Home Processors Intel Core i5-2500K Intel · Core
Released January 2011
An unlocked four-core Sandy Bridge desktop processor with integrated graphics for compatible LGA1155 systems.
Compare with another processor Compare with… Core i9-14900KS (2024) Core i5-14400F (2024) Core i5-14500 (2024) Core i5-14600K (2023) Core i7-14700K (2023) Core i9-14900K (2023) Core i9-13900KS (2023) Core i3-13100F (2023) Core i5-13400F (2023) Core i5-13600K (2022) Core i7-13700K (2022) Core i9-13900K (2022) Core i9-12900KS (2022) Core i3-12100F (2022) Core i5-12400F (2022) Core i5-12600K (2021) Core i7-12700K (2021) Core i9-12900K (2021) Core i5-11400F (2021) Core i7-11700K (2021) Core i9-11900K (2021) Core i5-10400F (2020) Core i5-10600K (2020) Core i7-10700K (2020) Core i9-10900K (2020) Core i9-10980XE (2019) Core i5-9400F (2019) Core i9-10900X (2019) Core i9-10920X (2019) Core i9-10940X (2019) Core i7-9800X (2018) Core i5-9600K (2018) Core i7-9700K (2018) Core i9-9900K (2018) Core i9-9820X (2018) Core i9-9900X (2018) Core i9-9920X (2018) Core i9-9940X (2018) Core i9-9960X (2018) Core i9-9980XE (2018) Core i5-8600K (2017) Core i7-8700K (2017) Core i9-7940X (2017) Core i9-7960X (2017) Core i9-7980XE (2017) Core i9-7920X (2017) Core i5-7640X (2017) Core i7-7740X (2017) Core i7-7800X (2017) Core i7-7820X (2017) Core i9-7900X (2017) Core i7-7700K (2017) Core i5-7600K (2017) Core i7-6800K (2016) Core i7-6900K (2016) Core i7-6950X (2016) Core i5-6600K (2015) Core i7-6700K (2015) Core i7-5775C (2015) Core i7-5820K (2014) Core i7-5960X (2014) Core i5-4690K (2014) Core i7-4790K (2014) Core i7-4820K (2013) Core i7-4930K (2013) Core i7-4960X (2013) Core i5-4670K (2013) Core i7-4770K (2013) Core i7-3970X (2012) Core i5-3570K (2012) Core i7-3770K (2012) Core i7-3820 (2012) Core i7-3930K (2011) Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition (2011) Core i7-980 (2011) Core i7-990X Extreme Edition (2011) Core i7-2600K (2011) Core i7-970 (2010) Core i5-655K (2010) Core i7-875K (2010) Core i7-980X Extreme Edition (2010) Core i7-930 (2010) Core i3-530 (2010) Core i7-960 (2009) Core i5-750 (2009) Core i7-860 (2009) Core i7-950 (2009) Core i7-920 (2008) Core 2 Duo E8400 (2008) Core 2 Quad Q6600 (2007) Core 2 Duo E6600 (2006) Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 Dual Edition (2026) Ryzen 7 9850X3D (2026) Ryzen Threadripper 9960X (2025) Ryzen Threadripper 9970X (2025) Ryzen Threadripper 9980X (2025) Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX (2025) Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX (2025) Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9975WX (2025) Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX (2025) Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9995WX (2025) Ryzen 9 9950X3D (2025) Ryzen 5 9600 (2025) Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9945WX (2025) Ryzen 7 9800X3D (2024) Ryzen 9 9900X (2024) Ryzen 9 9950X (2024) Ryzen 5 9600X (2024) Ryzen 7 9700X (2024) Ryzen 5 5500GT (2024) Ryzen 5 5600GT (2024) Ryzen 5 8500G (2024) Ryzen 5 8600G (2024) Ryzen 7 5700X3D (2024) Ryzen 7 8700G (2024) Ryzen Threadripper 7960X (2023) Ryzen Threadripper 7970X (2023) Ryzen Threadripper 7980X (2023) Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7945WX (2023) Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX (2023) Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7965WX (2023) Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7975WX (2023) Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7985WX (2023) Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7995WX (2023) Ryzen 7 7800X3D (2023) Ryzen 9 7900X3D (2023) Ryzen 9 7950X3D (2023) Ryzen 5 7600 (2023) Ryzen 7 7700 (2023) Ryzen 9 7900 (2023) Ryzen 5 7600X (2022) Ryzen 7 7700X (2022) Ryzen 9 7900X (2022) Ryzen 