Intel Core i5-2500K LGA 1155 “Sandy Bridge” Processor Review

The word Sandy Bridge is what we have been hearing for the past 3 months.  In forums, on different websites and even on the news.  Sandy Bridge is the codename for Intel’s new 32nm processor architecture.  This new architecture brings on-die graphics to a whole new level and still has all of the same features we saw on the Nehalem architecture.  It adds even more with Turbo Boost Technology 2.0, Intel Quick Sync Video, Intel InTru 3D, and AVX (Advanced Vector Extensions) instructions.  With this new architecture Intel is releasing 11 desktop processors, we will be taking the Core i5-2500K through the paces, read on to check it out!

Special thanks to Intel for providing us with the Core i5-2500K LGA 1155 “Sandy Bridge” Processor to review.

Specifications

Essentials
Processor Number i5-2500K
Launch Date Q1’11
# of Cores 4
# of Threads 4
Clock Speed 3.30 GHz
Max Turbo Frequency 3.70 GHz
Cache 6.0 MB
Instruction Set 64-bit
Lithography 32 nm
Memory Specifications
Max Memory Size
(dependent on memory type)
32 GB
Memory Types DDR3-1066/1333
# of Memory Channels 2
Max Memory Bandwidth 21
Graphics Specifications
Integrated Graphics Yes
Intel® HD Graphics Yes
Intel® HD Graphics with Dynamic Frequency Yes
Graphics Base Frequency 850 MHz
Graphics Max Dynamic Frequency 1.10 GHz
Intel® Flexible Display Interface (Intel® FDI) Yes
Intel® Clear Video HD Technology Yes
Dual Display Capable Yes
Advanced Technologies
Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology No
Intel® Turbo Boost Technology 2.0
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d) No
Intel® Trusted Execution Technology No
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology Yes
Intel® Fast Memory Access Yes
Intel® Flex Memory Access Yes

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