Intel Core i5-760 vs Intel Core i7-2600 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a remarkably consistent picture: the older Intel Core i5-760 outpaces the newer Core i7-2600 in every single recorded test. Across six Cinebench workloads, the i5-760 claims victory by margins ranging from 1.6% to 2.4%. This is not a case of one chip excelling in a specific niche; the i5-760 wins both single-threaded and multi-threaded tests, making the result a clean sweep.

Starting with single-core performance, the i5-760 scores 65 in Cinebench R15 single-core, a 1.6% edge over the i7-2600's 64. The pattern holds in Cinebench R20 single-core, where the i5-760 posts 273 against 267 for the i7-2600, a 2.2% advantage. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the i5-760 again leads with 652 points versus 638, another 2.2% gap. The consistency of these margins is striking. The i7-2600 has a higher base clock (3.40 GHz versus 2.80 GHz) and a higher boost clock (3.80 GHz versus 3.33 GHz), yet the i5-760 still wins every single-threaded test. The data suggests that architectural differences, which will be discussed later, more than compensate for the clock speed deficit.

Multi-core results tell the same story with slightly larger margins. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-760 scores 466 against the i7-2600's 455, a 2.4% lead. Cinebench R20 multi-core shows the i5-760 at 1942 versus 1897 for the i7-2600, also a 2.4% difference. The largest absolute gap appears in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the i5-760 scores 4624 and the i7-2600 scores 4519, a 2.3% margin. The i7-2600 has twice the thread count (8 threads versus 4 threads), yet this does not translate into a multi-core victory. In fact, the i5-760's lead in multi-core tests is roughly equal to its lead in single-core tests, indicating that the i7-2600's extra threads are not providing a meaningful advantage in these specific workloads.

The win tally is emphatic: the i5-760 wins 6 head-to-head benchmarks, while the i7-2600 wins 0. However, it is importantly the overall database figures slightly favor the i7-2600. The i7-2600 has an average benchmark score of 1370 and sits at the 36th percentile of all CPUs, while the i5-760 has an average score of 1337 and sits at the 35th percentile. This discrepancy is explained by the i7-2600's inclusion of two Geekbench results (2409 multi-core, 712 single-core) in its average, which are not recorded for the i5-760. The head-to-head comparison, which uses only identical Cinebench tests, is the more direct measure of relative performance.

The Verdict

The recorded data leads to an unambiguous conclusion: the Intel Core i5-760 is the faster processor in every measured Cinebench workload. For users looking at raw rendering performance in these specific tests, the i5-760 is the clear choice, despite being an older product built on a larger process node. The i7-2600's higher clock speeds and doubled thread count do not translate into a win in any benchmark included in the database.

However, the verdict is more nuanced than a simple "buy the i5-760." The i7-2600 has a marginal edge in the overall average benchmark score (1370 versus 1337) and sits one percentile higher (36th versus 35th). This is largely due to the additional Geekbench data points for the i7-2600, which are absent from the i5-760's profile. If a user's workload includes Geekbench-style tests, the i7-2600 may present a slightly more balanced profile. But for Cinebench rendering specifically, the i5-760 wins all six tests, and the margins, while small (1.6% to 2.4%), are consistent across every iteration.

The i7-2600 also offers features that the i5-760 lacks, including integrated graphics (Intel HD 2000) and support for PCIe Gen 3, both of which are absent from the i5-760's specification sheet. These are platform-level considerations that go beyond raw compute benchmarks. A user building a system without a discrete graphics card would find the i7-2600's integrated graphics essential, while the i5-760 offers no such option. The i7-2600's PCIe Gen 3 support also provides newer interconnect technology, which may matter for certain expansion cards.

For the pure performance comparison, the data says i5-760. For platform features and a slightly higher overall average score, the i7-2600 has its own merits. The decision hinges on whether the user prioritizes Cinebench scores or the broader feature set.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent different generations of Intel's Core architecture. The i5-760 is built on the Nehalem architecture, specifically the Lynnfield codename, and uses a 45 nm process node. It contains 774 million transistors on a 296 mm² die. The i7-2600 is a Sandy Bridge processor, using a 32 nm process node, with 1,160 million transistors on a smaller 216 mm² die. The shift from 45 nm to 32 nm allowed Intel to pack nearly 50% more transistors into a smaller physical area, evidence of the manufacturing improvements between generations.

