Intel Core i5-3320M vs Intel Core i7-5550U Comparison

The Intel Core i7-5550U and Intel Core i5-3320M are both dual-core mobile processors with four threads, but they represent different design philosophies and eras of Intel's mobile lineup. The i7-5550U is a 14nm Broadwell part focused on efficiency, while the i5-3320M is a 22nm Ivy Bridge chip tuned for higher sustained clocks. Benchmark data shows the i7-5550U winning all five head-to-head Cinebench tests, with margins ranging from 4.5% to 4.8% across both multi-core and single-core workloads. Both processors sit at the 22nd percentile among all CPUs, and their average benchmark scores are remarkably close: 813 for the i7-5550U versus 803 for the i5-3320M. The i7-5550U edges out its rival in every measured metric, but the differences are modest, making the choice largely dependent on platform needs and efficiency requirements.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core Cinebench tests?

A: The Intel Core i7-5550U wins all multi-core benchmarks. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 2363 against the i5-3320M's 2258, a 4.7% advantage. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, it scores 992 versus 948, a 4.6% lead, and in Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 238 versus 227, a 4.8% margin.

Q: How do the two chips compare in single-core performance?

A: The i7-5550U also takes single-core wins. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 333 versus 318 for the i5-3320M (4.7% faster). In Cinebench R20 single-core, the gap is 139 against 133, representing a 4.5% lead for the i7-5550U.

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

A: The i7-5550U has a TDP of 15 watts, while the i5-3320M has a TDP of 35 watts. This makes the i7-5550U substantially more power-efficient, suiting it for thinner, lighter laptops with smaller cooling solutions.

Q: Do they use the same CPU socket?

A: No. The i7-5550U uses Intel BGA 1168, while the i5-3320M uses Intel BGA 1023. These sockets are not interchangeable, meaning they require different motherboards or laptop designs.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The i7-5550U has 4 MB of shared L3 cache, whereas the i5-3320M has 3 MB of shared L3 cache. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each CPU?

A: The i7-5550U has an average benchmark score of 813, while the i5-3320M has an average score of 803. The i7-5550U's nearest rival, the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9775, matches it exactly at 813, while the i5-3320M's closest competitor, the AMD Ryzen 3 2200U, scores 805.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations and manufacturing processes. The i7-5550U is built on the Broadwell architecture (codename Broadwell-U) using a 14 nm process node, while the i5-3320M uses the Ivy Bridge architecture on a 22 nm node. This process shrink is significant: the i7-5550U packs 1,900 million transistors into a 133 mm² die, whereas the i5-3320M's transistor count is not listed, though its die size is 118 mm². The smaller process node allows the i7-5550U to achieve comparable performance at a much lower TDP — 15 watts versus 35 watts for the i5-3320M.

Both chips have two physical cores and four threads, with identical L1 and L2 cache structures (64 KB and 256 KB per core, respectively). The L3 cache differs, with the i7-5550U offering 4 MB shared versus 3 MB shared on the i5-3320M. Integrated graphics also differ: the i7-5550U features Intel HD 6000, while the i5-3320M comes with Intel HD 4000. The i7-5550U supports DDR3 memory with a dual-channel bus and a memory bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s; the i5-3320M's memory support details are not specified, though it also uses a dual-channel bus. PCIe support is another differentiator, as the i7-5550U provides Gen 2 with 12 lanes (CPU only), while this information is absent for the i5-3320M.

The release dates are separated by nearly three years: the i5-3320M launched on May 31, 2012, while the i7-5550U launched on February 28, 2015. The i7-5550U is marked as end-of-life production, while the i5-3320M's production status is not listed. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier. The i7-5550U has a launch MSRP of $426, while the i5-3320M has no launch MSRP listed.

Where Each One Wins

Based on the head-to-head benchmark data, the i7-5550U wins in every measured category. It takes all five Cinebench tests, covering both multi-core and single-core workloads. This makes the i7-5550U the clear choice for any application that relies on CPU rendering, such as video encoding or 3D modeling, even though the margins are relatively small.

The i5-3320M does not win any of the five head-to-head benchmarks. However, its higher base clock of 2.60 GHz and boost clock of 3.30 GHz, compared to the i7-5550U's 2.00 GHz base and 3.00 GHz boost, suggest it may sustain high-frequency operation better under sustained loads, though this is not reflected in the benchmark scores. The i5-3320M also has a higher TDP of 35 watts, which typically allows for more aggressive power delivery and potentially steadier clock speeds in thicker laptop chassis.

