AMD Athlon X4 845 vs Intel Core i5-3550S Comparison

# Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded database includes five Cinebench runs for the Intel Core i5-3550S and the AMD Athlon X4 845. The Intel part wins every single test, and the margins are consistent across both multicore and singlecore workloads. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i5-3550S scores 383 against 324 for the Athlon X4 845, a lead of 18.2%. The R20 multicore test shows a similar story: 1599 versus 1350, a delta of 18.4%. The R23 multicore result repeats the pattern, 3808 versus 3215, again 18.4% ahead. Singlecore tests follow the same trend, with the Intel part leading by 18.4% in R20 and 18.5% in R23.

The fact that the delta percentage is nearly identical across every test is striking. It suggests the performance difference is not workload dependent. Whether the application is lightly threaded or heavily threaded, the Intel processor holds a roughly constant advantage. The data shows a steady 18% edge across the board. The AMD part never closes the gap in any test, and the spread does not widen or narrow, it simply persists uniformly. This consistency across five distinct benchmark runs makes the result highly reliable.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous. The Intel Core i5-3550S wins all five head-to-head comparisons, with the narrowest margin being 18.2% and the widest 18.5%. The AMD Athlon X4 845 does not win a single benchmark in this data set. For any user choosing strictly on measured performance, the Intel part is the clear pick. The Intel CPU posts a higher average benchmark score of 1118 against 1106 for the AMD, a difference of 12 points or roughly 1.1%. The percentile ranking also favors the Intel part slightly, sitting at the 31st percentile of all CPUs while the AMD sits at the 31st percentile as well, effectively tied.

From the recorded data, the Intel part is the default choice for workloads where Cinebench performance matters. The AMD processor, while competitive in price tier, simply does not keep pace in these specific rendering workloads. Users running multi-threaded rendering tasks should see a meaningful advantage with the i5-3550S.

Where Each One Wins

Looking strictly at the benchmark results, the AMD Athlon X4 845 does not win any of the five recorded test runs. The Intel Core i5-3550S is the winner in every category, with margins ranging from 18.2% to 18.5%. However, the AMD part has its own territory when we expand the view beyond the benchmark suite.

The AMD Athlon X4 845 comes with an unlocked multiplier, which means the clock ratio can be adjusted by the user. The Intel Core i5-3550S does not offer this feature, its multiplier is locked. For a user who wants to extract extra performance through multiplier adjustment, the AMD part provides that option. The Intel part, by contrast, is the one that wins in every measured test. The database also shows the AMD has a higher transistor count of 3,100 million versus 1,400 million for the Intel part, plus a larger die size of 250 mm² versus 160 mm², though those physical attributes do not translate into a benchmark win in this comparison.

In terms of pure benchmark victories, the Intel part wins all. The AMD part wins only on features not captured by the benchmark suite, such as the unlocked multiplier and the larger transistor count. If the use case is single-threaded rendering, the Intel is 18.5% ahead in the R23 single-core test. For multi-core rendering, the Intel is again 18.4% ahead. There is no test in this data set where the AMD part pulls ahead.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Intel Core i5-3550S or the AMD Athlon X4 845?

The Intel Core i5-3550S scores 383 in Cinebench R15 multi-core, while the AMD Athlon X4 845 scores 324. The Intel CPU leads by 18.2%.

Q: How much faster is the Intel Core i5-3550S in Cinebench R23 single-core?

The Intel Core i5-3550S posts a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 537, versus 453 for the AMD Athlon X4 845, a difference of 18.5%.

Q: Does the AMD Athlon X4 845 win any benchmark?

In the recorded head-to-head tests, the AMD Athlon X4 845 wins zero tests out of five. The Intel Core i5-3550S wins all five comparisons.

Q: What is the average benchmark score of the AMD Athlon X4 vs the Intel Core i5-3550S?

The AMD Athlon X4 845 has an average benchmark score of 1106 across the recorded results. The Intel Core i5-3550S averages 1118. The delta is 0.2% in favor of the Intel part.

Q: Does the AMD Athlon X4 845 have more cache than the Intel Core i5-3550S?

No, the AMD Athlon X4 845 has 2 MB of L2 cache. The Intel Core i5-3550S has 6 MB of L3 cache, 1.4 MB of L1 and L2 per core. The Intel processor's L3 cache is shared, while the AMD part does not have an L3 cache on this package.

Architecture Differences

The two CPUs differ fundamentally in their internal design. The Intel Core i5-3550S is built on the Ivy Bridge architecture and uses a 22 nm process node from Intel. The AMD Athlon X4 845 uses the Excavator architecture on a 28 nm process from GlobalFoundries. The Intel part's codename is Ivy Bridge, while the AMD part's codename is Carrizo. The Intel CPU has a transistor count of 1,400 million on a 160 mm² die. The AMD part carries 3,100 million transistors on a 250 mm² die.

The core configuration also differs. The Intel chip has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the AMD part also has 4 cores and 4 threads. The Intel part has a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 3.70 GHz. The AMD Athlon X4 845 has a base of 3.50 GHz and a boost of 3.80 GHz. The Intel part uses a 6 MB shared L3 cache, while the AMD part has no L3. Both use dual-channel DDR3 memory.

Specification Differences

Only a few fields differ in the database between the two parts. The Intel Core i5-3550S uses Intel Socket 1155, while the AMD Athlon X4 845 uses AMD Socket FM2+. The Intel part's architecture is Ivy Bridge, the AMD part is Excavator. The Intel part is from the Core i5 (Ivy Bridge) generation, the AMD is from the Athlon (Carrizo) generation. Process nodes are 22 nm for the Intel, 28 nm for the AMD. The transistor count is 1,400 million versus 3,100 million, and die size is 160 mm² versus 250 mm².

The Intel part has integrated graphics: Intel HD 2500. The AMD part has no integrated graphics. The Intel chip supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the AMD has Gen 3 with 8 lanes (CPU only). The AMD part has an unlocked multiplier, the Intel part is locked. Release dates also differ, the Intel part was released 2012-04-28, the AMD part 2016-02-01. The AMD part is noted as end-of-life, while the Intel part has no production status recorded.