i5-12600K vs i5-2500

VS

Aggregate performance score

Core i5-2500
2011
4 cores / 4 threads, 95 Watt
2.59
Core i5-12600K
2021
10 cores / 16 threads, 125 Watt
17.43
+573%

Core i5-12600K outperforms Core i5-2500 by a whopping 573% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i5-2500 and Core i5-12600K processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking1737364
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation0.6643.99
Market segmentDesktop processorDesktop processor
Seriesno dataIntel Core i5
Power efficiency2.5813.19
Architecture codenameSandy Bridge (2011−2013)Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021)
Release date9 January 2011 (13 years ago)4 November 2021 (3 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$85$289

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

i5-12600K has 6565% better value for money than i5-2500.

Detailed specifications

Core i5-2500 and Core i5-12600K basic parameters such as number of cores, number of threads, base frequency and turbo boost clock, lithography, cache size and multiplier lock state. These parameters indirectly say of CPU speed, though for more precise assessment you have to consider their test results.

Physical cores4 (Quad-Core)10 (Deca-Core)
Threads416
Base clock speed3.3 GHz3.7 GHz
Boost clock speed3.7 GHz4.9 GHz
Bus typeno dataDMI 4.0
Bus rate5 GT/s8 × 16 GT/s
Multiplierno data37
L1 cache64 KB (per core)80K (per core)
L2 cache256 KB (per core)1.25 MB (per core)
L3 cache6144 KB (shared)20 MB (shared)
Chip lithography32 nmIntel 7 nm
Die size216 mm2215.25 mm2
Maximum core temperature73 °C100 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)no data72 °C
Number of transistors1,160 millionno data
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility-+
Unlocked multiplier-+

Compatibility

Information on Core i5-2500 and Core i5-12600K compatibility with other computer components: motherboard (look for socket type), power supply unit (look for power consumption) etc. Useful when planning a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. Note that power consumption of some processors can well exceed their nominal TDP, even without overclocking. Some can even double their declared thermals given that the motherboard allows to tune the CPU power parameters.

Number of CPUs in a configuration11
SocketLGA1155FCLGA1700
Power consumption (TDP)95 Watt125 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i5-2500 and Core i5-12600K. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVXIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
AES-NI++
FMA-+
AVX++
vProno data+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
Speed Shiftno data+
Turbo Boost Technology2.02.0
Hyper-Threading Technology-+
Idle States++
Thermal Monitoring++
Flex Memory Access+no data
SIPP-+
Turbo Boost Max 3.0no data-
FDI+no data
Fast Memory Access+no data
Deep Learning Boost-+

Security technologies

Core i5-2500 and Core i5-12600K technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT++
EDB++
Secure Keyno data+
Identity Protection+-
OS Guardno data+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i5-2500 and Core i5-12600K are enumerated here.

VT-d++
VT-x++
EPT++

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i5-2500 and Core i5-12600K. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR3DDR4, DDR5
Maximum memory size32 GB128 GB
Max memory channels22
Maximum memory bandwidth21 GB/s76.805 GB/s
ECC memory support-+

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card
Compare
Intel HD Graphics 2000Intel UHD Graphics 770
Quick Sync Video++
Clear Video HD++
Graphics max frequency1.1 GHz1.45 GHz
Execution Unitsno data32
InTru 3D+no data

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i5-2500 and Core i5-12600K integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported24

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i5-2500 and Core i5-12600K integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

Max resolution over HDMI 1.4no data4096 x 2160 @ 60Hz
Max resolution over eDPno data5120 x 3200 @ 120Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPortno data7680 x 4320 @ 60Hz

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i5-2500 and Core i5-12600K integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectXno data12
OpenGLno data4.5

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i5-2500 and Core i5-12600K.

PCIe version2.05.0 and 4.0
PCI Express lanes1620

Synthetic benchmark performance

Various benchmark results of the processors in comparison. Overall score is measured in points in 0-100 range, higher is better.


Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark performance rating. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

i5-2500 2.59
i5-12600K 17.43
+573%

Passmark

Passmark CPU Mark is a widespread benchmark, consisting of 8 different types of workload, including integer and floating point math, extended instructions, compression, encryption and physics calculation. There is also one separate single-threaded scenario measuring single-core performance.

i5-2500 4113
i5-12600K 27683
+573%

GeekBench 5 Single-Core

GeekBench 5 Single-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses only a single CPU core.

i5-2500 592
i5-12600K 2483
+319%

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses all available CPU cores.

i5-2500 1690
i5-12600K 11860
+602%

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 2.59 17.43
Integrated graphics card 0.55 6.16
Recency 9 January 2011 4 November 2021
Physical cores 4 10
Threads 4 16
Power consumption (TDP) 95 Watt 125 Watt

i5-2500 has 31.6% lower power consumption.

i5-12600K, on the other hand, has a 573% higher aggregate performance score, 1020% faster integrated GPU, an age advantage of 10 years, and 150% more physical cores and 300% more threads.

The Core i5-12600K is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i5-2500 in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i5-2500 and Core i5-12600K, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

Vote for your favorite

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Intel Core i5-2500
Core i5-2500
Intel Core i5-12600K
Core i5-12600K

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Community ratings

Here you can see how users rate the processors, as well as rate them yourself.


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Questions & comments

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