i5 2500k vs i7 2600k

[r0k0]

Any difference between both ? i'd like feedback on them so when comes boxing day i know which to pick up :P

thanks

[supaflyx3]

2500K = 4 cores, 4 threads. Fine for gaming and any normal desktop use.
2600K = 4 cores, 8 threads. Great for encoding, doesn't really have any benefit over the 2500k for gaming.

[Arinoth]

The difference between the two is that the i5 only has 4 threads (4 cores) whereas the i7 has 8 threads (4 cores + 4 from hyperthreading). Unless you are running programs/applications that require/need 8 threads, the 4 threaded i5 will do just fine for gaming.

[r0k0]

so the extra 2mb on l3 cache is worthless so just stick with a 2500K i5 and not buy the i7 2600K... i should sell my i7 960 with MB and buy a new MB with i7 2600k :P

[geokilla]

Why don't you just overclock your Core i7 960? If you get a Core i5 2500K, then it'd be a downgrade imo.

[Bond007]

Originally Posted by supaflyx3

2500K = 4 cores, 4 threads. Fine for gaming and any normal desktop use.
2600K = 4 cores, 8 threads. Great for encoding, doesn't really have any benefit over the 2500k for gaming.

^^^agreed.

I also wouldn't bother changing to either of these cpu if you are running an i7 960 now.

[JD]

The only (semi) logical upgrade from an i7 960 would be the i7 3930K on LGA2011. If you have LGA1366 and go to LGA1155, it's a downgrade. You won't gain anything really...

Unless of course you are only focusing on power consumption, in which case LGA1155 would be an upgrade.

[r0k0]

i7 960 @ 4.0Ghz ati 5970 2gb 3dmark06 = 24906
i5 2500 @ 3.3Ghz gtx560 1gb 3dmark06 = 25782

im not downgrading.... i5 at stock clocks is faster than my i7 overclock from 3.2 to 4.0

[Eldonko]

You are comparing different video cards...

I agree with JD. I wouldnt bother going from 1366 to 1155, just oc the 960 or if you want better go to 3930K.

[r0k0]

wouldn't a GTX 560 be slower then a 5970 ? the 5970 is a Dual GPU card with 2GB compared to 1 GTX 560 with 1GB