Intel Core i5-3550 vs AMD A8-3870K

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i5-3550 and AMD A8-3870K 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, 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score, 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), GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Frames), GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Fps), GFXBench 4.0 - Car Chase Offscreen (Frames), GFXBench 4.0 - Manhattan (Frames), GFXBench 4.0 - Car Chase Offscreen (Fps), GFXBench 4.0 - Manhattan (Fps).

Intel Core i5-3550

AMD A8-3870K

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i5-3550

CPU is newer: launch date 4 month(s) later
Around 23% higher clock speed: 3.70 GHz vs 3 GHz
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 22 nm vs 32 nm
Around 30% lower typical power consumption: 77 Watt vs 100 Watt
Around 65% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1996 vs 1210
2.1x better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 4810 vs 2319
2.1x better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 767 vs 373
2.2x better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 2526 vs 1172
Around 15% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 3.362 vs 2.914
2.1x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 0.404 vs 0.191
4.8x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s): 1.919 vs 0.4
Around 52% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 5.067 vs 3.344

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	23 April 2012 vs December 2011
Maximum frequency	3.70 GHz vs 3 GHz
Manufacturing process technology	22 nm vs 32 nm
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	77 Watt vs 100 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1996 vs 1210
PassMark - CPU mark	4810 vs 2319
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	767 vs 373
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	2526 vs 1172
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	3.362 vs 2.914
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.404 vs 0.191
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	1.919 vs 0.4
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	5.067 vs 3.344

Reasons to consider the AMD A8-3870K

Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
2x more L1 cache, more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
4x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
Around 1% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 9.482 vs 9.39

Specifications (specs)
Unlocked	Unlocked vs Locked
L1 cache	128 KB (per core) vs 64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	1024 KB (per core) vs 1 MB
Benchmarks
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	9.482 vs 9.39

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i5-3550
CPU 2: AMD A8-3870K

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1996

1210

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

4810

2319

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

767

373

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

2526

1172

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

3.362

2.914

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

CPU 1

CPU 2

9.39

9.482

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

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.404

0.191

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

1.919

0.4

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

5.067

3.344

Name	Intel Core i5-3550	AMD A8-3870K
PassMark - Single thread mark	1996	1210
PassMark - CPU mark	4810	2319
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	767	373
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	2526	1172
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	2778
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	3.362	2.914
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	9.39	9.482
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.404	0.191
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	1.919	0.4
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	5.067	3.344
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Frames)	680
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Fps)	680
GFXBench 4.0 - Car Chase Offscreen (Frames)		762
GFXBench 4.0 - Manhattan (Frames)		1721
GFXBench 4.0 - Car Chase Offscreen (Fps)		762
GFXBench 4.0 - Manhattan (Fps)		1721

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i5-3550	AMD A8-3870K
Essentials
Architecture codename	Ivy Bridge	Llano
Launch date	23 April 2012	December 2011
Launch price (MSRP)	$205
Place in performance rating	2548	2549
Price now	$329.95
Processor Number	i5-3550
Series	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status	Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)	6.19
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.30 GHz
Bus Speed	5 GT/s DMI
Die size	160 mm	228 mm
L1 cache	64 KB (per core)	128 KB (per core)
L2 cache	1 MB	1024 KB (per core)
L3 cache	6 MB
Manufacturing process technology	22 nm	32 nm
Maximum case temperature (TCase)	67 °C
Maximum core temperature	67.4°C
Maximum frequency	3.70 GHz	3 GHz
Number of cores	4	4
Number of threads	4
Transistor count	1400 million	1178 million
Unlocked
Memory
Max memory channels	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	25.6 GB/s
Maximum memory size	32 GB
Supported memory types	DDR3 1333/1600	DDR3
Graphics
Device ID	0x152
Graphics base frequency	650 MHz
Graphics max dynamic frequency	1.15 GHz
Graphics max frequency	1.15 GHz
Intel® Clear Video HD technology
Intel® Flexible Display Interface (Intel® FDI)
Intel® InTru™ 3D technology
Intel® Quick Sync Video
Processor graphics	Intel® HD Graphics 2500
Graphics interfaces
Number of displays supported	3
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	FCLGA1155	FM1
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	77 Watt	100 Watt
Thermal Solution	2011D
Peripherals
PCI Express revision	3.0
PCIe configurations	up to 1x16, 2x8, 1x8 & 2x4
Security & Reliability
Anti-Theft technology
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Identity Protection technology
Intel® Secure Key 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® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® TSX-NI
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™)