i5-2500K vs i7-9700K

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-9700K and Core i5-2500K processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking	843	1735
Place by popularity	not in top-100	not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation	7.39	0.39
Market segment	Desktop processor	Desktop processor
Series	Intel Core i7	Core i5 (Desktop)
Power efficiency	9.07	2.59
Architecture codename	Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019)	Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)
Release date	8 October 2018 (6 years ago)	9 January 2011 (13 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)	$374	$216

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

i7-9700K has 1795% better value for money than i5-2500K.

Detailed specifications

Core i7-9700K and Core i5-2500K 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	8 (Octa-Core)	4 (Quad-Core)
Threads	8	4
Base clock speed	3.6 GHz	3.3 GHz
Boost clock speed	4.9 GHz	3.7 GHz
Bus type	DMI 3.0	no data
Bus rate	4 × 8 GT/s	5 GT/s
Multiplier	36	no data
L1 cache	512 KB	64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	2 MB	256K (per core)
L3 cache	12 MB (shared)	6 MB (shared)
Chip lithography	14 nm	32 nm
Die size	178 mm2	216 mm2
Maximum core temperature	100 °C	73 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)	72 °C	no data
Number of transistors	no data	1,160 million
64 bit support	+	+
Windows 11 compatibility	+	-
Unlocked multiplier	+	+

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-9700K and Core i5-2500K 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 (Uniprocessor)	1
Socket	LGA-1151	LGA1155
Power consumption (TDP)	95 Watt	95 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-9700K and Core i5-2500K. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

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

Security technologies

Core i7-9700K and Core i5-2500K technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

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

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i7-9700K and Core i5-2500K are enumerated here.

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

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i7-9700K and Core i5-2500K. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory types	DDR4	DDR3
Maximum memory size	128 GB	32 GB
Max memory channels	2	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	42.671 GB/s	21 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card Compare	Intel UHD Graphics 630	Intel HD Graphics 3000
Max video memory	64 GB	no data
Quick Sync Video	+	+
Clear Video	+	no data
Clear Video HD	+	+
Graphics max frequency	1.2 GHz	1.1 GHz
InTru 3D	+	+

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i7-9700K and Core i5-2500K integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported

3

2

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i7-9700K and Core i5-2500K integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

4K resolution support	+	no data
Max resolution over HDMI 1.4	4096 x 2304@24Hz	no data
Max resolution over eDP	4096 x 2304@60Hz	no data
Max resolution over DisplayPort	4096 x 2304@60Hz	no data

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i7-9700K and Core i5-2500K integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectX	12	no data
OpenGL	4.5	no data

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-9700K and Core i5-2500K.

PCIe version	3.0	2.0
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.

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Pros & cons summary

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Performance score	9.10	2.60
Integrated graphics card	3.09	0.66
Recency	8 October 2018	9 January 2011
Physical cores	8	4
Threads	8	4
Chip lithography	14 nm	32 nm

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Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-9700K and Core i5-2500K, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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