Intel Core i5-2550K vs Intel Core i7-2600S Comparison

The Intel Core i7-2600S and Intel Core i5-2550K are both Sandy Bridge desktop parts on the Intel Socket 1155 platform, yet the benchmark data reveals two very different performance profiles. The i7-2600S dominates the Cinebench suite across the board, while the i5-2550K takes a clear lead in Geekbench tests. With the i7-2600S winning 6 of the 8 head-to-head comparisons, the overall average benchmark score of 1146 for the i7-2600S edges out the 1136 average of the i5-2550K, placing both processors at the 32nd percentile among all CPUs.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking pattern in the data is the consistent margin the Intel Core i7-2600S holds in Cinebench tests. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i7-2600S scores 396 against the i5-2550K's 365, an 8.5% advantage. The single-core R15 test shows a similar story, with the i7-2600S posting 55 versus 51 for the i5-2550K, a 7.8% lead. Moving to Cinebench R20, the i7-2600S maintains an 8.4% edge in both multi-core (1651 vs 1523) and single-core (233 vs 215) workloads. The Cinebench R23 results reinforce this trend, with the i7-2600S again holding an 8.4% advantage in both multi-core (3933 vs 3628) and single-core (555 vs 512) tests. Across all six Cinebench benchmarks, the i7-2600S wins decisively, with margins ranging from 7.8% to 8.5%.

The Geekbench results flip the narrative entirely. In Geekbench multi-core, the i5-2550K scores 2096, outpacing the i7-2600S's 1765 by a substantial 15.8% margin. The single-core Geekbench test shows an even larger gap, with the i5-2550K at 697 versus 578 for the i7-2600S, a 17.1% difference. These are not marginal wins; the i5-2550K is dramatically faster in Geekbench workloads, and the i7-2600S's Cinebench victories do not translate to that benchmark suite.

The head-to-head tally is lopsided in terms of test count—the i7-2600S wins 6 benchmarks while the i5-2550K wins 2—but the magnitude of the i5-2550K's Geekbench victories is noteworthy. The 17.1% single-core Geekbench gap is more than double the largest Cinebench margin the i7-2600S achieves. When examining the average benchmark scores, the i7-2600S sits at 1146, which is exactly matched by the AMD Opteron 4284, while the i5-2550K's 1136 average aligns with the Intel Core i5-3570T. The i7-2600S also edges out the Intel Core i7-3612QE by 0.1% and trails the Intel Core i5-4430 by 0.3%, while the i5-2550K is 0.1% behind the Intel Xeon E5640 and 0.2% ahead of the Intel Core i3-N300.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-2600S is the clear choice for Cinebench-based workloads, which typically stress rendering and 3D visualization. Its consistent 8.4% to 8.5% multi-core advantage in R15, R20, and R23 suggests that the i7-2600S delivers more sustained throughput in heavily threaded applications. The single-core Cinebench wins, ranging from 7.8% to 8.4%, also indicate that the i7-2600S has a slight edge in lighter rendering tasks. For users running Cinebench as a proxy for content creation, the data points squarely at the i7-2600S.

The Intel Core i5-2550K excels in Geekbench, which often reflects more general-purpose computing, including everyday tasks and some productivity applications. The 15.8% multi-core and 17.1% single-core advantages are significant, suggesting that the i5-2550K has a fundamentally higher performance ceiling in certain real-world scenarios. The i5-2550K's higher base clock of 3.40 GHz compared to 2.80 GHz for the i7-2600S likely contributes to this, though both processors share the same 3.80 GHz boost clock. The i5-2550K also has an unlocked multiplier, allowing for manual overclocking, which the i7-2600S lacks. The i5-2550K's Geekbench scores align it with the Intel Core i5-3570T (0% delta), while the i7-2600S matches the AMD Opteron 4284 exactly.

