Intel Core i5-3550S vs AMD Phenom X3 8550

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i5-3550S and AMD Phenom X3 8550 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).

 

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i5-3550S

  • CPU is newer: launch date 4 year(s) 0 month(s) later
  • 1 more cores, run more applications at once: 4 vs 3
  • Around 68% higher clock speed: 3.70 GHz vs 2.2 GHz
  • A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 22 nm vs 65 nm
  • 3x more L3 cache, more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
  • Around 46% lower typical power consumption: 65 Watt vs 95 Watt
  • 2.3x better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1961 vs 856
  • 3.8x better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 4422 vs 1151
Specifications (specs)
Launch date April 2012 vs April 2008
Number of cores 4 vs 3
Maximum frequency 3.70 GHz vs 2.2 GHz
Manufacturing process technology 22 nm vs 65 nm
L3 cache 6144 KB (shared) vs 2048 KB (shared)
Thermal Design Power (TDP) 65 Watt vs 95 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark 1961 vs 856
PassMark - CPU mark 4422 vs 1151

Reasons to consider the AMD Phenom X3 8550

  • 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
  • Around 89% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 1361 vs 722
  • Around 33% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 3171 vs 2376
Specifications (specs)
L1 cache 128 KB (per core) vs 64 KB (per core)
L2 cache 512 KB (per core) vs 256 KB (per core)
Benchmarks
Geekbench 4 - Single Core 1361 vs 722
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core 3171 vs 2376

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i5-3550S
CPU 2: AMD Phenom X3 8550

PassMark - Single thread mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
1961
856
PassMark - CPU mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
4422
1151
Geekbench 4 - Single Core
CPU 1
CPU 2
722
1361
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core
CPU 1
CPU 2
2376
3171
Name Intel Core i5-3550S AMD Phenom X3 8550
PassMark - Single thread mark 1961 856
PassMark - CPU mark 4422 1151
Geekbench 4 - Single Core 722 1361
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core 2376 3171
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 X3 8550

Essentials

Architecture codename Ivy Bridge Toliman
Launch date April 2012 April 2008
Launch price (MSRP) $350 $170
Place in performance rating 2019 2026
Price now $341.01 $169.95
Processor Number i5-3550S
Series Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status Launched
Value for money (0-100) 5.95 3.33
Vertical segment Desktop Desktop

Performance

64 bit support
Base frequency 3.00 GHz
Bus Speed 5 GT/s DMI
Die size 160 mm 285 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) 2048 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology 22 nm 65 nm
Maximum case temperature (TCase) 69 °C
Maximum core temperature 69.1°C
Maximum frequency 3.70 GHz 2.2 GHz
Number of cores 4 3
Number of threads 4
Transistor count 1400 million 450 million

Memory

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

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 AM2+
Thermal Design Power (TDP) 65 Watt 95 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)
AMD Virtualization (AMD-V™)