3 core i5 2500k

[dejectedpanda]

Hey guys, first post here.

I am being offered a 2500k with a supposedly bad core. Seller says he can't get into Windows if all 4 cores are activated so he has disabled one in the bios but claims it oc's fine to 4.3-4.4GHz and otherwise works without much issues with most games he plays.

I have an i3 2100 right now and I am getting that 2500k for a shade more than what I would probably get for my 2100. Plus I just have to pay a small amount upfront and I get to test it before buying it.

So is that 3 core 2500k still much, much better than my dual core 2100 with its hyperthreading? Of course clock wise its not even a comparison but how much would that one missing core hamper performance?

I play Skyrim with a lot of mods & ENB. Will I get a noticeable performance gain even with just the 3 cores? I don't mean more fps - just shorter loading times, fewer script related crashes and generally a smoother experience.

Thanks

 

[Ecky]

If you don't have a P or Z chipset, you can't overclock it. I would much rather have an i5 2300 or 2400 with all 4 cores working than an unoverclocked 2500K with one core disabled. You can also overclock these CPUs by 400mhz if you have a P or Z chipset, since all 1155 CPUs are partially unlocked (+4 turbo bins).

 

[dejectedpanda]

If you don't have a P or Z chipset, you can't overclock it. I would much rather have an i5 2300 or 2400 with all 4 cores working than an unoverclocked 2500K with one core disabled. You can also overclock these CPUs by 400mhz if you have a P or Z chipset, since all 1155 CPUs are partially unlocked (+4 turbo bins).

No I don't have a P or Z chipset right now and yes of course a fully functioning 2300/2400 is obviously better than a 3 core, unoc'ed 2500k but you see I am getting it for half the price a 2400 would cost me.

So what I would really like to know is how much better off I am with the unoc'ed 3 core 2500k compared to my 2100 instead.

I know someone who's interested in buying my cpu so if the 2500k with 3 cores performs noticeably better than my 2100, then I would be a nearly free swap to a better processor.

In a few months time, I plan on going Skylake/Kaby lake anyways so just want to know if the handicapped 2500k would perform better in the meantime.

 

[Ecky]

I can't see it as a downgrade. The i5 has a slight clock advantage and has one additional real core but lacks hyperthreading. I don't know if it will be noticeable, but it certainly won't be slower.

 

[dejectedpanda]

I see. So you don't think it would be noticeable then? The extra real core vs hyper threading?

What about turbo? Twice the cache?

 

[Ecky]

Extra cache would help a bit, and you'd be getting 10-15% extra clockspeed. Hyperthreading adds ~30% more throughput, while the extra core would be worth ~50% extra. All said and done you're looking at maybe 30% extra performance, which is generally right on the cusp of perceptible. It'll be an upgrade and if it costs you very little, I can't see any reason not to.

 

[James Mason]

Skyrim is a single core game, so adding extra cores won't help much.

 

[dejectedpanda]

@Ecky
Thanks for the explanation.

@James Mason
As I mentioned in the OP, I am not referring to an fps increase. I just don't want to wait nearly a minute to get to the main menu with ENB turned on or 20-25 seconds between cell transitions. And all this is with an SSD. It is extremely frustrating when you're tweaking/modding. Surely a better cpu would help a bit with this?

Also would it make a noticeable difference in general Windows use?

I will look to upgrade in a few months but I just wanted to know whether the 2500k with its 3 cores would provide some sort of performance boost in the meantime.

 

[James Mason]

Windows is also single core, but it's not really demanding.

If you wanted, you could manually assign CPU core affinities with Task Manager (though only temporarily) or Process Lasso (permanently, www.bitsum.com) but it's something you'll have to manage for every program.

A 2500k with 4 cores I'd recommend in a heartbeat, because it's the best CPU for the money you can get for your socket, but a "broken core" scares me, I wouldn't buy it unless you can have to seller run benchmarks/stress tests with you watching them to see if it crashes or not.

Any money wasted on temporary upgrades/fixes only delays a proper refresh with new hardware that actually provides a reliable performance increase.

 

[dejectedpanda]

Windows is also single core, but it's not really demanding.

If you wanted, you could manually assign CPU core affinities with Task Manager (though only temporarily) or Process Lasso (permanently, www.bitsum.com) but it's something you'll have to manage for every program.

A 2500k with 4 cores I'd recommend in a heartbeat, because it's the best CPU for the money you can get for your socket, but a "broken core" scares me, I wouldn't buy it unless you can have to seller run benchmarks/stress tests with you watching them to see if it crashes or not.

Any money wasted on temporary upgrades/fixes only delays a proper refresh with new hardware that actually provides a reliable performance increase.

That is very true.

Thing is though I am not buying it outright. As I mentioned above, I'll only be paying a small token amount upfront. The seller's giving me a few days to test it first before buying it.

What benchmarks/stress tests would I need to run to verify its at least working fine with 3 cores?

Since he can't get into Windows with all 4 cores, he's disabled one in bios. But can you disable specific cores in the bios like you can inside Windows? How would you determine which particular core's bad?

 

[bicycle_repair_man]

In a few months time, I plan on going Skylake/Kaby lake anyways so just want to know if the handicapped 2500k would perform better in the meantime.

In Skyrim, no, and besides, it's a waste of money if you're planning a complete refresh pretty soon.

 

[dejectedpanda]

So that's a no across the board then. Aah you guys are probably right. Think I'll keep my money.

And now that guy wants half the money upfront - screw that.

Thanks for the advice dudes.

 

[bicycle_repair_man]

Half the money upfront?! That'll sound alarm bells.

Good call.

 

[dejectedpanda]

Thanks BPR.

First off he wouldn't budge an inch on his asking price for a faulty chip. After me reluctantly having met it, he now wants to go 50/50 with the payment instead of the originally agreed terms.

Yeah not happening.