	2388	1575
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	3.022	3.325
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	57.075	78.071
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.373	0.384
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	1.772	1.818
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	4.47	4.627

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i5-2500	Intel Core i5-2500K
Essentials
Architecture codename	Sandy Bridge	Sandy Bridge
Launch date	January 2011	January 2011
Launch price (MSRP)	$85	$289
Place in performance rating	2484	2447
Price now	$88.99	$123.99
Processor Number	i5-2500	i5-2500K
Series	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)	20.95	15.38
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.30 GHz	3.30 GHz
Bus Speed	5 GT/s DMI	5 GT/s DMI
Die size	216 mm	216 mm
L1 cache	64 KB (per core)	64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	256 KB (per core)	256 KB (per core)
L3 cache	6144 KB (shared)	6144 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm	32 nm
Maximum core temperature	72.6°C	72.6°C
Maximum frequency	3.70 GHz	3.70 GHz
Number of cores	4	4
Number of threads	4	4
Transistor count	1160 million	1160 million
Unlocked
Memory
Max memory channels	2	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	21 GB/s	21 GB/s
Maximum memory size	32 GB	32 GB
Supported memory types	DDR3 1066/1333	DDR3 1066/1333
Graphics
Device ID	0x102	0x112
Graphics base frequency	850 MHz	850 MHz
Graphics max dynamic frequency	1.10 GHz	1.10 GHz
Graphics max frequency	1.1 GHz	1.1 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 2000	Intel® HD Graphics 3000
Graphics interfaces
Number of displays supported	2	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	LGA1155	LGA1155
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	95 Watt	95 Watt
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes	16	16
PCI Express revision	2.0	2.0
Security & Reliability
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Identity Protection technology
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
Advanced Technologies
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Flexible Display interface (FDI)
Idle States
Instruction set extensions	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX
Intel 64
Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX)
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Fast Memory Access
Intel® Flex Memory Access
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility
Thermal Monitoring
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)