Intel Core i5-2500 vs Intel Core i5-3330 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded head-to-head data between the Intel Core i5-2500 and the Intel Core i5-3330 shows a closely matched pair, with the i5-3330 taking the majority of benchmark wins. Out of the five compared tests, the i5-3330 wins four, while the i5-2500 manages a single win, though that win is essentially a tie. The margins are extremely narrow across every workload, which indicates that these two processors sit in the same performance tier despite their architectural differences.

Starting with multi-core rendering, the i5-3330 edges ahead in all three Cinebench versions. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-3330 scores 351 against the i5-2500's 350, a lead of 0.3 percent. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the i5-3330 posts 1464 versus 1461, a 0.2 percent advantage. The Cinebench R23 multi-core test shows a similar pattern, with the i5-3330 at 3486 and the i5-2500 at 3479, again a 0.2 percent difference. These are negligible margins in real-world terms, but the consistency across all three multi-threaded tests favors the i5-3330.

In single-core performance, the results are nearly identical. Cinebench R20 single-core shows both processors at exactly 206 points, with the winner designated as the i5-2500 due to a 0 percent delta. Cinebench R23 single-core gives the i5-3330 a one-point edge, 492 to 491, a 0.2 percent difference. The single-core scores are effectively indistinguishable, meaning any productivity or lightly threaded workload will perform the same on either chip.

The i5-2500 also has a Geekbench multicore score of 1883 and a Geekbench singlecore score of 670, but no corresponding Geekbench results are listed for the i5-3330 in the head-to-head table. This absence of comparative data limits the analysis for that specific test, but the available Cinebench results provide a clear picture of near-parity.

The aggregate data reinforces this conclusion. The i5-2500 has an average benchmark score of 1220, placing it at the 34th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-3632QM at 1219 (0.1 percent behind), the Intel Pentium Silver N6005 at 1218 (0.2 percent behind), and the Intel Xeon E5-1607 v3 at 1212 (0.6 percent behind). The i5-3330 averages 1200, also at the 34th percentile, with the AMD Athlon PRO 200GE matching at 1200 (0 percent delta) and the AMD Ryzen 3 2200G slightly ahead at 1202 (0.2 percent ahead). Both CPUs sit in the same percentile bracket, confirming that neither holds a meaningful aggregate advantage.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has higher multi-core performance in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core i5-3330 scores 3486 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, while the i5-2500 scores 3479. The i5-3330 leads by 0.2 percent.

Q: Are the single-core scores different between the two?

A: They are virtually identical. In Cinebench R20 single-core, both score 206. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the i5-3330 scores 492 and the i5-2500 scores 491, a one-point difference.

Q: How do their overall average benchmark scores compare?

A: The i5-2500 has an average benchmark score of 1220, and the i5-3330 has an average of 1200. The i5-2500 is 1.7 percent higher, but both sit at the 34th percentile of all CPUs.

Q: What is the clock speed difference between the two?

A: The i5-2500 has a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 3.70 GHz. The i5-3330 has a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 3.20 GHz.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory and PCIe specifications?

A: Yes, both support DDR3 memory with a dual-channel bus, and both have PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only).

Q: Which processor has a higher TDP?

A: The i5-2500 has a TDP of 95, while the i5-3330 has a TDP of 77.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the recorded data, the Intel Core i5-3330 is the better choice for users who prioritize multi-threaded rendering workloads. It wins four of the five head-to-head benchmark comparisons, with leads ranging from 0.2 to 0.3 percent in Cinebench multi-core tests. The i5-2500's only head-to-head win is a tie in Cinebench R20 single-core, where both score 206. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the i5-3330 takes a one-point lead.

However, the i5-2500 holds a higher average benchmark score of 1220 versus 1200 for the i5-3330, a 1.7 percent aggregate advantage. This is driven by the Geekbench multicore score of 1883, which is not matched by a corresponding i5-3330 result in the head-to-head table. The i5-2500 also has a higher base clock (3.30 vs 3.00) and a higher boost clock (3.70 vs 3.20), which explains its competitive single-core showing despite the i5-3330's newer architecture.

