Intel Core i3-550 vs Intel Core 2 Duo E8500

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i3-550 and Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 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).

 

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i3-550

  • CPU is newer: launch date 1 year(s) 8 month(s) later
  • Around 0% higher maximum core temperature: 72.6°C vs 72.4°C
  • A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 32 nm vs 45 nm
  • 2x more L1 cache, more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
  • Around 1% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1340 vs 1321
  • Around 26% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 1609 vs 1273
  • Around 9% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 478 vs 439
  • Around 41% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 1061 vs 754
  • Around 54% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 0.529 vs 0.344
  • Around 35% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 31.203 vs 23.046
  • Around 81% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 0.156 vs 0.086
Specifications (specs)
Launch date May 2010 vs August 2008
Maximum core temperature 72.6°C vs 72.4°C
Manufacturing process technology 32 nm vs 45 nm
L1 cache 64 KB (per core) vs 64 KB
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark 1340 vs 1321
PassMark - CPU mark 1609 vs 1273
Geekbench 4 - Single Core 478 vs 439
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core 1061 vs 754
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s) 0.529 vs 0.344
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s) 31.203 vs 23.046
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s) 0.156 vs 0.086

Reasons to consider the Intel Core 2 Duo E8500

  • Around 4% higher clock speed: 3.33 GHz vs 3.2 GHz
  • 12x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
  • Around 12% lower typical power consumption: 65 Watt vs 73 Watt
  • Around 6% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 2.496 vs 2.358
Specifications (specs)
Maximum frequency 3.33 GHz vs 3.2 GHz
L2 cache 6144 KB vs 256 KB (per core)
Thermal Design Power (TDP) 65 Watt vs 73 Watt
Benchmarks
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s) 2.496 vs 2.358

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i3-550
CPU 2: Intel Core 2 Duo E8500

PassMark - Single thread mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
1340
1321
PassMark - CPU mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
1609
1273
Geekbench 4 - Single Core
CPU 1
CPU 2
478
439
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core
CPU 1
CPU 2
1061
754
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
0.529
0.344
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
31.203
23.046
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
0.156
0.086
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
2.358
2.496
Name Intel Core i3-550 Intel Core 2 Duo E8500
PassMark - Single thread mark 1340 1321
PassMark - CPU mark 1609 1273
Geekbench 4 - Single Core 478 439
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core 1061 754
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s) 0.529 0.344
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s) 31.203 23.046
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s) 0.156 0.086
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s) 0.842
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s) 2.358 2.496

Compare specifications (specs)

Intel Core i3-550 Intel Core 2 Duo E8500

Essentials

Architecture codename Clarkdale Wolfdale
Launch date May 2010 August 2008
Launch price (MSRP) $101
Place in performance rating 2923 2937
Price now $179.95 $39.99
Processor Number i3-550 E8500
Series Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status Discontinued Discontinued
Value for money (0-100) 4.63 16.84
Vertical segment Desktop Desktop

Performance

64 bit support
Base frequency 3.20 GHz 3.16 GHz
Bus Speed 2.5 GT/s DMI 1333 MHz FSB
Die size 81 mm2 107 mm2
L1 cache 64 KB (per core) 64 KB
L2 cache 256 KB (per core) 6144 KB
L3 cache 4096 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology 32 nm 45 nm
Maximum core temperature 72.6°C 72.4°C
Maximum frequency 3.2 GHz 3.33 GHz
Number of cores 2 2
Number of threads 4
Transistor count 382 million 410 million
VID voltage range 0.6500V-1.4000V 0.8500V-1.3625V
Maximum case temperature (TCase) 72 °C

Memory

Max memory channels 2
Maximum memory bandwidth 21 GB/s
Maximum memory size 16.38 GB
Supported memory types DDR3 1066/1333 DDR1, DDR2, DDR3

Graphics

Graphics base frequency 733 MHz
Intel® Clear Video HD technology
Intel® Flexible Display Interface (Intel® FDI)
Processor graphics Intel HD Graphics

Graphics interfaces

Number of displays supported 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 FCLGA1156 LGA775
Thermal Design Power (TDP) 73 Watt 65 Watt

Peripherals

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

Security & Reliability

Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)

Advanced Technologies

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Flexible Display interface (FDI)
Idle States
Instruction set extensions Intel® SSE4.2
Intel 64
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Demand Based Switching
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility
Physical Address Extensions (PAE) 36-bit
Thermal Monitoring
FSB parity

Virtualization

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