Intel Core i7-10700K vs Intel Core i5-2550K

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i7-10700K and Intel Core i5-2550K processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Graphics, Graphics interfaces, Graphics image quality, Graphics API support, Compatibility, Peripherals, Security & Reliability, Advanced Technologies, Virtualization. Benchmark processor performance analysis: PassMark - Single thread mark, PassMark - CPU mark, 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score, 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).

Intel Core i7-10700K

Intel Core i5-2550K

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-10700K

4 more cores, run more applications at once: 8 vs 4
12 more threads: 16 vs 4
Around 34% higher clock speed: 5.10 GHz vs 3.80 GHz
Around 38% higher maximum core temperature: 100°C vs 72.6°C
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 14 nm vs 32 nm
4x more L1 cache, more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
2x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
2.7x more L3 cache, more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
4x more maximum memory size: 128 GB vs 32 GB
Around 73% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 3044 vs 1762
4.5x better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 18657 vs 4181

Specifications (specs)
Number of cores	8 vs 4
Number of threads	16 vs 4
Maximum frequency	5.10 GHz vs 3.80 GHz
Maximum core temperature	100°C vs 72.6°C
Manufacturing process technology	14 nm vs 32 nm
L1 cache	1 MB vs 64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	2 MB vs 256 KB (per core)
L3 cache	16 MB vs 6144 KB (shared)
Maximum memory size	128 GB vs 32 GB
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	3044 vs 1762
PassMark - CPU mark	18657 vs 4181

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i5-2550K

Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
Around 32% lower typical power consumption: 95 Watt vs 125 Watt

Unlocked	Unlocked vs Locked
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	95 Watt vs 125 Watt

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i7-10700K
CPU 2: Intel Core i5-2550K

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

3044

1762

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

18657

4181

Name	Intel Core i7-10700K	Intel Core i5-2550K
PassMark - Single thread mark	3044	1762
PassMark - CPU mark	18657	4181
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	7263
Geekbench 4 - Single Core		840
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core		2806
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)		2.383
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)		43.659
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)		0.941
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)		2.465

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i7-10700K	Intel Core i5-2550K
Essentials
Architecture codename	Comet Lake	Sandy Bridge
Launch date	Q2'20	January 2012
Launch price (MSRP)	$374 - $387	$189
Place in performance rating	689	2470
Processor Number	i7-10700K	i5-2550K
Series	10th Generation Intel Core i7 Processors	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status	Launched	Discontinued
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Price now		$128.99
Value for money (0-100)		15.22
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.80 GHz	3.40 GHz
Bus Speed	8 GT/s	5 GT/s DMI
L1 cache	1 MB	64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	2 MB	256 KB (per core)
L3 cache	16 MB	6144 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	14 nm	32 nm
Maximum core temperature	100°C	72.6°C
Maximum frequency	5.10 GHz	3.80 GHz
Number of cores	8	4
Number of threads	16	4
Die size		216 mm
Transistor count		1160 million
Unlocked
Memory
Max memory channels	2	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	45.8 GB/s	21 GB/s
Maximum memory size	128 GB	32 GB
Supported memory types	DDR4-2933	DDR3 1066/1333
Graphics
Device ID	0x9BC5
Graphics base frequency	350 MHz
Graphics max dynamic frequency	1.20 GHz
Intel® Clear Video HD technology
Intel® Clear Video technology
Intel® InTru™ 3D technology
Intel® Quick Sync Video
Max video memory	64 GB
Processor graphics	Intel UHD Graphics 630
Intel® Flexible Display Interface (Intel® FDI)
Graphics interfaces
Number of displays supported	3
Wireless Display (WiDi) support
Graphics image quality
4K resolution support
Max resolution over DisplayPort	4096x2304@60Hz
Max resolution over eDP	4096x2304@60Hz
Max resolution over HDMI 1.4	4096x2160@30Hz
Graphics API support
DirectX	12
OpenGL	4.5
Compatibility
Configurable TDP-down	95 Watt
Configurable TDP-down Frequency	3.50 GHz
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Package Size	37.5mm x 37.5mm	37.5mm x 37.5mm
Sockets supported	FCLGA1200	LGA1155
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	125 Watt	95 Watt
Thermal Solution	PCG 2015D
Low Halogen Options Available
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes	16	16
PCI Express revision	3.0	2.0
PCIe configurations	Up to 1x16, 2x8, 1x8+2x4
Scalability	1S Only
Security & Reliability
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Identity Protection technology
Intel® OS Guard
Intel® Secure Key technology
Intel® Software Guard Extensions (Intel® SGX)
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
Secure Boot
Advanced Technologies
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Idle States
Instruction set extensions	Intel SSE4.1, Intel SSE4.2, Intel AVX2	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX
Intel 64
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® Optane™ Memory Supported
Intel® Stable Image Platform Program (SIPP)
Intel® Thermal Velocity Boost
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility
Thermal Monitoring
Flexible Display interface (FDI)
Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX)
Intel® Fast Memory Access
Intel® Flex Memory Access
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)