Intel Core i5-7500T vs Intel Core i7-2600K Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data splits this comparison cleanly by workload type. The Intel Core i7-2600K takes the Cinebench suite outright, winning all six Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 tests, both single-core and multi-core. Its margins are consistent but narrow, between 4.3% and 4.5% across every Cinebench iteration. This means that for rendering tasks, ray tracing workloads, or any application built around the Cinebench engine, the older Sandy Bridge chip remains the more capable processor despite its age.

The Intel Core i5-7500T counters in Geekbench, winning both the single-core and multi-core versions of that test. The single-core win is decisive at 40.4% ahead, while the multi-core advantage sits at 17.2%. Geekbench tends to favor newer instruction sets and memory architectures, which explains why the Kaby Lake part dominates there. For everyday productivity, web browsing, office suites, and lightly threaded applications that follow the Geekbench model, the i5-7500T is clearly the stronger choice.

The overall win count favors the i7-2600K at 6 wins versus 2 for the i5-7500T. However, the magnitude of the i5-7500T's Geekbench victories outweighs the narrow Cinebench margins. If your primary software relies on Geekbench-style workloads, the i5-7500T is the better buy. If you are rendering or encoding with Cinebench-based tools, the i7-2600K holds a consistent, if modest, edge.

Architecture Differences

These two processors come from different eras of Intel's roadmap, and the architectural gap explains most of their benchmark behavior. The i5-7500T uses the Kaby Lake architecture on a 14 nm process, while the i7-2600K is Sandy Bridge on a 32 nm node. The process shrink gives the newer chip a significant power efficiency advantage: 35 W TDP versus 95 W TDP. That is a 60 W difference, and it means the i5-7500T can be cooled by a much more modest cooler, potentially even a low-profile one in a small form factor build.

Both chips have 4 physical cores, but the i7-2600K adds Hyper-Threading, bringing its thread count to 8 versus 4 for the i5-7500T. This thread advantage is likely why the i7-2600K wins the multi-core Cinebench tests despite its older architecture. The i5-7500T has to rely on its newer core design and higher instructions per clock to compete, and in Geekbench it does exactly that.

Cache configurations also differ. The i5-7500T has 6 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i7-2600K has 8 MB. Both share 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core. The i7-2600K's larger L3 helps in multi-threaded scenarios where data reuse across cores matters.

Memory support is another divider. The i5-7500T runs DDR4 with a dual-channel bus and 38.4 GB/s of bandwidth. The i7-2600K requires DDR3 and tops out at 25.6 GB/s. This bandwidth difference likely contributes to the i5-7500T's strong Geekbench multi-core showing, as memory-bound workloads benefit from the faster interface.

PCIe generations differ as well. The i5-7500T provides PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, while the i7-2600K offers PCIe Gen 2 with the same lane count. For modern GPUs and NVMe drives, Gen 3 is a practical necessity, though the i7-2600K can still function with adapters or older hardware.

Integrated graphics are not equal either. The i5-7500T includes HD 630 graphics, while the i7-2600K has Intel HD 3000. The newer iGPU supports more modern video decode and output standards, though neither is suited for serious gaming without a discrete GPU.

The i7-2600K has an unlocked multiplier, making it overclockable, while the i5-7500T is locked. This matters for enthusiasts who want to push clock speeds beyond stock. The i7-2600K's base clock is 3.40 GHz with a 3.80 GHz boost, versus 2.70 GHz base and 3.30 GHz boost for the i5-7500T. Even without overclocking, the i7-2600K runs at higher frequencies, which helps in single-threaded Cinebench tests.

Production status also differs. The i5-7500T is listed as Active, while the i7-2600K is End-of-life. This affects availability and long-term support, but not current performance.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Core i7-2600K scores 4657 versus 4454 for the i5-7500T, a 4.4% advantage for the older chip. This likely comes from its 8 threads versus 4, which allows better parallel utilization in render workloads.

Q: Why does the i5-7500T win Geekbench by such a large margin?

A: The i5-7500T scores 1078 in Geekbench single-core versus 768 for the i7-2600K, a 40.4% lead. Its Kaby Lake architecture, 14 nm process, and DDR4 memory bandwidth all contribute to better performance in this test suite, which emphasizes latency and memory throughput.

Q: Can the i7-2600K be overclocked?

A: Yes, the i7-2600K has an unlocked multiplier, making it overclockable. The i5-7500T is locked. This could allow the i7-2600K to extend its Cinebench lead further, though the database does not include overclocked results.

