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

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a decisive picture: the Intel Core i5-3550S wins all seven recorded head-to-head comparisons against the Intel Core i5-3330S. There are no test categories where the i5-3330S takes the lead, which makes the performance relationship between these two Ivy Bridge desktop processors unusually straightforward to characterize.

The largest margins appear in the Cinebench suites. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-3550S scores 383 against the i5-3330S's 335, a 12.5% advantage. That gap widens slightly in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the i5-3550S reaches 1599 versus 1396, a 12.7% difference. The Cinebench R23 multi-core test tells the same story: 3808 for the i5-3550S against 3326 for the i5-3330S, again a 12.7% delta. This consistency across multiple Cinebench versions suggests the multi-threaded advantage is structural rather than a quirk of one benchmark generation.

Single-core performance shows a similar pattern. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the i5-3550S scores 225 versus 196 for the i5-3330S, a 12.9% lead, the largest single-core margin in the dataset. Cinebench R23 single-core records 537 against 469, a 12.7% gap. Geekbench single-core also favors the i5-3550S at 623 versus 549, an 11.9% difference.

The narrowest margin appears in Geekbench multi-core, where the i5-3550S scores 1716 against 1625 for the i5-3330S, a 5.3% advantage. This is notably smaller than the Cinebench multi-core gaps, which may indicate that Geekbench's workload mix is less sensitive to the clock differences between these two parts. Still, even this smallest advantage is unambiguous.

The overall average benchmark scores place the i5-3330S at 1128 and the i5-3550S at 1118, a reversal of the head-to-head results. This apparent contradiction stems from the fact that the average scores include different benchmark sets and are normalized against the broader database, while the head-to-head comparisons use only the seven shared tests. The percentile rankings reinforce this nuance: the i5-3330S sits at the 32nd percentile of all CPUs, while the i5-3550S sits at the 31st. Despite winning every direct comparison, the i5-3550S's database-wide standing is marginally lower, a reminder that these two chips are closely matched in the broader context of all processors.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins the most head-to-head benchmark comparisons?

A: The Intel Core i5-3550S wins all seven recorded head-to-head tests, with zero wins for the Intel Core i5-3330S.

Q: How much faster is the i5-3550S in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The i5-3550S scores 3808 compared to 3326 for the i5-3330S, a 12.7% advantage.

Q: What is the smallest performance difference between the two CPUs?

A: The smallest gap is in Geekbench multi-core, where the i5-3550S leads with 1716 versus 1625, a 5.3% difference.

Q: Are these processors from the same architecture generation?

A: Yes, both are built on Ivy Bridge architecture, use the 22 nm process node, and fit the Intel Socket 1155.

Q: Do both processors have the same integrated graphics?

A: Yes, both use Intel HD 2500 integrated graphics.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The i5-3550S has a boost clock of 3.70 GHz, while the i5-3330S boosts to 3.20 GHz.

Architecture Differences

Both processors share the same fundamental architecture: Ivy Bridge, built on Intel's 22 nm process node, with the same codename and generation listing of "Core i5 (Ivy Bridge)". They both use the Intel Socket 1155 and are designated as desktop market segments. Neither has an unlocked multiplier, and both support DDR3 memory over a dual-channel bus with PCIe Gen 3 at 16 lanes from the CPU.

The architectural differences are subtle but measurable. The i5-3330S has a die size of 133 mm², while the i5-3550S is larger at 160 mm². The i5-3550S also lists a transistor count of 1,400 million, while the i5-3330S does not report a transistor figure in the database. This die size discrepancy is curious given that both processors have identical core counts, thread counts, and cache hierarchies. The larger die on the i5-3550S may reflect additional logic or layout differences, though the database does not specify what occupies the extra silicon area.

Cache configurations are identical: 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3. Neither supports ECC memory, and neither offers a 3D V-Cache option. The integrated graphics are the same Intel HD 2500 part. Memory bandwidth figures are not recorded for either chip, so the database provides no basis for comparing memory throughput directly.

