Intel Core i5-3330 vs Intel Core i5-3550 Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data presents a clear, one-sided picture. The Intel Core i5-3550 wins every single recorded head-to-head comparison against the Intel Core i5-3330. Across all five Cinebench tests, the i5-3550 holds an advantage, with the delta percentage consistently hovering around 14.4% in its favor. There are no benchmark categories where the i5-3330 emerges victorious; the recorded wins stand at 0 for the i5-3330 and 5 for the i5-3550.

The i5-3550's dominance extends across both multi-core and single-core workloads. In multi-core tests, which stress all four physical cores simultaneously, the i5-3550 consistently outperforms the i5-3330 by a margin of roughly 14.4%. This pattern holds in single-core tests as well, where the i5-3550 shows a similar edge, indicating that its advantage is not merely a matter of scaling with additional threads but reflects a fundamental per-core performance lead.

For users prioritizing raw computational throughput, the i5-3550 is the clear choice based on the data. The i5-3330, while a competent processor in its own right, does not offer any recorded performance category where it can claim superiority. This makes the use-case split straightforward: the i5-3550 is the better option for both multi-threaded applications like video rendering and content creation, as well as single-threaded tasks that dominate everyday responsiveness and gaming performance.

Architecture Differences

Both processors share the same fundamental architectural foundation. They are built on the Ivy Bridge architecture, using the same 22 nm process node and manufactured by Intel. Both feature four physical cores and four threads, with no hyper-threading. The cache hierarchy is identical: 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. Neither supports ECC memory, and both utilize the same Intel Socket 1155 platform with PCIe Gen 3 support and 16 lanes from the CPU. The integrated graphics are also the same, with both featuring Intel HD 2500.

The key architectural differentiators lie in clock speeds and physical characteristics. The i5-3330 has a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 3.20 GHz. The i5-3550 runs substantially higher, with a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 3.70 GHz. This 300 MHz gap in boost clock is the primary driver of the performance difference observed in benchmarks.

Physically, the two chips differ in die size and transistor count, though the data only provides these figures for the i5-3550. The i5-3550 has a die size of 160 mm² and contains 1,400 million transistors. The i5-3330's die size is recorded as 133 mm², but no transistor count is listed for it in the database. Both processors share the same 77 W TDP, meaning the i5-3550 achieves its higher clock speeds without an increased thermal envelope. Memory support is limited to DDR3 in dual-channel configuration for both, though the i5-3550 has a recorded memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s, while this figure is not listed for the i5-3330.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench results paint a consistent picture of the i5-3550's superiority. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-3330 scores 351 points while the i5-3550 reaches 410 points, a difference of 14.4% in favor of the i5-3550. Moving to Cinebench R20 multi-core, the i5-3330 scores 1464 points against the i5-3550's 1710 points, again a 14.4% gap.

Single-core performance tells the same story. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the i5-3330 manages 206 points, while the i5-3550 delivers 241 points. The delta here is 14.5%, marginally larger than the multi-core gap. In Cinebench R23, the pattern continues: multi-core scores are 3486 for the i5-3330 and 4073 for the i5-3550, a 14.4% difference, while single-core scores are 492 and 575 respectively, also a 14.4% difference.

The consistency of these deltas is notable. Across all five tests, the performance gap remains tightly clustered between 14.4% and 14.5%. This uniformity suggests that the i5-3550's advantage is not workload-dependent but is a steady, clock-driven improvement across all types of computational tasks. The i5-3550's higher boost clock of 3.70 GHz versus 3.20 GHz on the i5-3330 translates directly into this near-uniform performance lead.

When viewed against the broader market, the recorded data places both processors in similar percentiles. The i5-3330 sits at the 34th percentile of all CPUs, while the i5-3550 is at the 33rd percentile. Despite the i5-3550's clear head-to-head advantage, the two are essentially equivalent when ranked against the entire CPU landscape. This indicates that while the i5-3550 is faster, the absolute difference is modest in the context of all processors available.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in single-core tasks?

A: The Intel Core i5-3550 is faster in single-core tasks. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 575 points versus 492 points for the i5-3330, a 14.4% advantage.

Q: What is the performance difference in multi-core workloads?

A: The i5-3550 wins all multi-core benchmarks by approximately 14.4%. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 4073 points compared to 3486 points for the i5-3330.

Q: Do both processors have the same number of cores and threads?

A: Yes, both the i5-3330 and the i5-3550 have 4 cores and 4 threads. Neither processor supports hyper-threading.

Q: Are the integrated graphics different between the two?

A: No, both processors feature the same integrated graphics solution, the Intel HD 2500.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The i5-3550 has a boost clock of 3.70 GHz, which is 500 MHz higher than the i5-3330's boost clock of 3.20 GHz.

Q: Is there any test where the i5-3330 wins?

A: No. The recorded head-to-head data shows the i5-3550 winning all 5 benchmark comparisons, with the i5-3330 winning 0.

Specification Differences

The primary differences between the two processors are in clock speeds and physical characteristics. The i5-3330 has a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 3.20 GHz. The i5-3550 runs at a base clock of 3.30 GHz and boosts to 3.70 GHz. This represents a 300 MHz higher base clock and a 500 MHz higher boost clock for the i5-3550.

The die size differs, with the i5-3330 measuring 133 mm² and the i5-3550 measuring 160 mm². The transistor count is only listed for the i5-3550 at 1,400 million. The memory bandwidth is recorded only for the i5-3550 at 25.6 GB/s. Both processors share the same TDP of 77 W, socket type, architecture, process node, cache configuration, memory support, PCIe lanes, and integrated graphics.

The release dates differ, with the i5-3550 released on 2012-04-28 and the i5-3330 released later on 2012-09-02. The i5-3550 has a recorded launch MSRP of $194, while the i5-3330 has no launch MSRP listed in the database. The i5-3550 is marked as end-of-life in production status, while the i5-3330's status is not recorded. The part numbers also differ: SR0RQ for the i5-3330 and SR0P0 for the i5-3550.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i5-3550 is the superior processor in every measured benchmark. It outperforms the i5-3330 by a consistent margin of approximately 14.4% across all Cinebench tests, both single-core and multi-core. This uniform advantage is driven by the i5-3550's higher clock speeds, with a 3.70 GHz boost versus 3.20 GHz, achieved within the same 77 W TDP envelope.

For users seeking maximum performance from the Ivy Bridge platform, the i5-3550 is the clear choice. Its higher clock speeds deliver tangible, consistent improvements in both multi-threaded and single-threaded workloads. The i5-3550 also offers a recorded memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s, a figure not listed for the i5-3330.

The i5-3330, while slower, shares the same core architecture, cache configuration, and integrated graphics. It may appeal to users who prioritize the slightly smaller die size of 133 mm² compared to 160 mm², though this has no direct performance implication in the recorded data. Both processors sit at nearly identical percentiles in the overall CPU landscape (34th for the i5-3330, 33rd for the i5-3550), indicating that neither is a standout in the broader market.

Given the data, the recommendation is straightforward: the i5-3550 is the better choice for any workload where processing speed matters. The i5-3330's only recorded advantages are its later release date and unlisted launch MSRP, neither of which affects performance. The i5-3550's 5 wins versus 0 wins in head-to-head benchmarks leaves no ambiguity about which processor delivers more performance.