Intel Core i5-3550S vs AMD Phenom II X2 550

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i5-3550S and AMD Phenom II X2 550 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, CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s), GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Frames), GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Fps).

Intel Core i5-3550S

AMD Phenom II X2 550

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i5-3550S

CPU is newer: launch date 2 year(s) 5 month(s) later
2 more cores, run more applications at once: 4 vs 2
Around 19% higher clock speed: 3.70 GHz vs 3.1 GHz
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 22 nm vs 45 nm
Around 23% lower typical power consumption: 65 Watt vs 80 Watt
Around 59% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1946 vs 1226
3.8x better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 4414 vs 1155

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	April 2012 vs November 2009
Number of cores	4 vs 2
Maximum frequency	3.70 GHz vs 3.1 GHz
Manufacturing process technology	22 nm vs 45 nm
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	65 Watt vs 80 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1946 vs 1226
PassMark - CPU mark	4414 vs 1155

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i5-3550S
CPU 2: AMD Phenom II X2 550

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1946

1226

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

4414

1155

Name	Intel Core i5-3550S	AMD Phenom II X2 550
PassMark - Single thread mark	1946	1226
PassMark - CPU mark	4414	1155
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	722
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	2376
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	3.649
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Frames)	1771
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Fps)	1771

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i5-3550S	AMD Phenom II X2 550
Essentials
Architecture codename	Ivy Bridge	Callisto
Launch date	April 2012	November 2009
Launch price (MSRP)	$350	$133
Place in performance rating	2026	2040
Price now	$341.01	$49.99
Processor Number	i5-3550S
Series	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status	Launched
Value for money (0-100)	5.95	11.92
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.00 GHz
Bus Speed	5 GT/s DMI
Die size	160 mm	258 mm
L1 cache	64 KB (per core)	128 KB (per core)
L2 cache	256 KB (per core)	512 KB (per core)
L3 cache	6144 KB (shared)	6144 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	22 nm	45 nm
Maximum case temperature (TCase)	69 °C
Maximum core temperature	69.1°C
Maximum frequency	3.70 GHz	3.1 GHz
Number of cores	4	2
Number of threads	4
Transistor count	1400 million	758 million
Memory
Max memory channels	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	25.6 GB/s
Maximum memory size	32 GB
Supported memory types	DDR3 1333/1600	DDR3
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	AM3
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	65 Watt	80 Watt
Thermal Solution	2011C
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)