Best GPU for the Core i5-2500K
At 1440p, the fastest current card the Core i5-2500K keeps busy is the Radeon RX 6500 XT: the processor limits it in 16% of 55 popular games (estimated).
Which graphics card should I pair with the Core i5-2500K?
| Resolution | Enough for 60 fps | Fastest good match | CPU-limited games | Best NVIDIA | Best AMD | Best Intel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p high | — | Radeon RX 6400 | 25% | GeForce GTX 1630 | Radeon RX 6400 | Arc A380 |
| 1440p high | — | Radeon RX 6500 XT | 16% | GeForce GTX 1630 | Radeon RX 6500 XT | Arc A380 |
| 4K high | — | Radeon RX 6600 | 24% | GeForce RTX 2060 12GB | Radeon RX 6600 | Arc A580 |
Enough for 60 fps: the slowest (usually cheapest) current desktop card that reaches 60 fps at high in 80% of the games. Fastest good match: the fastest card the Core i5-2500K limits in no more than 25% of the games. Faster cards still gain FPS, but in more games the processor sets the ceiling.
Estimated FPS with the Core i5-2500K (high preset)
| Game | Radeon RX 6400 |
|---|---|
| Counter-Strike 2 | 107CPU |
| Dota 2 | 142CPU |
| PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS | 46 |
| WARDOGS | 18 |
| Apex Legends™ | 50 |
| Valheim | 43 |
| Game | Radeon RX 6500 XT |
|---|---|
| Counter-Strike 2 | 102 |
| Dota 2 | 142CPU |
| PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS | 37 |
| WARDOGS | 14 |
| Apex Legends™ | 40 |
| Valheim | 35 |
| Game | Radeon RX 6600 |
|---|---|
| Counter-Strike 2 | 107CPU |
| Dota 2 | 142CPU |
| PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS | 45 |
| WARDOGS | 17 |
| Apex Legends™ | 48 |
| Valheim | 41 |
Every current graphics card with the Core i5-2500K
Estimated FPS from our model (v0), based on the game's published requirements and relative GPU/CPU performance. Not measured. Real results vary with drivers, patches, and scenes. Values above 300 fps show as 300+.
Current cards: desktop GPUs released since 2020. Values above 300 fps are shown as 300+. How we estimate FPS. Check any other pairing in the bottleneck calculator.