CPU Comparison

# Intel Core i3-4150 vs Intel Core i5-3550S: A Tale of Two Generations

The Intel Core i3-4150 and Intel Core i5-3550S sit at nearly identical average benchmark scores, 1119 for the i3-4150 and 1118 for the i5-3550S, yet they achieve parity through fundamentally different designs. The i3-4150 is a Haswell-era dual-core with Hyper-Threading, while the i5-3550S is an Ivy Bridge quad-core without Hyper-Threading. Their head-to-head results show a striking split: the i5-3550S dominates Cinebench across all versions, while the i3-4150 wins decisively in Geekbench. This makes the choice between them less about raw performance and more about which workload patterns matter most.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i3-4150 edges out the i5-3550S by a single point, with an average benchmark score of 1119 compared to 1118. The delta between them is just 0.1%, placing them as direct rivals in the nearestRivals data.

Q: How much faster is the i5-3550S in multi-core Cinebench tests?

A: The i5-3550S leads by approximately 24% across all Cinebench multi-core tests. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 3808 versus 2888 for the i3-4150, a delta of -24.2%.

Q: Does the i3-4150 win any benchmark categories?

A: Yes, the i3-4150 wins both Geekbench tests. It scores 1896 in Geekbench multi-core (10.5% ahead) and 968 in Geekbench single-core (55.4% ahead of the i5-3550S's 623).

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The i3-4150 has 2 cores and 4 threads, while the i5-3550S has 4 cores and 4 threads. The i3-4150 relies on Hyper-Threading to reach 4 threads, whereas the i5-3550S uses four physical cores.

Q: Which processor has a higher base clock speed?

A: The i3-4150 has a base clock of 3.50 GHz, which is higher than the i5-3550S's 3.00 GHz. However, the i5-3550S has a boost clock of 3.70 GHz, which the i3-4150 lacks entirely.

Q: How do their TDP ratings compare?

A: The i3-4150 has a TDP of 54 watts, while the i5-3550S has a TDP of 65 watts. The i3-4150 is the more power-efficient part despite its higher base clock.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two processors is substantial, even though both are built on Intel's 22 nm process node and use 1,400 million transistors. The i3-4150 comes from the Haswell generation, while the i5-3550S is from the older Ivy Bridge generation. This generational difference shows in their die sizes, the Haswell chip measures 177 mm², while the Ivy Bridge part is slightly smaller at 160 mm².

Cache allocation is a major differentiator. Both processors have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, but the L3 cache differs significantly. The i3-4150 has 3 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i5-3550S has 6 MB of shared L3 cache, double the capacity. This larger cache pool benefits the quad-core i5-3550S, which has more physical cores competing for data.

The socket situation reveals platform differences. The i3-4150 uses Intel Socket 1150, while the i5-3550S uses Intel Socket 1155. This means they are not interchangeable on the same motherboard. Memory support is DDR3 dual-channel for both, but the i3-4150 lists a memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s where the i5-3550S does not specify a figure. Both support PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU.

Integrated graphics also differ. The i3-4150 pairs with Intel HD 4400, while the i5-3550S uses Intel HD 2500. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking is not an option for either. The release dates are roughly two years apart, the i5-3550S launched in April 2012, and the i3-4150 followed in April 2014. The i3-4150 carries a launch MSRP of $117, while the i5-3550S has no listed launch price.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear split between these two processors. For multi-threaded rendering workloads, the i5-3550S is the obvious choice, it wins all five Cinebench tests by roughly 24%. The quad-core design with 6 MB of L3 cache provides a substantial advantage in sustained multi-core workloads. If Cinebench is representative of your primary use case, the i5-3550S is the stronger performer.

However, the i3-4150's Geekbench victories tell a different story. Its 55.4% lead in Geekbench single-core and 10.5% lead in Geekbench multi-core suggest superior per-thread efficiency. The Haswell architecture's improvements over Ivy Bridge appear to deliver real gains in certain workloads. For tasks that are latency-sensitive or favor newer instruction sets, the i3-4150 may be the better pick.

