Intel Core i5-2500K vs Intel Core i7-970

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i5-2500K and Intel Core i7-970 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 i5-2500K

Intel Core i7-970

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i5-2500K

CPU is newer: launch date 6 month(s) later
Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
Around 7% higher clock speed: 3.70 GHz vs 3.46 GHz
Around 7% higher maximum core temperature: 72.6°C vs 67.9°C
Around 33% higher maximum memory size: 32 GB vs 24 GB
Around 37% lower typical power consumption: 95 Watt vs 130 Watt
Around 16% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1698 vs 1467
Around 36% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 806 vs 592
2.1x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 3.325 vs 1.559
Around 59% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 78.071 vs 49.006

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	January 2011 vs July 2010
Unlocked	Unlocked vs Locked
Maximum frequency	3.70 GHz vs 3.46 GHz
Maximum core temperature	72.6°C vs 67.9°C
Maximum memory size	32 GB vs 24 GB
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	95 Watt vs 130 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1698 vs 1467
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	806 vs 592
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	3.325 vs 1.559
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	78.071 vs 49.006

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-970

2 more cores, run more applications at once: 6 vs 4
8 more threads: 12 vs 4
Around 50% more L1 cache; more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
Around 50% more L2 cache; more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
2x more L3 cache, more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
Around 59% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 6546 vs 4117
Around 21% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 3217 vs 2657
Around 32% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 0.506 vs 0.384
Around 42% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s): 2.584 vs 1.818
Around 47% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 6.816 vs 4.627

Specifications (specs)
Number of cores	6 vs 4
Number of threads	12 vs 4
L1 cache	64 KB (per core) vs 64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	256 KB (per core) vs 256 KB (per core)
L3 cache	12288 KB (shared) vs 6144 KB (shared)
Benchmarks
PassMark - CPU mark	6546 vs 4117
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	3217 vs 2657
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.506 vs 0.384
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	2.584 vs 1.818
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	6.816 vs 4.627

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i5-2500K
CPU 2: Intel Core i7-970

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1698

1467

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

4117

6546

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

806

592

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

2657

3217

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

3.325

1.559

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

CPU 1

CPU 2

78.071

49.006

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

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.384

0.506

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

1.818

2.584

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

4.627

6.816

Name	Intel Core i5-2500K	Intel Core i7-970
PassMark - Single thread mark	1698	1467
PassMark - CPU mark	4117	6546
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	806	592
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	2657	3217
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	1575
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	3.325	1.559
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	78.071	49.006
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.384	0.506
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	1.818	2.584
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	4.627	6.816

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i5-2500K	Intel Core i7-970
Essentials
Architecture codename	Sandy Bridge	Gulftown
Launch date	January 2011	July 2010
Launch price (MSRP)	$289	$662
Place in performance rating	2462	2474
Price now	$123.99	$148.99
Processor Number	i5-2500K	i7-970
Series	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)	15.38	16.59
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.30 GHz	3.20 GHz
Bus Speed	5 GT/s DMI	4.8 GT/s QPI
Die size	216 mm	239 mm2
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)	12288 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm	32 nm
Maximum core temperature	72.6°C	67.9°C
Maximum frequency	3.70 GHz	3.46 GHz
Number of cores	4	6
Number of threads	4	12
Transistor count	1160 million	1170 million
Unlocked
Number of QPI Links		1
VID voltage range		0.800V-1.375V
Memory
Max memory channels	2	3
Maximum memory bandwidth	21 GB/s	25.6 GB/s
Maximum memory size	32 GB	24 GB
Supported memory types	DDR3 1066/1333	DDR3 800/1066
Graphics
Device ID	0x112
Graphics base frequency	850 MHz
Graphics max dynamic frequency	1.10 GHz
Graphics max frequency	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 3000
Graphics interfaces
Number of displays supported	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	42.5mm X 45.0mm
Sockets supported	LGA1155	FCLGA1366
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	95 Watt	130 Watt
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes	16
PCI Express revision	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® SSE4.2
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
Intel® Demand Based Switching
Physical Address Extensions (PAE)		36-bit
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)