i5-2500 vs Ryzen Threadripper 3970X

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Aggregate performance score

Ryzen Threadripper 3970X
2019
32 cores / 64 threads, 280 Watt
39.71
+1433%
Core i5-2500
2011
4 cores / 4 threads, 95 Watt
2.59

Ryzen Threadripper 3970X outperforms Core i5-2500 by a whopping 1433% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Ryzen Threadripper 3970X and Core i5-2500 processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking651738
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation16.230.66
Market segmentDesktop processorDesktop processor
SeriesAMD Ryzen Threadripperno data
Power efficiency13.422.58
Architecture codenameMatisse (2019−2020)Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)
Release date25 November 2019 (5 years ago)9 January 2011 (13 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$1,999$85

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

Ryzen Threadripper 3970X has 2359% better value for money than i5-2500.

Detailed specifications

Ryzen Threadripper 3970X 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 cores32 (Dotriaconta-Core)4 (Quad-Core)
Threads644
Base clock speed3.7 GHz3.3 GHz
Boost clock speed4.5 GHz3.7 GHz
Bus rate8 × 16 GT/s5 GT/s
Multiplier37no data
L1 cache96K (per core)64 KB (per core)
L2 cache512K (per core)256 KB (per core)
L3 cache128 MB6144 KB (shared)
Chip lithography7 nm, 12 nm32 nm
Die sizeno data216 mm2
Maximum core temperatureno data73 °C
Number of transistors19,200 million1,160 million
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility+-
Unlocked multiplier+-

Compatibility

Information on Ryzen Threadripper 3970X 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
SocketTR4LGA1155
Power consumption (TDP)280 Watt95 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Ryzen Threadripper 3970X and Core i5-2500. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsno dataIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX
AES-NI++
AVX++
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)no data+
Turbo Boost Technologyno data2.0
Hyper-Threading Technologyno data-
Idle Statesno data+
Thermal Monitoring-+
Flex Memory Accessno data+
FDIno data+
Fast Memory Accessno data+
Precision Boost 2+no data

Security technologies

Ryzen Threadripper 3970X and Core i5-2500 technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXTno data+
EDBno data+
Identity Protection-+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Ryzen Threadripper 3970X and Core i5-2500 are enumerated here.

AMD-V+-
VT-dno data+
VT-xno data+
EPTno data+

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Ryzen Threadripper 3970X and Core i5-2500. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR4 Eight-channelDDR3
Maximum memory size256 GB32 GB
Max memory channels42
Maximum memory bandwidth102.403 GB/s21 GB/s
ECC memory support+-

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card-Intel HD Graphics 2000
Quick Sync Video-+
Clear Video HD-+
Graphics max frequency-1.1 GHz
InTru 3D-+

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Ryzen Threadripper 3970X and Core i5-2500 integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported-2

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Ryzen Threadripper 3970X and Core i5-2500.

PCIe versionno data2.0
PCI Express lanesno data16

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.

Ryzen Threadripper 3970X 39.71
+1433%
i5-2500 2.59

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.

Ryzen Threadripper 3970X 63075
+1433%
i5-2500 4115

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.

Ryzen Threadripper 3970X 1663
+181%
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.

Ryzen Threadripper 3970X 13834
+719%
i5-2500 1689

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 39.71 2.59
Recency 25 November 2019 9 January 2011
Physical cores 32 4
Threads 64 4
Chip lithography 7 nm 32 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 280 Watt 95 Watt

Ryzen Threadripper 3970X has a 1433.2% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 8 years, 700% more physical cores and 1500% more threads, and a 357.1% more advanced lithography process.

i5-2500, on the other hand, has 194.7% lower power consumption.

The Ryzen Threadripper 3970X is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i5-2500 in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Ryzen Threadripper 3970X and Core i5-2500, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X
Ryzen Threadripper 3970X
Intel Core i5-2500
Core i5-2500

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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

Here you can ask a question about Ryzen Threadripper 3970X or Core i5-2500, agree or disagree with our judgements, or report an error or mismatch.