Intel Core i3-N300 vs Intel Core i5-2550K Comparison

The Intel Core i5-2550K and Intel Core i3-N300 represent two very different answers to the same question: how to build a capable processor. The data shows the i3-N300 dominates in most Cinebench tests, but the i5-2550K strikes back in one critical workload, making the choice highly dependent on the specific application. Their average benchmark scores are nearly identical — 1136 for the i5-2550K and 1135 for the i3-N300 — placing both at the 32nd percentile of all CPUs, yet the underlying performance profiles are radically different.

The Verdict

The benchmark results indicate that the Intel Core i3-N300 is the default pick for most modern workloads. It wins 5 out of 6 head-to-head tests, including decisive victories in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 single-core tests. The i3-N300 leads by 40% in Cinebench R15 single-core (85 vs 51) and by 46.4% in Cinebench R20 single-core (401 vs 215). For users running contemporary software that leverages single-thread performance, the i3-N300 is the clear choice from the data.

However, the Intel Core i5-2550K holds one significant advantage. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the i5-2550K scores 3628 against the i3-N300's 2546, a 42.5% margin. This is a substantial reversal of the trend seen in other multicore tests. The i5-2550K also has a higher boost clock (3.80 GHz vs 3.70 GHz) and an unlocked multiplier, which the data suggests could be relevant for enthusiasts, though no overclocking benchmarks are provided.

The i3-N300 is the safer recommendation for general use, given its overwhelming lead in the majority of tests and its lower power footprint. The i5-2550K is only preferable for users whose workload specifically targets the Cinebench R23 multicore scenario, where its older architecture appears to have an unexpected edge. The data does not support the i5-2550K for any other tested scenario.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different foundations. The i5-2550K uses the Sandy Bridge architecture on a 32 nm process, featuring 4 cores and 4 threads. It has a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 3.80 GHz. In contrast, the i3-N300 uses the newer Gracemont architecture on a 10 nm process, packing 8 cores and 8 threads with a base clock of 100.00 MHz and a boost clock of 3.70 GHz. The i3-N300's base clock figure is unusual, suggesting it operates at a very low idle frequency.

Cache configurations also differ significantly. The i5-2550K has 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, while the i3-N300 has 96 KB of L1 per core and 2 MB of L2 per module. Both share 6 MB of L3 cache. The i3-N300's larger L1 cache per core likely contributes to its single-thread performance advantage. The i5-2550K uses DDR3 memory with dual-channel support and a memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s, while the i3-N300 supports DDR4 and DDR5 in a single-channel configuration but achieves higher bandwidth at 38.4 GB/s.

The i5-2550K is a desktop part on Intel Socket 1155, while the i3-N300 is a mobile processor on Intel BGA 1264. The i3-N300 includes integrated UHD Graphics 770, whereas the i5-2550K has no integrated graphics listed. The i5-2550K supports PCIe Gen 2 with 16 lanes, while the i3-N300 supports PCIe Gen 3 with 9 lanes. The i3-N300 is also far more power-efficient, with a 7 W TDP compared to the i5-2550K's 95 W TDP.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result is the Cinebench R23 multicore test, where the i5-2550K wins with a score of 3628 against the i3-N300's 2546, a 42.5% difference. This is puzzling because the i3-N300 wins the other two multicore tests. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i3-N300 scores 416 versus 365, a 12.3% lead. In Cinebench R20 multicore, the i3-N300 scores 2849 versus 1523, a massive 46.5% lead. The R23 result contradicts the trend, suggesting the i5-2550K's architecture handles that specific workload much better.

Single-core results consistently favor the i3-N300. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the i3-N300 scores 85 versus 51, a 40% advantage. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the i3-N300 scores 401 versus 215, a 46.4% advantage. The Cinebench R23 single-core test is nearly identical, with the i3-N300 scoring 513 and the i5-2550K scoring 512, a negligible 0.2% difference. This near-tie in R23 single-core suggests that the i3-N300's single-thread advantage diminishes in that specific test.

