CPU Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i5-4670 wins every single head-to-head test in this comparison, and it does so by a remarkably consistent margin. In multi-core workloads, the i5-4670 scores 469 in Cinebench R15 against the i5-2500K's 354, a 32.5% advantage. That gap holds almost exactly as the workload scales, Cinebench R20 multi-core shows 1957 versus 1479 (32.3% ahead), and Cinebench R23 multi-core shows 4660 versus 3523 (32.3% ahead). This uniformity across three generations of the Cinebench suite suggests the advantage is structural rather than workload-specific.

Single-core results tell the same story. The i5-4670 posts 275 in Cinebench R20 single-core versus 208 for the i5-2500K, a 32.2% lead, and 657 versus 497 in Cinebench R23 single-core, again 32.2% ahead. The i5-2500K does have one benchmark the i5-4670 lacks, Geekbench results of 2434 multi-core and 805 single-core, but with no comparable Geekbench numbers for the i5-4670 in the data, those scores cannot be used for a direct comparison. What can be stated firmly is that in the five tests where both chips were measured, the i5-4670 wins all five. The i5-2500K registers zero wins.

The delta percentages are tight across the board, ranging from 32.2% to 32.5%. This narrow spread indicates the i5-4670's advantage is essentially uniform across both single-threaded and multi-threaded tasks. The average benchmark scores reflect this too, with the i5-4670 at 1347 and the i5-2500K at 1329, a small overall gap because the i5-2500K's Geekbench scores pull its average up, but the head-to-head Cinebench results are decisive.

Context from nearest rivals reinforces where each chip sits. The i5-4670's closest competitors by average score include the Intel Core i5-7400T (1348, 0.1% higher) and the Intel Xeon E3-1226 v3 (1357, 0.7% higher), placing it in the mid-range of modern desktop parts. The i5-2500K sits near the Intel Core i5-4460S (1330, 0.1% higher) and the Intel Core i5-760 (1337, 0.6% higher). Both chips land in the 35th-36th percentile of all CPUs, so neither is a performance leader today, but the i5-4670 is meaningfully faster than the i5-2500K within that same tier.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural eras, and the data shows exactly what that means in practice. The i5-4670 is built on Haswell, fabricated on a 22 nm process at Intel, with 1,400 million transistors packed into a 177 mm² die. The i5-2500K uses Sandy Bridge, on a larger 32 nm process, with 1,160 million transistors across a 216 mm² die. The newer node gives the i5-4670 a smaller physical footprint with more transistors, a direct explanation for its higher performance per clock.

Both chips have four cores and four threads, so the thread count is identical. The cache hierarchy is also the same on paper: 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3. Neither supports ECC memory. The difference lies in what surrounds those cores. The i5-4670's base clock is 3.40 GHz with a boost to 3.80 GHz, while the i5-2500K runs at 3.30 GHz base and 3.70 GHz boost. That is only a 0.10 GHz gap in both directions, yet the i5-4670 outperforms the i5-2500K by over 32% in every Cinebench test. The architectural IPC gains from Haswell over Sandy Bridge, not raw clock speed, drive the entire performance difference.

Memory support is DDR3 for both, with dual-channel buses. The i5-2500K lists a memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s; the i5-4670 does not list a bandwidth figure in the data, so no direct bandwidth comparison is possible. PCIe support differs: the i5-4670 uses Gen 3, while the i5-2500K is limited to Gen 2 with 16 lanes on the CPU. Integrated graphics also differ, the i5-4670 carries Intel HD 4600, the i5-2500K has Intel HD 3000. The i5-4670 has a locked multiplier, while the i5-2500K's multiplier is unlocked, a notable feature for overclocking that the data supports.

The i5-2500K draws 95 W TDP versus 84 W for the i5-4670, despite the older chip being slower. The i5-4670 does more work per watt. Socket compatibility is another hard split: the i5-4670 mounts on Intel Socket 1150, the i5-2500K on Intel Socket 1155. These are not interchangeable, so any upgrade between them requires a motherboard change. The i5-2500K is marked end-of-life in production status; the i5-4670 has no such status listed.

Where Each One Wins

Given the benchmark data, the i5-4670 wins every measured workload category. Multi-core rendering is its strongest area relative to the i5-2500K, a 32.3-32.5% lead across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests. Single-core performance is nearly identical in margin, with 32.2% leads in both R20 and R23 single-core. That makes the i5-4670 the choice for any application that stresses either a single thread or all threads, from lightly threaded productivity apps to fully parallel rendering tasks.

