Intel Core i3-550 vs Intel Core 2 Quad Q8400

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i3-550 and Intel Core 2 Quad Q8400 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 Quad Q8400

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i3-550

CPU is newer: launch date 1 year(s) 0 month(s) later
Around 20% higher clock speed: 3.2 GHz vs 2.67 GHz
Around 2% higher maximum core temperature: 72.6°C vs 71.4°C
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 32 nm vs 45 nm
Around 30% lower typical power consumption: 73 Watt vs 95 Watt
Around 18% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1343 vs 1141
Around 32% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 478 vs 362
Around 52% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 31.203 vs 20.494

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	May 2010 vs April 2009
Maximum frequency	3.2 GHz vs 2.67 GHz
Maximum core temperature	72.6°C vs 71.4°C
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm vs 45 nm
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	73 Watt vs 95 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1343 vs 1141
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	478 vs 362
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	31.203 vs 20.494

Reasons to consider the Intel Core 2 Quad Q8400

2 more cores, run more applications at once: 4 vs 2
2x more L1 cache, more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
8x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
Around 27% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 2068 vs 1625
Around 7% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 1139 vs 1061
Around 15% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 0.609 vs 0.529
Around 10% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 0.171 vs 0.156
Around 66% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s): 1.4 vs 0.842
2.1x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 4.93 vs 2.358

Specifications (specs)
Number of cores	4 vs 2
L1 cache	256 KB vs 64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	4096 KB vs 256 KB (per core)
Benchmarks
PassMark - CPU mark	2068 vs 1625
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1139 vs 1061
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	0.609 vs 0.529
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.171 vs 0.156
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	1.4 vs 0.842
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	4.93 vs 2.358

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i3-550
CPU 2: Intel Core 2 Quad Q8400

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1343

1141

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1625

2068

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

478

362

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

1061

1139

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.529

0.609

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

CPU 1

CPU 2

31.203

20.494

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.156

0.171

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.842

1.4

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

2.358

4.93

Name	Intel Core i3-550	Intel Core 2 Quad Q8400
PassMark - Single thread mark	1343	1141
PassMark - CPU mark	1625	2068
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	478	362
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1061	1139
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	0.529	0.609
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	31.203	20.494
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.156	0.171
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	0.842	1.4
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	2.358	4.93

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i3-550	Intel Core 2 Quad Q8400
Essentials
Architecture codename	Clarkdale	Yorkfield
Launch date	May 2010	April 2009
Launch price (MSRP)	$101
Place in performance rating	2933	3019
Price now	$179.95	$99.50
Processor Number	i3-550	Q8400
Series	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)	4.63	9.38
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.20 GHz	2.66 GHz
Bus Speed	2.5 GT/s DMI	1333 MHz FSB
Die size	81 mm2	164 mm2
L1 cache	64 KB (per core)	256 KB
L2 cache	256 KB (per core)	4096 KB
L3 cache	4096 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm	45 nm
Maximum core temperature	72.6°C	71.4°C
Maximum frequency	3.2 GHz	2.67 GHz
Number of cores	2	4
Number of threads	4
Transistor count	382 million	456 million
VID voltage range	0.6500V-1.4000V	0.8500V-1.3625V
Maximum case temperature (TCase)		71 °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	95 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)