The percentile rankings are nearly identical, 32nd percentile for the i3-4150 and 31st for the i5-3550S, indicating both are mid-range performers in the broader CPU landscape. The average scores of 1119 and 1118 are statistically indistinguishable. The real decision hinges on whether your workloads resemble Cinebench's rendering pattern or Geekbench's mixed workload profile.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i3-4150 | Intel Core i5-3550S |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 2 | 4 |

| Threads | 4 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 3.50 GHz | 3.00 GHz |

| Boost Clock | None | 3.70 GHz |

| TDP | 54 W | 65 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1150 | Intel Socket 1155 |

| Architecture | Haswell | Ivy Bridge |

| Die Size | 177 mm² | 160 mm² |

| L3 Cache | 3 MB (shared) | 6 MB (shared) |

| Memory Bandwidth | 25.6 GB/s | Not specified |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 4400 | Intel HD 2500 |

| Release Date | 2014-04-30 | 2012-04-28 |

| Launch MSRP | $117 | Not specified |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head benchmark data reveals a lopsided competition. The i5-3550S wins five of the seven tests, dominating every Cinebench iteration. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-3550S scores 383 versus 290 for the i3-4150, a -24.3% delta. This pattern repeats across Cinebench R20 multi-core (1599 vs 1212, -24.2%), Cinebench R20 single-core (225 vs 170, -24.4%), Cinebench R23 multi-core (3808 vs 2888, -24.2%), and Cinebench R23 single-core (537 vs 407, -24.2%). The consistency of this ~24% gap across all Cinebench versions is remarkable, it suggests the i5-3550S has a fundamental advantage in this benchmark family, likely stemming from its four physical cores.

The Geekbench results flip the script entirely. The i3-4150 scores 1896 in Geekbench multi-core, beating the i5-3550S's 1716 by 10.5%. In Geekbench single-core, the margin expands dramatically: 968 versus 623, a 55.4% advantage for the i3-4150. This is the largest delta in the entire benchmark suite and indicates that the i3-4150's Haswell architecture delivers far superior single-thread performance.

What explains this bifurcation? The i3-4150's higher base clock of 3.50 GHz versus the i5-3550S's 3.00 GHz base likely helps in single-threaded tests. Additionally, the Haswell architecture introduced IPC improvements over Ivy Bridge that would amplify this clock advantage. The i5-3550S's boost clock of 3.70 GHz narrows the frequency gap under load, but apparently not enough to overcome the architectural deficit in Geekbench.

The multi-core Geekbench result is particularly interesting. Despite having only 2 physical cores, the i3-4150's 4 threads outperform the i5-3550S's 4 physical cores by 10.5% in this test. This suggests that Geekbench's multi-core workload benefits more from Hyper-Threading and newer architecture than from raw core count, whereas Cinebench clearly scales with physical cores.

Where Each One Wins

The i5-3550S wins in Cinebench-based workloads, rendering tasks that scale with physical core count. Its 4 cores and 6 MB of L3 cache provide a consistent 24% advantage across every Cinebench version tested. If your workflow involves 3D rendering, video encoding, or other multi-threaded content creation, the i5-3550S is the demonstrated leader. The consistency of its wins across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 suggests this advantage is durable across software versions.

The i3-4150 wins in Geekbench-based workloads, particularly single-threaded performance. Its 55.4% lead in Geekbench single-core is massive and indicates superior responsiveness for everyday tasks, legacy software, and applications that are not well-parallelized. The 10.5% Geekbench multi-core win also shows that Hyper-Threading on Haswell can outperform native quad-core Ivy Bridge in certain mixed workloads. The i3-4150 also has advantages outside raw benchmarks: it consumes less power (54 W versus 65 W TDP) and includes the newer Intel HD 4400 graphics versus HD 2500.

The choice ultimately comes down to workload characterization. Rendering-heavy users should select the i5-3550S. Users prioritizing single-thread responsiveness, efficiency, or newer integrated graphics should choose the i3-4150. Their near-identical average scores (1119 vs 1118) confirm that neither is a universal winner, they simply excel in different domains. The 0.1% delta in average score between them is negligible, making the decision entirely workload-dependent.