Intel Core i5-2550K vs Intel Core i5-2500

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i5-2550K and Intel Core i5-2500 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 - Video Composition (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s), 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score, CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s).

Intel Core i5-2550K

Intel Core i5-2500

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i5-2550K

CPU is newer: launch date 1 year(s) 0 month(s) later
Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
Around 3% higher clock speed: 3.80 GHz vs 3.70 GHz
Around 4% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1762 vs 1702
Around 2% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 4181 vs 4113
Around 18% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 840 vs 712
Around 23% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 2806 vs 2283

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	January 2012 vs January 2011
Unlocked	Unlocked vs Locked
Maximum frequency	3.80 GHz vs 3.70 GHz
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1762 vs 1702
PassMark - CPU mark	4181 vs 4113
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	840 vs 712
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	2806 vs 2283

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i5-2500

Around 27% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 3.022 vs 2.383
Around 31% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 57.075 vs 43.659
Around 88% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s): 1.772 vs 0.941
Around 81% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 4.47 vs 2.465

Benchmarks
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	3.022 vs 2.383
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	57.075 vs 43.659
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	1.772 vs 0.941
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	4.47 vs 2.465

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i5-2550K
CPU 2: Intel Core i5-2500

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1762

1702

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

4181

4113

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

840

712

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

2806

2283

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

2.383

3.022

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

CPU 1

CPU 2

43.659

57.075

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.941

1.772

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

2.465

4.47

Name	Intel Core i5-2550K	Intel Core i5-2500
PassMark - Single thread mark	1762	1702
PassMark - CPU mark	4181	4113
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	840	712
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	2806	2283
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	2.383	3.022
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	43.659	57.075
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	0.941	1.772
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	2.465	4.47
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score		2388
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)		0.373

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i5-2550K	Intel Core i5-2500
Essentials
Architecture codename	Sandy Bridge	Sandy Bridge
Launch date	January 2012	January 2011
Launch price (MSRP)	$189	$85
Place in performance rating	2470	2484
Price now	$128.99	$88.99
Processor Number	i5-2550K	i5-2500
Series	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)	15.22	20.95
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.40 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	3.80 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
Intel® Clear Video HD technology
Intel® Flexible Display Interface (Intel® FDI)
Intel® InTru™ 3D technology
Intel® Quick Sync Video
Device ID		0x102
Graphics base frequency		850 MHz
Graphics max dynamic frequency		1.10 GHz
Graphics max frequency		1.1 GHz
Processor graphics		Intel® HD Graphics 2000
Graphics interfaces
Wireless Display (WiDi) support
Number of displays supported		2
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)