Intel Core i5-2550K vs Intel Core i7-3612QE Comparison

The Intel Core i7-3612QE is the clear winner in every benchmark recorded, defeating the Intel Core i5-2550K across all six Cinebench tests. The i7-3612QE’s lead is remarkably consistent, ranging from a 9.3% to a 9.8% advantage in both single-core and multi-core workloads. Despite the i5-2550K’s higher base and boost clocks, the i7-3612QE’s Hyper-Threading and architectural refinements deliver superior performance in this head-to-head comparison.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The i7-3612QE wins all six head-to-head tests, with no victories for the i5-2550K. The margin is tight but uniform. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i7-3612QE scores 399 against the i5-2550K’s 365, a 9.3% advantage. The single-core R15 test shows the i7-3612QE ahead by 9.8%, scoring 56 versus 51.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the pattern holds. The i7-3612QE’s multi-core score of 1666 beats the i5-2550K’s 1523 by 9.4%. In single-core R20, the i7-3612QE scores 235, while the i5-2550K scores 215, another 9.3% lead. The i7-3612QE’s multi-core advantage is consistent at 9.3% in R23 as well, with scores of 3967 versus 3628.

The single-core R23 test rounds out the sweep. The i7-3612QE scores 560, and the i5-2550K scores 512, giving the i7-3612QE a 9.4% edge. This consistency is notable. The largest gap is in R15 single-core at 9.8%, while the smallest is in R15 multi-core and R20 single-core at 9.3%. Across the board, the i7-3612QE outperforms the i5-2550K by roughly the same margin, regardless of whether the workload uses one thread or all available threads.

The i5-2550K does have a Geekbench result in its benchmark list, scoring 2096 multi-core and 697 single-core, but no corresponding Geekbench score exists for the i7-3612QE in the data. Therefore, no direct comparison can be made on that test. The available evidence points entirely in one direction: the i7-3612QE is the faster processor in every measurable Cinebench scenario.

The Verdict

From the data, the choice is straightforward. The Intel Core i7-3612QE should be selected by users prioritizing raw performance, as it wins every single benchmark in the comparison. Its 9.3% to 9.8% lead over the i5-2550K in both single-core and multi-core tasks makes it the superior option for any workload captured by Cinebench.

However, the i5-2550K is not without reason for existence. It is an unlocked processor with a multiplier that is not locked, meaning it can be overclocked. It also has a higher base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 3.80 GHz, compared to the i7-3612QE’s 2.10 GHz and 3.10 GHz. For users who plan to overclock, the i5-2550K’s potential to exceed its stock performance is a factor the data cannot quantify. The i7-3612QE, with its locked multiplier, offers no such headroom.

The i5-2550K also targets a different market segment. It is a desktop processor, while the i7-3612QE is a mobile part. The i5-2550K is end-of-life, whereas the i7-3612QE has no such status listed. The i7-3612QE’s 35W TDP is dramatically lower than the i5-2550K’s 95W TDP, making it far more efficient for compact or thermally constrained systems. For a desktop user with adequate cooling and an overclocking mindset, the i5-2550K is the more flexible choice. For anyone else, the i7-3612QE’s consistent performance lead makes it the default pick.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel generations and manufacturing nodes. The i7-3612QE is built on the Ivy Bridge architecture using a 22 nm process, while the i5-2550K uses the Sandy Bridge architecture on a 32 nm node. This results in the i7-3612QE having 1,400 million transistors on a 160 mm² die, whereas the i5-2550K has 1,160 million transistors on a larger 216 mm² die. The newer 22 nm process allows the i7-3612QE to pack more transistors into a smaller area, contributing to its efficiency and performance.

Both processors have four physical cores and a shared 6 MB L3 cache. The L1 cache is 64 KB per core, and the L2 cache is 256 KB per core for both. The critical difference is threading. The i7-3612QE supports 8 threads via Hyper-Threading, while the i5-2550K is limited to 4 threads. This explains the i7-3612QE’s multi-core advantage in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23.

