Intel Core i5-2550K vs Intel Core i5-3570T Comparison

# Intel Core i5-2550K vs Intel Core i5-3570T

The data presents a surprisingly one-sided comparison. Despite the i5-3570T being a newer Ivy Bridge part on a more advanced process, the i5-2550K wins all seven head-to-head benchmark comparisons, with margins ranging from 10.1% to 22.9%. Both processors land at the 32nd percentile of all CPUs and share an identical average benchmark score of 1136, but that aggregate figure masks the consistency of the 2550K's lead across individual workloads. The i5-3570T's lower clocks and power-optimized design appear to cost it performance in every measured scenario, making the older Sandy Bridge chip the clear choice for raw compute in this matchup.

The Verdict

The i5-2550K is the straightforward pick for anyone prioritizing computing throughput. It wins every single benchmark in the comparison—seven out of seven—with no workload where the i5-3570T pulls ahead. The most striking advantage comes in Geekbench multicore, where the 2550K scores 2096 against 1705 for the 3570T, a 22.9% lead. In Cinebench tests, the margin is tighter but still consistent: the 2550K leads by 10.3% in R15 multicore (365 vs 331), 10.1% in R20 multicore (1523 vs 1383), and 10.2% in R23 multicore (3628 vs 3293). Single-core results follow the same pattern, with the 2550K ahead by 10.1% in R23 (512 vs 465) and 20.6% in Geekbench single-core (697 vs 578).

The i5-3570T's case rests entirely on efficiency characteristics rather than performance. It carries a 45W TDP against the 2550K's 95W TDP, includes integrated graphics (Intel HD 2500) where the 2550K has none, and uses a newer 22nm process with more transistors (1,400 million vs 1,160 million) in a smaller die (160 mm² vs 216 mm²). For a system builder prioritizing low power draw, reduced heat output, or integrated display output, the 3570T offers a legitimate trade-off—but the benchmark data shows no scenario where it wins on speed. The 2550K also has an unlocked multiplier, meaning its already-present performance lead could potentially be extended further, though the data does not quantify overclocking results.

Architecture Differences

The two CPUs represent adjacent Intel generations but distinct design philosophies. The i5-2550K is built on Sandy Bridge using a 32nm process, while the i5-3570T uses Ivy Bridge on a 22nm node. This process shrink explains the transistor disparity: the 3570T packs 1,400 million transistors into a 160 mm² die, whereas the 2550K uses 1,160 million across a larger 216 mm² die. The smaller node typically enables better power efficiency, which aligns with the 3570T's 45W TDP versus the 2550K's 95W TDP.

Both chips are quad-core with four threads and share identical cache hierarchies: 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 6 MB shared L3. They also both support DDR3 memory over a dual-channel bus. However, the 3570T benefits from PCIe Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes, while the 2550K is limited to PCIe Gen 2 with 16 CPU lanes. This could matter for modern graphics cards or NVMe adapters, though the benchmark suite here does not include PCIe-dependent workloads.

Clock speeds tell the performance story. The 2550K runs at a 3.40 GHz base with a 3.80 GHz boost, while the 3570T operates at 2.30 GHz base and 3.30 GHz boost. The 2550K's 1.10 GHz base-clock advantage and 0.50 GHz boost advantage explain why it dominates despite the 3570T's architectural improvements. The 3570T also lacks an unlocked multiplier, whereas the 2550K's multiplier is unlocked—a feature that historically enables manual overclocking, though the data does not include overclocked results.

Integrated graphics further differentiate the pair: the 3570T includes Intel HD 2500, while the 2550K has no integrated graphics at all. This makes the 3570T a more flexible option for builds without a discrete GPU. The 2550K requires a dedicated graphics card, which the benchmark results do not account for but system builders must consider. Memory bandwidth is listed as 25.6 GB/s for the 2550K, while the 3570T's bandwidth figure is not provided in the data, preventing a direct comparison on that metric.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Geekbench results deliver the largest margins in the entire comparison. In multicore testing, the 2550K scores 2096 against the 3570T's 1705, a 22.9% difference that stands as the biggest single gap in the dataset. Single-core Geekbench shows a 20.6% lead (697 vs 578). These results suggest that the 2550K's clock advantage translates into outsized gains in certain workload types, possibly those with less predictable memory access patterns or shorter bursts of activity where boost clocks matter most.

Cinebench results are more uniform, hovering around the 10% mark across all versions. The R15 multicore test shows 365 for the 2550K against 331 for the 3570T (10.3% lead). R20 multicore shows 1523 vs 1383 (10.1% lead). R23 multicore shows 3628 vs 3293 (10.2% lead). The consistency across Cinebench versions—all rendering workloads—indicates that the 2550K's advantage scales linearly with its clock-speed edge in sustained multithreaded compute. The 3570T's newer architecture does not compensate for its lower clocks in these workloads.

Single-core Cinebench results tell a similar story. R20 single-core shows 215 vs 195 (10.3% lead), and R23 single-core shows 512 vs 465 (10.1% lead). The near-identical percentage margins across all Cinebench tests suggest that architectural IPC improvements in Ivy Bridge roughly offset the process-node advantage, leaving clock speed as the dominant variable. The 2550K's 0.50 GHz boost advantage translates almost exactly into the observed 10% performance gap in these tests.

