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).

 

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i5-2550K

  • CPU is newer: launch date 0 year(s) 11 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 3% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1755 vs 1702
  • Around 1% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 4134 vs 4112
  • 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 1755 vs 1702
PassMark - CPU mark 4134 vs 4112
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
1755
1702
PassMark - CPU mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
4134
4112
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 1755 1702
PassMark - CPU mark 4134 4112
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 2462 2477
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)