Intel Core i5-2550K vs Intel Core i5-3330S Comparison

The Intel Core i5-2550K and Intel Core i5-3330S are both four-core, four-thread desktop processors from Intel, but they target different priorities. The 2550K is the older, faster part with an unlocked multiplier, while the 3330S is a newer, lower-power chip with an integrated GPU. Benchmark data from the database shows a clear winner in raw performance: the 2550K wins all seven recorded head-to-head tests, with its largest margins in Geekbench workloads. The 3330S, however, offers a lower thermal design power and a more recent architecture, which matters for certain builds. This analysis breaks down what the recorded numbers mean for real-world selection.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous regarding compute performance. The Intel Core i5-2550K outperforms the Intel Core i5-3330S in every recorded benchmark. In multi-threaded Cinebench tests, the 2550K leads by margins between 9% and 9.1%. In single-threaded tests, the lead is similar, ranging from 9.2% to 9.7%. The gap widens dramatically in Geekbench, where the 2550K scores 27% higher in single-core and 29% higher in multi-core compared to the 3330S.

Choose the Intel Core i5-2550K if your priority is maximum processing power from these two options. Its higher base clock of 3.40 GHz and boost clock of 3.80 GHz, combined with an unlocked multiplier, make it the superior choice for CPU-intensive tasks like rendering or encoding. The data also shows it is the better pick for overclocking, as the multiplier is unlocked, a feature the 3330S lacks.

Choose the Intel Core i5-3330S if power draw and integrated graphics are non-negotiable. Its TDP is 77 watts compared to the 2550K's 95 watts, which means less heat output and potentially lower cooling requirements. It also includes Intel HD 2500 integrated graphics, whereas the 2550K has no integrated graphics listed. For a compact or low-noise build where a discrete GPU is not needed, the 3330S is the only viable option between the two. Its newer 22 nm process node also suggests better transistor density, though the benchmark results show it does not translate to higher performance.

Where Each One Wins

Looking strictly at the benchmark results, the Intel Core i5-2550K wins in every category. There is no test in the database where the 3330S records a higher score. The 2550K's advantage is consistent across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, both multi-core and single-core variants. Its smallest recorded margin is 9% in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where it scores 365 against the 3330S's 335. Its largest margins come from Geekbench, where the 2550K's single-core score of 697 beats 549, and its multi-core score of 2096 beats 1625.

The Intel Core i5-3330S wins in areas not covered by compute benchmarks. Its 77 watt TDP is 18 watts lower than the 2550K's 95 watt TDP, making it the more efficient choice for systems where power consumption is a concern. It also features Intel HD 2500 integrated graphics, which the 2550K lacks entirely; for a system without a dedicated graphics card, the 3330S can output video while the 2550K cannot. Additionally, the 3330S supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, while the 2550K only supports PCIe Gen 2 with 16 lanes, which could matter for compatibility with newer expansion cards.

The 3330S also has a smaller die size at 133 mm² compared to the 2550K's 216 mm², and it is built on a 22 nm process versus 32 nm. These architectural differences favor the newer part, but the recorded performance data shows they do not overcome the clock speed disadvantage. The 3330S runs at a base clock of 2.70 GHz and a boost of 3.20 GHz, both well below the 2550K's figures.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel architectures. The Intel Core i5-2550K is based on Sandy Bridge, built on a 32 nm process at Intel's foundry. It packs 1,160 million transistors on a 216 mm² die. The Intel Core i5-3330S uses Ivy Bridge, on a 22 nm process, with a die size of 133 mm²; transistor count is not recorded for this part. This newer node allows for a physically smaller chip, but the 2550K's higher clocks compensate in actual workload performance.

Both processors share the same cache layout: 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. They also both support DDR3 memory in a dual-channel configuration. The 2550K has a recorded memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s, while the 3330S's memory bandwidth is not listed, though its memory support is identical.

The most notable feature difference is the integrated graphics. The 3330S includes Intel HD 2500, while the 2550K has no integrated graphics recorded. This means the 2550K requires a discrete graphics card for any display output. The 3330S can operate without one, which is a deciding factor for basic office or home theater builds.

PCIe support also differs. The 2550K provides PCIe Gen 2 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the 3330S provides PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only). Gen 3 offers higher bandwidth per lane, which can benefit newer GPUs and NVMe adapters, even though both CPUs are limited to the same lane count.

The multiplier is another divider. The 2550K's multiplier is unlocked, allowing easy overclocking via the base clock or multiplier adjustments. The 3330S is locked, so its maximum clock is fixed at 3.20 GHz boost. For a builder who wants to squeeze extra performance, the 2550K is the only one with that headroom.

