CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-2500T vs Intel Core i5-2390T
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i5-2500T is a low-power quad-core desktop processor from the Sandy Bridge generation, featuring a 45 W TDP designed for slim form factor PCs and all-in-one systems.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Can handle legacy office applications but will struggle with modern web apps and multitasking.
Extremely slow for modern office suites and web applications.
Gaming
Intel HD 2000 graphics are completely insufficient for any modern 3D gaming.
Cannot handle any modern 3D games.
Virtualization
VT-d and VT-x support are present, but four threads limit practical virtual machine usage.
Can run a single light VM, but severely bottlenecked.
Efficiency
Impressive efficiency for a 2011 quad-core desktop chip, though modern chips are far more efficient.
Excellent power efficiency for its era, drawing very little power.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No AI acceleration hardware
- Lacks AVX2 and modern matrix math instructions
- Completely unsuitable for AI workloads
- No AI acceleration hardware
- Lacks AVX-512 or modern matrix extensions
Content Creation
Gaming
- Intel HD 2000 cannot handle modern game engines
- Suitable only for 2D games or pre-2010 titles at low resolutions
- Thermal constraints prevent sustained high performance
- Lacks modern instruction sets required by current game engines
- HD 2000 graphics cannot run modern APIs like DirectX 12
- Only playable with very old 2D or pre-2010 3D games
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- Very low 45 W power draw for a quad-core desktop CPU
- Retained full enterprise feature set (VT-d, TXT)
- Capable of 3.3 GHz turbo for bursty workloads
- Allowed quad-core performance in slim chassis designs
- AES-NI hardware encryption support
Cons
- Low base clock of 2.3 GHz limits sustained multi-core performance
- Intel HD 2000 graphics are extremely weak
- No Hyper-Threading
- Locked multiplier
- Completely obsolete for modern computing
Pros
- Very low 35W power consumption
- Hyper-Threading support
- Includes basic integrated graphics
Cons
- Only 2 physical cores
- Reduced 3 MB L3 cache
- No AVX2 support
- Cannot run Windows 11
- Obsolete for modern tasks
Competitors & Alternatives
Intel Core i5-2500T
- AMD Phenom II X4 910eRival
Low Power Desktop
- AMD A8-3850Rival
Desktop APU
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-2400SRival
Low Power Desktop
- AMD A6-3650Rival
Budget Desktop
- Intel Core i3-2100TRival
Low Power Dual-Core
If the chassis can handle 65 W, the 2500S offers much better sustained multi-core performance.
Compare head-to-headIvy Bridge successor offering better integrated graphics and slightly better efficiency.
Compare head-to-head
Intel Core i5-2390T
- AMD Phenom II X4 840Rival
Desktop
- AMD Athlon II X4 645Rival
Desktop
- AMD A8-3850Rival
Desktop APU
- Intel Core i3-2120Rival
Desktop
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-650Rival
Desktop
Much better performance, though higher power draw.
Compare head-to-head- Intel Core i3-2100TAlt
Lower cost, similar power envelope.
- AMD A6-3650Alt
Better integrated graphics performance.
- Intel Core i7-2600TAlt
More threads within the same 65W power envelope.
- Intel Pentium G860Alt
Budget alternative if hyperthreading is not needed.
Our Verdict on Each
An interesting engineering exercise for its time that brought quad cores to low-profile chassis, but thoroughly obsolete by modern standards.
Best for: Replacing a failed CPU in a legacy all-in-one PC with proprietary BIOS whitelist restrictions.
Read the full reviewAn obsolete low-power processor suitable only for keeping legacy slim-profile desktops functional.
Best for: Repairing a broken 2011 all-in-one PC
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which uses less power?
The Intel Core i5-2390T has the lowest rated TDP. Power draw across these chips: Intel Core i5-2500T (45 W), Intel Core i5-2390T (35 W).
Do Intel Core i5-2500T and Intel Core i5-2390T use the same socket?
Yes — all of these CPUs use the LGA 1155 socket, so they share compatible motherboards.
Which has more cores?
The Intel Core i5-2500T has the most cores. Core counts: Intel Core i5-2500T (4 cores), Intel Core i5-2390T (2 cores).
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Intel Core i5-2500T posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i5-2500T (3,000), Intel Core i5-2390T (1,200). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.