Intel Core i5-3550 vs AMD Phenom X3 8450e

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i5-3550 and AMD Phenom X3 8450e 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 X3 8450e

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i5-3550

CPU is newer: launch date 3 year(s) 7 month(s) later
1 more cores, run more applications at once: 4 vs 3
Around 76% higher clock speed: 3.70 GHz vs 2.1 GHz
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 22 nm vs 65 nm
3x more L3 cache, more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
2.4x better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1996 vs 826
3.8x better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 4802 vs 1257

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	23 April 2012 vs September 2008
Number of cores	4 vs 3
Maximum frequency	3.70 GHz vs 2.1 GHz
Manufacturing process technology	22 nm vs 65 nm
L3 cache	6 MB vs 2048 KB (shared)
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1996 vs 826
PassMark - CPU mark	4802 vs 1257

Reasons to consider the AMD Phenom X3 8450e

Around 50% more L1 cache; more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
Around 50% more L2 cache; more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
Around 18% lower typical power consumption: 65 Watt vs 77 Watt

L1 cache	128 KB (per core) vs 64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	512 KB (per core) vs 1 MB
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	65 Watt vs 77 Watt

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i5-3550
CPU 2: AMD Phenom X3 8450e

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1996

826

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

4802

1257

Name	Intel Core i5-3550	AMD Phenom X3 8450e
PassMark - Single thread mark	1996	826
PassMark - CPU mark	4802	1257
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	767
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	2526
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	2778
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	3.362
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	9.39
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.404
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	1.919
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	5.067
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Frames)	680
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Fps)	680

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i5-3550	AMD Phenom X3 8450e
Essentials
Architecture codename	Ivy Bridge	Toliman
Launch date	23 April 2012	September 2008
Launch price (MSRP)	$205
Place in performance rating	2497	2504
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	285 mm
L1 cache	64 KB (per core)	128 KB (per core)
L2 cache	1 MB	512 KB (per core)
L3 cache	6 MB	2048 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	22 nm	65 nm
Maximum case temperature (TCase)	67 °C
Maximum core temperature	67.4°C
Maximum frequency	3.70 GHz	2.1 GHz
Number of cores	4	3
Number of threads	4
Transistor count	1400 million	450 million
Memory
Max memory channels	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	25.6 GB/s
Maximum memory size	32 GB
Supported memory types	DDR3 1333/1600
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	AM2+
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	77 Watt	65 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™)