i5-12400 vs i5-2500K

VS

Aggregate performance score

Core i5-2500K
2011
4 cores / 4 threads, 95 Watt
2.60
Core i5-12400
2022
6 cores / 12 threads, 65 Watt
12.18
+368%

Core i5-12400 outperforms Core i5-2500K by a whopping 368% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i5-2500K and Core i5-12400 processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking1734641
Place by popularitynot in top-10071
Cost-effectiveness evaluation0.39no data
Market segmentDesktop processorDesktop processor
SeriesCore i5 (Desktop)no data
Power efficiency2.5917.73
Architecture codenameSandy Bridge (2011−2013)Alder Lake-S (2022)
Release date9 January 2011 (13 years ago)4 January 2022 (2 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$216no data

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

no data

Detailed specifications

Core i5-2500K and Core i5-12400 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)6 (Hexa-Core)
Threads412
Base clock speed3.3 GHz2.5 GHz
Boost clock speed3.7 GHz4.4 GHz
Bus rate5 GT/sno data
L1 cache64 KB (per core)80K (per core)
L2 cache256K (per core)1.25 MB (per core)
L3 cache6 MB (shared)18 MB (shared)
Chip lithography32 nm10 nm
Die size216 mm2163 mm2
Maximum core temperature73 °Cno data
Number of transistors1,160 millionno data
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility-+
Unlocked multiplier+-

Compatibility

Information on Core i5-2500K and Core i5-12400 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
SocketLGA11551700
Power consumption (TDP)95 Watt65 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i5-2500K and Core i5-12400. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVXno data
AES-NI++
AVX++
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
Turbo Boost Technology2.0no data
Hyper-Threading Technology-no data
TSX-+
Idle States+no data
Thermal Monitoring+-
Flex Memory Access+no data
FDI+no data
Fast Memory Access+no data

Security technologies

Core i5-2500K and Core i5-12400 technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT-+
EDB+no data
Identity Protection+-

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i5-2500K and Core i5-12400 are enumerated here.

VT-d-+
VT-x++
EPT+no data

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i5-2500K and Core i5-12400. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR3DDR4, DDR5 Dual-channel
Maximum memory size32 GBno data
Max memory channels2no data
Maximum memory bandwidth21 GB/sno data

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card
Compare
Intel HD Graphics 3000Intel UHD Graphics 730
Quick Sync Video+-
Clear Video HD+no data
Graphics max frequency1.1 GHzno data
InTru 3D+no data

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i5-2500K and Core i5-12400 integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported2no data

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i5-2500K and Core i5-12400.

PCIe version2.05.0
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.

i5-2500K 2.60
i5-12400 12.18
+368%

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.

i5-2500K 4123
i5-12400 19342
+369%

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.

i5-2500K 653
i5-12400 2206
+238%

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.

i5-2500K 1924
i5-12400 8853
+360%

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 2.60 12.18
Integrated graphics card 0.66 4.16
Recency 9 January 2011 4 January 2022
Physical cores 4 6
Threads 4 12
Chip lithography 32 nm 10 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 95 Watt 65 Watt

i5-12400 has a 368.5% higher aggregate performance score, 530.3% faster integrated GPU, an age advantage of 10 years, 50% more physical cores and 200% more threads, a 220% more advanced lithography process, and 46.2% lower power consumption.

The Core i5-12400 is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i5-2500K in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i5-2500K and Core i5-12400, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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Intel Core i5-2500K
Core i5-2500K
Intel Core i5-12400
Core i5-12400

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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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