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Core i5-2500K 3.3GHz
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Release period
09-Jan-2011
Core i5-2500K 3.3GHz Review
Core i5 is a brand name used by Intel for several microprocessors, the first of which were introduced in late 2009. It is positioned between the mainstream Core i3 & Core 2 and the high-end Core i7 & Xeon brands.
Core i5, like Core i7, is based on the Nehalem microarchitecture. The first Core i5 was introduced on September 8, 2009 and is a mainstream variant of the Core i7, initially only quad-core desktop processors based on Lynnfield, with dual-core mobile (Arrandale) and desktop processors (Clarkdale) following in 2010.
On September 8, 2009, Intel released the first Core i5 processor: The Core i5 750,[1] which is a 2.66 GHz quad-core Lynnfield processor with Hyper-threading disabled. Lynnfield Core i5 processors have an 8 MB L3 cache, a DMI bus running at 2.5 GT/s and support for dual-channel DDR3-800/1066/1333 memory.
Source [Wikipedia]
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Core i5-2500K 3.3GHz Performance Specification
CPU Speed
CPU Cores
CPU Codename
TDP (Power)
Lithography
Main Link
CPU Details
3.3 GHz
4 cores
Sandy Bridge
95W
32nm
LGA 1155/Socket H2
Notebook CPU
L1 Cache
L2 Cache
L3 Cache
Approved
GD RATING
10
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Core i5-2500K 3.3GHz

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Discussion Page 1
Georgie
00:09 May-09-2013

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This or a phenom II x6 1055t?
Raystlyn
00:36 May-09-2013

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This one, by far :)
OmriBaso
10:50 Mar-25-2013

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My GPU(GTX 670) is Bottleneck this CPU ?
deviljin369
12:26 Mar-25-2013

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no it doesnt :)
smorzz
06:32 Mar-23-2013

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The Rig edit page only allows a 25% overclock but mine is higher. is there any way to be able to set it higher?
oomjan
08:57 Feb-10-2013

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No need to upgrade from this CPU just yet. I will hang on untill I get a new gpu and it will bottleneck with this cpu
numankaraaslan
14:39 Apr-08-2013

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your rig is so good balanced dude ;)
grbicdragan95
17:59 Feb-08-2013

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will my gpu bottleneck this cpu???
grbicdragan95
23:58 Feb-08-2013

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can somebody help me??
IFreak01
00:02 Feb-09-2013

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No it won't create a bottleneck.
grbicdragan95
00:03 Feb-09-2013

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tnx :)
IFreak01
00:04 Feb-09-2013

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Do you have a good PSU? because this CPU will use more power than your Pentium Dual core.
grbicdragan95
00:06 Feb-09-2013

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see in my profil :) 500w chieftec
grbicdragan95
00:06 Feb-09-2013

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my psu is great i think :)
IFreak01
00:10 Feb-09-2013

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That should do the trick! even if you wanted to upgrade your GPU later ;)
grbicdragan95
00:14 Feb-09-2013

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i will upgrade it later :)
gigaflares
17:22 Mar-28-2013

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Core i5 2500k is realy great CPU for gaming, but i suggest you to upgrade your GPU to HD7770 or 7850 that would be awesome :D
Tsogo111
16:04 Jan-15-2013

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Can anyone tell me if this CPU is getting old? Will it be enough to run games on high settings in at least 5 years with oc? Or 3570 k is better
UnLeashed81
17:47 Jan-15-2013

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The i5 -3570 is better but only 10-15 %
your cpu is good enough at least for the next 3 years
Salluu
06:22 Jan-18-2013

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as unleashed81 said your this CPU is good enough for next 3 years gaming may be even more than taht
Tsogo111
08:06 Jan-18-2013

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OK thanks guys I'll stay with my current CPU and buy new 1 when the time's right
Salluu
12:02 Jan-20-2013

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you are always welcome and right decisions you have made
iippo1998
13:55 Dec-28-2012

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lol i got my processor for 80e and its 6% better than this?
deviljin369
15:29 Dec-28-2012

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Yours is typically an 8 core so it is better at cpu dependent tasks, but for gaming the i5 beats your processor. And AMD cpus are generally much cheaper than intel.
iippo1998
14:07 Dec-30-2012

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yea figures, but if my processor is AMD and my GFX is Nvidia, is my rig like a blend? ;d
deviljin369
14:31 Dec-30-2012

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There won't be any issues like that, not to worry xD
Fenneci
21:53 Nov-28-2012

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Bought it a few months ago for under $200. I love it.
Mazasrb
23:46 Nov-28-2012

You gotta love it, it's still awesome value ;)
Zilincan
12:06 Nov-29-2012

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200$? Great price!
iamanik
06:13 Nov-25-2012

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Bought it just $265...
Deadspace
08:05 Dec-01-2012

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$265....? where in gods name did you buy it lol.
iamanik
18:33 Dec-01-2012

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In India via Flipkart.com......
Deadspace
19:30 Dec-08-2012

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well in USA its only like $220 lol.
iamanik
08:27 Dec-09-2012

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bad luck for me.. :(
Deadspace
04:03 Dec-11-2012

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dont worry it'll be worth it!
ffleader1
08:27 Jan-28-2013

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I wonder what will the price be in the next 3-4 years =)))
I bought a q9550 for $110. Imagine the day i5-2500k got to $110 =)))
I guess that day popular CPUs should have 6 cores :D
chatzifetas
01:49 Oct-21-2012

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Lately I wanted to create a rig with 1600 mhz memory type and I asked a professional to order and assemble the rig. I told him I also wanted an i5 processor so he said I should choose 2500k. Though now I see at a lot of forums that 2500k's banwitch is 1066 and 1333 mhz. Did he trick me or I made a mistake;
Mazasrb
02:11 Oct-21-2012

This CPU supports up to 1333MT/s, maybe the guy didn't know.
chatzifetas
23:35 Oct-23-2012

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so if someone put 1600mhz memory tupe then the system wouldn't run. Right;
Mazasrb
13:55 Oct-24-2012

It would run.
The_ReApEr_ZA
14:05 Oct-24-2012

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It would run just at 1333. But if you overclock your cpu you might get your ram to run at 1600. My i5 only supports up to 1333 but I have a oc profile in my mobo bios that makes my ram run at 1600. But you won't see the difference.
chatzifetas
14:50 Oct-24-2012

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That's good because I'm planning to overclock my cpu in the near future. Thanks a lot!
Discussion Page 1