CPU
GPU
Core i5-2500S
A10-7850K
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 i5-2500S is positioned at rank 854 and the A10-7850K is on rank 375, so the A10-7850K offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-2500S
Performance Per Dollar A10-7850K
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-2500S | A10-7850K |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($61) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Godaveri (2014−2016) / 28 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-2500S | A10-7850K |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($61) | ✅ 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 i5-2500S and A10-7850K
Core i5-2500S
The Core i5-2500S 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 2.7 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): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,373 points. Launch price was $75.
A10-7850K
The A10-7850K is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 14 January 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Godaveri (2014−2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 4096 kB. Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: FM2+. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-2133. Passmark benchmark score: 3,394 points. Launch price was $173.
Processing Power
Both the Core i5-2500S and A10-7850K share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the Core i5-2500S versus 4 GHz on the A10-7850K — a 7.8% clock advantage for the A10-7850K (base: 2.7 GHz vs 3.7 GHz). The Core i5-2500S uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the A10-7850K uses Godaveri (2014−2016) (28 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-2500S scores 3,373 against the A10-7850K's 3,394 — a 0.6% lead for the A10-7850K. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 600 vs 510, a 16.2% lead for the Core i5-2500S that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 6144 kB (total) on the Core i5-2500S vs 0 kB on the A10-7850K.
| Feature | Core i5-2500S | A10-7850K |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.7 GHz | 4 GHz+8% |
| Base Clock | 2.7 GHz | 3.7 GHz+37% |
| L3 Cache | 6144 kB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 4096 kB+1500% |
| Process | 32 nm | 28 nm-13% |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Godaveri (2014−2016) |
| PassMark | 3,373 | 3,394 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 600+18% | 510 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-2500S uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the A10-7850K uses FM2+ (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1333 memory speed. Both support up to 32 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: H61,H67,P67,Z68,B75,Z77 (Core i5-2500S) and A55,A58,A68H,A75,A78,A88X (A10-7850K).
| Feature | Core i5-2500S | A10-7850K |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | FM2+ |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | DDR3-2133 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Only the A10-7850K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-2500S) vs AMD-V (A10-7850K). Both include integrated graphics — HD Graphics 2000 (Core i5-2500S) and Radeon R7 (A10-7850K) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-2500S targets Legacy Desktop, A10-7850K targets Budget. Direct competitor: Core i5-2500S rivals Phenom II X4 980; A10-7850K rivals Core i3-4340.
| Feature | Core i5-2500S | A10-7850K |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 2000 | Radeon R7 |
| Unlocked | No | Yes |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | AMD-V |
| Target Use | Legacy Desktop | Budget |
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