Intel Core i5-2500S vs Intel Core i7-980X

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i5-2500S and Intel Core i7-980X 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, 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), 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score.

Intel Core i5-2500S

Intel Core i7-980X

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i5-2500S

CPU is newer: launch date 10 month(s) later
Around 3% higher clock speed: 3.70 GHz vs 3.60 GHz
Around 2% higher maximum core temperature: 69.1°C vs 67.9°C
Around 33% higher maximum memory size: 32 GB vs 24 GB
2x lower typical power consumption: 65 Watt vs 130 Watt
Around 8% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1644 vs 1528
Around 7% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 670 vs 628
Around 62% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 2.684 vs 1.652
Around 34% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 64.965 vs 48.42

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	January 2011 vs March 2010
Maximum frequency	3.70 GHz vs 3.60 GHz
Maximum core temperature	69.1°C vs 67.9°C
Maximum memory size	32 GB vs 24 GB
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	65 Watt vs 130 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1644 vs 1528
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	670 vs 628
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	2.684 vs 1.652
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	64.965 vs 48.42

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-980X

Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
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
2x better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 6811 vs 3391
Around 76% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 3462 vs 1968
Around 51% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 0.512 vs 0.34
Around 29% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s): 1.942 vs 1.505
Around 90% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 7.262 vs 3.83

Specifications (specs)
Unlocked	Unlocked vs Locked
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	6811 vs 3391
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	3462 vs 1968
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.512 vs 0.34
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	1.942 vs 1.505
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	7.262 vs 3.83

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i5-2500S
CPU 2: Intel Core i7-980X

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1644

1528

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

3391

6811

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

670

628

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

1968

3462

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

2.684

1.652

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

CPU 1

CPU 2

64.965

48.42

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

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.34

0.512

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

1.505

1.942

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

3.83

7.262

Name	Intel Core i5-2500S	Intel Core i7-980X
PassMark - Single thread mark	1644	1528
PassMark - CPU mark	3391	6811
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	670	628
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1968	3462
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	2.684	1.652
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	64.965	48.42
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.34	0.512
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	1.505	1.942
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	3.83	7.262
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score		0

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i5-2500S	Intel Core i7-980X
Essentials
Architecture codename	Sandy Bridge	Gulftown
Launch date	January 2011	March 2010
Launch price (MSRP)	$75	$959
Place in performance rating	2551	2570
Price now	$74.99	$218.99
Processor Number	i5-2500S	i7-980X
Series	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)	20.88	11.82
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	2.70 GHz	3.33 GHz
Bus Speed	5 GT/s DMI	6.4 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	69.1°C	67.9°C
Maximum frequency	3.70 GHz	3.60 GHz
Number of cores	4	6
Number of threads	4	12
Transistor count	1160 million	1170 million
Number of QPI Links		1
Unlocked
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 1066
Graphics
Device ID	0x102
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 2000
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)	65 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)