For users on a platform that only supports the BGA 1023 socket, the i5-3320M is the only option of the two. Conversely, the i7-5550U's much lower TDP makes it the better choice for ultraportable designs where battery life and thermal management are priorities. The i7-5550U's newer integrated graphics (Intel HD 6000 versus HD 4000) also gives it an edge for light media tasks, though no graphics benchmarks are provided to quantify this difference.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specification fields. The i7-5550U has a lower base clock of 2.00 GHz compared to the i5-3320M's 2.60 GHz, and a lower boost clock of 3.00 GHz versus 3.30 GHz. The TDP differs significantly: 15 watts for the i7-5550U versus 35 watts for the i5-3320M. They use different sockets (BGA 1168 for the i7-5550U, BGA 1023 for the i5-3320M) and different architectures (Broadwell versus Ivy Bridge). The process node is 14 nm for the i7-5550U and 22 nm for the i5-3320M.

The i7-5550U has a larger L3 cache at 4 MB shared, while the i5-3320M has 3 MB shared. The i7-5550U's die size is 133 mm², while the i5-3320M's is 118 mm². The i7-5550U lists 1,900 million transistors, while this data is missing for the i5-3320M. Memory bandwidth is specified for the i7-5550U at 29.9 GB/s, but not for the i5-3320M. The i7-5550U supports DDR3 memory, while the i5-3320M's memory support is not listed. PCIe details are present for the i7-5550U (Gen 2, 12 lanes) but absent for the i5-3320M. Integrated graphics differ: Intel HD 6000 on the i7-5550U versus Intel HD 4000 on the i5-3320M. The i7-5550U was released on 2015-02-28, while the i5-3320M was released on 2012-05-31. The i7-5550U has a launch MSRP of $426, while the i5-3320M has none listed. Finally, the part numbers differ: SR26A for the i7-5550U and SR0MY for the i5-3320M.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results consistently favor the i7-5550U, but the margins are tight. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i7-5550U scores 238 against the i5-3320M's 227, a delta of 4.8%. This is the largest percentage difference in any test. The Cinebench R20 multi-core test shows a similar pattern: 992 for the i7-5550U versus 948 for the i5-3320M, a 4.6% advantage. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the scores are 2363 and 2258, respectively, again a 4.7% gap favoring the i7-5550U.

Single-core results follow the same trend. Cinebench R20 single-core has the i7-5550U at 139 and the i5-3320M at 133, a 4.5% difference. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 333 versus 318, a 4.7% lead for the i7-5550U. Across all five tests, the i7-5550U's average advantage is roughly 4.6%, meaning it is consistently faster but not by a dramatic margin.

The average benchmark scores corroborate this. The i7-5550U averages 813 points, while the i5-3320M averages 803 points. Both processors sit at the 22nd percentile among all CPUs, indicating they occupy the same performance tier in the broader market. The i7-5550U's nearest rival, the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9775, has an identical average score of 813, while the i5-3320M's nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 3 2200U, scores 805, just 0.2% higher. The i7-5550U also shows a 0.5% advantage over the AMD A10-6800K (809 average score) and a 0.4% advantage over the Intel Core i5-L16G7 (816), while the i5-3320M is 0.2% behind the AMD A10-7700K (801) and 0.3% ahead of the Intel Xeon E5530 (801) and Intel Pentium Silver J5040 (801).

The Verdict

The data points clearly to the Intel Core i7-5550U as the faster processor. It wins every head-to-head benchmark, with advantages between 4.5% and 4.8% across multi-core and single-core Cinebench tests. Its average benchmark score of 813 exceeds the i5-3320M's 803, and it does so while consuming less than half the power (15 watts versus 35 watts). For any workload measured here, the i7-5550U is the better performer.

However, the choice is not purely about speed. The i7-5550U requires a BGA 1168 socket, which is incompatible with the i5-3320M's BGA 1023. If you are constrained to an existing Ivy Bridge platform, the i5-3320M is your only option of the two. The i5-3320M's higher base and boost clocks (2.60 GHz and 3.30 GHz) might also be preferable in situations where sustained single-threaded frequency matters more than the i7-5550U's architectural efficiency, though the benchmark data does not show this advantage in practice.

For new builds or upgrades where the platform is flexible, the i7-5550U is the clear recommendation. It offers better performance in all tested scenarios, a larger L3 cache, newer integrated graphics, and significantly lower power consumption. Its 14 nm process node and Broadwell architecture deliver modern efficiency that the older 22 nm Ivy Bridge design cannot match. The i7-5550U's launch MSRP was $426, which is the only pricing data available. Buyers prioritizing maximum performance per watt or working within a modern ultraportable chassis should choose the i7-5550U without hesitation. Those locked into the older BGA 1023 socket or relying on higher clock speeds for legacy software may still find the i5-3320M adequate, but the benchmark evidence shows it is the slower chip in every measured category.