Intel Core i3-8145UE vs Intel Core i5-3550 Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i5-3550 wins every single head-to-head test against the Intel Core i3-8145UE, taking all five recorded comparisons. The i5-3550 leads by a remarkably consistent margin of 21.4% to 21.7% across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 in both single-core and multi-core workloads. If pure compute performance is the sole criterion, the older desktop part is the clear choice.

However, the i3-8145UE is not without purpose. It matches the i5-3550 in the database's overall percentile ranking, with both CPUs sitting at the 33rd percentile of all processors. Their average benchmark scores are close, 1178 for the i5-3550 versus 1154 for the i3-8145UE, a gap of only 2.1%. This indicates that the i3-8145UE, despite losing every direct comparison, delivers comparable overall performance in a dramatically different form factor. The i5-3550 is a desktop chip with a 77W TDP, while the i3-8145UE is a mobile chip with a 15W TDP. The data suggests the i3-8145UE is the appropriate choice for power-sensitive, compact systems where the i5-3550's desktop requirements are prohibitive, accepting the consistent performance deficit in exchange for a far more efficient package.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent distinct generations and design philosophies. The i5-3550 is built on the Ivy Bridge architecture using a 22 nm process, while the i3-8145UE uses the Whiskey Lake architecture on a 10 nm node. The i5-3550 is a desktop part, released in 2012, and is now end-of-life. The i3-8145UE is a mobile processor, released in 2018, and remains active in production.

The core configurations differ significantly. The i5-3550 has 4 physical cores and 4 threads, whereas the i3-8145UE has 2 physical cores and 4 threads, relying on hyper-threading to reach its thread count. The i5-3550's base clock is 3.30 GHz with a boost of 3.70 GHz. The i3-8145UE has a lower base clock of 2.20 GHz but a higher boost clock of 3.90 GHz.

Cache hierarchies also diverge. Both have 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, but the i5-3550 has 6 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i3-8145UE has 4 MB. The i5-3550's transistor count is listed at 1,400 million on a 160 mm² die, while the i3-8145UE's transistor count and die size are not recorded in the database.

Memory support separates them further. The i5-3550 uses DDR3 with dual-channel support and a memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s. The i3-8145UE uses DDR4 with dual-channel support and a higher memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. Both processors lack ECC memory support and have PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes. The integrated graphics differ, with the i5-3550 featuring Intel HD 2500 and the i3-8145UE featuring UHD Graphics 620. Neither has an unlocked multiplier.

Where Each One Wins

The i5-3550 wins in every benchmark category recorded. Its multi-core advantage is substantial, as expected from a 4-core part against a 2-core part. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 4073 versus 3354, a 21.4% lead. This advantage extends to single-core tests as well, where the i5-3550 scores 575 in R23 single-core versus 473 for the i3-8145UE, a 21.6% lead. The consistency of these deltas, all hovering around 21.5%, suggests a systematic performance advantage rather than workload-specific strengths.

The i3-8145UE's wins are not in benchmark scores but in platform characteristics. Its TDP of 15W is dramatically lower than the i5-3550's 77W, indicating suitability for fanless or low-power designs. It supports DDR4 memory with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth, which is 50.8% higher than the i5-3550's 25.6 GB/s. The i3-8145UE is an active production part, meaning it is still available for new designs, while the i5-3550 is end-of-life. The i3-8145UE also has a higher boost clock of 3.90 GHz versus 3.70 GHz, though its lower base clock of 2.20 GHz versus 3.30 GHz means sustained workloads may not reach that peak.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: The Intel Core i5-3550 is faster in every recorded multi-core test. It leads by 21.7% in Cinebench R15 multi-core (410 versus 337), by 21.4% in R20 multi-core (1710 versus 1408), and by 21.4% in R23 multi-core (4073 versus 3354).

Q: Does the i3-8145UE win any benchmark?

A: No. The head-to-head data shows 5 wins for the i5-3550 and 0 wins for the i3-8145UE across all tested Cinebench scenarios.

Q: Are these CPUs comparable in overall performance?

