Intel Core i3-10110U vs Intel Core i5-2550K Comparison

The Intel Core i5-2550K and Intel Core i3-10110U are both end-of-life processors, but they serve entirely different eras and market segments. The i5-2550K is a desktop Sandy Bridge chip from early 2012, while the i3-10110U is a mobile Comet Lake-U part from late 2019. Despite the generational gap, the data reveals a surprisingly close contest. The i5-2550K wins 5 of 8 head-to-head benchmarks, but the i3-10110U takes the two most decisive victories, in single-core Geekbench and Cinebench R15. The verdict is clear: the i5-2550K is the better all-around multi-threaded performer, while the i3-10110U is the superior choice for single-threaded responsiveness and tasks that leverage its higher boost clock.

The Verdict

From the benchmark data, the Intel Core i5-2550K is the processor to choose for sustained multi-core workloads. It leads the i3-10110U in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests by margins of 12%, 12.1%, and 12.1%, respectively. Its 4 physical cores and 4 threads provide a structural advantage over the i3's 2 cores and 4 threads, which is directly reflected in these wins. The i5-2550K also wins the Cinebench R20 and R23 single-core tests, by 12.6% and 12.3%, despite the i3's higher boost clock.

The Intel Core i3-10110U is the pick for single-threaded performance in specific benchmarks and for scenarios where its integrated graphics are needed. It crushes the i5-2550K in Geekbench single-core, scoring 1174 versus 697, a 40.6% advantage. It also wins Geekbench multi-core with 2143 versus 2096, a 2.2% margin, and dominates the Cinebench R15 single-core test, scoring 162 versus 51, a massive 68.5% lead. The i3-10110U also offers the UHD Graphics integrated GPU, which the i5-2550K completely lacks, making it the only viable option in this comparison for a system without a discrete graphics card.

The overall average benchmark scores are nearly identical: 1136 for the i5-2550K and 1131 for the i3-10110U. Both sit at the 32nd percentile of all CPUs. However, the distribution of wins tells the real story. The i5-2550K's wins are consistent and clustered around the 12% mark, while the i3-10110U's wins are extreme outliers, particularly the 68.5% and 40.6% single-core victories. The data suggests the i5-2550K is the more balanced, predictable performer, while the i3-10110U is highly specialized toward single-thread bursts.

Where Each One Wins

The i5-2550K wins decisively in all multi-core render tests. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 365 versus 326. In R20 multi-core, it scores 1523 versus 1359. In R23 multi-core, it scores 3628 versus 3236. This indicates a consistent 12% performance advantage across different versions of the same benchmark, pointing to a fundamental throughput advantage from having two additional physical cores. The i5-2550K also wins the Cinebench R20 and R23 single-core tests, scoring 215 versus 191 and 512 versus 456, respectively. This is notable because it means the older desktop chip is not just a multi-core specialist; it also edges out the newer mobile chip in these specific single-thread render tests.

The i3-10110U wins where clock speed and newer architecture matter most. Its boost clock of 4.10 GHz, compared to the i5-2550K's 3.80 GHz, likely contributes to its staggering 68.5% lead in Cinebench R15 single-core, where it scores 162 versus 51. The i3 also takes the Geekbench single-core test with 1174 versus 697, a 40.6% lead, and the Geekbench multi-core test with 2143 versus 2096, a 2.2% lead. These Geekbench wins suggest that the newer Comet Lake architecture performs better in this particular benchmark suite, even with fewer physical cores. The i3-10110U is the clear winner for short, single-threaded tasks and for any workload that can leverage its integrated UHD Graphics.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are separated by more than just release date; they represent fundamentally different design philosophies. The i5-2550K is built on Intel's 32 nm process with a die size of 216 mm² and 1,160 million transistors. It is a desktop part from the Sandy Bridge architecture, using the Intel Socket 1155. Its 4 cores run at a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 3.80 GHz, with a TDP of 95 W. It supports dual-channel DDR3 memory with a bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s and provides PCIe Gen 2 with 16 lanes from the CPU. Notably, the i5-2550K has an unlocked multiplier, making it overclockable, and it has no integrated graphics.

The i3-10110U is a mobile processor built on Intel's 14 nm process. It belongs to the Comet Lake architecture and uses the Intel BGA 1440 socket. It has 2 cores and 4 threads, with a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a significantly higher boost clock of 4.10 GHz. Its TDP is just 25 W, reflecting its mobile, power-efficient design. It supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory (no bus width or bandwidth data is available), lacks a PCIe lane count specification, and features integrated UHD Graphics. The multiplier is locked, preventing overclocking.

