Intel Core i5-3550 vs AMD Phenom II X4 920

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i5-3550 and AMD Phenom II X4 920 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 X4 920

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i5-3550

CPU is newer: launch date 3 year(s) 3 month(s) later
Around 32% higher clock speed: 3.70 GHz vs 2.8 GHz
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 22 nm vs 45 nm
Around 62% lower typical power consumption: 77 Watt vs 125 Watt
Around 75% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1986 vs 1133
2.2x better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 4793 vs 2181
Around 23% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 9.39 vs 7.624
2.4x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 0.404 vs 0.17
6x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s): 1.919 vs 0.322
Around 45% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 5.067 vs 3.506

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	23 April 2012 vs January 2009
Maximum frequency	3.70 GHz vs 2.8 GHz
Manufacturing process technology	22 nm vs 45 nm
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	77 Watt vs 125 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1986 vs 1133
PassMark - CPU mark	4793 vs 2181
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	9.39 vs 7.624
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.404 vs 0.17
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	1.919 vs 0.322
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	5.067 vs 3.506

Reasons to consider the AMD Phenom II X4 920

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
2.2x better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 1674 vs 767
Around 85% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 4682 vs 2526
Around 6% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 3.558 vs 3.362

Specifications (specs)
L1 cache	128 KB (per core) vs 64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	512 KB (per core) vs 1 MB
Benchmarks
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	1674 vs 767
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	4682 vs 2526
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	3.558 vs 3.362

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i5-3550
CPU 2: AMD Phenom II X4 920

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1986

1133

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

4793

2181

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

767

1674

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

2526

4682

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

3.362

3.558

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

CPU 1

CPU 2

9.39

7.624

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

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.404

0.17

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

1.919

0.322

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

5.067

3.506

Name	Intel Core i5-3550	AMD Phenom II X4 920
PassMark - Single thread mark	1986	1133
PassMark - CPU mark	4793	2181
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	767	1674
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	2526	4682
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	2778
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	3.362	3.558
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	9.39	7.624
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.404	0.17
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	1.919	0.322
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	5.067	3.506
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Frames)	680
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Fps)	680

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i5-3550	AMD Phenom II X4 920
Essentials
Architecture codename	Ivy Bridge	Deneb
Launch date	23 April 2012	January 2009
Launch price (MSRP)	$205	$90
Place in performance rating	2502	2508
Price now	$329.95	$66.99
Processor Number	i5-3550
Series	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status	Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)	6.19	14.95
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	2.8 GHz
Number of cores	4	4
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	125 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)