AMD Ryzen 5 3550H vs Intel Core i7-3770K Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data splits these two processors along workload lines, and the split is not subtle. The AMD Ryzen 5 3550H takes five of the six recorded head-to-head tests, while the Intel Core i7-3770K wins only one, but that one win is decisive and reveals where the older desktop chip still holds ground.

The Ryzen 5 3550H dominates the Cinebench R15 tests. In multicore, it scores 742 against the i7-3770K's 558, a 24.8% advantage. In single-core R15, the gap is enormous: 144 versus 78, a 45.8% lead for AMD. These are the largest deltas in the entire comparison, and they suggest the Ryzen simply executes older rendering workloads far more efficiently per thread and across all cores.

The Intel i7-3770K strikes back in Cinebench R23 multicore. Here, the Intel chip scores 5542 versus the AMD's 3929.5, a 41% lead. This is a massive reversal, and it points to the i7-3770K scaling better in the newer, more demanding render test despite its older architecture. Notably, the R23 single-core test still favors AMD, but only by 11.7% (886 versus 782), a much smaller margin than the R15 single-core gap.

In Geekbench, the Ryzen 5 3550H wins both tests. Multicore shows 3217 versus 3027, a 5.9% edge, while single-core shows 1001 versus 860, a 14.1% advantage. The Geekbench results are closer than the R15 numbers, indicating that the two chips are more evenly matched in general-purpose integer workloads than in the older render test.

For practical use, the pattern is clear: the Ryzen 5 3550H is the better all-rounder for everyday tasks and older benchmark suites, while the i7-3770K has a specific strength in the latest Cinebench multicore workload that suggests it can still handle prolonged, heavily threaded render jobs that leverage newer instruction paths. Users running R23-style workloads should look toward Intel; everyone else should lean AMD.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different eras and different design philosophies. The Intel Core i7-3770K is a desktop part from the Ivy Bridge generation, built on Intel's 22 nm process with a die size of 160 mm² and 1,400 million transistors. The AMD Ryzen 5 3550H is a mobile part from the Zen+ (Picasso) generation, built on GlobalFoundries' 12 nm process with a die size of 210 mm² and 4,940 million transistors. The transistor count difference is stark, with AMD packing over three times as many transistors onto a larger die.

Both chips have 4 cores and 8 threads, so the thread count is identical. The base clocks differ significantly: Intel runs at 3.50 GHz base and 3.90 GHz boost, while AMD runs at 2.10 GHz base and 3.70 GHz boost. The Intel chip has a higher clock at both ends, which partially explains its R23 multicore strength, but the AMD chip compensates with architectural efficiency.

Cache layouts diverge notably. Intel uses 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 8 MB shared L3. AMD uses 96 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, but only 4 MB shared L3. The AMD chip has larger per-core caches but half the shared L3, which affects how well it handles data shared across cores.

Memory support differs by generation. Intel supports DDR3 on a dual-channel bus with 25.6 GB/s bandwidth. AMD supports DDR4 on a dual-channel bus, though the database does not record a bandwidth figure for it. The socket is also completely different: Intel uses Socket 1155, while AMD uses Socket FP5, meaning they are not interchangeable in any system.

Other differences include integrated graphics (Intel HD 4000 versus Radeon Vega 8), PCIe configuration (Intel offers Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, AMD lists Gen 3 without lane count), and market segment (desktop versus mobile). The Intel part is end-of-life, while the AMD part remains active in production. The Intel chip has an unlocked multiplier, while the AMD chip does not, which matters for overclocking. The Intel part launched in April 2012 with a launch MSRP of $313; the AMD part launched in January 2019 with no recorded launch MSRP.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most lopsided result is Cinebench R15 single-core. The Ryzen 5 3550H scores 144, and the i7-3770K scores 78. That is a 45.8% deficit for Intel, the largest gap in any test. This result is striking because the i7-3770K has a higher boost clock (3.90 GHz versus 3.70 GHz), yet it still loses by nearly half. The data suggests the Zen+ architecture delivers far more instructions per clock in this legacy workload, and the Intel chip's age shows clearly.

Cinebench R15 multicore follows a similar but less extreme pattern. AMD scores 742, Intel scores 558, giving AMD a 24.8% lead. The multicore gap is smaller than the single-core gap, which implies that the i7-3770K's eight threads close some distance when all cores are active, but not enough to overcome the per-thread deficit.

Cinebench R23 flips the script. Intel scores 5542, AMD scores 3929.5, giving Intel a 41% lead. This is the only test Intel wins, and it wins big. The R23 workload is newer and more demanding, and the i7-3770K's higher clocks and larger L3 cache appear to matter more here. The Ryzen's 4 MB L3 may be a bottleneck in this test, while Intel's 8 MB shared cache provides an advantage.

R23 single-core still goes to AMD, but by a much smaller margin: 886 versus 782, an 11.7% lead. This suggests that in the newest render test, the per-core advantage of Zen+ shrinks considerably compared to R15, though it does not disappear.

