Intel Core i5-2500K vs Intel Core i7-2600K: What is the difference?
36points
Intel Core i5-2500K
43points
Intel Core i7-2600K
Comparison winner
vs
66 facts in comparison
Intel Core i5-2500K
Intel Core i7-2600K
Why is Intel Core i5-2500K better than Intel Core i7-2600K?
- 16.89% higher PassMark result?
6387vs5464 - 7.19% higher PassMark result (single)?
1864vs1739 - 18.96% higher PassMark result (overclocked)?
8113vs6820
Why is Intel Core i7-2600K better than Intel Core i5-2500K?
- 4 more CPU threads?
8vs4 - 2MB bigger L3 cache?
8MBvs6MB - 256KB bigger L1 cache?
512KBvs256KB - 2.09x higher Cinebench R20 (multi) result?
1865vs894 - 0.5MB/core more L3 cache per core?
2MB/corevs1.5MB/core
- Uses multithreading?
- 250MHz faster GPU turbo speed?
1350MHzvs1100MHz
Which are the most popular comparisons?
AMD Ryzen 5 5500U
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Intel Core i5-1135G7
AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
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AMD Ryzen 7 5700X
AMD Ryzen 5 5600H
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Intel Core i5-12500H
AMD Ryzen 3 3250U
vs
Intel Core i3-1115G4
AMD Ryzen 3 5300U
vs
Intel Core i3-1115G4
Intel Core i5-1135G7
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Intel Core i5-1235U
Apple M2
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Intel Core i9-12900K
AMD Ryzen 7 5800H
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Intel Core i7-11800H
AMD Ryzen 7 6800H
vs
Intel Core i7-12700H
AMD Ryzen 7 5700G
vs
AMD Ryzen 7 5700X
Price comparison
User reviews
Overall Rating
Intel Core i5-2500K
1 User reviews
Intel Core i5-2500K
9.0/10
1 User reviews
Intel Core i7-2600K
2 User reviews
Intel Core i7-2600K
9.
0/10
2 User reviews
Features
Value for money
10.0/10
1 votes
8.5/10
2 votes
Gaming
10.0/10
1 votes
9.0/10
2 votes
Performance
10.0/10
1 votes
8.5/10
2 votes
Reliability
10.0/10
1 votes
10.0/10
2 votes
Energy efficiency
10.0/10
1 votes
10.0/10
2 votes
Performance
CPU speed
4 x 3.4GHz
4 x 3.4GHz
The CPU speed indicates how many processing cycles per second can be executed by a CPU, considering all of its cores (processing units). It is calculated by adding the clock rates of each core or, in the case of multi-core processors employing different microarchitectures, of each group of cores.
CPU threads
More threads result in faster performance and better multitasking.
turbo clock speed
3.7GHz
3.8GHz
When the CPU is running below its limitations, it can boost to a higher clock speed in order to give increased performance.
Has an unlocked multiplier
✔Intel Core i5-2500K
✔Intel Core i7-2600K
Some processors come with an unlocked multiplier which makes them easy to overclock, allowing you to gain increased performance in games and other apps.
L2 cache
A larger L2 cache results in faster CPU and system-wide performance.
L3 cache
A larger L3 cache results in faster CPU and system-wide performance.
L1 cache
A larger L1 cache results in faster CPU and system-wide performance.
L2 core
0.25MB/core
0.25MB/core
More data can be stored in the L2 cache for access by each core of the CPU.
L3 core
1.5MB/core
2MB/core
More data can be stored in the L3 cache for access by each core of the CPU.
Benchmarks
PassMark result
This benchmark measures the performance of the CPU using multiple threads.
PassMark result (single)
This benchmark measures the performance of the CPU using a single thread.
Geekbench 5 result (multi)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i5-2500K)
Geekbench 5 is a cross-platform benchmark that measures a processor’s multi-core performance. (Source: Primate Labs, 2023)
Cinebench R20 (multi) result
Cinebench R20 is a benchmark tool that measures a CPU’s multi-core performance by rendering a 3D scene.
Cinebench R20 (single) result
Cinebench R20 is a benchmark tool that measures a CPU’s single-core performance by rendering a 3D scene.
Geekbench 5 result (single)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i5-2500K)
Geekbench 5 is a cross-platform benchmark that measures a processor’s single-core performance. (Source: Primate Labs, 2023)
Blender (bmw27) result
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i5-2500K)
584.2seconds
The Blender (bmw27) benchmark measures the performance of a processor by rendering a 3D scene. More powerful processors can render the scene in less time.
Blender (classroom) result
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i5-2500K)
4430.6seconds
The Blender (classroom) benchmark measures the performance of a processor by rendering a 3D scene. More powerful processors can render the scene in less time.
performance per watt
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i5-2500K)
This means the CPU is more efficient, giving a greater amount of performance for each watt of power used.
Integrated graphics
GPU clock speed
850MHz
850MHz
The graphics processing unit (GPU) has a higher clock speed.
GPU turbo
1100MHz
1350MHz
When the GPU is running below its limitations, it can boost to a higher clock speed in order to give increased performance.
GPU execution units
A graphics processing unit (GPU) with a greater number of execution units can deliver better graphics.
supported displays
Using multiple displays you can create a larger workspace, making it easier to work across multiple apps.
DirectX version
DirectX is used in games, with newer versions supporting better graphics.
OpenGL version
OpenGL is used in games, with newer versions supporting better graphics.
OpenCL version
Some apps use OpenCL to apply the power of the graphics processing unit (GPU) for non-graphical computing.
Newer versions introduce more functionality and better performance.
texture mapping units (TMUs)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i5-2500K)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i7-2600K)
TMUs take textures and map them to the geometry of a 3D scene. More TMUs will typically mean that texture information is processed faster.
render output units (ROPs)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i5-2500K)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i7-2600K)
The ROPs are responsible for some of the final steps of the rendering process, writing the final pixel data to memory and carrying out other tasks such as anti-aliasing to improve the look of graphics.
