Intel Core i3-4170 vs Intel Core i5-3550 Comparison

The Verdict

The database comparison between the Intel Core i3-4170 and the Intel Core i5-3550 is decisively one-sided. The Core i5-3550 wins all five recorded head-to-head benchmark comparisons, with a win count of 5 to 0. The Core i5-3550 holds a consistent advantage of approximately 25.4% across multi-core and single-core workloads in the Cinebench suite. For users prioritizing raw computational throughput in rendering or CPU-intensive tasks, the Core i5-3550 is the clear choice based on the recorded data.

The Core i3-4170, with its two physical cores and four threads, does not close the gap in any recorded test. Its strongest performance comes in single-core tasks, where it still trails by 25.3% to 25.4% depending on the benchmark version. The average benchmark score for the i3-4170 is 1193, while the i5-3550 averages 1178; interestingly, this aggregate metric slightly favors the i3-4170 despite its loss in every direct comparison, because the i3-4170 has more recorded benchmark entries, including Geekbench scores that are not present for the i5-3550.

The verdict from the data is straightforward: the Core i5-3550 is the superior processor for multi-threaded and single-threaded workloads alike. The i3-4170 should only be selected if the specific system requirements demand its socket type or integrated graphics, as it uses Intel HD 4400 versus the HD 2500 in the i5-3550. Otherwise, the Core i5-3550 is the stronger performer across every direct benchmark in the database.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations and target different sockets. The Intel Core i3-4170 is built on the Haswell architecture, while the Intel Core i5-3550 uses the older Ivy Bridge design. Both are manufactured on the same 22 nm process node, and both integrate 1,400 million transistors. The die size differs, with the Haswell chip measuring 177 mm² and the Ivy Bridge chip at 160 mm².

The fundamental difference lies in core configuration. The i3-4170 has 2 cores and 4 threads, relying on Hyper-Threading to reach four logical processors. The i5-3550 has 4 physical cores and 4 threads, with no Hyper-Threading. This explains why the i5-3550 dominates multi-core benchmarks: it has double the physical core count.

Cache allocation is another differentiator. The i3-4170 carries 3 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i5-3550 has 6 MB of shared L3 cache. Both processors feature 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core. The larger L3 cache in the i5-3550 provides additional headroom for data-heavy workloads.

Clock speeds also differ. The i3-4170 has a base clock of 3.70 GHz with no boost clock listed. The i5-3550 has a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 3.70 GHz. Despite the lower base clock, the i5-3550's boost capability matches the i3-4170's fixed frequency. The i3-4170's power envelope is lower at 54 W TDP, while the i5-3550 draws up to 77 W TDP, reflecting the extra cores.

Socket compatibility is a critical architectural split: the i3-4170 uses Intel Socket 1150, while the i5-3550 uses Intel Socket 1155. These are not interchangeable platforms. The integrated graphics differ as well, with the i3-4170 featuring Intel HD 4400 and the i5-3550 using Intel HD 2500. Memory support is identical: both support DDR3 with dual-channel memory buses and 25.6 GB/s of memory bandwidth. Both support PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, and neither supports ECC memory. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more physical cores?

A: The Intel Core i5-3550 has 4 physical cores, while the Intel Core i3-4170 has 2 physical cores. The i3-4170 compensates with 4 threads via Hyper-Threading, but the i5-3550 still has the advantage in raw core count.

Q: How large is the performance gap in multi-core rendering?

A: The i5-3550 leads by exactly 25.4% in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i5-3550 scores 4073 versus the i3-4170's 3038.

Q: Does the i3-4170 win any benchmark?

A: No. The head-to-head record shows 0 wins for the i3-4170 and 5 wins for the i5-3550 across all recorded Cinebench comparisons.

Q: Are these processors on the same motherboard socket?

A: No. The i3-4170 uses Intel Socket 1150, while the i5-3550 uses Intel Socket 1155. They are not interchangeable between those platforms.

