Intel Core i5-3550 vs AMD Phenom II X2 B55

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i5-3550 and AMD Phenom II X2 B55 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).

Intel Core i5-3550

AMD Phenom II X2 B55

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i5-3550

CPU is newer: launch date 2 year(s) 6 month(s) later
2 more cores, run more applications at once: 4 vs 2
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 45 nm
Around 4% lower typical power consumption: 77 Watt vs 80 Watt
Around 66% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1996 vs 1201
4.1x better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 4809 vs 1183
2.1x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 0.404 vs 0.191
6x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s): 1.919 vs 0.318
Around 42% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 5.067 vs 3.556

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	23 April 2012 vs October 2009
Number of cores	4 vs 2
Maximum frequency	3.70 GHz vs 3 GHz
Manufacturing process technology	22 nm vs 45 nm
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	77 Watt vs 80 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1996 vs 1201
PassMark - CPU mark	4809 vs 1183
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.404 vs 0.191
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	1.919 vs 0.318
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	5.067 vs 3.556

Reasons to consider the AMD Phenom II X2 B55

2.4x better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 1851 vs 767
Around 13% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 2854 vs 2526
Around 10% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 3.707 vs 3.362
Around 11% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 10.41 vs 9.39

Benchmarks
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	1851 vs 767
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	2854 vs 2526
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	3.707 vs 3.362
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	10.41 vs 9.39

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i5-3550
CPU 2: AMD Phenom II X2 B55

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1996

1201

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

4809

1183

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

767

1851

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

2526

2854

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

3.362

3.707

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

CPU 1

CPU 2

9.39

10.41

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

0.318

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

5.067

3.556

Name	Intel Core i5-3550	AMD Phenom II X2 B55
PassMark - Single thread mark	1996	1201
PassMark - CPU mark	4809	1183
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	767	1851
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	2526	2854
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	2778
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	3.362	3.707
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	9.39	10.41
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.404	0.191
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	1.919	0.318
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	5.067	3.556
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Frames)	680
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Fps)	680

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i5-3550	AMD Phenom II X2 B55
Essentials
Architecture codename	Ivy Bridge	Callisto
Launch date	23 April 2012	October 2009
Launch price (MSRP)	$205	$48
Place in performance rating	2497	2503
Price now	$329.95	$48
Processor Number	i5-3550
Series	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status	Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)	6.19	11.85
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.30 GHz
Bus Speed	5 GT/s DMI
Die size	160 mm	258 mm
L1 cache	64 KB (per core)	128 KB (per core)
L2 cache	1 MB	512 KB (per core)
L3 cache	6 MB	6144 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	22 nm	45 nm
Maximum case temperature (TCase)	67 °C
Maximum core temperature	67.4°C
Maximum frequency	3.70 GHz	3 GHz
Number of cores	4	2
Number of threads	4
Transistor count	1400 million	758 million
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	AM3
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	77 Watt	80 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)