Intel Core i5-2500K vs Intel Core i7-2600S

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i5-2500K and Intel Core i7-2600S 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).

 

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i5-2500K

  • Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
  • Around 5% higher maximum core temperature: 72.6°C vs 69.1°C
  • Around 16% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 806 vs 693
  • Around 16% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 2657 vs 2287
  • Around 24% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 78.071 vs 63.192
  • Around 5% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s): 1.818 vs 1.726
  • Around 13% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 4.627 vs 4.081
Specifications (specs)
Unlocked Unlocked vs Locked
Maximum core temperature 72.6°C vs 69.1°C
Benchmarks
Geekbench 4 - Single Core 806 vs 693
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core 2657 vs 2287
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s) 78.071 vs 63.192
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s) 1.818 vs 1.726
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s) 4.627 vs 4.081

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-2600S

  • 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 46% lower typical power consumption: 65 Watt vs 95 Watt
  • Around 1% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1723 vs 1698
  • Around 12% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 4628 vs 4129
  • Around 11% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 3.689 vs 3.325
  • Around 20% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 0.459 vs 0.384
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)
Thermal Design Power (TDP) 65 Watt vs 95 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark 1723 vs 1698
PassMark - CPU mark 4628 vs 4129
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s) 3.689 vs 3.325
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s) 0.459 vs 0.384

Compare benchmarks

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

PassMark - Single thread mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
1698
1723
PassMark - CPU mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
4129
4628
Geekbench 4 - Single Core
CPU 1
CPU 2
806
693
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core
CPU 1
CPU 2
2657
2287
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
3.325
3.689
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
78.071
63.192
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
0.384
0.459
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
1.818
1.726
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
4.627
4.081
Name Intel Core i5-2500K Intel Core i7-2600S
PassMark - Single thread mark 1698 1723
PassMark - CPU mark 4129 4628
Geekbench 4 - Single Core 806 693
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core 2657 2287
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score 1575
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s) 3.325 3.689
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s) 78.071 63.192
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s) 0.384 0.459
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s) 1.818 1.726
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s) 4.627 4.081

Compare specifications (specs)

Intel Core i5-2500K Intel Core i7-2600S

Essentials

Architecture codename Sandy Bridge Sandy Bridge
Launch date January 2011 January 2011
Launch price (MSRP) $289 $210
Place in performance rating 2447 2448
Price now $123.99 $198.99
Processor Number i5-2500K i7-2600S
Series Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status Discontinued Discontinued
Value for money (0-100) 15.38 10.47
Vertical segment Desktop Desktop

Performance

64 bit support
Base frequency 3.30 GHz 2.80 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 69.1°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
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 0x112 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 3000 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 65 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)