Intel Core i5-3550 vs Intel Core i7-2600K

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i5-3550 and Intel Core i7-2600K 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

Intel Core i7-2600K

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 23% lower typical power consumption: 77 Watt vs 95 Watt
Around 14% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1986 vs 1742
Around 51% better performance in 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score: 2778 vs 1845
Around 1% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 5.067 vs 5.018

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	23 April 2012 vs 3 January 2011
Manufacturing process technology	22 nm vs 32 nm
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	77 Watt vs 95 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1986 vs 1742
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	2778 vs 1845
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	5.067 vs 5.018

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-2600K

Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
4 more threads: 8 vs 4
Around 3% higher clock speed: 3.80 GHz vs 3.70 GHz
Around 8% higher maximum core temperature: 72.6°C vs 67.4°C
Around 33% more L3 cache; more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
Around 14% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 5481 vs 4794
Around 6% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 811 vs 767
Around 23% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 3117 vs 2526
Around 35% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 4.524 vs 3.362
8.3x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 77.745 vs 9.39
Around 49% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 0.602 vs 0.404
Around 11% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s): 2.129 vs 1.919

Specifications (specs)
Unlocked	Unlocked vs Locked
Number of threads	8 vs 4
Maximum frequency	3.80 GHz vs 3.70 GHz
Maximum core temperature	72.6°C vs 67.4°C
L3 cache	8192 KB vs 6 MB
Benchmarks
PassMark - CPU mark	5481 vs 4794
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	811 vs 767
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	3117 vs 2526
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	4.524 vs 3.362
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	77.745 vs 9.39
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.602 vs 0.404
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	2.129 vs 1.919

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i5-3550
CPU 2: Intel Core i7-2600K

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1986

1742

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

4794

5481

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

767

811

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

2526

3117

3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score

CPU 1

CPU 2

2778

1845

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

3.362

4.524

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

CPU 1

CPU 2

9.39

77.745

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

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.404

0.602

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

1.919

2.129

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

5.067

5.018

Name	Intel Core i5-3550	Intel Core i7-2600K
PassMark - Single thread mark	1986	1742
PassMark - CPU mark	4794	5481
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	767	811
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	2526	3117
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	2778	1845
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	3.362	4.524
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	9.39	77.745
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.404	0.602
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	1.919	2.129
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	5.067	5.018
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Frames)	680
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Fps)	680

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i5-3550	Intel Core i7-2600K
Essentials
Architecture codename	Ivy Bridge	Sandy Bridge
Launch date	23 April 2012	3 January 2011
Launch price (MSRP)	$205	$317
Place in performance rating	2506	2312
Price now	$329.95	$189.99
Processor Number	i5-3550	i7-2600K
Series	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)	6.19	13.10
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.30 GHz	3.40 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	1024 KB
L3 cache	6 MB	8192 KB
Manufacturing process technology	22 nm	32 nm
Maximum case temperature (TCase)	67 °C
Maximum core temperature	67.4°C	72.6°C
Maximum frequency	3.70 GHz	3.80 GHz
Number of cores	4	4
Number of threads	4	8
Transistor count	1400 million	995 Million
Unlocked
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	0x112
Graphics base frequency	650 MHz	850 MHz
Graphics max dynamic frequency	1.15 GHz	1.35 GHz
Graphics max frequency	1.15 GHz	1.35 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 3000
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	95 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)