Intel Core i5-2550K vs Intel Core i7-970

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i5-2550K 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, 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), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s).

Intel Core i5-2550K

Intel Core i7-970

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i5-2550K

CPU is newer: launch date 1 year(s) 6 month(s) later
Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
Around 10% higher clock speed: 3.80 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 20% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1755 vs 1467
Around 42% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 840 vs 592
Around 53% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 2.383 vs 1.559

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	January 2012 vs July 2010
Unlocked	Unlocked vs Locked
Maximum frequency	3.80 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	1755 vs 1467
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	840 vs 592
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	2.383 vs 1.559

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 58% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 6546 vs 4134
Around 15% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 3217 vs 2806
Around 12% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 49.006 vs 43.659
2.7x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s): 2.584 vs 0.941
2.8x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 6.816 vs 2.465

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 4134
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	3217 vs 2806
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	49.006 vs 43.659
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	2.584 vs 0.941
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	6.816 vs 2.465

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i5-2550K
CPU 2: Intel Core i7-970

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1755

1467

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

4134

6546

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

840

592

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

2806

3217

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

2.383

1.559

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

CPU 1

CPU 2

43.659

49.006

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.941

2.584

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

2.465

6.816

Name	Intel Core i5-2550K	Intel Core i7-970
PassMark - Single thread mark	1755	1467
PassMark - CPU mark	4134	6546
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	840	592
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	2806	3217
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	2.383	1.559
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	43.659	49.006
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	0.941	2.584
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	2.465	6.816
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)		0.506

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i5-2550K	Intel Core i7-970
Essentials
Architecture codename	Sandy Bridge	Gulftown
Launch date	January 2012	July 2010
Launch price (MSRP)	$189	$662
Place in performance rating	2462	2477
Price now	$128.99	$148.99
Processor Number	i5-2550K	i7-970
Series	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)	15.22	16.59
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.40 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	3.80 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
Intel® Clear Video HD technology
Intel® Flexible Display Interface (Intel® FDI)
Intel® InTru™ 3D technology
Intel® Quick Sync Video
Graphics interfaces
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)