The 3570T's strongest performance relative to the 2550K comes in Cinebench R23 multicore, where it trails by only 10.2% despite a substantially lower base clock. This could indicate that the 3570T sustains its boost clock effectively under load, mitigating some of its clock disadvantage. However, even this best-case relative performance still leaves the 2550K ahead by a meaningful margin.

FAQ

Q: Does the i5-3570T ever beat the i5-2550K in any benchmark?

A: No. Across all seven head-to-head benchmarks—four Cinebench tests and three Geekbench tests—the i5-2550K wins every single comparison. The i5-3570T records zero wins.

Q: How much faster is the i5-2550K in the closest benchmark?

A: The closest result is Cinebench R20 multicore, where the 2550K scores 1523 against 1383 for the 3570T, a 10.1% lead. This matches the pattern seen across most Cinebench tests.

Q: What is the biggest performance gap between these two CPUs?

A: Geekbench multicore shows the largest difference, with the 2550K scoring 2096 versus 1705 for the 3570T—a 22.9% advantage. Geekbench single-core is close behind at 20.6%.

Q: Why does the i5-3570T have a lower TDP despite having more transistors?

A: The 3570T uses a 22nm process node compared to the 2550K's 32nm node, which allows it to pack 1,400 million transistors into a 160 mm² die while operating at a 45W TDP. The 2550K uses 1,160 million transistors across 216 mm² and draws 95W. The smaller process node and lower clock speeds (2.30 GHz base vs 3.40 GHz base) contribute to the efficiency difference.

Q: Does the i5-3570T have any features the i5-2550K lacks?

A: Yes. The 3570T includes Intel HD 2500 integrated graphics, while the 2550K has no integrated graphics. The 3570T also supports PCIe Gen 3 (16 lanes) compared to the 2550K's PCIe Gen 2 (16 lanes). Additionally, the 2550K has an unlocked multiplier, which the 3570T does not.

Q: How do these CPUs compare to their nearest rivals overall?

A: Both CPUs have an identical average benchmark score of 1136 and sit at the 32nd percentile of all CPUs. Their nearest rival is the Intel Xeon E5640 at 1137 (0.1% higher), followed by the AMD Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE at 1138 (0.2% higher) and the Intel Core i3-N300 at 1135 (0.1% lower).

Where Each One Wins

The i5-2550K wins in every performance category measured. For multithreaded rendering workloads, it leads by roughly 10% across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multicore tests. For single-threaded tasks, it leads by 10.1% to 10.3% in Cinebench and by 20.6% in Geekbench single-core. The largest advantage appears in Geekbench multicore at 22.9%, suggesting the 2550K is particularly strong in mixed or bursty workloads that Geekbench represents. Users running video encoding, 3D rendering, software compilation, or any CPU-bound productivity task should prefer the 2550K based on this data.

The i5-3570T's wins are not in benchmarks but in system-level characteristics. Its 45W TDP makes it suitable for compact or low-power builds where heat dissipation is limited. The integrated Intel HD 2500 graphics eliminate the need for a separate GPU in basic display-output scenarios. Its PCIe Gen 3 support provides newer connectivity standards. Its smaller die size (160 mm² vs 216 mm²) and newer 22nm process suggest better manufacturing efficiency. For a home server, HTPC, or office machine that prioritizes quiet operation and low electricity draw over peak performance, the 3570T offers a compelling trade-off—but the benchmark data cannot show this because no power or thermal tests are included in the comparison.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ on the following specifications according to the data:

• Base clock: 3.40 GHz (2550K) vs 2.30 GHz (3570T)
• Boost clock: 3.80 GHz (2550K) vs 3.30 GHz (3570T)
• TDP: 95W (2550K) vs 45W (3570T)
• Architecture: Sandy Bridge (2550K) vs Ivy Bridge (3570T)
• Process node: 32 nm (2550K) vs 22 nm (3570T)
• Transistors: 1,160 million (2550K) vs 1,400 million (3570T)
• Die size: 216 mm² (2550K) vs 160 mm² (3570T)
• PCIe: Gen 2, 16 lanes (2550K) vs Gen 3, 16 lanes (3570T)
• Integrated graphics: None (2550K) vs Intel HD 2500 (3570T)
• Memory bandwidth: 25.6 GB/s (2550K) vs not specified (3570T)
• Multiplier unlocked: Yes (2550K) vs No (3570T)
• Launch MSRP: $235 (2550K); the 3570T's launch MSRP is not provided
• Release date: 2012-01-29 (2550K) vs 2012-04-28 (3570T)

Both CPUs share identical core counts (4), thread counts (4), L1 cache (64 KB per core), L2 cache (256 KB per core), L3 cache (6 MB shared), memory support (DDR3), memory bus (dual-channel), ECC support (false for both), socket (Intel Socket 1155), and market segment (Desktop). The 2550K is marked as end-of-life, while the 3570T's production status is not specified.