The i7-2600S wins on thread count, with 8 threads versus 4 for the i5-2550K, and this shows in the Cinebench multi-core tests where hyper-threading can provide a meaningful lift. However, the i5-2550K's raw clock speed advantage appears to matter more in Geekbench, where the i7-2600S's additional threads do not compensate for the lower base frequency. The data suggests a workload-dependent split: Cinebench favors the i7-2600S, while Geekbench strongly favors the i5-2550K.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on the Sandy Bridge architecture, fabricated on a 32 nm process at Intel, with 1,160 million transistors and a die size of 216 mm². The core counts are identical at 4, but the i7-2600S features 8 threads through Hyper-Threading, while the i5-2550K is limited to 4 threads. The L1 cache is the same at 64 KB per core, and L2 is identical at 256 KB per core, but the L3 cache differs: the i7-2600S has 8 MB shared, while the i5-2550K has 6 MB shared. This 2 MB L3 deficit for the i5-2550K could explain some of its weaker Cinebench performance, though it does not hurt its Geekbench results.

The base clocks diverge significantly, with the i7-2600S at 2.80 GHz and the i5-2550K at 3.40 GHz, yet both boost to 3.80 GHz. The i7-2600S has a 65 W TDP, while the i5-2550K draws 95 W, reflecting the i7-2600S's lower-power design. Memory support is DDR3 with a dual-channel bus for both, but the i5-2550K lists a memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s, while the i7-2600S does not specify a bandwidth figure. Neither supports ECC memory.

PCIe connectivity differs: the i7-2600S offers Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i5-2550K uses Gen 2 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The i7-2600S includes integrated graphics in the form of Intel HD 2000, whereas the i5-2550K has no integrated graphics at all. The i7-2600S has a locked multiplier, but the i5-2550K has an unlocked multiplier, making it the overclocking option. The release dates are close, with the i7-2600S launching on 2011-01-08 and the i5-2550K on 2012-01-29, and both are end-of-life products. The part numbers are SR00E for the i7-2600S and SR0QH for the i5-2550K.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear split decision. The Intel Core i7-2600S is the superior processor for Cinebench-based workloads, winning all six Cinebench tests with margins between 7.8% and 8.5%. Its 8 threads, 8 MB L3 cache, and lower 65 W TDP make it a strong candidate for rendering and multithreaded content creation, and its integrated graphics add a fallback display option. The i7-2600S's average benchmark score of 1146 places it exactly level with the AMD Opteron 4284 and slightly ahead of the Intel Core i7-3612QE, reinforcing its competitive position.

The Intel Core i5-2550K is the pick for Geekbench-oriented tasks, where its 15.8% multi-core and 17.1% single-core leads over the i7-2600S are decisive. The higher 3.40 GHz base clock and unlocked multiplier give it an edge in general-purpose computing and overclocking scenarios, though it requires a discrete GPU due to the absence of integrated graphics. The i5-2550K's 95 W TDP is higher, but the performance in Geekbench may justify the power draw for users prioritizing those workloads.

For users who rely on Cinebench as a benchmark for their workflow, the i7-2600S is the better choice, offering consistent multi-core and single-core advantages. For users who value Geekbench performance or plan to overclock, the i5-2550K is the stronger option, delivering substantial gains in that suite. The choice ultimately depends on which benchmark suite aligns with the user's applications, and the data does not show a single overall winner—only a workload-specific one.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i7-2600S has an average benchmark score of 1146, while the Intel Core i5-2550K has an average of 1136.

Q: How many threads does each processor have?

A: The Intel Core i7-2600S has 8 threads, while the Intel Core i5-2550K has 4 threads.

Q: What is the largest benchmark margin between the two processors?

A: The largest margin is in Geekbench single-core, where the Intel Core i5-2550K leads the Intel Core i7-2600S by 17.1%.

Q: Do both processors have integrated graphics?

A: No, the Intel Core i7-2600S features Intel HD 2000 integrated graphics, while the Intel Core i5-2550K has no integrated graphics.

Q: Which processor has an unlocked multiplier?

A: The Intel Core i5-2550K has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel Core i7-2600S does not.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The Intel Core i7-2600S has a TDP of 65 W, while the Intel Core i5-2550K has a TDP of 95 W.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-2600S | Intel Core i5-2550K |

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

| Threads | 8 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 2.80 GHz | 3.40 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.80 GHz | 3.80 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 95 W |

| L3 Cache | 8 MB (shared) | 6 MB (shared) |

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

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

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 2000 | None |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | Yes |

| Launch MSRP | Not specified | $235 |

| Release Date | 2011-01-08 | 2012-01-29 |

| Part Number | SR00E | SR0QH |