Intel Core i3-3250 vs Intel Core i3-550

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i3-3250 and Intel Core i3-550 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, 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score, CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s), GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Frames), GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Fps), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/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).

Intel Core i3-3250

Intel Core i3-550

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i3-3250

A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 22 nm vs 32 nm
Around 95% higher maximum memory size: 32 GB vs 16.38 GB
Around 33% lower typical power consumption: 55 Watt vs 73 Watt
Around 37% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1837 vs 1343
Around 51% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 2451 vs 1625
Around 39% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 664 vs 478
Around 36% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 1438 vs 1061
Around 32% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 41.201 vs 31.203

Specifications (specs)
Manufacturing process technology	22 nm vs 32 nm
Maximum memory size	32 GB vs 16.38 GB
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	55 Watt vs 73 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1837 vs 1343
PassMark - CPU mark	2451 vs 1625
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	664 vs 478
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1438 vs 1061
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	41.201 vs 31.203

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i3-550

Around 11% higher maximum core temperature: 72.6°C vs 65.3°C

Maximum core temperature	72.6°C vs 65.3°C

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i3-3250
CPU 2: Intel Core i3-550

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1837

1343

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2451

1625

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

664

478

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

1438

1061

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

41.201

31.203

Name	Intel Core i3-3250	Intel Core i3-550
PassMark - Single thread mark	1837	1343
PassMark - CPU mark	2451	1625
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	664	478
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1438	1061
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	0
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	41.201	31.203
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Frames)	1444
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Fps)	1444
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)		0.529
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)		0.156
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)		0.842
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)		2.358

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i3-3250	Intel Core i3-550
Essentials
Architecture codename	Ivy Bridge	Clarkdale
Launch date	Q2'13	May 2010
Place in performance rating	2305	2933
Processor Number	i3-3250	i3-550
Series	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status	Launched	Discontinued
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Launch price (MSRP)		$101
Price now		$179.95
Value for money (0-100)		4.63
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.50 GHz	3.20 GHz
Bus Speed	5 GT/s DMI	2.5 GT/s DMI
Manufacturing process technology	22 nm	32 nm
Maximum core temperature	65.3°C	72.6°C
Number of cores	2	2
Number of threads	4	4
Die size		81 mm2
L1 cache		64 KB (per core)
L2 cache		256 KB (per core)
L3 cache		4096 KB (shared)
Maximum frequency		3.2 GHz
Transistor count		382 million
VID voltage range		0.6500V-1.4000V
Memory
Max memory channels	2	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	25.6 GB/s	21 GB/s
Maximum memory size	32 GB	16.38 GB
Supported memory types	DDR3 1333/1600	DDR3 1066/1333
Graphics
Device ID	0x152
Graphics base frequency	650 MHz	733 MHz
Graphics max dynamic 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 2500	Intel HD Graphics
Graphics interfaces
Number of displays supported	3	2
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	FCLGA1156
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	55 Watt	73 Watt
Thermal Solution	2011C
Peripherals
PCI Express revision	2.0	2.0
PCIe configurations	up to 1x16, 2x8, 1x8 & 2x4	1x16, 2x8
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
Idle States
Instruction set extensions	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX	Intel® SSE4.2
Intel 64
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® My WiFi technology
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility
Thermal Monitoring
Flexible Display interface (FDI)
Intel® Demand Based Switching
Physical Address Extensions (PAE)		36-bit
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)