CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-2500K vs Intel Core i5-760
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i5-2500K is an unlocked 95 W quad-core Sandy Bridge desktop processor that revolutionized enthusiast overclocking with its accessible multiplier adjustments, featuring 3.3 GHz base, 3.7 GHz turbo, and Intel HD 3000 graphics.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Fast for its era, but lacks the threads and IPC for modern productivity suites.
Noticeably faster than the i5-750 in multi-threaded tasks, but still inadequate for modern productivity.
Gaming
When overclocked to 4.5 GHz+, it can still handle older esports titles, but is heavily bottlenecked in modern CPU-intensive games.
The best Lynnfield i5 for gaming, but still cannot handle modern AAA titles.
Virtualization
Lacks VT-d, which limits advanced virtualization passthrough configurations, though basic VT-x works fine.
Four cores at higher clocks provide usable virtualization for lightweight VMs.
Efficiency
When overclocked, power consumption can easily exceed 150 W, making it highly inefficient by modern standards.
95W for four 45nm cores at 2.8GHz is inefficient by modern standards.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No AI acceleration hardware
- Lacks AVX2 and modern vector instructions required for AI frameworks
- Completely unsuitable for AI workloads
No data
Content Creation
No data
Gaming
- At stock speeds, it is outperformed by modern budget CPUs
- When overclocked to 4.5+ GHz, it remains playable in older esports titles like CS:GO
- Severe bottleneck in modern open-world and CPU-heavy games
- PCIe 2.0 may slightly limit top-tier GPU performance
- 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
- Legendary overclocking headroom (4.5-5.0 GHz on air/water)
- Unlocked multiplier made tuning accessible to beginners
- Intel HD 3000 with Quick Sync was excellent for video encoding
- Launched at an incredibly competitive $216
- Historic significance in the enthusiast PC community
Cons
- No Hyper-Threading (4 cores, 4 threads)
- Limited to PCIe 2.0
- Lacks VT-d for advanced virtualization
- High power draw when overclocked
- Completely obsolete for modern gaming and productivity
Competitors & Alternatives
Intel Core i5-2500K
- AMD Phenom II X4 980Rival
Desktop Performance
- AMD Bulldozer FX-4150Rival
Desktop Enthusiast
- Intel Core i7-2600KRival
Desktop Premium
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-2400Rival
Desktop Mainstream
- AMD FX-6100Rival
Desktop Multi-thread
Ivy Bridge successor with PCIe 3.0, better integrated graphics, and cooler running temperatures.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 5600Alt
A modern budget option that offers vastly superior performance for a similar inflation-adjusted price.
Our Verdict on Each
A historic processor that offered unmatched overclocking headroom for its price. While obsolete for modern gaming, its legacy as the king of early 2010s budget performance is well-deserved.
Best for: Restoring a vintage 2011 gaming rig or for a collector wanting a piece of PC hardware history.
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 i5-2500K or Intel Core i5-760?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i5-2500K comes out ahead with a score of 7/10. 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 i5-2500K or Intel Core i5-760?
For gaming, the Intel Core i5-2500K leads with a gaming performance score of 22/100 among Intel Core i5-2500K and Intel Core i5-760.
Do Intel Core i5-2500K and Intel Core i5-760 use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Intel Core i5-2500K: 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 i5-2500K (4,200), Intel Core i5-760 (7,250). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.