i5-2500 vs i7-990X

VS

Aggregate performance score

Core i7-990X
2011
6 cores / 12 threads, 130 Watt
4.50
+73.7%
Core i5-2500
2011
4 cores / 4 threads, 95 Watt
2.59

Core i7-990X outperforms Core i5-2500 by an impressive 74% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-990X and Core i5-2500 processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking13201737
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation0.230.66
Market segmentDesktop processorDesktop processor
Power efficiency3.282.58
Architecture codenameGulftown (2010−2011)Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)
Release date24 February 2011 (13 years ago)9 January 2011 (13 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$1,104$85

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

i5-2500 has 187% better value for money than i7-990X.

Detailed specifications

Core i7-990X 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 cores6 (Hexa-Core)4 (Quad-Core)
Threads124
Base clock speed3.46 GHz3.3 GHz
Boost clock speed3.73 GHz3.7 GHz
Bus rate6.4 GT/s5 GT/s
L1 cache64 KB (per core)64 KB (per core)
L2 cache256 KB (per core)256 KB (per core)
L3 cache12 MB (shared)6144 KB (shared)
Chip lithography32 nm32 nm
Die size239 mm2216 mm2
Maximum core temperature68 °C73 °C
Number of transistors1,170 million1,160 million
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility--
Unlocked multiplier+-

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-990X 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 configuration11
SocketFCLGA1366,LGA1366LGA1155
Power consumption (TDP)130 Watt95 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-990X and Core i5-2500. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® SSE4.2Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX
AES-NI++
AVX-+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
Turbo Boost Technology1.02.0
Hyper-Threading Technology+-
Idle States++
Thermal Monitoring-+
Flex Memory Accessno data+
Demand Based Switching-no data
PAE36 Bitno data
FDIno data+
Fast Memory Accessno data+

Security technologies

Core i7-990X and Core i5-2500 technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT-+
EDB++
Identity Protection-+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i7-990X and Core i5-2500 are enumerated here.

VT-dno data+
VT-x++
EPT++

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i7-990X and Core i5-2500. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR3DDR3
Maximum memory size24 GB32 GB
Max memory channels32
Maximum memory bandwidth25.6 GB/s21 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardno dataIntel HD Graphics 2000
Quick Sync Video-+
Clear Video HDno data+
Graphics max frequencyno data1.1 GHz
InTru 3Dno data+

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i7-990X and Core i5-2500 integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supportedno data2

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-990X and Core i5-2500.

PCIe version2.02.0
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.

i7-990X 4.50
+73.7%
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.

i7-990X 7153
+73.9%
i5-2500 4113

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.

i7-990X 557
i5-2500 592
+6.3%

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.

i7-990X 2606
+54.3%
i5-2500 1689

3DMark Fire Strike Physics

i7-990X 8320
+47.3%
i5-2500 5650

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 4.50 2.59
Recency 24 February 2011 9 January 2011
Physical cores 6 4
Threads 12 4
Power consumption (TDP) 130 Watt 95 Watt

i7-990X has a 73.7% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 1 month, and 50% more physical cores and 200% more threads.

i5-2500, on the other hand, has 36.8% lower power consumption.

The Core i7-990X is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i5-2500 in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-990X and Core i5-2500, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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Intel Core i7-990X
Core i7-990X
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

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