Core i5-2405S vs Core i7-6600U
Core i5-2405S
Core i7-6600U
Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Core i5-2405S is positioned at rank 981 and the Core i7-6600U is on rank 925, so the Core i7-6600U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-2405S
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-6600U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-2405S | Core i7-6600U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($120) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Skylake (2015−2016) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-2405S | Core i7-6600U |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($120) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-2405S and Core i7-6600U
Core i5-2405S
The Core i5-2405S is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 22 May 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,397 points. Launch price was $472.
Core i7-6600U
The Core i7-6600U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1356. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 3,407 points. Launch price was $393.
Processing Power
The Core i5-2405S packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i7-6600U offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Core i5-2405S has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.3 GHz on the Core i5-2405S versus 3.4 GHz on the Core i7-6600U — a 3% clock advantage for the Core i7-6600U (base: 2.5 GHz vs 2.6 GHz). The Core i5-2405S uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i7-6600U uses Skylake (2015−2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-2405S scores 3,397 against the Core i7-6600U's 3,407 — a 0.3% lead for the Core i7-6600U. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Core i5-2405S vs 4 MB on the Core i7-6600U.
| Feature | Core i5-2405S | Core i7-6600U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.3 GHz | 3.4 GHz+3% |
| Base Clock | 2.5 GHz | 2.6 GHz+4% |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB (total)+50% | 4 MB |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 512 kB+100% |
| Process | 32 nm | 14 nm-56% |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Skylake (2015−2016) |
| PassMark | 3,397 | 3,407 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 557 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,480 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-2405S uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i7-6600U uses BGA1356 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i5-2405S | Core i7-6600U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | BGA1356 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x / EPT (Core i5-2405S) / not specified (Core i7-6600U). The Core i5-2405S includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 3000), while the Core i7-6600U requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-2405S targets Budget.
| Feature | Core i5-2405S | Core i7-6600U |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics 3000 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x / EPT | — |
| Target Use | Budget | — |
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