The i7-3612QE includes integrated graphics in the form of Intel HD 4000, while the i5-2550K has no integrated graphics listed. The i5-2550K does support DDR3 memory with a dual-channel bus and a memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s, while the i7-3612QE’s memory support and bandwidth are not specified in the data. The i5-2550K also lists PCIe Gen 2 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i7-3612QE’s PCIe information is absent. The i7-3612QE uses an Intel BGA 1023 socket, and the i5-2550K uses an Intel Socket 1155, making them incompatible with the same motherboards.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has higher multi-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i7-3612QE wins all multi-core Cinebench tests. It scores 399 versus 365 in R15, 1666 versus 1523 in R20, and 3967 versus 3628 in R23, representing a 9.3% to 9.4% lead over the i5-2550K.

Q: Is the i5-2550K better for single-core tasks?

A: No. The i7-3612QE also wins every single-core test. It scores 56 versus 51 in R15, 235 versus 215 in R20, and 560 versus 512 in R23, a 9.3% to 9.8% advantage.

Q: Can the i5-2550K be overclocked?

A: Yes. The i5-2550K has an unlocked multiplier, whereas the i7-3612QE’s multiplier is locked. This makes the i5-2550K the only one of the two with overclocking potential.

Q: What is the TDP difference?

A: The i7-3612QE has a TDP of 35W, while the i5-2550K has a TDP of 95W. The i7-3612QE is significantly more power-efficient.

Q: Do both processors have the same cache?

A: Yes, in terms of capacity. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The difference is in threads, not cache size.

Q: Which processor has a newer manufacturing process?

A: The i7-3612QE uses a 22 nm process, while the i5-2550K uses a 32 nm process. The i7-3612QE’s process is newer and denser, with 1,400 million transistors on a 160 mm² die versus 1,160 million on a 216 mm² die.

Where Each One Wins

The i7-3612QE wins in every benchmark category recorded. In multi-core workloads, its Hyper-Threading capability allows it to process 8 threads simultaneously, giving it a 9.3% edge in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests. In single-core workloads, it also leads by 9.3% to 9.8% across the same test suite. This makes it the winner for any rendering, encoding, or general productivity task that scales with CPU performance.

The i5-2550K’s wins are not in benchmark scores but in other characteristics. It has an unlocked multiplier, enabling overclocking, and it is a desktop part with a higher stock clock speed. Its 3.40 GHz base clock and 3.80 GHz boost clock are notably higher than the i7-3612QE’s 2.10 GHz and 3.10 GHz. For users who prioritize maximum clock speed after overclocking, the i5-2550K could potentially surpass the i7-3612QE, though the data does not capture this scenario.

The i5-2550K also has explicit memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s and PCIe Gen 2 with 16 lanes, which the i7-3612QE lacks in the specification list. The i5-2550K is the only one with a launch MSRP of $235, and it has a production status of end-of-life. The i7-3612QE, being a mobile chip, is suited for laptops or embedded systems where its 35W TDP is a major advantage. The i5-2550K is suited for desktop builders who want an overclockable legacy part.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification. The i7-3612QE has 8 threads, while the i5-2550K has 4. The i7-3612QE’s base clock is 2.10 GHz, and its boost clock is 3.10 GHz, both lower than the i5-2550K’s 3.40 GHz base and 3.80 GHz boost. The i7-3612QE’s TDP is 35W, compared to the i5-2550K’s 95W.

The socket is different: the i7-3612QE uses Intel BGA 1023, and the i5-2550K uses Intel Socket 1155. The architecture and process node differ, with the i7-3612QE on Ivy Bridge at 22 nm and the i5-2550K on Sandy Bridge at 32 nm. Transistor count is higher on the i7-3612QE at 1,400 million versus 1,160 million, but die size is smaller at 160 mm² versus 216 mm².

The i7-3612QE has integrated graphics (Intel HD 4000), while the i5-2550K has none. The i5-2550K specifies DDR3 memory support, dual-channel bus, and 25.6 GB/s bandwidth, while the i7-3612QE only lists dual-channel memory bus. The i5-2550K has PCIe Gen 2 with 16 lanes, while the i7-3612QE has no PCIe information. The i5-2550K has an unlocked multiplier and a launch MSRP of $235, while the i7-3612QE has a locked multiplier and no MSRP. The market segments differ: the i7-3612QE is mobile, and the i5-2550K is desktop. The i5-2550K is end-of-life, while the i7-3612QE has no production status listed. The release dates are close, with the i7-3612QE released on 2012-04-28 and the i5-2550K on 2012-01-29.