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).

Intel Core i5-3550

Intel Core i7-970

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: 1993 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	1993 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 4800
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 4800
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

1993

1467

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

4800

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	1993	1467
PassMark - CPU mark	4800	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	2498	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)