Core i5-2500K vs Core i5-4430: CPU comparison

Performance score

Core i5-2500K 2011 · 4/4 cores/threads, 95 W

12.61

Core i5-4430 2013 · 4/4 cores/threads, 84 W

12.43

Core i3-12100F Core i5-12400F Ryzen 5 7500F Ryzen 7 7800X3D Ryzen 7 9800X3D Core Ultra 7 265K Core i9-14900K Ryzen 9 9950X

Core i5-2500K and Core i5-4430 are almost equally fast (under 3% apart) — choose by price, socket and platform.

Different sockets (LGA1155 and LGA1150) — switching between them needs a different motherboard.

The score is our own estimate from the specs (cores, threads, clocks, architecture generation), not a benchmark run. 100 = the fastest CPU in our database.

Real tests

What the test measures

Blender is a popular free 3D graphics program. The test makes the device render three ready-made 3D scenes (light, shadows, reflections) and counts how many render passes it finishes per minute. The higher the number, the faster the device handles heavy work: 3D, video editing, photo processing. On a CPU the test loads all cores at once, so it shows the chip's full power; on a graphics card it shows its compute strength.

CPU rendering (Blender)

Core i5-2500K

27

faster than 6% of tested · runs: 3

Core i5-4430

44+63 %

faster than 22% of tested · runs: 2

Median of real test runs on users' computers. It does not show FPS in games. Data updated: 31.10.2026.

Overview

	Core i5-2500K	Core i5-4430
Score (0–100)	12.61	12.43
Ranking position	498	499
Power efficiency (0–100)	6.94	7.73
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Manufacturer	Intel	Intel
Architecture	Sandy Bridge	Haswell
Release date	Q1 2011	Q2 2013

Specifications

	Core i5-2500K	Core i5-4430
Cores	4	4
Threads	4	4
Base clock	3.3 GHz	3 GHz
Boost clock	3.7 GHz	3.2 GHz
L3 cache	6 MB	6 MB
Process node	32 nm	22 nm
Unlocked multiplier	yes	no
Integrated graphics	Intel HD Graphics 3000	Intel HD Graphics 4600
NPU (AI accelerator)	no	no

Compatibility

	Core i5-2500K	Core i5-4430
Socket	LGA1155	LGA1150
TDP	95 W	84 W

Memory and PCI Express

	Core i5-2500K	Core i5-4430
Memory type	DDR3-1066/1333	DDR3-1333/1600
Memory channels	2	2
Max memory	32 GB	32 GB
PCI Express version	2.0	3.0
PCIe lanes	16	16

Pros and cons

Core i5-2500K

unlocked multiplier (can be overclocked)

Core i5-4430

lower TDP: 84 W vs 95 W
newer: released in 2013

Other comparisons

Visitor rating

Questions and comments

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