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The i3-4170 has an average benchmark score of 1193, slightly higher than the i5-3550's 1178. This is because the i3-4170 includes Geekbench scores in its average, while the i5-3550 only has Cinebench entries.

Q: What is the difference in power consumption?

A: The i3-4170 has a TDP of 54 W, while the i5-3550 has a TDP of 77 W. The i5-3550 consumes more power, which is consistent with its additional physical cores.

Specification Differences

The two processors share several specifications: both are made by Intel on a 22 nm process with 1,400 million transistors, both support DDR3 memory with dual-channel configuration and 25.6 GB/s bandwidth, both use PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, and both have 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 cache per core. Neither supports ECC memory, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. Both are desktop processors that are end-of-life.

The differences are numerous. The i3-4170 has 2 cores and 4 threads, while the i5-3550 has 4 cores and 4 threads. The i3-4170's base clock is 3.70 GHz with no boost clock; the i5-3550's base clock is 3.30 GHz with a 3.70 GHz boost. TDP is 54 W for the i3-4170 versus 77 W for the i5-3550.

Socket compatibility separates them completely: Socket 1150 for the i3-4170, Socket 1155 for the i5-3550. The architecture generation differs, with Haswell versus Ivy Bridge. Die size is 177 mm² versus 160 mm². The L3 cache is 3 MB shared for the i3-4170 and 6 MB shared for the i5-3550.

Integrated graphics differ: Intel HD 4400 on the i3-4170, Intel HD 2500 on the i5-3550. The release dates are distinct, with the i3-4170 launching in April 2014 and the i5-3550 launching in April 2012. The part numbers differ as SR1PL for the i3-4170 and SR0P0 for the i5-3550.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded head-to-head data covers five Cinebench tests, and the Core i5-3550 wins every single one. The most telling result is in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the i5-3550 scores 4073 against the i3-4170's 3038, a delta of -25.4% from the i3-4170's perspective. This large margin reflects the physical core advantage: the i5-3550's 4 cores outperform the i3-4170's 2 cores plus Hyper-Threading in a heavily threaded workload.

The single-core tests tell a similar story. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the i5-3550 scores 575 while the i3-4170 scores 429, again a 25.4% difference. This is notable because the i3-4170 has a higher base clock of 3.70 GHz versus the i5-3550's 3.30 GHz base and 3.70 GHz boost. The fact that the i5-3550 still wins single-core tests by the same margin suggests architectural efficiency or boost behavior advantages for the Ivy Bridge design in these specific tests.

Cinebench R20 multi-core shows the i5-3550 at 1710 versus the i3-4170 at 1275, a 25.4% gap. The R20 single-core test has the i5-3550 at 241 and the i3-4170 at 180, a 25.3% difference. The oldest test, Cinebench R15 multi-core, shows 410 for the i5-3550 and 306 for the i3-4170, again -25.4%.

The consistency of the delta across all tests is striking. Whether the workload is single-core or multi-core, the i5-3550 maintains roughly a quarter advantage over the i3-4170. The i3-4170's only recorded wins are not in head-to-head comparisons but in its aggregate average benchmark score, which includes Geekbench results. The i3-4170 reaches 2033 in Geekbench multi-core and 1090 in single-core, numbers which are not available for the i5-3550 in the database, thus inflating the i3-4170's average to 1193 versus the i5-3550's 1178.

In terms of competitive positioning, the i3-4170 sits at the 33rd percentile of all CPUs, matching the i5-3550's 33rd percentile. The nearest rivals for the i3-4170 include the AMD Athlon PRO 300U and Intel Core i7-8665UE, both with identical average scores of 1193 and 0% delta. The i5-3550's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-4440 at 1179 (a -0.1% delta) and the Intel Core i3-7320 at 1173 (a 0.4% delta). This indicates that while the i5-3550 wins direct comparisons against the i3-4170, both processors occupy a similar performance tier within the broader CPU landscape.