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CPU Comparison: FPS, Specs & Value

Core i3-3240 vs Core i5-2500K

The Core i3-3240 is slightly slower than the Core i5-2500K on average across 100+ games. We cannot compare value as at least one CPU is out of stock.

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CPU

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Is 1 year and 8 months newer

CPU

Out of StockView CPUAll CPUs

Up to 9% faster on average across 100+ games
Available for $216

FPS Comparison Across Popular Games

Predicted average FPS at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K, based on real game benchmarks.

Resolution

Quality

Paired GPU

View Compare All GPUs

Select GPU

Counter-Strike 22023

Core i3-3240

384FPS

Core i5-2500K

403FPS

Valorant2020

Core i3-3240

540FPS

Core i5-2500K

543FPS

League of Legends2009

Core i3-3240

131FPS

Core i5-2500K

140FPS

Grand Theft Auto V2013

Core i3-3240

187FPS

Core i5-2500K

190FPS

Minecraft2011

Core i3-3240

574FPS

Core i5-2500K

575FPS

Fortnite2017

Core i3-3240

327FPS

Core i5-2500K

326FPS

Overwatch 22023

Core i3-3240

522FPS

Core i5-2500K

519FPS

Dota 22013

Core i3-3240

Core i5-2500K

Specs & Benchmark Comparison

Side-by-side specs, synthetic benchmarks, and key hardware differences.

Scorehelp

Core i3-3240

Core i5-2500K

Core i5-2500K ranks 2 points higher.

Coreshelp

Core i3-3240

Core i5-2500K

Core i5-2500K has 2 more cores.

Threadshelp

L3 Cachehelp

3 MB

6 MB

Core i5-2500K has 3 MB more L3 cache.

Base Frequencyhelp

Core i3-3240

3.4 GHz

Core i5-2500K

3.3 GHz

Core i3-3240 has a 3% higher base clock.

Turbo Frequencyhelp

Core i3-3240

Core i5-2500K

3.7 GHz

TDPhelp

Core i3-3240

55W

Core i5-2500K

95W

Core i3-3240 draws 40W less power.

Pricehelp

Core i3-3240

Core i5-2500K

Core i3-3240Core i5-2500K

LGA1155

Sockethelp

LGA1155

Ivy Bridge

Codenamehelp

Sandy Bridge

Desktop

Segmenthelp

Desktop

Intel HD 2500

Integrated GPUhelp

Intel HD 3000

DDR3

RAMhelp

1600 MHz (DDR3)

Not Overclockable

Overclock Supporthelp

Overclockable

Frequently Asked Questions

compare_arrowsWhich is better, Core i3-3240 or Core i5-2500K?expand_more

Neither, they're within 1% of each other across 100+ games. Pick based on price, availability, or platform compatibility.

aspect_ratioWhich is better for 1440p and 4K gaming, Core i3-3240 or Core i5-2500K?expand_more

They trade blows depending on the game. Toggle the resolution selector above to compare per-game FPS at 1440p and 4K.

differenceWhat is the difference between Core i3-3240 and Core i5-2500K?expand_more

Performance: Core i3-3240 scores 5/100, Core i5-2500K scores 7/100. They also differ in core count, clock speeds, L3 cache, and power draw. Full breakdown in the specs section above.

compressWill the Core i3-3240 or Core i5-2500K bottleneck my PC?expand_more

Depends on the rest of your build, especially your GPU. Swap the paired GPU in the FPS section above to see if it limits performance, or use our bottleneck calculator for a full analysis.

upgradeIs it worth upgrading to the Core i3-3240 or Core i5-2500K?expand_more

Both are solid choices. Compare your current CPU against each one to see the exact FPS gain.