The cache configurations differ as well. Both have 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, but the shared L3 cache is 6 MB on the i5-2550K versus 4 MB on the i3-10110U. The i5's larger L3 cache and additional cores give it a structural advantage in multi-threaded workloads, while the i3's higher boost clock and newer architecture give it an edge in single-threaded tests.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has better multi-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i5-2550K wins all three multi-core Cinebench tests (R15, R20, R23) by approximately 12% (365 vs 326, 1523 vs 1359, 3628 vs 3236). However, the i3-10110U wins Geekbench multi-core with 2143 versus 2096.

Q: Is the newer i3-10110U faster in single-core tasks?

A: It depends on the benchmark. The i3-10110U has a massive lead in Cinebench R15 single-core (162 vs 51, a 68.5% advantage) and Geekbench single-core (1174 vs 697, a 40.6% advantage). However, the i5-2550K wins Cinebench R20 single-core (215 vs 191) and R23 single-core (512 vs 456).

Q: Can I use the i5-2550K without a dedicated graphics card?

A: No. The data lists no integrated graphics for the Intel Core i5-2550K. The i3-10110U features UHD Graphics, making it the only option in this comparison for a system without a discrete GPU.

Q: Which processor is more power-efficient?

A: The i3-10110U has a TDP of 25 W, while the i5-2550K has a TDP of 95 W. The data clearly indicates the mobile i3 is designed for much lower power consumption.

Q: Are these processors overclockable?

A: Yes, the Intel Core i5-2550K has an unlocked multiplier, allowing overclocking. The Intel Core i3-10110U has a locked multiplier and cannot be overclocked.

Q: What is the overall performance ranking of these CPUs?

A: Both processors sit at the 32nd percentile of all CPUs. The i5-2550K has an average benchmark score of 1136, and the i3-10110U has an average score of 1131, making them statistically equivalent in overall performance.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result in the entire comparison is the Cinebench R15 single-core test. The i3-10110U scores 162, while the i5-2550K scores only 51. This 68.5% delta is the single largest margin of victory in either direction. It is a stark outlier compared to all other results, which are clustered around 12%. This suggests the i3-10110U's architecture and 4.10 GHz boost clock provide a dramatic advantage in this specific legacy benchmark.

The Geekbench single-core test is the second-largest win for the i3-10110U, with a score of 1174 versus 697, a 40.6% advantage. This reinforces the pattern that in Geekbench, the newer Comet Lake architecture is significantly stronger. The i3 also wins Geekbench multi-core, but by a much smaller margin of 2.2% (2143 vs 2096). This narrow win is notable because it shows the 2-core/4-thread i3 can sometimes outpace the 4-core/4-thread i5 in this benchmark.

Conversely, the i5-2550K's wins are remarkably consistent. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 365 versus 326, a 12% win. In R20 multi-core, it scores 1523 versus 1359, a 12.1% win. In R23 multi-core, it scores 3628 versus 3236, a 12.1% win. This uniformity across three benchmark versions indicates a stable, predictable multi-core advantage. The i5-2550K also wins Cinebench R20 single-core (215 vs 191, 12.6%) and R23 single-core (512 vs 456, 12.3%), demonstrating that it is not simply a multi-core brute but also holds its own in newer single-thread render tests.

The win count is 5 for the i5-2550K and 3 for the i3-10110U. However, the magnitude of the i3's wins (68.5% and 40.6%) far exceeds the magnitude of the i5's wins (all around 12%). This creates a nuanced picture: the i5-2550K is the more consistent performer across the board, while the i3-10110U is a specialist that wins big in specific tests. The overall average scores (1136 vs 1131) confirm that neither chip has a meaningful aggregate advantage.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every core specification. The Intel Core i5-2550K has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the Intel Core i3-10110U has 2 cores and 4 threads. The i5's base clock is 3.40 GHz versus the i3's 2.10 GHz, but the i3's boost clock is higher at 4.10 GHz versus the i5's 3.80 GHz. The TDP is a major differentiator: 95 W for the i5 versus 25 W for the i3.

The sockets are incompatible: the i5 uses Intel Socket 1155, while the i3 uses Intel BGA 1440. The architectures are different generations, with the i5 being Sandy Bridge (32 nm) and the i3 being Comet Lake (14 nm). The i5 has a 6 MB shared L3 cache, while the i3 has a 4 MB shared L3 cache. L1 and L2 caches are identical at 64 KB and 256 KB per core, respectively.

Memory support differs: the i5 supports only DDR3 with dual-channel memory and a bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s, while the i3 supports both DDR3 and DDR4, with no bus width or bandwidth listed. The i5 has PCIe Gen 2 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the i3 has no PCIe specification listed. The i5 has no integrated graphics, while the i3 features UHD Graphics. The i5 has an unlocked multiplier and a part number of SR0QH, while the i3 has a locked multiplier and no listed part number. The i5's launch MSRP was $235; the i3 has no listed launch MSRP.