Core i5-2500S vs Phenom II X6 1065T
Core i5-2500S
Phenom II X6 1065T
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 Phenom II X6 1065T is on rank 1030, so the Core i5-2500S 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 Phenom II X6 1065T
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-2500S | Phenom II X6 1065T |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($61) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($170) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Thuban (2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-2500S | Phenom II X6 1065T |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+176%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($61) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($170) |
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 Phenom II X6 1065T
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.
Phenom II X6 1065T
The Phenom II X6 1065T is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Thuban (2010) architecture. It features 6 cores and 6 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,412 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Core i5-2500S packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Phenom II X6 1065T offers 6 cores / 6 threads — the Phenom II X6 1065T has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the Core i5-2500S versus 3.4 GHz on the Phenom II X6 1065T — a 8.5% clock advantage for the Core i5-2500S (base: 2.7 GHz vs 2.9 GHz). The Core i5-2500S uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Phenom II X6 1065T uses Thuban (2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-2500S scores 3,373 against the Phenom II X6 1065T's 3,412 — a 1.1% lead for the Phenom II X6 1065T. L3 cache: 6144 kB (total) on the Core i5-2500S vs 6 MB (total) on the Phenom II X6 1065T.
| Feature | Core i5-2500S | Phenom II X6 1065T |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 6 / 6+50% |
| Boost Clock | 3.7 GHz+9% | 3.4 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.7 GHz | 2.9 GHz+7% |
| L3 Cache | 6144 kB (total) | 6 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 512 kB (per core)+100% |
| Process | 32 nm-29% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Thuban (2010) |
| PassMark | 3,373 | 3,412+1% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 600 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-2500S uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Phenom II X6 1065T uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i5-2500S | Phenom II X6 1065T |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| 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 i5-2500S) / not specified (Phenom II X6 1065T). The Core i5-2500S includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 2000), while the Phenom II X6 1065T requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-2500S targets Legacy Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i5-2500S rivals Phenom II X4 980.
| Feature | Core i5-2500S | Phenom II X6 1065T |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 2000 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | — |
| Target Use | Legacy Desktop | — |
Value Analysis
The Core i5-2500S launched at $192 MSRP, while the Phenom II X6 1065T debuted at $426. At current prices ($61 vs $170), the Core i5-2500S is $109 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-2500S delivers 55.3 pts/$ vs 20.1 pts/$ for the Phenom II X6 1065T — making the Core i5-2500S the 93.5% better value option.
| Feature | Core i5-2500S | Phenom II X6 1065T |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $192-55% | $426 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $61-64% | $170 |
| Performance per Dollar | 55.3+175% | 20.1 |
| Release Date | 2011 | 2010 |
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