Release timing also separates them. The 2550K launched on 2012-01-29, while the 3330S launched on 2012-09-02, roughly seven months later. The 2550K's launch MSRP is $235; no launch price is recorded for the 3330S. Both use the Intel Socket 1155, so they are compatible with the same motherboard generation, though BIOS updates may be required for the newer Ivy Bridge part.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has higher multi-core performance in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core i5-2550K scores 3628 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, which is 9.1% higher than the Intel Core i5-3330S's score of 3326.

Q: Can I overclock the Intel Core i5-3330S?

A: No. The 3330S has a locked multiplier, while the 2550K has an unlocked multiplier, so only the 2550K supports multiplier-based overclocking.

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-2550K have integrated graphics?

A: No integrated graphics are listed for the 2550K. The 3330S includes Intel HD 2500, so it can output video without a discrete GPU.

Q: What is the TDP difference between these two processors?

A: The 2550K has a TDP of 95 watts, while the 3330S has a TDP of 77 watts. The 3330S consumes less power and produces less heat.

Q: Which CPU supports PCIe Gen 3?

A: The Intel Core i5-3330S supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes. The 2550K only supports PCIe Gen 2 with 16 lanes.

Q: Are these CPUs compatible with the same motherboards?

A: Both use Intel Socket 1155, so they fit the same socket. However, the 2550K is Sandy Bridge and the 3330S is Ivy Bridge, so motherboard BIOS compatibility may vary.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded benchmark results show a clean sweep for the Intel Core i5-2550K. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the 2550K scores 365 against the 3330S's 335, a delta of 9%. The same test in single-core shows the 2550K at 51, but no single-core R15 score is recorded for the 3330S, so a direct comparison is unavailable for that specific metric.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the 2550K scores 1523 in multi-core, beating the 3330S's 1396 by 9.1%. In single-core, the 2550K scores 215 versus 196, a 9.7% advantage. Cinebench R23 follows the same pattern: multi-core scores are 3628 for the 2550K and 3326 for the 3330S, a 9.1% lead, while single-core scores are 512 and 469, respectively, a 9.2% lead.

The largest discrepancies appear in Geekbench. The 2550K's single-core score is 697, which is 27% higher than the 3330S's 549. In multi-core, the 2550K scores 2096, which is 29% higher than the 3330S's 1625. These larger deltas suggest that the 2550K's clock speed advantage is more impactful in Geekbench's workload profile, which may rely less on architectural efficiency and more on raw frequency.

Across all seven head-to-head tests, the 2550K wins every one. The average benchmark score for the 2550K is 1136, while the 3330S averages 1128, a difference of less than 1%. Both CPUs sit at the 32nd percentile among all CPUs in the database, meaning they are roughly equivalent in overall standing relative to the full range of processors. The 2550K's nearest rival is the Intel Core i5-3570T at an average score of 1136 with a 0% delta, while the 3330S's nearest rival is the Intel Core i7-2720QM at 1128 with a 0% delta.

The average scores are close, but the head-to-head deltas tell a different story. The 2550K's wins are consistent and often large, particularly in Geekbench where it leads by 27% to 29%. The 3330S has no recorded wins in any test, so for pure compute tasks, the choice is clear.

Specification Differences

The primary differences between the two processors are as follows:

• Base clock: The 2550K runs at 3.40 GHz; the 3330S runs at 2.70 GHz.
• Boost clock: The 2550K boosts to 3.80 GHz; the 3330S boosts to 3.20 GHz.
• TDP: The 2550K is rated at 95 watts; the 3330S at 77 watts.
• Architecture: The 2550K uses Sandy Bridge; the 3330S uses Ivy Bridge.
• Process node: The 2550K is 32 nm; the 3330S is 22 nm.
• Die size: The 2550K measures 216 mm²; the 3330S measures 133 mm².
• Transistor count: The 2550K has 1,160 million transistors; no count is recorded for the 3330S.
• Memory bandwidth: The 2550K is rated at 25.6 GB/s; no figure is recorded for the 3330S.
• PCIe support: The 2550K is Gen 2 with 16 lanes; the 3330S is Gen 3 with 16 lanes.
• Integrated graphics: The 2550K has none; the 3330S has Intel HD 2500.
• Multiplier: The 2550K is unlocked; the 3330S is locked.
• Launch MSRP: The 2550K is $235; no launch MSRP is recorded for the 3330S.
• Part number: The 2550K is SR0QH; the 3330S is SR0RR.

Shared specifications include 4 cores, 4 threads, 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, 6 MB shared L3, DDR3 memory support, dual-channel memory bus, no ECC support, desktop market segment, and Intel Socket 1155. The 2550K is marked end-of-life in production status, while the 3330S has no recorded production status. The 2550K's release date is 2012-01-29, and the 3330S's is 2012-09-02.