Geekbench multicore shows AMD ahead at 3217 versus 3027, a 5.9% margin. This is the closest result in the entire comparison, indicating that in mixed general-purpose workloads, the two chips are nearly equivalent. Geekbench single-core gives AMD a 14.1% lead (1001 versus 860), which sits between the extreme R15 gap and the moderate R23 gap.

Across all six tests, the average benchmark score in the database places the i7-3770K at 1688 and the Ryzen 5 3550H at 1653, a difference of about 2% in Intel's favor overall. Both sit at the 40th percentile of all CPUs, meaning they are statistically similar in the aggregate even though individual tests show wide swings.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmarks?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3550H wins five of the six head-to-head tests. The Intel Core i7-3770K wins only one, Cinebench R23 multicore, but by a large 41% margin.

Q: Why does the Intel chip win Cinebench R23 multicore despite losing most other tests?

A: The i7-3770K has a higher base clock (3.50 GHz versus 2.10 GHz) and boost clock (3.90 GHz versus 3.70 GHz), plus 8 MB of shared L3 cache compared to 4 MB on the AMD chip. The R23 workload appears to favor these characteristics, allowing Intel to score 5542 against AMD's 3929.5.

Q: How big is the single-core performance gap?

A: It varies by test. In Cinebench R15 single-core, AMD leads by 45.8% (144 versus 78). In Cinebench R23 single-core, AMD leads by 11.7% (886 versus 782). In Geekbench single-core, AMD leads by 14.1% (1001 versus 860).

Q: Are these processors comparable in overall performance?

A: The database shows the i7-3770K has an average benchmark score of 1688, while the Ryzen 5 3550H has 1653, a difference of about 2%. Both are at the 40th percentile of all CPUs, so they are broadly similar in aggregate performance despite individual test differences.

Q: What are the memory and socket differences?

A: The i7-3770K uses DDR3 on a dual-channel bus with 25.6 GB/s bandwidth and fits Intel Socket 1155. The Ryzen 5 3550H uses DDR4 on a dual-channel bus with no recorded bandwidth figure and fits AMD Socket FP5. They are not interchangeable.

Q: Can either processor be overclocked?

A: The Intel Core i7-3770K has an unlocked multiplier, so it supports overclocking. The AMD Ryzen 5 3550H has a locked multiplier, so it does not.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every category except core and thread counts.

• Manufacturer: Intel versus AMD
• Base Clock: 3.50 GHz (Intel) versus 2.10 GHz (AMD)
• Boost Clock: 3.90 GHz (Intel) versus 3.70 GHz (AMD)
• TDP: 77 W (Intel) versus 35 W (AMD)
• Socket: Intel Socket 1155 versus AMD Socket FP5
• Architecture: Ivy Bridge versus Zen+
• Process Node: 22 nm (Intel) versus 12 nm (GlobalFoundries)
• Transistors: 1,400 million (Intel) versus 4,940 million (AMD)
• Die Size: 160 mm² (Intel) versus 210 mm² (AMD)
• L1 Cache: 64 KB per core (Intel) versus 96 KB per core (AMD)
• L2 Cache: 256 KB per core (Intel) versus 512 KB per core (AMD)
• L3 Cache: 8 MB shared (Intel) versus 4 MB shared (AMD)
• Memory Support: DDR3 (Intel) versus DDR4 (AMD)
• Memory Bandwidth: 25.6 GB/s (Intel) versus not recorded (AMD)
• PCIe: Gen 3, 16 Lanes CPU only (Intel) versus Gen 3, no lane count (AMD)
• Integrated Graphics: Intel HD 4000 versus Radeon Vega 8
• Market Segment: Desktop (Intel) versus Mobile (AMD)
• Production Status: End-of-life (Intel) versus Active (AMD)
• Release Date: 2012-04-28 (Intel) versus 2019-01-05 (AMD)
• Multiplier Unlocked: Yes (Intel) versus No (AMD)
• Part Number: SR0PL (Intel) versus YM3500C4T4MFG (AMD)

The Verdict

The data supports a clear split recommendation. For users running Cinebench R23 multicore workloads, the Intel Core i7-3770K is the stronger choice, delivering a 41% higher score (5542 versus 3929.5) despite being older and having a higher TDP of 77 W against 35 W. This makes it a viable option for those who already own a Socket 1155 platform and need maximum performance in that specific render test.

For virtually everything else, the AMD Ryzen 5 3550H is the better processor. It wins Cinebench R15 multicore by 24.8%, Cinebench R15 single-core by 45.8%, Cinebench R23 single-core by 11.7%, Geekbench multicore by 5.9%, and Geekbench single-core by 14.1%. Its lower TDP (35 W versus 77 W) makes it far more suitable for mobile or power-constrained systems, and its active production status means it remains available. The only drawback is the locked multiplier, which eliminates overclocking headroom.

The aggregate scores are nearly identical, with Intel at 1688 and AMD at 1653, both at the 40th percentile. If you value modern memory support (DDR4), a more efficient process node (12 nm versus 22 nm), and consistent wins across most benchmarks, the Ryzen 5 3550H is the practical pick. If you specifically need the highest Cinebench R23 multicore score and have a desktop platform with an unlocked multiplier, the i7-3770K remains relevant. Choose based on the workload that matters most to you.