Intel Core i3-3225 vs Intel Core i5-2550K

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i3-3225 and Intel Core i5-2550K processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Graphics, Graphics interfaces, Compatibility, Peripherals, Security & Reliability, Advanced Technologies, Virtualization. Benchmark processor performance analysis: PassMark - Single thread mark, PassMark - CPU mark, Geekbench 4 - Single Core, Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core, CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s), GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Frames), GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Fps).

 

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i3-3225

  • CPU is newer: launch date 8 month(s) later
  • A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 22 nm vs 32 nm
  • Around 73% lower typical power consumption: 55 Watt vs 95 Watt
  • Around 12% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s): 1.054 vs 0.941
  • Around 12% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 2.765 vs 2.465
Specifications (specs)
Launch date September 2012 vs January 2012
Manufacturing process technology 22 nm vs 32 nm
Thermal Design Power (TDP) 55 Watt vs 95 Watt
Benchmarks
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s) 1.054 vs 0.941
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s) 2.765 vs 2.465

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i5-2550K

  • Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
  • 2 more cores, run more applications at once: 4 vs 2
  • Around 15% higher clock speed: 3.80 GHz vs 3.3 GHz
  • Around 11% higher maximum core temperature: 72.6°C vs 65.3°C
  • 2x more L1 cache, more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
  • 2x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
  • 2x more L3 cache, more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
  • Around 3% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1755 vs 1706
  • Around 84% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 4134 vs 2251
  • Around 36% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 840 vs 618
  • 2x better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 2806 vs 1394
  • Around 8% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 2.383 vs 2.199
  • 2.3x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 43.659 vs 19.299
Specifications (specs)
Unlocked Unlocked vs Locked
Number of cores 4 vs 2
Maximum frequency 3.80 GHz vs 3.3 GHz
Maximum core temperature 72.6°C vs 65.3°C
L1 cache 64 KB (per core) vs 64 KB (per core)
L2 cache 256 KB (per core) vs 256 KB (per core)
L3 cache 6144 KB (shared) vs 3072 KB (shared)
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark 1755 vs 1706
PassMark - CPU mark 4134 vs 2251
Geekbench 4 - Single Core 840 vs 618
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core 2806 vs 1394
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s) 2.383 vs 2.199
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s) 43.659 vs 19.299

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i3-3225
CPU 2: Intel Core i5-2550K

PassMark - Single thread mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
1706
1755
PassMark - CPU mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
2251
4134
Geekbench 4 - Single Core
CPU 1
CPU 2
618
840
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core
CPU 1
CPU 2
1394
2806
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
2.199
2.383
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
19.299
43.659
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
1.054
0.941
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
2.765
2.465
Name Intel Core i3-3225 Intel Core i5-2550K
PassMark - Single thread mark 1706 1755
PassMark - CPU mark 2251 4134
Geekbench 4 - Single Core 618 840
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core 1394 2806
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s) 2.199 2.383
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s) 19.299 43.659
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s) 0.27
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s) 1.054 0.941
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s) 2.765 2.465
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Frames) 2337
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Fps) 2337

Compare specifications (specs)

Intel Core i3-3225 Intel Core i5-2550K

Essentials

Architecture codename Ivy Bridge Sandy Bridge
Launch date September 2012 January 2012
Launch price (MSRP) $264 $189
Place in performance rating 2449 2462
Price now $99.99 $128.99
Processor Number i3-3225 i5-2550K
Series Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status Discontinued Discontinued
Value for money (0-100) 12.77 15.22
Vertical segment Desktop Desktop

Performance

64 bit support
Base frequency 3.30 GHz 3.40 GHz
Bus Speed 5 GT/s DMI 5 GT/s DMI
Die size 118 mm 216 mm
L1 cache 64 KB (per core) 64 KB (per core)
L2 cache 256 KB (per core) 256 KB (per core)
L3 cache 3072 KB (shared) 6144 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology 22 nm 32 nm
Maximum case temperature (TCase) 65 °C
Maximum core temperature 65.3°C 72.6°C
Maximum frequency 3.3 GHz 3.80 GHz
Number of cores 2 4
Number of threads 4 4
Transistor count 1160 million
Unlocked

Memory

Max memory channels 2 2
Maximum memory bandwidth 25.6 GB/s 21 GB/s
Maximum memory size 32 GB 32 GB
Supported memory types DDR3 1333/1600 DDR3 1066/1333

Graphics

Device ID 0x152
Graphics base frequency 650 MHz
Graphics max dynamic frequency 1.05 GHz
Graphics max frequency 1.05 GHz
Intel® Clear Video HD technology
Intel® Flexible Display Interface (Intel® FDI)
Intel® InTru™ 3D technology
Intel® Quick Sync Video
Processor graphics Intel® HD Graphics 4000

Graphics interfaces

Number of displays supported 3
Wireless Display (WiDi) support

Compatibility

Low Halogen Options Available
Max number of CPUs in a configuration 1 1
Package Size 37.5mm x 37.5mm 37.5mm x 37.5mm
Sockets supported FCLGA1155 LGA1155
Thermal Design Power (TDP) 55 Watt 95 Watt
Thermal Solution 2011C

Peripherals

PCI Express revision 2.0 2.0
PCIe configurations up to 1x16, 2x8, 1x8 & 2x4
Max number of PCIe lanes 16

Security & Reliability

Anti-Theft technology
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Identity Protection technology
Intel® Secure Key technology
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)

Advanced Technologies

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Flexible Display interface (FDI)
Idle States
Instruction set extensions Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX
Intel 64
Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX)
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® My WiFi technology
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility
Thermal Monitoring
Intel® Fast Memory Access
Intel® Flex Memory Access

Virtualization

Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)