Intel Core i5-2550K vs AMD Phenom X4 9450e

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i5-2550K and AMD Phenom X4 9450e 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 X4 9450e

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i5-2550K

CPU is newer: launch date 3 year(s) 3 month(s) later
Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
Around 81% higher clock speed: 3.80 GHz vs 2.1 GHz
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 32 nm vs 65 nm
3x more L3 cache, more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
2.1x better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1755 vs 841
2.8x better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 4134 vs 1455

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	January 2012 vs October 2008
Unlocked	Unlocked vs Locked
Maximum frequency	3.80 GHz vs 2.1 GHz
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm vs 65 nm
L3 cache	6144 KB (shared) vs 2048 KB (shared)
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1755 vs 841
PassMark - CPU mark	4134 vs 1455

Reasons to consider the AMD Phenom X4 9450e

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
Around 46% lower typical power consumption: 65 Watt vs 95 Watt

L1 cache	128 KB (per core) vs 64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	512 KB (per core) vs 256 KB (per core)
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	65 Watt vs 95 Watt

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i5-2550K
CPU 2: AMD Phenom X4 9450e

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1755

841

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

4134

1455

Name	Intel Core i5-2550K	AMD Phenom X4 9450e
PassMark - Single thread mark	1755	841
PassMark - CPU mark	4134	1455
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	840
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	2806
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 X4 9450e
Essentials
Architecture codename	Sandy Bridge	Agena
Launch date	January 2012	October 2008
Launch price (MSRP)	$189
Place in performance rating	2460	2478
Price now	$128.99
Processor Number	i5-2550K
Series	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status	Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)	15.22
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.40 GHz
Bus Speed	5 GT/s DMI
Die size	216 mm	285 mm
L1 cache	64 KB (per core)	128 KB (per core)
L2 cache	256 KB (per core)	512 KB (per core)
L3 cache	6144 KB (shared)	2048 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm	65 nm
Maximum core temperature	72.6°C
Maximum frequency	3.80 GHz	2.1 GHz
Number of cores	4	4
Number of threads	4
Transistor count	1160 million	450 million
Unlocked
Memory
Max memory channels	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	21 GB/s
Maximum memory size	32 GB
Supported memory types	DDR3 1066/1333
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	AM2+
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	95 Watt	65 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)
AMD Virtualization (AMD-V™)