CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-2500S vs Intel Core i5-750s
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.
Slower than the standard i5-750 in sustained multi-threaded workloads due to the 2.4GHz base.
Gaming
Intel HD 2000 graphics prevent any meaningful modern gaming experience.
Turbo boost helps in light gaming but the low base clock hurts in sustained loads.
Virtualization
Good enterprise virtualization feature support, but limited by four total threads.
Four cores help but lower clocks limit VM performance.
Efficiency
Excellent efficiency for 2011, drawing significantly less power at idle and light loads than 95 W parts.
Better efficiency than the standard i5-750 at 82W, though still poor by modern standards.
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
- Far too slow for any ML workload
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
- 2.4GHz base clock is too low for modern games
- Turbo boost to 3.2GHz helps slightly in lightly threaded scenarios
- Requires a discrete GPU for any gaming
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
- Lower power consumption for small form factor builds
- Same turbo boost ceiling as standard i5-750
- Four real cores with 8MB cache
- Lower thermal output simplifies cooling
Cons
- 2.4GHz base clock was slow even in 2010
- Significant performance drop in sustained multi-threaded workloads
- No integrated graphics requires discrete GPU
- No AVX support
- Completely obsolete platform
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.
Intel Core i5-750s
- AMD Phenom II X4 910eRival
Low-Power Quad-Core
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-750Rival
Standard Quad-Core
- AMD Athlon II X4 605eRival
Low-Power Quad-Core
- Intel Core i3-530Rival
Budget Dual-Core with iGPU
- AMD Phenom II X4 810Rival
Budget Quad-Core
If integrated graphics and low power were priorities over core count.
Compare head-to-head
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 reviewAn interesting low-power variant that traded clock speed for efficiency, but the 2.4GHz base clock limited performance even in 2010.
Best for: Maintaining an existing SFF Lynnfield build
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i5-2500S or Intel Core i5-750s?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i5-2500S comes out ahead with a score of 4.5/10. 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 i5-2500S or Intel Core i5-750s?
For gaming, the Intel Core i5-2500S leads with a gaming performance score of 12/100 among Intel Core i5-2500S and Intel Core i5-750s.
Which uses less power?
The Intel Core i5-2500S has the lowest rated TDP. Power draw across these chips: Intel Core i5-2500S (65 W), Intel Core i5-750s (82 W).
Do Intel Core i5-2500S and Intel Core i5-750s use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Intel Core i5-2500S: LGA 1155, Intel Core i5-750s: LGA 1156), so each needs a compatible motherboard.
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Intel Core i5-750s posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i5-2500S (3,800), Intel Core i5-750s (6,350). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.