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).

Intel Core i3-550

Intel Core 2 Duo E8500

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)