CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-2500 vs Intel Core i5-760
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i5-2500 is the standard 95 W quad-core desktop processor from the Sandy Bridge generation, featuring a 3.3 GHz base clock, 3.7 GHz turbo, and 6 MB of L3 cache for mainstream desktop computing.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Adequate for legacy office suites, but modern web browsers and productivity apps will feel sluggish.
Noticeably faster than the i5-750 in multi-threaded tasks, but still inadequate for modern productivity.
Gaming
When paired with a contemporary discrete GPU, it could handle 2011-era games well, but is completely bottlenecked for modern titles.
The best Lynnfield i5 for gaming, but still cannot handle modern AAA titles.
Virtualization
Supports VT-x and VT-d, but four threads restrict the number of useful virtual machines.
Four cores at higher clocks provide usable virtualization for lightweight VMs.
Efficiency
Consumes up to 95 W under load, which is high by modern efficiency standards.
95W for four 45nm cores at 2.8GHz is inefficient by modern standards.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No AI acceleration hardware
- Lacks modern vector instruction extensions
- Fundamentally incapable of running modern AI models in a practical timeframe
No data
Content Creation
No data
Gaming
- The CPU itself can still feed older GPUs adequately
- Modern games will be severely CPU-limited
- PCIe 2.0 may cause minor bottlenecks with modern high-end GPUs
- Was a capable gaming CPU in 2010-2012 with a good discrete GPU
- Cannot run modern AAA games at playable frame rates
- Overclocking to 4.0GHz helps slightly but does not overcome architectural limitations
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- Massive IPC improvement over previous generation
- High 3.3 GHz base clock for consistent performance
- Included AVX and AES-NI instructions
- Integrated HD 2000 graphics for basic display output
- Very stable platform with mature chipsets
Cons
- No Hyper-Threading
- Locked multiplier prevents easy overclocking
- Limited to PCIe 2.0
- Intel HD 2000 graphics are very weak
- Obsolete for any modern intensive workload
Competitors & Alternatives
Intel Core i5-2500
- AMD Phenom II X4 970Rival
Desktop Performance
- AMD Bulldozer FX-4100Rival
Desktop Mainstream
- AMD A8-3850Rival
Desktop APU
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-2400Rival
Desktop Mainstream
- Intel Core i7-2600Rival
Desktop Premium
Offers an unlocked multiplier and better HD 3000 graphics for usually the same or lower used price.
Compare head-to-head- Intel Core i5-3450Alt
Ivy Bridge successor offering PCIe 3.0, better integrated graphics, and slightly better efficiency.
Our Verdict on Each
A groundbreaking CPU in 2011 that offered incredible IPC gains over its predecessor, but its lack of Hyper-Threading and PCIe 2.0 limitation make it a museum piece today.
Best for: A direct drop-in replacement to repair an older family PC where the original CPU has failed.
Read the full reviewA solid refresh of the i5-750 that offered meaningful performance improvements. The best Lynnfield i5 for gamers, though entirely obsolete today.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i5-2500 or Intel Core i5-760?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i5-760 comes out ahead with a score of 5.5/10. That said, the best choice depends on your workload — check the spec and performance breakdown above for gaming, productivity and efficiency differences.
Which is faster for gaming, Intel Core i5-2500 or Intel Core i5-760?
For gaming, the Intel Core i5-2500 leads with a gaming performance score of 18/100 among Intel Core i5-2500 and Intel Core i5-760.
Do Intel Core i5-2500 and Intel Core i5-760 use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Intel Core i5-2500: LGA 1155, Intel Core i5-760: LGA 1156), so each needs a compatible motherboard.
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Intel Core i5-760 posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i5-2500 (4,200), Intel Core i5-760 (7,250). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.