For a user who only runs the specific Cinebench workloads recorded here, the i5-3330 is marginally faster in multi-core and equal in single-core. For a user who relies on the broader Geekbench metric, the i5-2500 shows a higher absolute score. The differences are small enough that in everyday use, neither chip will feel meaningfully faster than the other. The i5-3330's lower TDP of 77 versus 95 could be a deciding factor for systems with limited cooling or power budgets, though the performance delta is minimal.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications. The i5-2500 has a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 3.70 GHz, while the i5-3330 runs at 3.00 GHz base and 3.20 GHz boost. The i5-2500 has a TDP of 95, compared to the i5-3330's 77. Both use the Intel Socket 1155, but the i5-2500 is built on the Sandy Bridge architecture with a 32 nm process node, while the i5-3330 uses Ivy Bridge on a 22 nm node.

The die size differs significantly: the i5-2500 measures 216 mm², while the i5-3330 is 133 mm². The transistor count for the i5-2500 is listed as 1,160 million, but no transistor count is provided for the i5-3330. Both have 4 cores and 4 threads, and both share a 6 MB L3 cache with 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core. The integrated graphics differ, with the i5-2500 featuring Intel HD 2000 and the i5-3330 featuring Intel HD 2500. The i5-2500's release date is January 8, 2011, while the i5-3330 was released on September 2, 2012. The i5-2500 carries part number SR00T, and the i5-3330 carries SR0RQ. Neither has an unlocked multiplier, and neither supports ECC memory.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two chips spans one full generation. The i5-2500 is based on Sandy Bridge, Intel's 32 nm microarchitecture, and it has a die size of 216 mm² with 1,160 million transistors. The i5-3330 is based on Ivy Bridge, a 22 nm process, and its die size shrinks to 133 mm². The smaller process node allows for a more power-efficient design, which is reflected in the lower TDP of 77 for the i5-3330 versus 95 for the i5-2500.

Despite the process shrink, the core configuration remains identical: 4 cores, 4 threads, 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 6 MB shared L3. Both chips support DDR3 memory in a dual-channel configuration, and both have PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The integrated graphics are upgraded on the i5-3330, moving from Intel HD 2000 to Intel HD 2500. The i5-3330 also carries a newer generation label, being listed as "Core i5 (Ivy Bridge)" versus "Core i5 (Sandy Bridge)" for the i5-2500.

The clock speed reduction on the i5-3330 (3.00/3.20 vs 3.30/3.70) is likely a trade-off for the lower power draw. The benchmark data shows that the newer Ivy Bridge architecture compensates for the lower clocks, as the i5-3330 slightly edges out the i5-2500 in multi-core Cinebench tests. In single-core tests, the higher-clocked i5-2500 manages to keep pace, indicating that the IPC improvement in Ivy Bridge roughly offsets the clock disadvantage.

Where Each One Wins

The i5-3330 wins in multi-threaded rendering workloads. It takes the lead in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests, with scores of 351, 1464, and 3486 respectively, compared to the i5-2500's 350, 1461, and 3479. The margins are small, but the i5-3330 is consistently ahead in every multi-core test recorded.

The i5-3330 also claims the single-core win in Cinebench R23, scoring 492 to the i5-2500's 491. The i5-2500's only head-to-head win is a tie in Cinebench R20 single-core, where both score 206. In that test, the winner is designated as the i5-2500, but the 0 percent delta makes it a dead heat.

The i5-2500 shows a stronger aggregate profile through its Geekbench results. Its Geekbench multicore score of 1883 and singlecore score of 670 are the only Geekbench figures in the database for these two chips, and they contribute to a higher average benchmark score of 1220 versus the i5-3330's 1200. The i5-2500 also has the advantage of higher clock speeds, which may benefit workloads that are not captured in the Cinebench suite.

For a user choosing between these two, the i5-3330 is the pick for Cinebench-style rendering tasks and for systems where the lower 77 TDP is beneficial. The i5-2500 is the pick for users who value the higher Geekbench scores and the higher peak clocks, particularly if the workload is sensitive to clock speed rather than architecture efficiency. In practice, the performance difference is so small that either chip will deliver a similar experience across most applications.