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.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Core i5-7400T

2017

Why buy it

✅+1.2% higher PassMark.
✅Costs $115 less on MSRP ($182 MSRP vs $297 MSRP).
✅Delivers 65.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 25.8 vs 15.6 PassMark/$ ($182 MSRP vs $297 MSRP).
✅Draws 35W instead of 65W, a 30W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-2600S across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Smaller total L3 cache (6 MB vs 8 MB).

Core i7-2600S

2011

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +3.6% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 6 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (4,637 vs 4,692).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 15.6 vs 25.8 PassMark/$ ($297 MSRP vs $182 MSRP).
❌85.7% higher power demand at 65W vs 35W.

Core i5-7400T

2017

Core i7-2600S

2011

Why buy it

✅+1.2% higher PassMark.
✅Costs $115 less on MSRP ($182 MSRP vs $297 MSRP).
✅Delivers 65.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 25.8 vs 15.6 PassMark/$ ($182 MSRP vs $297 MSRP).
✅Draws 35W instead of 65W, a 30W reduction.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +3.6% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 6 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-2600S across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Smaller total L3 cache (6 MB vs 8 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (4,637 vs 4,692).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 15.6 vs 25.8 PassMark/$ ($297 MSRP vs $182 MSRP).
❌85.7% higher power demand at 65W vs 35W.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-7400T better than Core i7-2600S?

It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, Core i7-2600S is ahead with a 3.6% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-7400T pulls ahead with 1.2% better PassMark. Core i7-2600S also has the bigger cache pool with 33.3% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 6 MB).

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-7400T is the better fit. You are getting 1.2% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core i5-7400T is the smarter buy today. Core i5-7400T is $115 cheaper on MSRP at $182 MSRP versus $297 MSRP, and it gives you 1.2% better PassMark. The trade-off is that Core i7-2600S is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 3.6% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 65.1% better value on MSRP (25.8 vs 15.6 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core i5-7400T is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2017 vs 2011) and more multi-core headroom with 4 cores / 4 threads instead of 4/8. That extra compute headroom should age better as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

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.

Core i5-7400T Benchmark Check

Core i7-2600S Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-7400T	Core i7-2600S
1080p
low	117 FPS	116 FPS
medium	117 FPS	116 FPS
high	106 FPS	110 FPS
ultra	82 FPS	89 FPS
1440p
low	117 FPS	116 FPS
medium	107 FPS	115 FPS
high	85 FPS	91 FPS
ultra	66 FPS	73 FPS
4K
low	65 FPS	63 FPS
medium	55 FPS	56 FPS
high	43 FPS	44 FPS
ultra	34 FPS	35 FPS

Open Core i5-7400T Open Core i7-2600S

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-7400T	Core i7-2600S
1080p
low	117 FPS	116 FPS
medium	117 FPS	116 FPS
high	117 FPS	116 FPS
ultra	106 FPS	116 FPS
1440p
low	117 FPS	116 FPS
medium	117 FPS	116 FPS
high	117 FPS	116 FPS
ultra	94 FPS	109 FPS
4K
low	117 FPS	116 FPS
medium	105 FPS	114 FPS
high	82 FPS	93 FPS
ultra	60 FPS	67 FPS

Open Core i5-7400T Open Core i7-2600S

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-7400T	Core i7-2600S
1080p
low	117 FPS	116 FPS
medium	117 FPS	116 FPS
high	117 FPS	116 FPS
ultra	117 FPS	116 FPS
1440p
low	117 FPS	116 FPS
medium	117 FPS	116 FPS
high	117 FPS	116 FPS
ultra	117 FPS	116 FPS
4K
low	117 FPS	116 FPS
medium	117 FPS	116 FPS
high	117 FPS	116 FPS
ultra	117 FPS	116 FPS

Open Core i5-7400T Open Core i7-2600S

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-7400T	Core i7-2600S
1080p
low	117 FPS	116 FPS
medium	117 FPS	116 FPS
high	117 FPS	116 FPS
ultra	117 FPS	116 FPS
1440p
low	117 FPS	116 FPS
medium	117 FPS	116 FPS
high	117 FPS	116 FPS
ultra	117 FPS	116 FPS
4K
low	117 FPS	116 FPS
medium	117 FPS	116 FPS
high	117 FPS	116 FPS
ultra	117 FPS	116 FPS

Open Core i5-7400T Open Core i7-2600S

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-7400T and Core i7-2600S

Core i5-7400T

The Core i5-7400T 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 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 4,692 points. Launch price was $187.

Core i7-2600S

The Core i7-2600S 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 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 8192 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: 4,637 points. Launch price was $210.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-7400T packs 4 cores / 4 threads, matching the Core i7-2600S's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 3 GHz on the Core i5-7400T versus 3.8 GHz on the Core i7-2600S — a 23.5% clock advantage for the Core i7-2600S (base: 2.4 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Core i5-7400T uses the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i7-2600S uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-7400T scores 4,692 against the Core i7-2600S's 4,637 — a 1.2% lead for the Core i5-7400T. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,069 vs 630, a 51.7% lead for the Core i5-7400T that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Core i5-7400T vs 8192 kB (total) on the Core i7-2600S.

Feature	Core i5-7400T	Core i7-2600S
Cores / Threads	4 / 4	4 / 8
Boost Clock	3 GHz	3.8 GHz+27%
Base Clock	2.4 GHz	2.8 GHz+17%
L3 Cache	6 MB (total)	8192 kB (total)+33%
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	256 kB (per core)
Process	14 nm-56%	32 nm
Architecture	Kaby Lake (2016−2019)	Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)
PassMark	4,692+1%	4,637
Cinebench R23 Multi	3,334	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,069+70%	630
Geekbench 6 Multi	2,463	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-7400T uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-2600S uses LGA1155 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2400 on the Core i5-7400T versus DDR3-1333 on the Core i7-2600S — the Core i5-7400T supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i5-7400T supports up to 64 GB of RAM compared to 32 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: B150,Q170,B250,Q250,H110,Q270,H170,Z170,H270,Z270 (Core i5-7400T) and H61,H67,Z68,B75 (Core i7-2600S).

Feature	Core i5-7400T	Core i7-2600S
Socket	LGA1151	LGA1155
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0+50%	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2400+33%	DDR3-1333
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB+100%	32 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	16	16

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization support: Yes (Core i5-7400T) vs VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i7-2600S). Both include integrated graphics — Intel HD Graphics 630 (Core i5-7400T) and HD Graphics 2000 (Core i7-2600S) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-2600S targets Low Power Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i7-2600S rivals Phenom II X4 910e.

Feature	Core i5-7400T	Core i7-2600S
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	Intel HD Graphics 630	HD Graphics 2000
Unlocked	—	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	Yes	VT-x, VT-d, EPT
Target Use	—	Low Power Desktop

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-7400T launched at $182 MSRP, while the Core i7-2600S debuted at $297. On MSRP ($182 vs $297), the Core i5-7400T is $115 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-7400T delivers 25.8 pts/$ vs 15.6 pts/$ for the Core i7-2600S — making the Core i5-7400T the 49.1% better value option.