Intel Core i5-2550K vs Intel Core i7-2860QM Comparison

The Intel Core i5-2550K and Intel Core i7-2860QM are both Sandy Bridge processors, but they serve different market segments and deliver sharply contrasting benchmark results. The recorded data shows a clear split: the i7-2860QM wins all six Cinebench tests, while the i5-2550K takes both Geekbench tests by a wide margin. This analysis walks through the head-to-head scores, the architectural reasons behind the results, and the use cases where each processor is the better fit.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The i7-2860QM dominates the Cinebench suite. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 390 against the i5-2550K's 365, a 6.4% lead. The single-core R15 test shows the same pattern: 54 versus 51, a 5.6% advantage. Moving to Cinebench R20, the i7 scores 1626 multi-core and 229 single-core, while the i5 scores 1523 and 215 respectively, giving the i7 a 6.3% lead in multi-core and a 6.1% lead in single-core. The gap persists in Cinebench R23: the i7 posts 3873 multi-core and 546 single-core, against the i5's 3628 and 512, a 6.3% and 6.2% advantage respectively. Across all six Cinebench tests, the i7-2860QM is consistently ahead by roughly 6%, a narrow but uniform margin.

The i5-2550K flips the script in Geekbench. In Geekbench multi-core, the i5 scores 2096 against the i7's 1681, a 24.7% lead. The single-core test is even more lopsided: 697 versus 558, a 24.9% advantage. These are substantial deltas, far larger than the Cinebench gaps. The i5 wins 2 of the 8 head-to-head tests, but it wins them by a much wider margin than the i7's Cinebench victories.

The data suggests a workload-dependent outcome. The i7-2860QM is the stronger performer in Cinebench's rendering workloads, while the i5-2550K is decisively ahead in Geekbench's mixed integer and floating-point tests. The average benchmark scores reflect this: the i5-2550K averages 1136, the i7-2860QM averages 1120, a difference of 16 points. Both processors sit at the 32nd percentile of all CPUs in the database.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on the Sandy Bridge architecture, using a 32 nm process node at Intel's foundry. They share the same transistor count of 1,160 million and the same die size of 216 mm². The core count is identical at 4, but the threading differs: the i5-2550K has 4 threads, while the i7-2860QM has 8 threads. This hyper-threading capability is a key differentiator, as it allows the i7 to process more concurrent work in Cinebench's multi-threaded tests.

Clock speeds also diverge. The i5-2550K runs at a base clock of 3.40 GHz and boosts to 3.80 GHz, while the i7-2860QM runs at 2.50 GHz base and 3.60 GHz boost. The i5 has a 0.90 GHz higher base clock and a 0.20 GHz higher boost clock. Despite this, the i7 still wins in Cinebench, which points to the impact of its extra threads and larger cache.

Cache allocation differs as well. Both have 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, but the L3 cache is 6 MB shared on the i5-2550K versus 8 MB shared on the i7-2860QM. The i7's 2 MB larger L3 cache likely helps in workloads that benefit from more on-die data.

The processors target different sockets and market segments. The i5-2550K is a desktop part using Intel Socket 1155, with a TDP of 95 W. The i7-2860QM is a mobile part using Intel Socket G2 (988B), with a TDP of 45 W. The i5 has no integrated graphics, while the i7 includes Intel HD 3000. The i5 supports DDR3 memory with a dual-channel bus and a memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s; the i7's memory support and bandwidth are not recorded in the database. The i5 also has PCIe Gen 2 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i7 has no PCIe data listed.

The i5-2550K has an unlocked multiplier, making it overclockable, while the i7-2860QM is locked. The i5 was released on 2012-01-29, the i7 on 2011-09-03. The i5's part number is SR0QH, the i7's is SR02X.

Where Each One Wins

The i7-2860QM is the clear winner in Cinebench, which is a rendering workload that scales with thread count and cache. Its 8 threads and 8 MB L3 cache give it a consistent 6% edge over the i5-2550K across R15, R20, and R23, in both single-core and multi-core tests. This makes it the better choice for applications that resemble Cinebench's rendering and ray-tracing tasks, where additional threads and cache are directly beneficial.

The i5-2550K wins decisively in Geekbench, with a 24.7% lead in multi-core and a 24.9% lead in single-core. Geekbench's workload mix appears to favor the i5's higher clock speeds, particularly its 3.80 GHz boost clock. The i5's 0.20 GHz boost advantage over the i7, combined with its lower thread count, suggests that Geekbench's tests are more sensitive to raw clock speed than to thread parallelism.

The use-case split is straightforward. For multi-threaded rendering and compute tasks, the i7-2860QM is the stronger performer. For single-threaded and mixed workloads that resemble Geekbench, the i5-2550K is the better option. The i5's higher average benchmark score (1136 versus 1120) reflects its strength in the Geekbench tests, which carry equal weight in the average.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in the following recorded specifications:

• Threads: 4 (i5-2550K) versus 8 (i7-2860QM)
• Base clock: 3.40 GHz (i5) versus 2.50 GHz (i7)
• Boost clock: 3.80 GHz (i5) versus 3.60 GHz (i7)
• TDP: 95 W (i5) versus 45 W (i7)
• Socket: Intel Socket 1155 (i5) versus Intel Socket G2 (988B) (i7)
• L3 cache: 6 MB shared (i5) versus 8 MB shared (i7)
• Memory support: DDR3 (i5) versus not recorded (i7)
• Memory bandwidth: 25.6 GB/s (i5) versus not recorded (i7)
• PCIe: Gen 2, 16 lanes (CPU only) (i5) versus not recorded (i7)
• Integrated graphics: none (i5) versus Intel HD 3000 (i7)
• Market segment: Desktop (i5) versus Mobile (i7)
• Release date: 2012-01-29 (i5) versus 2011-09-03 (i7)
• Launch MSRP: $235 (i5) versus not recorded (i7)
• Multiplier unlocked: yes (i5) versus no (i7)
• Part number: SR0QH (i5) versus SR02X (i7)

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-2860QM has 8 threads, while the Intel Core i5-2550K has 4 threads. Both have 4 cores.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i5-2550K has a boost clock of 3.80 GHz, which is 0.20 GHz higher than the i7-2860QM's 3.60 GHz.

Q: Which processor wins in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Core i7-2860QM wins with a score of 3873, compared to the i5-2550K's 3628, a 6.3% lead.

Q: Which processor wins in Geekbench single-core?

A: The Intel Core i5-2550K wins with a score of 697, compared to the i7-2860QM's 558, a 24.9% lead.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core i7-2860QM has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i5-2550K has 6 MB.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core i7-2860QM includes Intel HD 3000, while the i5-2550K has no integrated graphics.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear choice based on workload. The Intel Core i7-2860QM is the better processor for Cinebench-style rendering tasks, winning all six Cinebench tests with a consistent 6% margin. Its 8 threads and 8 MB L3 cache provide a measurable advantage in multi-threaded compute. The Intel Core i5-2550K is the better processor for Geekbench-style workloads, winning both tests by nearly 25%, driven by its higher clock speeds. The i5 also has a higher average benchmark score (1136 versus 1120) and an unlocked multiplier for overclocking.

For users running rendering or multi-threaded applications, the i7-2860QM is the stronger pick. For users prioritizing single-threaded performance and mixed workloads, the i5-2550K is the better option. The i5 is a desktop part with a 95 W TDP, while the i7 is a mobile part with a 45 W TDP, so platform choice also matters. The i5-2550K had a launch MSRP of $235; the i7-2860QM's launch MSRP is not recorded. Both processors are end-of-life, but the benchmark data shows they remain competitive in their respective niches.