CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-760 vs Intel Core i7-2700K
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i5-760 is a refreshed Lynnfield quad-core desktop processor clocked at 2.8GHz, offering improved performance over the i5-750 while maintaining the same 95W TDP.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Noticeably faster than the i5-750 in multi-threaded tasks, but still inadequate for modern productivity.
Adequate for basic office tasks and web browsing, but slow for modern rendering.
Gaming
The best Lynnfield i5 for gaming, but still cannot handle modern AAA titles.
Struggles with modern AAA titles but handles older or esports games fine.
Virtualization
Four cores at higher clocks provide usable virtualization for lightweight VMs.
Can handle light VMs with 8 threads, but lacks modern virtualization features.
Efficiency
95W for four 45nm cores at 2.8GHz is inefficient by modern standards.
32nm process is highly inefficient by modern standards, drawing significant power.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
No data
- No AI acceleration hardware
- Extremely slow for any AI workloads
Content Creation
No data
Gaming
- 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
- Bottlenecks modern GPUs
- Suitable for 1080p gaming with older GPUs
- Lacks AVX2 support for newest games
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- Legendary overclocking headroom
- Solid IPC improvements over previous gen
- Included integrated graphics (HD 3000)
- Durable and long-lasting architecture
- Large 8MB L3 cache
Cons
- High power consumption by modern standards
- Lacks AVX2 instructions
- End-of-life platform (LGA 1155)
- No native NVMe boot support
- Integrated graphics are severely outdated
Competitors & Alternatives
Intel Core i7-2700K
- AMD FX-8150Rival
Desktop
- AMD FX-8350Rival
Desktop
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-2500KRival
Desktop
- Intel Core i7-2600KRival
Desktop
- AMD Phenom II X6 1100TRival
Desktop
Ivy Bridge successor with PCIe 3.0.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 1600Alt
Modern budget alternative with more cores.
Haswell upgrade path with better efficiency.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 3 3200GAlt
Modern integrated graphics alternative.
Our Verdict on Each
A solid refresh of the i5-750 that offered meaningful performance improvements. The best Lynnfield i5 for gamers, though entirely obsolete today.
Read the full reviewA legendary CPU that still holds up for basic tasks, offering incredible historical value and overclocking fun.
Best for: The Core i7-2700K is no longer recommended for new PC builds due to its age and lack of modern feature support, such as native NVMe storage booting and modern PCIe standards. However, for users already operating on an LGA 1155 motherboard looking to squeeze more life out of an older system, finding a used 2700K can be a highly cost-effective upgrade path. It still handles basic computing, media consumption, and older game titles reasonably well. If you are building a system from scratch, modern alternatives offer vastly superior power efficiency, single-core speed, and platform features. Collectors and retro gaming enthusiasts might specifically value the chip for its historical significance, but mainstream buyers should look toward newer generations for a balanced, future-proof computing experience.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i5-760 or Intel Core i7-2700K?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i7-2700K comes out ahead with a score of 8.5/10. 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 i5-760 or Intel Core i7-2700K?
For gaming, the Intel Core i7-2700K leads with a gaming performance score of 40/100 among Intel Core i5-760 and Intel Core i7-2700K.
Do Intel Core i5-760 and Intel Core i7-2700K use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Intel Core i5-760: LGA 1156, Intel Core i7-2700K: LGA 1155), 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 i5-760 (7,250), Intel Core i7-2700K (5,400). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.