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).

Intel Core i5-3550S

AMD Phenom X3 8550

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: 1955 vs 856
3.8x better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 4417 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	1955 vs 856
PassMark - CPU mark	4417 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

1955

856

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

4417

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	1955	856
PassMark - CPU mark	4417	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™)