The i3-N300's wins are consistent in the R15 and R20 suites, showing a clear pattern of superiority in both single and multi-threaded workloads. The i5-2550K's sole win in R23 multicore is an outlier that warrants investigation. The data shows the i3-N300 is not universally faster, and the i5-2550K retains a niche where it excels.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i3-N300 wins in Cinebench R15 single-core (85 vs 51, a 40% lead) and Cinebench R20 single-core (401 vs 215, a 46.4% lead). In Cinebench R23 single-core, the scores are nearly tied at 513 for the i3-N300 and 512 for the i5-2550K.

Q: How does the multicore performance compare?

A: The results are mixed. The i3-N300 wins Cinebench R15 multicore (416 vs 365, 12.3% lead) and Cinebench R20 multicore (2849 vs 1523, 46.5% lead). However, the i5-2550K wins Cinebench R23 multicore decisively (3628 vs 2546, a 42.5% lead).

Q: What are the core and thread counts?

A: The i5-2550K has 4 cores and 4 threads. The i3-N300 has 8 cores and 8 threads, double the core count.

Q: Which processor is more power-efficient?

A: The i3-N300 has a TDP of 7 W, which is dramatically lower than the i5-2550K's 95 W TDP.

Q: What memory types do they support?

A: The i5-2550K supports DDR3 memory in a dual-channel configuration. The i3-N300 supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a single-channel configuration.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The i3-N300 includes UHD Graphics 770. The i5-2550K does not have integrated graphics listed in the data.

Where Each One Wins

The i3-N300 is the winner for users prioritizing single-thread performance and modern multicore workloads. It dominates Cinebench R15 and R20 in both single and multicore tests, with leads ranging from 12.3% to 46.5%. Its 8 cores and 8 threads provide a solid foundation for parallel tasks, and its 7 W TDP makes it suitable for power-constrained mobile systems. The integrated UHD Graphics 770 also adds functionality that the i5-2550K lacks.

The i5-2550K wins specifically in Cinebench R23 multicore, where it outperforms the i3-N300 by 42.5%. This suggests that users running applications similar to Cinebench R23 — which likely stress memory bandwidth or cache in a particular way — would see better performance from the older processor. The i5-2550K also has an unlocked multiplier, which could be a factor for overclocking, though no overclocked benchmark data is provided. Its 16 PCIe Gen 2 lanes may also be relevant for users with specific expansion needs.

The data does not support a general recommendation for the i5-2550K beyond the R23 multicore scenario. For all other tested benchmarks, the i3-N300 is superior. The i5-2550K's 95 W TDP and lack of integrated graphics make it less versatile for modern systems.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every specification field. The i5-2550K has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the i3-N300 has 8 cores and 8 threads. The i5-2550K has a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 3.80 GHz; the i3-N300 has a base clock of 100.00 MHz and a boost clock of 3.70 GHz. The TDP is 95 W for the i5-2550K and 7 W for the i3-N300.

The socket is Intel Socket 1155 for the i5-2550K and Intel BGA 1264 for the i3-N300. The architecture is Sandy Bridge for the i5-2550K and Gracemont for the i3-N300. The process node is 32 nm for the i5-2550K and 10 nm for the i3-N300. The i5-2550K has 1,160 million transistors and a die size of 216 mm², while the i3-N300 has no listed transistor count or die size.

Cache differs: the i5-2550K has 64 KB L1 per core and 256 KB L2 per core, while the i3-N300 has 96 KB L1 per core and 2 MB L2 per module. Both have 6 MB shared L3. Memory support is DDR3 for the i5-2550K and DDR4/DDR5 for the i3-N300. The i5-2550K uses dual-channel memory with 25.6 GB/s bandwidth; the i3-N300 uses single-channel with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth.

PCIe support is Gen 2 with 16 lanes for the i5-2550K and Gen 3 with 9 lanes for the i3-N300. The i3-N300 has integrated UHD Graphics 770; the i5-2550K has none. The i5-2550K has an unlocked multiplier, while the i3-N300 does not. The market segments are Desktop for the i5-2550K and Mobile for the i3-N300. Production status is End-of-life for the i5-2550K and Active for the i3-N300.