The i5-2500K's only advantage lies in features not measured by the Cinebench suite. Its unlocked multiplier is a genuine differentiator, the data lists it as multiplier unlocked, while the i5-4670 is not. For an experienced builder willing to overclock, the i5-2500K can potentially close some of the 32% gap, though the data does not quantify how much. The i5-2500K also has a slightly higher TDP at 95 W, which suggests more headroom for manual tuning if cooling allows, but again the data does not specify cooler requirements.

The i5-2500K's Geekbench scores (2434 multi-core, 805 single-core) are present in the data but have no direct i5-4670 counterpart, so they cannot be used to declare a win. The i5-4670's percentile ranking of 36 versus the i5-2500K's 35 shows both are similarly positioned among all CPUs, meaning neither is a top-tier part today. But within this pairing, the i5-4670 is the clear performer.

For use cases, the i5-4670 is the pick for modern workloads where IPC matters, video encoding, 3D rendering, code compilation, or general desktop responsiveness. The i5-2500K remains a viable option only for users who prioritize overclocking headroom and already own a Socket 1155 board. The data does not favor the i5-2500K in any raw performance test.

The Verdict

The data is one-sided. The Intel Core i5-4670 outperforms the Intel Core i5-2500K by roughly 32% in every single benchmark where both were measured, across both single-core and multi-core workloads. The i5-4670 wins 5 of 5 head-to-head tests; the i5-2500K wins none. If you are choosing between these two purely on performance, the i5-4670 is the answer. Its newer 22 nm Haswell architecture delivers substantially more work per clock than the 32 nm Sandy Bridge design, and it does so at a lower TDP (84 W versus 95 W).

The i5-2500K is not without merit for a specific buyer. Its unlocked multiplier is a feature the i5-4670 lacks, and its end-of-life status means it may be available cheaply on the used market, though pricing is not part of this analysis. The i5-2500K's launch MSRP was $216, a figure stated once here for reference. For a builder with a Socket 1155 motherboard already in hand, the i5-2500K could still serve, particularly if overclocking is the goal. The 3.30 GHz base and 3.70 GHz boost clocks are close to the i5-4670's 3.40/3.80 GHz, so the gap is purely architectural.

For anyone building new or upgrading from an older platform, the i5-4670 is the data-backed choice. It slots into Socket 1150 with PCIe Gen 3 support and Intel HD 4600 graphics, versus the i5-2500K's Socket 1155, PCIe Gen 2, and HD 3000. The i5-4670's 36th percentile ranking versus the i5-2500K's 35th is nearly identical, so neither will impress in a modern benchmarking context, but the i5-4670 is clearly the stronger of the two. The verdict is straightforward: pick the i5-4670 unless overclocking capability on an existing 1155 platform is your priority.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: The Intel Core i5-4670 is faster in all measured multi-core tests, leading by 32.5% in Cinebench R15 (469 versus 354), 32.3% in Cinebench R20 (1957 versus 1479), and 32.3% in Cinebench R23 (4660 versus 3523).

Q: How do the single-core scores compare?

A: The i5-4670 leads by 32.2% in both Cinebench R20 single-core (275 versus 208) and Cinebench R23 single-core (657 versus 497). The i5-2500K has Geekbench single-core at 805, but no comparable Geekbench score exists for the i5-4670.

Q: Do both CPUs have the same core and thread count?

A: Yes, both have 4 cores and 4 threads. The cache layout is also identical: 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 6 MB shared L3.

Q: Can I overclock either of these processors?

A: The i5-2500K has an unlocked multiplier, making it overclockable. The i5-4670 has a locked multiplier, so it does not support the same type of overclocking.

Q: What are the socket requirements for each chip?

A: The i5-4670 uses Intel Socket 1150, while the i5-2500K uses Intel Socket 1155. They are not interchangeable, so a motherboard change is required to switch between them.

Q: Which CPU has better integrated graphics?

A: The i5-4670 includes Intel HD 4600, while the i5-2500K includes Intel HD 3000. The i5-4670 also supports PCIe Gen 3, versus the i5-2500K's PCIe Gen 2.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-4670 | Intel Core i5-2500K |

|---|---|---|

| Base Clock | 3.40 GHz | 3.30 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.80 GHz | 3.70 GHz |

| TDP | 84 W | 95 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1150 | Intel Socket 1155 |

| Architecture | Haswell | Sandy Bridge |

| Process Node | 22 nm | 32 nm |

| Transistors | 1,400 million | 1,160 million |

| Die Size | 177 mm² | 216 mm² |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not listed | 25.6 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 3 | Gen 2, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 4600 | Intel HD 3000 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | Yes |

| Part Number | SR14D | SR008 |

| Production Status | Not listed | End-of-life |

| Release Date | 2013-06-01 | 2011-01-08 |

| Launch MSRP | Not listed | $216 |