Core i5-2500 Benchmarks & Performance Report

Sysbuilds Alpha Stage!

Please take all results with a big grain of salt. Sysbuilds is in alpha stage at the moment which can lead to wrong data, strange counting errors, silly results and more. This site is under active development.

Benchmark Results

Combined benchmark scores based on multiple data points, giving a quick overview of this processor's performance.

Overall Score

Overall score for Core i5-2500 based on all benchmark results gathered. Look at this like a meta score, you will find more specific workload ratings below.

4,576 Rank: 1213

Rank	Name	Score	Visual
1209	Athlon PRO 3045B	4,580	+0.1%
1210	FX-6300	4,579	+0.1%
1211	Core M 5Y10	4,578	+0%
1212	Core i3-2130	4,578	+0%
1213	Core i5-2500	4,576
1214	Phenom II X6 1100T	4,576	+0%
1215	Athlon II X4 651	4,573	-0.1%
1216	Xeon E3-1235	4,572	-0.1%
1217	Xeon W3580	4,571	-0.1%
1218	Core i5-3320M	4,570	-0.1%

View full ranking →

Multicore Score

Multicore performance score for Core i5-2500 based on multi-threaded benchmark results.

4,615 Rank: 1066

Rank	Name	Score	Visual
1062	Xeon X3450	4,621	+0.1%
1063	Pentium G4500	4,620	+0.1%
1064	Core i7-6567U	4,620	+0.1%
1065	Core i5-7260U	4,620	+0.1%
1066	Core i5-2500	4,615
1067	Pentium G4620	4,614	+-0%
1068	FX-6120	4,613	+-0%
1069	Phenom II X6 1075T	4,613	+-0%
1070	Xeon E5645	4,613	+-0%
1071	Core i3-2377M	4,612	-0.1%

View full ranking →

Singlecore Score

Single-core performance score for Core i5-2500 based on single-threaded benchmark results.

4,550 Rank: 1250

Rank	Name	Score	Visual
1246	Xeon E3-1225	4,556	+0.1%
1247	Pentium G3250T	4,555	+0.1%
1248	Xeon E5-2650L v4	4,553	+0.1%
1249	Core i7-990X	4,553	+0.1%
1250	Core i5-2500	4,550
1251	A8-9600	4,550	+0%
1252	Core i7-2675QM	4,549	+-0%
1253	A10-5800B	4,549	+-0%
1254	Core i5-3437U	4,544	-0.1%
1255	Phenom 9950	4,543	-0.2%

View full ranking →

Workload Scores

Performance scores grouped by workload type, normalized and aggregated from multiple raw benchmark results.

Number Crunching

Aggregated score for Core i5-2500 based on integer math, floating point math, and prime number computation benchmarks.

4,600 Rank: 963

Rank	Name	Score	Visual
959	Xeon X5550	4,602	+0%
960	Core i7-940	4,602	+0%
961	Core i5-6442EQ	4,601	+0%
962	Xeon W3530	4,601	+0%
963	Core i5-2500	4,600
964	Core i7-2920XM	4,600	+0%
965	Xeon W3540	4,600	+0%
966	Xeon E5640	4,599	+-0%
967	Core i5-6400T	4,598	+-0%
968	Core i7-860	4,598	+-0%

View full ranking →

Data Processing

Aggregated score for Core i5-2500 based on data encryption, data compression, and string sorting benchmarks.

4,581 Rank: 955

Rank	Name	Score	Visual
951	Core i7-950	4,583	+0%
952	Phenom II X6 1045T	4,583	+0%
953	Pentium Gold G5620	4,582	+0%
954	Core i5-4430	4,582	+0%
955	Core i5-2500	4,581
956	Core i5-4460S	4,581	+0%
957	Core i5-3450S	4,581	+0%
958	Core i3-7320	4,580	+-0%
959	Core i3-7101E	4,580	+-0%
960	Xeon X5560	4,580	+-0%

View full ranking →

Physics & Compute

Aggregated score for Core i5-2500 based on physics simulation and extended instruction set (SSE/AVX) benchmarks.

4,598 Rank: 969

Rank	Name	Score	Visual
965	Pentium 6805	4,601	+0.1%
966	Ryzen 3 PRO 1200	4,600	+0%
967	Core i5-3330	4,600	+0%
968	Core i3-6100	4,599	+0%
969	Core i5-2500	4,598
970	Core i7-2760QM	4,597	+-0%
971	Core i5-6267U	4,596	+-0%
972	Ryzen 3 2300U	4,596	+-0%
973	Xeon E3-1260L	4,596	+-0%
974	Xeon E3-1225	4,596	+-0%

View full ranking →

Core i5-2500 Details

The Core i5-2500, released by Intel in 2011, represents a significant step in the evolution of mainstream desktop processors, bridging the gap between performance and efficiency during the early days of the Sandy Bridge era. While it is now considered a legacy component by modern standards, its architecture and performance metrics were once competitive in the mid-tier segment. As of March 2026, the processor is over 14 years old, placing it well beyond typical product lifecycles, and its relevance is largely confined to retro computing, legacy systems, or budget builds where cost and compatibility outweigh raw performance.

Built on Intel's 32 nm process, the Core i5-2500 features a quad-core design with four threads, running at a base frequency of 3.3 GHz and capable of boosting up to 3.7 GHz via Turbo Boost. It is designed for the LGA1155 socket, supporting DDR3 1066/1333 memory across two channels, with a maximum memory capacity of 32 GB. The CPU delivers a maximum memory bandwidth of 21 GB/s and operates at a TDP of 95 W, making it suitable for standard desktop chassis with adequate cooling. Its PCIe 2.0 support enables flexible expansion with configurations like 1x16, 2x8, 1x8, and 2x4 lanes.

The integrated HD Graphics 2000 GPU, while modest by today's standards, features a base frequency of 850 MHz and a burst frequency of up to 1.1 GHz. It supports up to two displays and is capable of handling light multimedia tasks and basic gaming, though it lacks the power for modern graphics-intensive applications. Despite its age, the i5-2500 benefits from a range of advanced features, including AES-NI, AVX2, SSE4.1, and SSE4.2, along with virtualization technologies such as VT-x and VT-d, as well as Intel's vPro and TXT capabilities, which enhance security and manageability in enterprise environments.

In benchmark testing, the Core i5-2500 achieves an overall score of 4576, placing it at rank #1213 among 2060 CPUs. Its single-core performance scores 4550, ranking #1250, while its multicore score reaches 4615, placing it at #1066. These results show that while the CPU remains competitive against some older and lower-tier processors, it falls significantly behind modern offerings. For example, it trails the Core i7-6567U and Core i5-7260U in multicore performance, yet outperforms the Pentium G4620 and FX-6120 in overall throughput. The processor’s strongest category is single-core performance, where it holds a notable edge over several lower-tier and older models.

In conclusion, the Core i5-2500 is best suited for legacy systems, retro builds, or light productivity tasks where integrated graphics and low cost are priorities. While it is no longer competitive in modern computing environments, its robust feature set and historical significance make it a reliable option for niche use cases. For users seeking performance beyond this era, contemporary processors offer vastly superior performance, especially in multi-threaded and memory-intensive workloads.