Intel Core i5-3550 vs Intel Core i7-970

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i5-3550 and Intel Core i7-970 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) 9 month(s) later
  • Around 7% higher clock speed: 3.70 GHz vs 3.46 GHz
  • A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 22 nm vs 32 nm
  • Around 33% higher maximum memory size: 32 GB vs 24 GB
  • Around 69% lower typical power consumption: 77 Watt vs 130 Watt
  • Around 36% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1996 vs 1467
  • Around 30% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 767 vs 592
  • 2.2x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 3.362 vs 1.559
Specifications (specs)
Launch date 23 April 2012 vs July 2010
Maximum frequency 3.70 GHz vs 3.46 GHz
Manufacturing process technology 22 nm vs 32 nm
Maximum memory size 32 GB vs 24 GB
Thermal Design Power (TDP) 77 Watt vs 130 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark 1996 vs 1467
Geekbench 4 - Single Core 767 vs 592
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s) 3.362 vs 1.559

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-970

  • 2 more cores, run more applications at once: 6 vs 4
  • 8 more threads: 12 vs 4
  • Around 1% higher maximum core temperature: 67.9°C vs 67.4°C
  • 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
  • 2x more L3 cache, more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
  • Around 36% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 6546 vs 4802
  • Around 27% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 3217 vs 2526
  • 5.2x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 49.006 vs 9.39
  • Around 25% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 0.506 vs 0.404
  • Around 35% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s): 2.584 vs 1.919
  • Around 35% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 6.816 vs 5.067
Specifications (specs)
Number of cores 6 vs 4
Number of threads 12 vs 4
Maximum core temperature 67.9°C vs 67.4°C
L1 cache 64 KB (per core) vs 64 KB (per core)
L2 cache 256 KB (per core) vs 1 MB
L3 cache 12288 KB (shared) vs 6 MB
Benchmarks
PassMark - CPU mark 6546 vs 4802
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core 3217 vs 2526
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s) 49.006 vs 9.39
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s) 0.506 vs 0.404
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s) 2.584 vs 1.919
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s) 6.816 vs 5.067

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i5-3550
CPU 2: Intel Core i7-970

PassMark - Single thread mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
1996
1467
PassMark - CPU mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
4802
6546
Geekbench 4 - Single Core
CPU 1
CPU 2
767
592
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core
CPU 1
CPU 2
2526
3217
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
3.362
1.559
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
9.39
49.006
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
0.404
0.506
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
1.919
2.584
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
5.067
6.816
Name Intel Core i5-3550 Intel Core i7-970
PassMark - Single thread mark 1996 1467
PassMark - CPU mark 4802 6546
Geekbench 4 - Single Core 767 592
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core 2526 3217
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score 2778
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s) 3.362 1.559
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s) 9.39 49.006
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s) 0.404 0.506
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s) 1.919 2.584
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s) 5.067 6.816
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Frames) 680
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Fps) 680

Compare specifications (specs)

Intel Core i5-3550 Intel Core i7-970

Essentials

Architecture codename Ivy Bridge Gulftown
Launch date 23 April 2012 July 2010
Launch price (MSRP) $205 $662
Place in performance rating 2497 2478
Price now $329.95 $148.99
Processor Number i5-3550 i7-970
Series Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status Discontinued Discontinued
Value for money (0-100) 6.19 16.59
Vertical segment Desktop Desktop

Performance

64 bit support
Base frequency 3.30 GHz 3.20 GHz
Bus Speed 5 GT/s DMI 4.8 GT/s QPI
Die size 160 mm 239 mm2
L1 cache 64 KB (per core) 64 KB (per core)
L2 cache 1 MB 256 KB (per core)
L3 cache 6 MB 12288 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology 22 nm 32 nm
Maximum case temperature (TCase) 67 °C
Maximum core temperature 67.4°C 67.9°C
Maximum frequency 3.70 GHz 3.46 GHz
Number of cores 4 6
Number of threads 4 12
Transistor count 1400 million 1170 million
Number of QPI Links 1
VID voltage range 0.800V-1.375V

Memory

Max memory channels 2 3
Maximum memory bandwidth 25.6 GB/s 25.6 GB/s
Maximum memory size 32 GB 24 GB
Supported memory types DDR3 1333/1600 DDR3 800/1066

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 42.5mm X 45.0mm
Sockets supported FCLGA1155 FCLGA1366
Thermal Design Power (TDP) 77 Watt 130 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® SSE4.2
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® Demand Based Switching
Physical Address Extensions (PAE) 36-bit

Virtualization

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