Core i5-2500 vs Core i7-7660U
Core i5-2500
Core i7-7660U
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 i5-2500 is positioned at rank 922 and the Core i7-7660U is on rank 550, so the Core i7-7660U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-2500
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-7660U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-2500 | Core i7-7660U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($69) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake (2016−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-2500 | Core i7-7660U |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($69) | ✅ 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 i5-2500 and Core i7-7660U
Core i5-2500
The Core i5-2500 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 9 January 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 6144 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 4,102 points. Launch price was $85.
Core i7-7660U
The Core i7-7660U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 January 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 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: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 4,059 points. Launch price was $415.
Processing Power
The Core i5-2500 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i7-7660U offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Core i5-2500 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the Core i5-2500 versus 4 GHz on the Core i7-7660U — a 7.8% clock advantage for the Core i7-7660U (base: 3.3 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Core i5-2500 uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i7-7660U uses Kaby Lake (2016−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-2500 scores 4,102 against the Core i7-7660U's 4,059 — a 1.1% lead for the Core i5-2500. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 2,642 vs 1,759 (40.1% advantage for the Core i5-2500). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 590 vs 1,150, a 64.4% lead for the Core i7-7660U that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 1,690 vs 2,285 (29.9% advantage for the Core i7-7660U). L3 cache: 6144 kB (total) on the Core i5-2500 vs 4 MB on the Core i7-7660U.
| Feature | Core i5-2500 | Core i7-7660U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.7 GHz | 4 GHz+8% |
| Base Clock | 3.3 GHz+32% | 2.5 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 6144 kB (total)+50% | 4 MB |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 512 kB+100% |
| Process | 32 nm | 14 nm-56% |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Kaby Lake (2016−2019) |
| PassMark | 4,102+1% | 4,059 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 2,642+50% | 1,759 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 590 | 1,150+95% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,690 | 2,285+35% |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-2500 uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i7-7660U uses BGA1356 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1333 on the Core i5-2500 versus DDR4-2133 on the Core i7-7660U — the Core i7-7660U supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 32 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i5-2500) vs 12 (Core i7-7660U) — the Core i5-2500 offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H61,H67,P67,Z68,B75,Z77 (Core i5-2500) and SoC (Core i7-7660U).
| Feature | Core i5-2500 | Core i7-7660U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | BGA1356 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | DDR4-2133+33% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16+33% | 12 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-2500) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-7660U). Both include integrated graphics — Intel HD Graphics 2000 (Core i5-2500) and Iris Plus 640 (Core i7-7660U) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-2500 targets Desktop, Core i7-7660U targets Productivity. Direct competitor: Core i7-7660U rivals Core i5-8250U.
| Feature | Core i5-2500 | Core i7-7660U |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics 2000 | Iris Plus 640 |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | Desktop | Productivity |
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