Processor I5 2500: specifications and reviews

The processor of the average price range of 2011, which allows solving any problems even now, is the "Kor i5 2500" from Intel. It is his parameters and reviews about him that will be examined in detail.

What tasks does the CPU focus on?

The last several generations of processors from Intel's first generation 1155 socket (namely to this connector for the CPU and the hero of this review belongs) were positioned as follows:

• CPUs with excessive performance are Core i7. These are flagship solutions that could boast of high performance and the availability of just 4 compute units and 8 threads.

• Chips with a normal level of performance, which allows you to run on any computer hardware, any software. The difference with the previous generation is that in the previous case, all programs come with the maximum possible settings, and in this case sometimes you have to sacrifice something. These chips had an "i5" index. As it is easy to guess on the marking of the CPU, the processor i5 2500 It refers to this niche of processor solutions.

• Even the lower level of productivity and, as a result, the lower cost compared to the previous two segments boasted "Kor i3". This chip has only 2 computational units, which at the program level are converted into 4 computational flows.

• The budget segment is occupied by "Pentiums" and "Celerons". They are perfect for undemanding tasks. But serious toys on them, if they do, then in a very truncated version (that is, with minimal settings).

What, besides the CPU, comes with it?

The bundle of this processor solution is quite typical. It includes:

• The chip itself.

• Established cooler.

• Syringe with thermal paste.

• Sticker with the logo of the CPU model.

• Warranty card.

• Manual.

Socket

As noted earlier, this CPU was targeted at the most popular processor connector in 2011-2012 - a socket 1155. As it is easy to understand from the marking, it had 1155 contacts for installing the processor. Motherboards with this connector can still be obtained. And even entry-level processors are still on sale. But high-performance solutions can be purchased only those that were already in use.

Technological process

"Intel Cor i5 2500" was manufactured according to the norms of 32nm technological process. To date, this technological process has become obsolete. Advanced solutions from Intel are currently manufactured using 14nm technology. But later processor solutions of this manufacturer in terms of heat dissipation became much worse and heated much more strongly. The best in this regard are 32nm chips of the "Sandy Bridge" generation, to which this semiconductor crystal belongs. And the main chip here is not in the technological process, but in the thermal paste, which is located between the semiconductor crystal and the upper radiator cover.

Fast volatile memory chip

The first level of the cache in "Kor i5 2500" It is divided into 4 parts, each of which is fixed to a certain module. It should also be noted that this memory is divided into 2 equal parts of 32 kb each. The first of them stores the instructions of the CPU, and the second - the data. Its total size is 256 kb. The second level is also divided into 4 parts of 256 kb. Again, each of them works only on a certain computational module and there is no strict separation of the stored information type in this case. The last level of the cache is the third. Its size is 6 MB and they are common for the entire CPU.

With what RAM this chip can work?

This chip allows you to use in the computer system only RAM standard DDR3. At the time of the release of the CPU in 2011, there was no alternative to this type of RAM. And now, after 5 years, it still continues to be relevant and most common. But still he is now actively replacing DDR4.

Thermal conditions

Maximum temperature for Intel i5 2500 Is equal to 72.6 degrees. When most tasks are performed in normal mode, the regular cooling system with the greatest load allows the chip to heat up to a maximum of 50 degrees. But when overclocking the cooler is required. Otherwise, a critical 72.6 degrees will be achieved quickly enough. The thermal package for this silicon crystal is 95 W. Modern analogs of this chip boast a thermal package of 77 watts (almost 20% less). But here the heat sink for them is much worse. Therefore, from the position and reliability of the solution, "Sandy Bridge" continues to be one of the best.

Frequencies

The nominal frequency for i5 2500 is 3.30 GHz. In this mode, the chip works, if 4 computational cores are used to work at once. If there are enough 3 cores to solve the problem, the unused powers are automatically turned off. As a result, the chip frequency automatically rises to 3.4 GHz. For 2 cores, this value will already be 3.5GHz. But for a single-threaded task, the processor frequency can go up to 3.6 GHz.

Architecture

CPU i5 2500 Includes 4-r computing units at the physical level. This chip does not support the "Hyper-Trading" technology and the number of its software threads is equal to the number of computing cores, that is, four. Most modern software is optimized for just such a number of threads on the hardware level. Therefore, most of the modern software will run without problems on this semiconductor chip.

Graphic accelerator

This generation of chips was the first in the history of "Intel", in the semiconductor crystal which was integrated graphics adapter. More specifically, in this chip, the "HD Diagram 3000" was installed. Its starting frequency was 850 MHz, and the maximum frequency was 1100 MHz. It has changed depending on the level of complexity of the problem being solved. It is not necessary to expect a phenomenal level of performance from this graphical solution, but here it is enough to solve most office tasks. But about the most demanding toys this can not be said: the computational capabilities of this graphic accelerator are clearly not enough.

Increase in productivity

The usual Core i5 2500 can be overclocked only slightly. The main reason here is the blocked multiplier of the silicon crystal. Therefore, for an ordinary chip, the order of overclocking is:

• Install an improved cooler compared to the complete one.

• Pay attention to the power supply, whose power should be at least 800-900 watts.

• We install a specialized software on the PC: "CPU Zet", "Speed Fan" and "AIDA 64". With its help you can check the reliability of the computer system.

• We reboot the PC and go to the BIOS. Further, we lower all frequencies of the PC, except for the frequency of the system bus. It must be gradually increased. After each manipulation, we load the PC and check its reliability. If everything is in order, then we continue to increase the frequency. Experience shows that 3.5-3.7 GHz can be achieved. With the voltage raised on the CPU, this value can increase to 3.9 GHz.

Separately, it should also be noted that there is a special modification of this chip, which comes with the "K" index. It comes with an initially unblocked multiplier and its performance can be increased by increasing it. As experience shows, in this case without special problems it is possible to get even 5 GHz without much difficulty. But only the requirements for such a computer system are significantly increasing: the power of the power unit is not less than 1000 W, the improved model of the motherboard (chipsets Z67 and Z77) and a high-quality cooling system.

Price

Of course, the processor solution i5 2500 could not be relatively inexpensive. Price It at the time of the start of sales was equal to 206 dollars. Even more expensive version with the index "K". It was valued at 216 dollars. On the one hand, this is a fairly solid amount. But on the other hand, we can say that this PC is even now relevant. That is, such a computer system is bought not for one year and such an approach is fully justified.

Opinion of PC users

Serious drawbacks do not exist in the Core i5 2500. But there are a lot of pluses. Among them one can distinguish the following:

• Excellent energy efficiency of the processor solution.

• High level of performance.

• High overclocking potential in the CPU version with the "K" index.

Results

The flawless combination of price and performance i5 2500 allows even now to put it on a par with modern flagship solutions. Not so much increased the performance in the chips of Intel last generation. But the temperature stability of the i5 2500 was an order of magnitude better. And if you add the ability to overclock the version of the chip with the index "K" to 5 GHz, it turns out that this is almost the best chip in the history of "Intel" to date.