Core i9-9900KF vs Core i5-2500

Primary details

Comparing Core i5-2500 and Core i9-9900KF processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in performance ranking	1629	611
Place by popularity	not in top-100	not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation	0.66	14.27
Market segment	Desktop processor	Desktop processor
Series	no data	Intel Core i9
Architecture codename	Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)	Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019)
Release date	9 January 2011 (13 years ago)	8 January 2019 (5 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)	$85	$488
Current price	$56 (0.7x MSRP)	$386 (0.8x MSRP)

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

i9-9900KF has 2062% better value for money than i5-2500.

Detailed specifications

Core i5-2500 and Core i9-9900KF 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 cores	4 (Quad-Core)	8 (Octa-Core)
Threads	4	16
Base clock speed	3.3 GHz	3.6 GHz
Boost clock speed	3.7 GHz	5 GHz
Bus support	no data	4 × 8 GT/s
L1 cache	64 KB (per core)	64K (per core)
L2 cache	256 KB (per core)	256K (per core)
L3 cache	6144 KB (shared)	16 MB (shared)
Chip lithography	32 nm	14 nm
Die size	216 mm2	no data
Maximum core temperature	73 °C	100 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)	no data	72 °C
Number of transistors	1,160 million	no data
64 bit support	+	+
Windows 11 compatibility	-	+
Unlocked multiplier	No	Yes

Compatibility

Information on Core i5-2500 and Core i9-9900KF 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 configuration	1	1
Socket	LGA1155	FCLGA1151
Power consumption (TDP)	95 Watt	95 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i5-2500 and Core i9-9900KF. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensions	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
AES-NI	+	+
AVX	+	+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)	+	+
Turbo Boost Technology	2.0	2.0
Hyper-Threading Technology	-	+
TSX	no data	+
Idle States	+	+
Thermal Monitoring	+	+
Flex Memory Access	+	no data
SIPP	no data	-
FDI	+	no data
Fast Memory Access	+	no data
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued

Security technologies

Core i5-2500 and Core i9-9900KF technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT	+	-
EDB	+	+
Secure Key	no data	+
MPX	no data	+
Identity Protection	+	+
SGX	no data	Yes with Intel® ME
OS Guard	no data	+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i5-2500 and Core i9-9900KF are enumerated here.

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

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i5-2500 and Core i9-9900KF. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory types	DDR3	DDR4-2666
Maximum memory size	32 GB	128 GB
Max memory channels	2	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	21 GB/s	41.6 GB/s
ECC memory support	-	-

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card	Intel HD Graphics 2000	no data
Quick Sync Video	+	no data
Clear Video HD	+	no data
Graphics max frequency	1.1 GHz	no data
InTru 3D	+	no data

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i5-2500 and Core i9-9900KF integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported

2

no data

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i5-2500 and Core i9-9900KF.

PCIe version	2.0	3.0
PCI Express lanes	16	16

Synthetic benchmark performance

Various benchmark results of the processors in comparison. Overall score is measured in points in 0-100 range, higher is better.

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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.

Core i9-9900KF outperforms Core i5-2500 by 343% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

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Pros & cons summary

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Performance score	2.67	11.84
Recency	9 January 2011	8 January 2019
Physical cores	4	8
Threads	4	16
Cost	$85	$488
Chip lithography	32 nm	14 nm

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Should you still have questions on choice between Core i5-2500 and Core i9-9900KF, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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