Memory
RAM speed
1333MHz
1333MHz
It can support faster memory, which will give quicker system performance.
maximum memory bandwidth
21GB/s
21GB/s
This is the maximum rate that data can be read from or stored into memory.
DDR memory version
DDR (Double Data Rate) memory is the most common type of RAM. Newer versions of DDR memory support higher maximum speeds and are more energy-efficient.
memory channels
More memory channels increases the speed of data transfer between the memory and the CPU.
maximum memory amount
The maximum amount of memory (RAM) supported.
bus transfer rate
The bus is responsible for transferring data between different components of a computer or device.
Supports ECC memory
✖Intel Core i5-2500K
✖Intel Core i7-2600K
Error-correcting code memory can detect and correct data corruption. It is used when is it essential to avoid corruption, such as scientific computing or when running a server.
eMMC version
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value.
(Intel Core i5-2500K)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i7-2600K)
A higher version of eMMC allows faster memory interfaces, having a positive effect on the performance of a device. For example, when transferring files from your computer to the internal storage over USB.
bus speed
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i5-2500K)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i7-2600K)
The bus is responsible for transferring data between different components of a computer or device.
Features
uses multithreading
✖Intel Core i5-2500K
✔Intel Core i7-2600K
Multithreading technology (such as Intel’s Hyperthreading or AMD’s Simultaneous Multithreading) provides increased performance by splitting each of the processor’s physical cores into virtual cores, also known as threads. This way, each core can run two instruction streams at once.
Has AES
✔Intel Core i5-2500K
✔Intel Core i7-2600K
AES is used to speed up encryption and decryption.
Has AVX
✔Intel Core i5-2500K
✔Intel Core i7-2600K
AVX is used to help speed up calculations in multimedia, scientific and financial apps, as well as improving Linux RAID software performance.
SSE version
SSE is used to speed up multimedia tasks such as editing an image or adjusting audio volume. Each new version contains new instructions and improvements.
Has F16C
✖Intel Core i5-2500K
✖Intel Core i7-2600K
F16C is used to speed up tasks such as adjusting the contrast of an image or adjusting volume.
bits executed at a time
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i5-2500K)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i7-2600K)
NEON provides acceleration for media processing, such as listening to MP3s.
Has MMX
✔Intel Core i5-2500K
✔Intel Core i7-2600K
MMX is used to speed up tasks such as adjusting the contrast of an image or adjusting volume.
Has TrustZone
✖Intel Core i5-2500K
✖Intel Core i7-2600K
A technology integrated into the processor to secure the device for use with features such as mobile payments and streaming video using digital rights management (DRM).
front-end width
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i5-2500K)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Core i7-2600K)
The CPU can decode more instructions per clock (IPC), meaning that the CPU performs better
Price comparison
Which are the best CPUs?
i7 2600K vs i5 2500K
i7 2600K vs i5 2500K — Custom PC Review
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Home Videos i7 2600K vs i5 2500K
Hey whats up everyone!
So today I’m going to answer a question that I’ve seen over and over again.
And again… so once and for all, I will answer the question
“Should I buy an Intel Core i5 2500K or an Intel Core i7 2600K?”
Ok so when choosing between these two processors, you really have to decide what kind of things you plan to do with your computer. The primary difference between the i7 2600K and the i5 2500K is that the i7 2600K is Hyper Threading enabled. There are also a couple smaller differences like the i7 2600k is 100mhz faster and has 8mb instead of 6mb of L3 cache and a $100 difference.
Now since you’re planning to purchase the K edition of both processors, the 100mhz speed difference isn’t really a difference at all because both chips can be overclocked to the same speed. The extra L3 cache will also gain you very negligible speed gains so it all boils down to hyper threading.
For those who don’t know what Hyper Threading is, it’s actually some pretty old technology implemented first on the Pentium 4 processors the discontinued and brought back again.
Now you can look up the full details on Hyper Threading, but in the most basic terms, Hyper Threading doubles the threads on each core. In laymen terms, threads are pretty much the stuff that is sent to the processor for processing. Problem is, each core can only handle a single thread at a time. Imagine a thread that only requires half of the CPUs resources but is hogging the thread. By using Hyper Threading, you can utilize the other half theoretically increasing performance.
Now when you open task manager, it will look like you have 2 cores, but it doesn’t mean that you’re doubling the cores, this just means that you’re allowing each core to process 2 threads at a time also known as Hyper Threading.
Ok so now that thats out of the way, what benefits from Hyper Threading? Well, multithreaded applications. These applications tend to be apps like video editing, video encoding, photo editing, compression software and things like that. Games on the other hand are primarily designed for either 1 or 2 threads.
Off the top of my head I can only really think of two games that do support more than 2 threads and that would be Battlefield Bad Company 2 and Battlefield 3. (While I’m sure there are more, that’s all I can think of right now at the moment) Even then, both the i5 2500K and the i7 2600K will yield nearly the same performance (FPS) since they will both handle the games just fine with most of the bottleneck on the GPU instead.
So which processor should you buy? Well, it all depends on what applications you will use the processor with. For those who are heavy into video editing, video encoding, and multithreaded applications, buy the i7 2600K. For those who plan to surf Youtube and play games all day, an i5 2500K will perform exactly the same as the i7 2600K except you pay $100 less.
Well what if you edit videos occasionally? Is the i7 2600K still worth it? Well, that will have to depend on you. With an application fully optimized for video editing such as Adobe Premiere, you may see up to a 30% performance boost, but in most cases you’re looking at somewhere lower than that so you’ll really have to make that judgement call.