9 7950X (2022) Ryzen 7 5800X3D (2022) Ryzen 3 4100 (2022) Ryzen 5 4500 (2022) Ryzen 5 5500 (2022) Ryzen 5 5600 (2022) Ryzen 7 5700X (2022) Ryzen 7 5700 (2022) Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5965WX (2022) Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5975WX (2022) Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX (2022) Ryzen 5 5600G (2021) Ryzen 7 5700G (2021) Ryzen 5 5600X (2020) Ryzen 7 5800X (2020) Ryzen 9 5900X (2020) Ryzen 9 5950X (2020) Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX (2020) Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX (2020) Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX (2020) Ryzen 5 3600XT (2020) Ryzen 7 3800XT (2020) Ryzen 9 3900XT (2020) Ryzen 3 3100 (2020) Ryzen 3 3300X (2020) Ryzen Threadripper 3990X (2020) Ryzen 5 4600G (2020) Ryzen 9 3950X (2019) Ryzen Threadripper 3960X (2019) Ryzen Threadripper 3970X (2019) Ryzen 3 3200G (2019) Ryzen 5 3400G (2019) Ryzen 5 3600 (2019) Ryzen 5 3600X (2019) Ryzen 7 3700X (2019) Ryzen 7 3800X (2019) Ryzen 9 3900X (2019) Ryzen Threadripper 2920X (2018) Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX (2018) Ryzen Threadripper 2950X (2018) Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX (2018) Ryzen 5 2600 (2018) Ryzen 5 2600X (2018) Ryzen 7 2700 (2018) Ryzen 7 2700X (2018) Ryzen 3 2200G (2018) Ryzen 5 2400G (2018) Ryzen Threadripper 1900X (2017) Ryzen Threadripper 1920X (2017) Ryzen Threadripper 1950X (2017) Ryzen 3 1200 (2017) Ryzen 3 1300X (2017) Ryzen 5 1400 (2017) Ryzen 5 1500X (2017) Ryzen 5 1600 (2017) Ryzen 5 1600X (2017) Ryzen 7 1700 (2017) Ryzen 7 1700X (2017) Ryzen 7 1800X (2017) Core Ultra 5 250K Plus (2026) Core Ultra 7 270K Plus (2026) Core Ultra 5 245K (2024) Core Ultra 7 265K (2024) Core Ultra 9 285K (2024)
Cores 4/4
Boost 3.7 GHz
L3 6 MB
Power 95 W
Socket LGA1155 What reviewers say Contemporary reviews find strong performance and good value, particularly for upgrading from Core 2 systems. ServeTheHome finds encoding performance close to the more expensive Core i7-2600K in its tested workload, with low idle platform power. Integrated graphics suit media use better than demanding games. Overclocking requires a suitable motherboard and adequate cooling, while moving to LGA1155 adds motherboard cost.
From expertreviews.co.uk and servethehome.com
Cores and clocks
Cores 4
Threads 4
Base clock 3.3 GHz
Boost clock 3.7 GHz
L3 cache 6 MB
Cores Four cores without Hyper-Threading; Intel Turbo Boost 2.0 and VT-x supported; VT-d not supported.
Clocks Maximum turbo is a single-core frequency. The multiplier is unlocked, but motherboard support and cooling determine available overclocking; the original H67 platform does not support CPU multiplier overclocking. Graphics and AI
Built-in graphics Yes
Graphics Intel HD Graphics 3000; 850 MHz base, up to 1.10 GHz; two displays; Quick Sync Video. Available display outputs and access to integrated graphics depend on the motherboard.
Socket LGA1155
Base power 95 W
Unlocked Yes
Memory support Up to 32 GB; two channels; DDR3-1066/1333; 21 GB/s maximum bandwidth as published by Intel; ECC not supported.
PCIe PCIe 2.0; up to 16 CPU lanes. Motherboard support determines available slot configurations.
Process 32 nm; Sandy Bridge; 37.5 × 37.5 mm package; 72.6°C Tcase limit, not a junction-temperature limit.
Cooler LGA1155-compatible cooling required. Intel's 5 January 2011 announcement gives 9 January availability for quad-core systems; APH Networks' contemporaneous exact-model review also identifies 9 January as the processor's release date. Pros and cons Pros + Unlocked CPU multiplier+ Integrated HD Graphics 3000+ Quick Sync Video supportCons − No Hyper-Threading− PCIe 2.0 support− Requires DDR3 memoryNewer model: Core i5-3570K .
