Core i7-7600U vs Core i5-2500K
Aggregate performance score
Core i5-2500K outperforms Core i7-7600U by a moderate 11% based on our aggregate benchmark results.
Primary details
Comparing Core i5-2500K and Core i7-7600U processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.
| Place in performance ranking | 1630 | 1692 |
| Place by popularity | not in top-100 | not in top-100 |
| Cost-effectiveness evaluation | 0.43 | no data |
| Market segment | Desktop processor | Laptop |
| Series | Core i5 (Desktop) | Intel Core i7 |
| Architecture codename | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Kaby Lake (2016−2019) |
| Release date | 9 January 2011 (13 years ago) | 3 January 2017 (7 years ago) |
| Launch price (MSRP) | $216 | $393 |
| Current price | $196 (0.9x MSRP) | $1080 (2.7x MSRP) |
Cost-effectiveness evaluation
Performance per price, higher is better.
Detailed specifications
Core i5-2500K and Core i7-7600U 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) | 2 (Dual-core) |
| Threads | 4 | 4 |
| Base clock speed | 3.3 GHz | 2.8 GHz |
| Boost clock speed | 3.7 GHz | 3.9 GHz |
| L1 cache | 64 KB (per core) | 128 KB |
| L2 cache | 256K (per core) | 512 KB |
| L3 cache | 6 MB (shared) | 4 MB |
| Chip lithography | 32 nm | 14 nm |
| Die size | 216 mm2 | no data |
| Maximum core temperature | 73 °C | 100 °C |
| Number of transistors | 1,160 million | no data |
| 64 bit support | + | + |
| Windows 11 compatibility | - | - |
| Unlocked multiplier | Yes | No |
Compatibility
Information on Core i5-2500K and Core i7-7600U 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 | FCBGA1356,FPBGA1356 |
| Power consumption (TDP) | 95 Watt | 15 Watt |
Technologies and extensions
Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i5-2500K and Core i7-7600U. 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 | + | + |
| vPro | no data | + |
| Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST) | + | + |
| Speed Shift | no data | + |
| My WiFi | no data | + |
| Turbo Boost Technology | 2.0 | 2.0 |
| Hyper-Threading Technology | - | + |
| TSX | no data | + |
| Idle States | + | + |
| Thermal Monitoring | + | + |
| Flex Memory Access | + | + |
| SIPP | no data | + |
| Smart Response | no data | + |
| FDI | + | no data |
| Fast Memory Access | + | no data |
| Status | Discontinued | Launched |
Security technologies
Core i5-2500K and Core i7-7600U 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 i5-2500K and Core i7-7600U are enumerated here.
| AMD-V | no data | + |
| VT-d | - | + |
| VT-x | + | + |
| EPT | + | + |
Memory specs
Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i5-2500K and Core i7-7600U. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.
| Supported memory types | DDR3 | DDR4 |
| Maximum memory size | 32 GB | 32 GB |
| Max memory channels | 2 | 2 |
| Maximum memory bandwidth | 21 GB/s | 34.1 GB/s |
| ECC memory support | - | - |
Graphics specifications
General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.
| Integrated graphics card Compare | Intel HD Graphics 3000 | Intel HD Graphics 620 |
| Max video memory | no data | 32 GB |
| Quick Sync Video | + | + |
| Clear Video | no data | + |
| Clear Video HD | + | + |
| Graphics max frequency | 1.1 GHz | 1.15 GHz |
| InTru 3D | + | no data |
Graphics interfaces
Available interfaces and connections of Core i5-2500K and Core i7-7600U integrated GPUs.
| Number of displays supported | 2 | 3 |
| eDP | no data | + |
| DisplayPort | no data | + |
| HDMI | no data | + |
| DVI | no data | + |
Graphics image quality
Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i5-2500K and Core i7-7600U integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.
| 4K resolution support | no data | + |
| Max resolution over HDMI 1.4 | no data | 4096x2304@24Hz |
| Max resolution over eDP | no data | 4096x2304@60Hz |
| Max resolution over DisplayPort | no data | 4096x2304@60Hz |
Graphics API support
APIs supported by Core i5-2500K and Core i7-7600U integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.
| DirectX | no data | 12 |
| OpenGL | no data | 4.5 |
Peripherals
Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i5-2500K and Core i7-7600U.
| PCIe version | 2.0 | 3.0 |
| PCI Express lanes | 16 | 12 |
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.
Core i5-2500K outperforms Core i7-7600U by 11% based on our aggregate benchmark results.
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.
Benchmark coverage: 68%
Core i5-2500K outperforms Core i7-7600U by 11% in Passmark.
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.
Benchmark coverage: 20%
Core i7-7600U outperforms Core i5-2500K by 31% in Cinebench 10 32-bit single-core.
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.
Benchmark coverage: 19%
Core i5-2500K outperforms Core i7-7600U by 28% in Cinebench 10 32-bit multi-core.
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.
Benchmark coverage: 19%
Core i5-2500K outperforms Core i7-7600U by 24% in 3DMark06 CPU.
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.
Benchmark coverage: 18%
Core i7-7600U outperforms Core i5-2500K by 17% in wPrime 32.
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.
Benchmark coverage: 17%
Core i5-2500K outperforms Core i7-7600U by 38% in Cinebench 11.5 64-bit multi-core.
Cinebench 15 64-bit multi-core
Cinebench Release 15 Multi Core is a variant of Cinebench R15 which uses all the processor threads.
Benchmark coverage: 15%
Core i5-2500K outperforms Core i7-7600U by 37% in Cinebench 15 64-bit multi-core.
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.
Benchmark coverage: 15%
Core i7-7600U outperforms Core i5-2500K by 32% in Cinebench 15 64-bit single-core.
Pros & cons summary
| Performance score | 2.66 | 2.40 |
| Integrated graphics card | 0.66 | 2.42 |
| Recency | 9 January 2011 | 3 January 2017 |
| Physical cores | 4 | 2 |
| Cost | $216 | $393 |
| Chip lithography | 32 nm | 14 nm |
| Power consumption (TDP) | 95 Watt | 15 Watt |
The Core i5-2500K is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i7-7600U in performance tests.
Note that Core i5-2500K is a desktop processor while Core i7-7600U is a notebook one.
Should you still have questions on choice between Core i5-2500K and Core i7-7600U, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.
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.
