Core i5-2500 vs Xeon E5-1607 v2
Core i5-2500
Xeon E5-1607 v2
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 Xeon E5-1607 v2 is on rank 676, so the Xeon E5-1607 v2 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 Xeon E5-1607 v2
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-2500 | Xeon E5-1607 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($69) | ✅ More affordable ($68) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge-E (2013) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-2500 | Xeon E5-1607 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+2%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($69) | ✅ More affordable ($68) |
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 Xeon E5-1607 v2
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.
Xeon E5-1607 v2
The Xeon E5-1607 v2 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Ivy Bridge-E (2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 10 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-800, DDR3-1066, DDR3-1333, DDR3-1600. Passmark benchmark score: 4,141 points. Launch price was $800.
Processing Power
Both the Core i5-2500 and Xeon E5-1607 v2 share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the Core i5-2500 versus 3 GHz on the Xeon E5-1607 v2 — a 20.9% clock advantage for the Core i5-2500 (base: 3.3 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Core i5-2500 uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Xeon E5-1607 v2 uses Ivy Bridge-E (2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-2500 scores 4,102 against the Xeon E5-1607 v2's 4,141 — a 0.9% lead for the Xeon E5-1607 v2. L3 cache: 6144 kB (total) on the Core i5-2500 vs 10 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-1607 v2.
| Feature | Core i5-2500 | Xeon E5-1607 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.7 GHz+23% | 3 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.3 GHz+10% | 3 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 6144 kB (total) | 10 MB (total)+67% |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 22 nm-31% |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Ivy Bridge-E (2013) |
| PassMark | 4,102 | 4,141 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 2,642 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 590 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,690 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-2500 uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon E5-1607 v2 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i5-2500 | Xeon E5-1607 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | LGA2011 |
| 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, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-2500) / not specified (Xeon E5-1607 v2). The Core i5-2500 includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 2000), while the Xeon E5-1607 v2 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-2500 targets Desktop.
| Feature | Core i5-2500 | Xeon E5-1607 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics 2000 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | — |
| Target Use | Desktop | — |
Value Analysis
The Core i5-2500 launched at $294 MSRP, while the Xeon E5-1607 v2 debuted at $250. At current prices ($69 vs $68), the Xeon E5-1607 v2 is $1 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-2500 delivers 59.4 pts/$ vs 60.9 pts/$ for the Xeon E5-1607 v2 — making the Xeon E5-1607 v2 the 2.4% better value option.
| Feature | Core i5-2500 | Xeon E5-1607 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $294 | $250-15% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $69 | $68-1% |
| Performance per Dollar | 59.4 | 60.9+3% |
| Release Date | 2011 | 2013 |
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