Both chips have 4 physical cores, but they diverge in thread count. The i5-760 has 4 threads, meaning no Hyper-Threading, while the i7-2600 has 8 threads, enabling simultaneous multi-threading on each core. The i7-2600 also runs at higher clocks: 3.40 GHz base and 3.80 GHz boost, compared to the i5-760's 2.80 GHz base and 3.33 GHz boost. Despite these apparent advantages, the i5-760 wins all recorded benchmarks, suggesting that the Nehalem core design has a per-clock performance advantage over Sandy Bridge in these workloads, or that the benchmark software does not scale with the i7-2600's extra threads.

Cache configurations are nearly identical. Both processors feature 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. This parity in cache hierarchy means that the performance differences cannot be attributed to cache size. Both support DDR3 memory in dual-channel mode, and neither supports ECC memory. The sockets differ: the i5-760 uses Intel Socket 1156, while the i7-2600 uses Intel Socket 1155. This means the two chips are not interchangeable in the same motherboard.

PCIe support is another differentiator. The i5-760 offers PCIe Gen 2 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the i7-2600 offers PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes. The newer PCIe standard provides higher bandwidth, which could benefit modern GPUs. The i7-2600 also includes integrated graphics in the form of Intel HD 2000, while the i5-760 has no integrated graphics at all. This is a fundamental platform difference: a system built around the i5-760 requires a discrete graphics card, whereas the i7-2600 can operate with a basic display output.

Both processors are end-of-life products, released in 2010 for the i5-760 and 2011 for the i7-2600. Neither has an unlocked multiplier, restricting overclocking potential. The part numbers are SLBRP for the i5-760 and SR00B for the i7-2600.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher clock speed?

A: The Intel Core i7-2600 has a higher base clock of 3.40 GHz and a higher boost clock of 3.80 GHz, compared to the i5-760's 2.80 GHz base and 3.33 GHz boost.

Q: Does the i7-2600's 8 threads beat the i5-760's 4 threads in multi-core benchmarks?

A: No. The i5-760 wins all three multi-core Cinebench tests (R15, R20, R23) with margins between 2.3% and 2.4%. The extra threads do not produce a win in the recorded data.

Q: Which CPU has integrated graphics?

A: Only the Intel Core i7-2600 has integrated graphics, specifically Intel HD 2000. The i5-760 has no integrated graphics, requiring a discrete GPU for display output.

Q: What is the difference in process node between the two chips?

A: The i5-760 is built on a 45 nm process, while the i7-2600 uses a 32 nm process. The i7-2600 also has more transistors (1,160 million versus 774 million) on a smaller die (216 mm² versus 296 mm²).

Q: Are these CPUs compatible with the same motherboard?

A: No. The i5-760 uses Intel Socket 1156, while the i7-2600 uses Intel Socket 1155. They are not interchangeable.

Q: What is the overall benchmark percentile for each processor?

A: The i5-760 sits at the 35th percentile of all CPUs, while the i7-2600 sits at the 36th percentile. The i7-2600 also has a slightly higher average benchmark score of 1370 versus 1337.

Where Each One Wins

The i5-760 wins the pure performance contest. It takes all six Cinebench head-to-head benchmarks, with margins from 1.6% to 2.4%. For rendering tasks that use Cinebench-style workloads, the i5-760 is the faster chip. Its wins are consistent across every Cinebench version, from R15 through R23, in both single-core and multi-core modes. The architecture appears to be more efficient per clock, even though it runs at lower frequencies. Users who prioritize raw rendering scores in these specific tests should favor the i5-760.

The i7-2600 wins the platform features contest. It offers integrated graphics, which is a decisive advantage for systems without a discrete GPU. It also supports PCIe Gen 3, providing a more modern interconnect for expansion cards. The higher clock speeds (3.40 GHz base, 3.80 GHz boost) may benefit workloads that are not captured in the Cinebench tests, although the recorded data does not show this. The i7-2600 also has a slightly higher average benchmark score (1370 versus 1337) and a higher percentile ranking (36th versus 35th), driven by its additional Geekbench results. For a user who values the extra threads, the integrated GPU, or the newer PCIe standard, the i7-2600 presents a more complete package, even if it loses every head-to-head Cinebench test.

The choice is clear in the data but depends on priorities. The i5-760 wins every measured benchmark. The i7-2600 wins on features and overall average score. There is no single winner across all categories; the database shows a split between raw performance and platform capability.