Intel Core i5-2550K vs AMD Phenom II X4 850

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i5-2550K and AMD Phenom II X4 850 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 - Video Composition (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s).

Intel Core i5-2550K

AMD Phenom II X4 850

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i5-2550K

CPU is newer: launch date 7 month(s) later
Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
Around 15% higher clock speed: 3.80 GHz vs 3.3 GHz
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 32 nm vs 45 nm
Around 43% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1755 vs 1230
Around 72% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 4134 vs 2400
2.3x better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 840 vs 366
2.3x better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 2806 vs 1217

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	January 2012 vs June 2011
Unlocked	Unlocked vs Locked
Maximum frequency	3.80 GHz vs 3.3 GHz
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm vs 45 nm
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1755 vs 1230
PassMark - CPU mark	4134 vs 2400
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	840 vs 366
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	2806 vs 1217

Reasons to consider the AMD Phenom II X4 850

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

L1 cache	512 KB vs 64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	2 MB vs 256 KB (per core)

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i5-2550K
CPU 2: AMD Phenom II X4 850

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1755

1230

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

4134

2400

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

840

366

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

2806

1217

Name	Intel Core i5-2550K	AMD Phenom II X4 850
PassMark - Single thread mark	1755	1230
PassMark - CPU mark	4134	2400
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	840	366
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	2806	1217
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	2.383
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	43.659
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	0.941
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	2.465

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i5-2550K	AMD Phenom II X4 850
Essentials
Architecture codename	Sandy Bridge	Propus
Launch date	January 2012	June 2011
Launch price (MSRP)	$189	$111
Place in performance rating	2460	2461
Price now	$128.99	$64.99
Processor Number	i5-2550K
Series	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors	AMD Phenom II X4
Status	Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)	15.22	16.08
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Family		AMD Phenom
OPN PIB		HDX850WFGMBOX
OPN Tray		HDX850WFK42GM
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.40 GHz	3.3 GHz
Bus Speed	5 GT/s DMI
Die size	216 mm	169 mm
L1 cache	64 KB (per core)	512 KB
L2 cache	256 KB (per core)	2 MB
L3 cache	6144 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm	45 nm
Maximum core temperature	72.6°C
Maximum frequency	3.80 GHz	3.3 GHz
Number of cores	4	4
Number of threads	4	4
Transistor count	1160 million	300 million
Unlocked
Memory
Max memory channels	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	21 GB/s
Maximum memory size	32 GB
Supported memory types	DDR3 1066/1333	DDR3
Graphics
Intel® Clear Video HD technology
Intel® Flexible Display Interface (Intel® FDI)
Intel® InTru™ 3D technology
Intel® Quick Sync Video
Graphics interfaces
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
Sockets supported	LGA1155	AM3
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	95 Watt	95 Watt
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes	16
PCI Express revision	2.0
Security & Reliability
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Identity Protection 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 64
Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX)
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Fast Memory Access
Intel® Flex Memory Access
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility
Thermal Monitoring
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)