A: The database places both at the 33rd percentile of all CPUs. The i5-3550's average benchmark score is 1178, while the i3-8145UE's is 1154, a difference of 2.1%. Despite losing all direct comparisons, the i3-8145UE's overall performance is within a narrow margin of the i5-3550.

Q: What are the power consumption differences?

A: The i5-3550 has a TDP of 77W, while the i3-8145UE has a TDP of 15W. This makes the i3-8145UE substantially more power-efficient, though the i5-3550 delivers higher performance in every benchmark.

Q: Which CPU supports newer memory technology?

A: The i3-8145UE supports DDR4 memory with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth. The i5-3550 supports DDR3 with 25.6 GB/s bandwidth. Both use dual-channel memory buses.

Q: Is the i5-3550 still in production?

A: No, the i5-3550 is end-of-life. The i3-8145UE is listed as active in production. The i5-3550 had a launch MSRP of $194; the i3-8145UE has no recorded launch MSRP.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results show a uniform performance gap across all five tests. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-3550 scores 410 against the i3-8145UE's 337, a 21.7% advantage. The R20 multi-core test shows 1710 versus 1408, a 21.4% lead. The R23 multi-core test repeats this pattern with 4073 versus 3354, again a 21.4% difference.

Single-core results follow the same trend. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the i5-3550 scores 241 versus the i3-8145UE's 198, a 21.7% lead. The R23 single-core test shows 575 versus 473, a 21.6% difference. The consistency of these deltas, ranging only from 21.4% to 21.7%, indicates that the i5-3550's advantage is uniform across both single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads. This suggests the i5-3550's higher base clock of 3.30 GHz, compared to the i3-8145UE's 2.20 GHz, plays a significant role, as the i3-8145UE's higher boost clock of 3.90 GHz does not translate into a single-core win.

The i5-3550's nearest rivals in the database are the Intel Core i5-4440 with an average score of 1179 (0.1% higher), the Intel Core i3-7320 with 1173 (0.4% lower), the Intel Core i7-3635QM with 1170 (0.7% lower), and the Intel Core i5-2400 with 1187 (0.7% higher). The i3-8145UE's nearest rivals are the AMD Opteron 4334 with 1155 (0.1% higher), the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2312 with 1156 (0.2% higher), the Intel Core i5-4430 with 1149 (0.4% lower), and the Intel Core i7-3612QE with 1147 (0.6% lower). These rival comparisons show both CPUs are positioned in a tight performance cluster, with the i5-3550 sitting marginally above its closest competitors and the i3-8145UE sitting marginally below its closest competitors.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every core specification. The i5-3550 has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the i3-8145UE has 2 cores and 4 threads. Base clocks are 3.30 GHz for the i5-3550 and 2.20 GHz for the i3-8145UE. Boost clocks are 3.70 GHz and 3.90 GHz respectively. The TDP difference is substantial: 77W for the i5-3550 versus 15W for the i3-8145UE.

The socket types are incompatible. The i5-3550 uses Intel Socket 1155, while the i3-8145UE uses Intel BGA 1528. The architecture generation differs, with Ivy Bridge for the i5-3550 and Whiskey Lake for the i3-8145UE. The process node is 22 nm for the i5-3550 and 10 nm for the i3-8145UE.

L3 cache amounts differ, with 6 MB shared on the i5-3550 and 4 MB shared on the i3-8145UE. Memory support is DDR3 for the i5-3550 and DDR4 for the i3-8145UE, with memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s versus 38.4 GB/s. The integrated graphics are Intel HD 2500 for the i5-3550 and UHD Graphics 620 for the i3-8145UE.

The market segments are different, with the i5-3550 being a desktop processor and the i3-8145UE being a mobile processor. Production status also differs: the i5-3550 is end-of-life, while the i3-8145UE is active. The release dates are June 2012 for the i5-3550 and October 2018 for the i3-8145UE. The i5-3550 has a recorded launch MSRP of $194, while the i3-8145UE has no recorded launch MSRP. The part numbers are SR0P0 for the i5-3550 and SRFDT for the i3-8145UE. Both CPUs share dual-channel memory buses, Gen 3 PCIe with 16 lanes, and lack ECC memory support and unlocked multipliers.