i9-11900KF vs i5-2500K

VS

Aggregate performance score

Core i5-2500K
2011
4 cores / 4 threads, 95 Watt
2.60
Core i9-11900KF
2021
8 cores / 16 threads, 125 Watt
15.73
+505%

Core i9-11900KF outperforms Core i5-2500K by a whopping 505% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i5-2500K and Core i9-11900KF processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking1721427
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation0.37no data
Market segmentDesktop processorDesktop processor
SeriesCore i5 (Desktop)no data
Power efficiency2.5911.91
Architecture codenameSandy Bridge (2011−2013)Rocket Lake (2021)
Release date9 January 2011 (13 years ago)16 March 2021 (3 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 i9-11900KF 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)8 (Octa-Core)
Threads416
Base clock speed3.3 GHz3.5 GHz
Boost clock speed3.7 GHz5.2 GHz
Bus rate5 GT/s8 GT/s
L1 cache64 KB (per core)64K (per core)
L2 cache256K (per core)256K (per core)
L3 cache6 MB (shared)16 MB (shared)
Chip lithography32 nm14 nm
Die size216 mm2no data
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 i9-11900KF 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
SocketLGA1155FCLGA1200
Power consumption (TDP)95 Watt125 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i5-2500K and Core i9-11900KF. 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, Intel® AVX-512
AES-NI++
AVX++
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
Turbo Boost Technology2.02.0
Hyper-Threading Technology-+
TSX-+
Idle States++
Thermal Monitoring++
Flex Memory Access+no data
Turbo Boost Max 3.0no data+
FDI+no data
Fast Memory Access+no data
Deep Learning Boost-+

Security technologies

Core i5-2500K and Core i9-11900KF technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

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

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i5-2500K and Core i9-11900KF 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 i9-11900KF. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR3DDR4-3200
Maximum memory size32 GB128 GB
Max memory channels22
Maximum memory bandwidth21 GB/s50 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardIntel HD Graphics 3000no data
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 i9-11900KF integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported2no data

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i5-2500K and Core i9-11900KF.

PCIe version2.04.0
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
i9-11900KF 15.73
+505%

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
i9-11900KF 24993
+506%

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
i9-11900KF 2328
+258%

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
i9-11900KF 10040
+423%

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 2.60 15.73
Recency 9 January 2011 16 March 2021
Physical cores 4 8
Threads 4 16
Chip lithography 32 nm 14 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 95 Watt 125 Watt

i5-2500K has 31.6% lower power consumption.

i9-11900KF, on the other hand, has a 505% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 10 years, 100% more physical cores and 300% more threads, and a 128.6% more advanced lithography process.

The Core i9-11900KF 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 i9-11900KF, 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 i9-11900KF
Core i9-11900KF

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
4.1 606 votes

Rate Core i9-11900KF 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 i9-11900KF, agree or disagree with our judgements, or report an error or mismatch.