i5-14600K vs i5-2500K

Aggregate performance score

Core i5-2500K
2011
4 cores / 4 threads, 95 Watt
2.60
Core i5-14600K
2023
14 cores / 20 threads, 125 Watt
24.52
+843%

Core i5-14600K outperforms Core i5-2500K by a whopping 843% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i5-2500K and Core i5-14600K processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking1721205
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation0.3760.94
Market segmentDesktop processorDesktop processor
SeriesCore i5 (Desktop)no data
Power efficiency2.5918.56
Architecture codenameSandy Bridge (2011−2013)Raptor Lake-R (2023−2024)
Release date9 January 2011 (13 years ago)17 October 2023 (1 year ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$216$319

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

i5-14600K has 16370% better value for money than i5-2500K.

Detailed specifications

Core i5-2500K and Core i5-14600K 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)14 (Tetradeca-Core)
Threads420
Base clock speed3.3 GHz3.5 GHz
Boost clock speed3.7 GHz5.3 GHz
Bus rate5 GT/sno data
L1 cache64 KB (per core)80 KB (per core)
L2 cache256K (per core)2 MB (per core)
L3 cache6 MB (shared)24 MB (shared)
Chip lithography32 nmIntel 7 nm
Die size216 mm2257 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 i5-2500K and Core i5-14600K 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 i5-2500K and Core i5-14600K. 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++
AVX++
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
Speed Shiftno data+
Turbo Boost Technology2.02.0
Hyper-Threading Technology-+
TSX-+
Idle States++
Thermal Monitoring++
Flex Memory Access+no data
SIPP-+
FDI+no data
Fast Memory Access+no data
Deep Learning Boost-+

Security technologies

Core i5-2500K and Core i5-14600K 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 i5-2500K and Core i5-14600K are enumerated here.

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

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i5-2500K and Core i5-14600K. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR3DDR4, DDR5
Maximum memory size32 GB192 GB
Max memory channels22
Maximum memory bandwidth21 GB/s89.6 GB/s
ECC memory support-+

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card
Compare
Intel HD Graphics 3000Intel UHD Graphics 770
Quick Sync Video++
Clear Video HD++
Graphics max frequency1.1 GHz1.55 GHz
Execution Unitsno data32
InTru 3D+no data

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i5-2500K and Core i5-14600K integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported24

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i5-2500K and Core i5-14600K 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 i5-2500K and Core i5-14600K integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectXno data12
OpenGLno data4.5

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i5-2500K and Core i5-14600K.

PCIe version2.05.0 and 4.0
PCI Express lanes1616

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
i5-14600K 24.52
+843%

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
i5-14600K 38941
+844%

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 651
i5-14600K 2806
+331%

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 1919
i5-14600K 15958
+732%

Cinebench 10 32-bit single-core

Cinebench R10 is an ancient ray tracing benchmark for processors by Maxon, authors of Cinema 4D. Its single core version uses just one CPU thread to render a futuristic looking motorcycle.

i5-2500K 4773
i5-14600K 11396
+139%

Cinebench 10 32-bit multi-core

Cinebench Release 10 Multi Core is a variant of Cinebench R10 using all the processor threads. Possible number of threads is limited by 16 in this version.

i5-2500K 15956
i5-14600K 75358
+372%

3DMark06 CPU

3DMark06 is a discontinued DirectX 9 benchmark suite from Futuremark. Its CPU part contains two scenarios, one dedicated to artificial intelligence pathfinding, another to game physics using PhysX package.

i5-2500K 5853
i5-14600K 18096
+209%

wPrime 32

wPrime 32M is a math multi-thread processor test, which calculates square roots of first 32 million integer numbers. Its result is measured in seconds, so that the less is benchmark result, the faster the processor.

i5-2500K 11.67
i5-14600K 2.39
+388%

Cinebench 11.5 64-bit multi-core

Cinebench Release 11.5 Multi Core is a variant of Cinebench R11.5 which uses all the processor threads. A maximum of 64 threads is supported in this version.

i5-2500K 5
i5-14600K 41
+661%

Cinebench 15 64-bit multi-core

Cinebench Release 15 Multi Core is a variant of Cinebench R15 which uses all the processor threads.

i5-2500K 470
i5-14600K 3640
+674%

Cinebench 15 64-bit single-core

Cinebench R15 (standing for Release 15) is a benchmark made by Maxon, authors of Cinema 4D. It was superseded by later versions of Cinebench, which use more modern variants of Cinema 4D engine. The Single Core version (sometimes called Single-Thread) only uses a single processor thread to render a room full of reflective spheres and light sources.

i5-2500K 122
i5-14600K 297
+143%

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 2.60 24.52
Integrated graphics card 0.66 6.15
Recency 9 January 2011 17 October 2023
Physical cores 4 14
Threads 4 20
Power consumption (TDP) 95 Watt 125 Watt

i5-2500K has 31.6% lower power consumption.

i5-14600K, on the other hand, has a 843.1% higher aggregate performance score, 831.8% faster integrated GPU, an age advantage of 12 years, and 250% more physical cores and 400% more threads.

The Core i5-14600K 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 i5-14600K, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

Vote for your favorite

Do you think we are right or mistaken in our choice? Vote by clicking "Like" button near your favorite CPU.


Intel Core i5-2500K
Core i5-2500K
Intel Core i5-14600K
Core i5-14600K

Similar processor comparisons

We picked several similar comparisons of processors in the same market segment and performance relatively close to those reviewed on this page.

Community ratings

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


3.9 1789 votes

Rate Core i5-2500K on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
4.1 602 votes

Rate Core i5-14600K on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

Questions & comments

Here you can ask a question about Core i5-2500K or Core i5-14600K, agree or disagree with our judgements, or report an error or mismatch.