Intel Core i5-3550 vs Intel Core i5-2500S

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i5-3550 and Intel Core i5-2500S 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).

 

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i5-3550

  • CPU is newer: launch date 1 year(s) 3 month(s) later
  • A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 22 nm vs 32 nm
  • Around 21% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1996 vs 1644
  • Around 42% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 4810 vs 3391
  • Around 14% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 767 vs 670
  • Around 28% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 2526 vs 1968
  • Around 25% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 3.362 vs 2.684
  • Around 19% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 0.404 vs 0.34
  • Around 28% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s): 1.919 vs 1.505
  • Around 32% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 5.067 vs 3.83
Specifications (specs)
Launch date 23 April 2012 vs January 2011
Manufacturing process technology 22 nm vs 32 nm
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark 1996 vs 1644
PassMark - CPU mark 4810 vs 3391
Geekbench 4 - Single Core 767 vs 670
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core 2526 vs 1968
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s) 3.362 vs 2.684
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s) 0.404 vs 0.34
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s) 1.919 vs 1.505
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s) 5.067 vs 3.83

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i5-2500S

  • Around 3% higher maximum core temperature: 69.1°C vs 67.4°C
  • Around 18% lower typical power consumption: 65 Watt vs 77 Watt
  • 6.9x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 64.965 vs 9.39
Specifications (specs)
Maximum core temperature 69.1°C vs 67.4°C
Thermal Design Power (TDP) 65 Watt vs 77 Watt
Benchmarks
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s) 64.965 vs 9.39

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i5-3550
CPU 2: Intel Core i5-2500S

PassMark - Single thread mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
1996
1644
PassMark - CPU mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
4810
3391
Geekbench 4 - Single Core
CPU 1
CPU 2
767
670
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core
CPU 1
CPU 2
2526
1968
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
3.362
2.684
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
9.39
64.965
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
0.404
0.34
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
1.919
1.505
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
5.067
3.83
Name Intel Core i5-3550 Intel Core i5-2500S
PassMark - Single thread mark 1996 1644
PassMark - CPU mark 4810 3391
Geekbench 4 - Single Core 767 670
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core 2526 1968
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score 2778
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s) 3.362 2.684
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s) 9.39 64.965
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s) 0.404 0.34
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s) 1.919 1.505
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s) 5.067 3.83
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Frames) 680
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Fps) 680

Compare specifications (specs)

Intel Core i5-3550 Intel Core i5-2500S

Essentials

Architecture codename Ivy Bridge Sandy Bridge
Launch date 23 April 2012 January 2011
Launch price (MSRP) $205 $75
Place in performance rating 2548 2551
Price now $329.95 $74.99
Processor Number i5-3550 i5-2500S
Series Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status Discontinued Discontinued
Value for money (0-100) 6.19 20.88
Vertical segment Desktop Desktop

Performance

64 bit support
Base frequency 3.30 GHz 2.70 GHz
Bus Speed 5 GT/s DMI 5 GT/s DMI
Die size 160 mm 216 mm
L1 cache 64 KB (per core) 64 KB (per core)
L2 cache 1 MB 256 KB (per core)
L3 cache 6 MB 6144 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology 22 nm 32 nm
Maximum case temperature (TCase) 67 °C
Maximum core temperature 67.4°C 69.1°C
Maximum frequency 3.70 GHz 3.70 GHz
Number of cores 4 4
Number of threads 4 4
Transistor count 1400 million 1160 million

Memory

Max memory channels 2 2
Maximum memory bandwidth 25.6 GB/s 21 GB/s
Maximum memory size 32 GB 32 GB
Supported memory types DDR3 1333/1600 DDR3 1066/1333

Graphics

Device ID 0x152 0x102
Graphics base frequency 650 MHz 850 MHz
Graphics max dynamic frequency 1.15 GHz 1.10 GHz
Graphics max frequency 1.15 GHz 1.1 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 Intel® HD Graphics 2000

Graphics interfaces

Number of displays supported 3 2
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 37.5mm x 37.5mm
Sockets supported FCLGA1155 LGA1155
Thermal Design Power (TDP) 77 Watt 65 Watt
Thermal Solution 2011D

Peripherals

PCI Express revision 3.0 2.0
PCIe configurations up to 1x16, 2x8, 1x8 & 2x4
Max number of PCIe lanes 16

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® 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
Intel® Fast Memory Access
Intel® Flex Memory Access

Virtualization

Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)