i5-2500 vs i7-7700K

Aggregate performance score

Core i7-7700K
2017
4 cores / 8 threads, 91 Watt
6.09
+134%
Core i5-2500
2011
4 cores / 4 threads, 95 Watt
2.60

Core i7-7700K outperforms Core i5-2500 by a whopping 134% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-7700K and Core i5-2500 processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking10841722
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation1.470.66
Market segmentDesktop processorDesktop processor
SeriesIntel Core i7 (Desktop)no data
Power efficiency6.312.58
Architecture codenameKaby Lake (2016−2019)Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)
Release date3 January 2017 (7 years ago)9 January 2011 (13 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$339$85

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

i7-7700K has 123% better value for money than i5-2500.

Detailed specifications

Core i7-7700K and Core i5-2500 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)4 (Quad-Core)
Threads84
Base clock speed4.2 GHz3.3 GHz
Boost clock speed4.5 GHz3.7 GHz
Bus typeDMI 3.0no data
Bus rate4 × 8 GT/s5 GT/s
Multiplier42no data
L1 cache256 KB64 KB (per core)
L2 cache1 MB256 KB (per core)
L3 cache8 MB (shared)6144 KB (shared)
Chip lithography14 nm32 nm
Die sizeno data216 mm2
Maximum core temperature100 °C73 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)72 °Cno data
Number of transistorsno data1,160 million
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility--
Unlocked multiplier+-

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-7700K and Core i5-2500 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 configuration1 (Uniprocessor)1
SocketFCLGA1151LGA1155
Power consumption (TDP)91 Watt95 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-7700K and Core i5-2500. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX
AES-NI++
AVX++
vPro+no data
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
Turbo Boost Technology2.02.0
Hyper-Threading Technology+-
TSX+-
Idle States++
Thermal Monitoring++
Flex Memory Accessno data+
FDIno data+
Fast Memory Accessno data+

Security technologies

Core i7-7700K and Core i5-2500 technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXTno data+
EDB++
Secure Key+no data
MPX+-
Identity Protection++
SGXYes with Intel® MEno data
OS Guard+no data

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i7-7700K and Core i5-2500 are enumerated here.

AMD-V+-
VT-d++
VT-x++
EPT++

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i7-7700K and Core i5-2500. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR3, DDR4DDR3
Maximum memory size64 GB32 GB
Max memory channels22
Maximum memory bandwidth38.397 GB/s21 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card
Compare
Intel HD Graphics 630Intel HD Graphics 2000
Max video memory64 GBno data
Quick Sync Video++
Clear Video+no data
Clear Video HD++
Graphics max frequency1.15 GHz1.1 GHz
InTru 3D++

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i7-7700K and Core i5-2500 integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported32

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i7-7700K and Core i5-2500 integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

4K resolution support+no data
Max resolution over HDMI 1.44096x2304@24Hzno data
Max resolution over eDP4096x2304@60Hzno data
Max resolution over DisplayPort4096x2304@60Hzno data

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i7-7700K and Core i5-2500 integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectX12no data
OpenGL4.5no data

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-7700K and Core i5-2500.

PCIe version3.02.0
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.

i7-7700K 6.09
+134%
i5-2500 2.60

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.

i7-7700K 9645
+135%
i5-2500 4112

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.

i7-7700K 1592
+169%
i5-2500 591

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.

i7-7700K 5135
+205%
i5-2500 1686

3DMark Fire Strike Physics

i7-7700K 13580
+140%
i5-2500 5650

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 6.09 2.60
Integrated graphics card 3.10 0.55
Recency 3 January 2017 9 January 2011
Threads 8 4
Chip lithography 14 nm 32 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 91 Watt 95 Watt

i7-7700K has a 134.2% higher aggregate performance score, 463.6% faster integrated GPU, an age advantage of 5 years, 100% more threads, a 128.6% more advanced lithography process, and 4.4% lower power consumption.

The Core i7-7700K is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i5-2500 in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-7700K and Core i5-2500, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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Intel Core i7-7700K
Core i7-7700K
Intel Core i5-2500
Core i5-2500

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Community ratings

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Questions & comments

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