Intel Core i5-2500 vs Intel Core i7-2600

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i5-2500 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 - 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 i7-2600

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-2600

4 more threads: 8 vs 4
Around 3% higher clock speed: 3.80 GHz vs 3.70 GHz
Around 33% more L3 cache; more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
Around 2% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1737 vs 1702
Around 30% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 5348 vs 4113
Around 2% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 727 vs 712
Around 19% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 2727 vs 2283
Around 26% better performance in 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score: 3000 vs 2388
Around 45% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 4.393 vs 3.022
Around 30% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 74.312 vs 57.075
Around 45% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 0.54 vs 0.373
Around 19% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s): 2.109 vs 1.772
Around 12% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 5.019 vs 4.47

Specifications (specs)
Number of threads	8 vs 4
Maximum frequency	3.80 GHz vs 3.70 GHz
L3 cache	8192 KB (shared) vs 6144 KB (shared)
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1737 vs 1702
PassMark - CPU mark	5348 vs 4113
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	727 vs 712
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	2727 vs 2283
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	3000 vs 2388
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	4.393 vs 3.022
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	74.312 vs 57.075
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.54 vs 0.373
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	2.109 vs 1.772
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	5.019 vs 4.47

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i5-2500
CPU 2: Intel Core i7-2600

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1702

1737

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

4113

5348

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

712

727

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

2283

2727

3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score

CPU 1

CPU 2

2388

3000

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

3.022

4.393

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

CPU 1

CPU 2

57.075

74.312

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

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.373

0.54

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

1.772

2.109

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

4.47

5.019

Name	Intel Core i5-2500	Intel Core i7-2600
PassMark - Single thread mark	1702	1737
PassMark - CPU mark	4113	5348
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	712	727
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	2283	2727
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	2388	3000
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	3.022	4.393
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	57.075	74.312
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.373	0.54
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	1.772	2.109
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	4.47	5.019

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i5-2500	Intel Core i7-2600
Essentials
Architecture codename	Sandy Bridge	Sandy Bridge
Launch date	January 2011	January 2011
Launch price (MSRP)	$85	$247
Place in performance rating	2484	2313
Price now	$88.99	$148.99
Processor Number	i5-2500	i7-2600
Series	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status	Discontinued	Launched
Value for money (0-100)	20.95	16.20
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.30 GHz	3.40 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)	8192 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm	32 nm
Maximum core temperature	72.6°C	72.6°C
Maximum frequency	3.70 GHz	3.80 GHz
Number of cores	4	4
Number of threads	4	8
Transistor count	1160 million	1160 million
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	0x102
Graphics base frequency	850 MHz	850 MHz
Graphics max dynamic frequency	1.10 GHz	1.35 GHz
Graphics max frequency	1.1 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 2000	Intel® HD Graphics 2000
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)