Q: Which CPU has better power efficiency?

A: The i5-7500T has a 35 W TDP versus 95 W for the i7-2600K. This makes the i5-7500T far easier to cool and more suitable for low-power or compact builds, while the i7-2600K requires a more substantial cooling solution.

Q: What memory types do these CPUs support?

A: The i5-7500T supports DDR4 with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth, while the i7-2600K supports DDR3 with 25.6 GB/s. This is a major platform difference, and it affects motherboard choice and upgrade paths.

Q: Which one has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The i5-7500T has an average benchmark score of 1483, while the i7-2600K averages 1433. The i5-7500T also sits at the 38th percentile of all CPUs versus the 37th percentile for the i7-2600K, though the difference is small.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-7500T | Intel Core i7-2600K |

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

| Threads | 4 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 2.70 GHz | 3.40 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.30 GHz | 3.80 GHz |

| TDP | 35 W | 95 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1151 | Intel Socket 1155 |

| Architecture | Kaby Lake | Sandy Bridge |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 32 nm |

| Transistors | Not listed | 1,160 million |

| Die Size | Not listed | 216 mm² |

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

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR3 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 38.4 GB/s | 25.6 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 16 Lanes | Gen 2, 16 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | HD 630 | Intel HD 3000 |

| Production Status | Active | End-of-life |

| Release Date | 2017-01-02 | 2011-01-08 |

| Launch MSRP | Not listed | $317 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | Yes |

| Part Number | SR337 | SR00C |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench R15 multi-core test establishes the pattern: the i7-2600K scores 469 against 448 for the i5-7500T, a 4.5% win. Single-core R15 also goes to the i7-2600K, 66 versus 63, again 4.5%. These margins hold across newer Cinebench versions. In R20 multi-core, the i7-2600K leads 1955 to 1870, a 4.3% edge. Single-core R20 shows 275 versus 263, a 4.4% difference. R23 multi-core repeats the story at 4657 versus 4454, 4.4%, and single-core R23 at 657 versus 628, also 4.4%.

The consistency of these Cinebench deltas suggests a stable architectural advantage for the i7-2600K in this workload family. The extra threads and higher clock speeds appear to offset the newer core design of the i5-7500T.

Geekbench flips the script entirely. The i5-7500T scores 1078 in single-core against 768 for the i7-2600K, a 40.4% blowout. Multi-core Geekbench shows 3062 versus 2613, a 17.2% lead for the i5-7500T. These are much larger margins than the Cinebench results, indicating that the i5-7500T's architecture excels in latency-sensitive, memory-heavy workloads.

The average benchmark scores reflect this split. The i5-7500T averages 1483 across all tests, while the i7-2600K averages 1433. The i5-7500T also edges out its nearest rivals: it is 0.4% above the Intel Core i5-5575R and 0.7% above the Intel Core i7-4710HQ, while sitting 0.6% below the AMD Opteron 6344 and Intel Core i5-4590S. The i7-2600K is 0.5% above the Intel Core i5-4570S and 0.7% above the Intel Core i7-3820, while trailing the Intel Core i7-4712HQ by 0.2% and the AMD Ryzen 5 2400G by 0.4%.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear split recommendation. If your workloads are dominated by Cinebench-style rendering, the Intel Core i7-2600K is the stronger processor. It wins every Cinebench test by roughly 4.5%, and its 8 threads and higher clocks provide a real advantage in multi-threaded render tasks. The unlocked multiplier also makes it a candidate for overclocking, which could widen that gap further.

If you are building a system for general productivity, web work, or any application that follows the Geekbench performance model, the Intel Core i5-7500T is the better choice. Its 40.4% single-core and 17.2% multi-core Geekbench wins are decisive, and its 35 W TDP makes it vastly easier to cool and integrate into compact or silent builds. The DDR4 memory support and PCIe Gen 3 also make it more compatible with modern components.

The i5-7500T holds a slight overall edge in average benchmark score, 1483 versus 1433, and a one-point percentile advantage at 38 versus 37. But the i7-2600K wins more individual tests, 6 to 2. The practical verdict depends on your software. For rendering, pick the i7-2600K. For everything else, the i5-7500T offers better efficiency and a more modern platform. The i7-2600K is end-of-life, while the i5-7500T remains active, which may influence long-term availability and platform support.