CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-2500S vs Core i5-3335S
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i5-2500S is a power-optimized 65 W quad-core desktop processor from the Sandy Bridge generation, offering 2.7 GHz base and 3.7 GHz turbo speeds for small form factor PCs.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Handles legacy office workloads well, but sustained multi-core loads cause it to throttle below standard i5-2500 speeds.
Handles office tasks adequately, but low base clock limits multitasking headroom.
Gaming
Intel HD 2000 graphics prevent any meaningful modern gaming experience.
HD 4000 can play very old games (like Half-Life 2) at low settings, but is useless for modern titles.
Virtualization
Good enterprise virtualization feature support, but limited by four total threads.
Basic virtualization is possible but limited by 4 threads.
Efficiency
Excellent efficiency for 2011, drawing significantly less power at idle and light loads than 95 W parts.
Excellent efficiency for its generation, tailored for SFF systems.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No AI acceleration capabilities
- AVX support exists but lacks AVX2 for modern workloads
- Far too slow for practical AI tasks
- No AI acceleration
- Low compute capacity
Content Creation
Gaming
- Intel HD 2000 is a severe bottleneck for 3D rendering
- Can handle older 2D or very light 3D indie games
- Requires a discrete GPU for any acceptable gaming experience
- HD 4000 is insufficient for modern gaming
- Low base clock limits performance
- Suitable only for retro or 2D indie games
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- Matches the 3.7 GHz turbo of the standard 95 W i5-2500
- 65 W TDP allows for much quieter, smaller cooling solutions
- Full enterprise feature set including TXT and VT-d
- Lower idle power consumption than standard desktop parts
- Reliable Sandy Bridge architecture
Cons
- Lower sustained multi-core clocks due to 65 W limit
- Intel HD 2000 graphics are very weak
- Locked multiplier
- No Hyper-Threading
- Obsolete platform with no upgrade path
Pros
- Low 65W TDP
- Includes HD 4000 graphics
- Good for basic media tasks
- Reliable quad-core design
Cons
- Low base clock of 2.7 GHz
- Uses outdated DDR3 memory
- Not supported by Windows 11
- Lacks Hyper-Threading
Competitors & Alternatives
Intel Core i5-2500S
- AMD Phenom II X4 840TRival
Low Power Desktop
- AMD A8-3820Rival
Desktop APU
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-2400SRival
Low Power Desktop
- AMD A6-3670Rival
Budget Desktop
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-2500TRival
Ultra Low Power Desktop
If your SFF chassis can handle 95 W, the standard 2500 offers better sustained performance for less money.
Compare head-to-headIvy Bridge successor with better integrated graphics and slightly improved efficiency.
Compare head-to-head- Intel Core i7-2600SAlt
Adds Hyper-Threading (8 threads) for better multi-tasking within the same 65 W power envelope.
Core i5-3335S
- AMD A10-5700Rival
Desktop
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-3330SRival
Desktop
- AMD A8-5600Rival
Desktop
- Intel Core i3-3225Rival
Desktop
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-2400SRival
Desktop
Newer Haswell architecture with better performance and efficiency.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 3 3200GEAlt
Modern low-power alternative with vastly superior integrated graphics.
- Intel Core i5-3330Alt
Slightly higher base clock if power consumption is less of a concern.
- Intel Core i7-3770SAlt
Hyper-threading and more L3 cache on the same socket.
- AMD Ryzen 5 3400GAlt
Excellent modern alternative for SFF builds with Vega graphics.
Our Verdict on Each
A highly effective power-optimized Sandy Bridge chip that delivered excellent burst performance for its 65 W TDP, though entirely outclassed today.
Best for: Replacing a failed CPU in a proprietary Small Form Factor PC that strictly requires a 65 W or lower processor.
Read the full reviewA solid low-power CPU for 2012 SFF builds, offering decent integrated graphics, but outdated for modern computing.
Best for: Restoring an old SFF office PC
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i5-2500S or Core i5-3335S?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Core i5-3335S comes out ahead with a score of 6/10. 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 i5-2500S or Core i5-3335S?
For gaming, the Intel Core i5-2500S leads with a gaming performance score of 12/100 among Intel Core i5-2500S and Core i5-3335S.
Do Intel Core i5-2500S and Core i5-3335S use the same socket?
Yes — all of these CPUs use the LGA 1155 socket, so they share compatible motherboards.
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Intel Core i5-2500S posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i5-2500S (3,800). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.