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CPU Comparison: FPS, Specs & Value

Core i5-2500K vs Core i3-3240

The Core i5-2500K is slightly faster than the Core i3-3240 on average across 100+ games. However, it's a much worse value for money, as it's $203.87 more expensive!

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CPU

$260.87View CPUAll CPUs

Up to 9% faster on average across 100+ games
Available for $260.87

CPU

$57.00View CPUAll CPUs

Is 1 year and 8 months newer

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

League of Legends2009

Core i5-2500K

141FPS

Core i3-3240

132FPS

Grand Theft Auto V2013

190FPS

188FPS

406FPS

387FPS

Dota 22013

Core i5-2500K

171FPS

Core i3-3240

170FPS

Valorant2020

Core i5-2500K

544FPS

Core i3-3240

541FPS

Overwatch 22023

Fortnite2017

325FPS

327FPS

Apex Legends2019

Core i5-2500K

372FPS

Core i3-3240

375FPS

Specs & Benchmark Comparison

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

Scorehelp

Core i5-2500K

Core i3-3240

Core i5-2500K ranks 2 points higher.

Coreshelp

Core i5-2500K

Core i3-3240

Core i5-2500K has 2 more cores.

Threadshelp

L3 Cachehelp

6 MB

3 MB

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

Base Frequencyhelp

Core i5-2500K

3.3 GHz

Core i3-3240

3.4 GHz

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

Turbo Frequencyhelp

3.7 GHz

TDPhelp

95W

55W

Core i3-3240 draws 40W less power.

Pricehelp

Core i5-2500K

$260.87

Core i3-3240

$57.00

Core i3-3240 is $203.87 cheaper.

Core i5-2500KCore i3-3240

LGA1155

Sockethelp

LGA1155

Sandy Bridge

Codenamehelp

Ivy Bridge

Desktop

Segmenthelp

Desktop

Intel HD 3000

Integrated GPUhelp

Intel HD 2500

1600 MHz (DDR3)

RAMhelp

DDR3

Overclockable

Overclock Supporthelp

Not Overclockable

Frequently Asked Questions

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

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

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

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