The release dates differ, with the i5-3550S appearing on 2012-04-28 and the i5-3330S following on 2012-09-02. This roughly four-month gap may explain some of the specification differences, as Intel could have refined the design in the interim, but the database does not confirm any specific changes beyond the die size and clock speeds.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ on several recorded specifications, and these differences map cleanly onto the benchmark results.

Clock speeds show the most significant divergence. The i5-3330S has a base clock of 2.70 GHz and a boost clock of 3.20 GHz. The i5-3550S runs at a 3.00 GHz base and 3.70 GHz boost. That is a 0.30 GHz higher base and 0.50 GHz higher boost for the i5-3550S, which aligns closely with the roughly 12% performance advantage seen across most benchmarks.

Thermal design power (TDP) presents an interesting counterpoint. The i5-3550S, despite being faster, has a lower TDP of 65 watts, while the i5-3330S draws 77 watts. This means the higher-clocked chip is also the more power-efficient one in terms of rated thermal envelope, a notable inversion of the usual expectation that more performance requires more power.

Die size and transistor count also differ, as noted above: 133 mm² versus 160 mm², and no reported transistor count for the i5-3330S versus 1,400 million for the i5-3550S. The part numbers differ as well: SR0RR for the i5-3330S and SR0P3 for the i5-3550S.

All other recorded specifications are identical. Both have 4 cores and 4 threads, both use DDR3 memory in dual-channel mode, both lack ECC support, both use PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, both feature Intel HD 2500 graphics, and both are locked multipliers. The release date difference of roughly four months is the only temporal distinction.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-3550S wins in every measured category, so the use-case split is less about benchmark victories and more about degrees of advantage.

For multi-threaded productivity workloads, the i5-3550S is consistently ahead by 12.5% to 12.7% across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests. Content creation tasks that scale across all four cores will see this full advantage. The Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 3808 versus 3326 represents the largest absolute point gap in the dataset, making this the strongest case for choosing the i5-3550S.

For single-threaded tasks, the i5-3550S leads by 11.9% to 12.9% across Cinebench R20, Cinebench R23, and Geekbench single-core tests. The Cinebench R20 single-core margin of 12.9% is the largest percentage difference in any test. Applications that rely heavily on one or two threads, such as older games or lightly threaded productivity software, will benefit from this advantage.

The narrowest win for the i5-3550S comes in Geekbench multi-core at 5.3%. This suggests that workloads resembling Geekbench's mixed multi-threaded suite will see a smaller but still positive improvement. The i5-3330S has no recorded benchmark category where it outperforms the i5-3550S, so there is no use case from the data where it offers a performance advantage.

The database context adds a caveat. With the i5-3330S at the 32nd percentile and the i5-3550S at the 31st, both chips sit in the lower-middle range of all CPUs. Their nearest rivals include processors like the Intel Core i7-2720QM and Intel Core i3-1115GRE for the i5-3330S, and the Intel Core i3-4150 and AMD Ryzen 3 1200 for the i5-3550S. The delta percentages to these rivals are all within 0.2%, meaning both chips are essentially interchangeable with their closest peers in the broader database.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear choice: the Intel Core i5-3550S is the stronger processor in every recorded benchmark comparison. Its advantages range from 5.3% in Geekbench multi-core to 12.9% in Cinebench R20 single-core, with most tests clustering around a 12.7% lead. The higher base and boost clocks, 3.00 GHz and 3.70 GHz respectively, directly explain this consistent margin.

The i5-3550S also achieves this performance with a lower TDP of 65 watts versus 77 watts for the i5-3330S. For a desktop user building or upgrading a Socket 1155 system, the i5-3550S offers more performance per watt of rated thermal envelope. The larger die size and reported transistor count of 1,400 million suggest a more substantial silicon implementation, though the database does not specify what that extra area enables.

Buyers should choose the i5-3550S if they want the best recorded performance in this comparison, particularly for multi-threaded rendering workloads where the Cinebench margins are largest. The i5-3330S is not without merit: it was released later, and its smaller die size may indicate a more refined or cost-reduced manufacturing process, but the database records no performance test where it wins.

The verdict is therefore straightforward from the data: the i5-3550S is the superior choice on every measured axis of performance, while also carrying a lower TDP. The only hesitation comes from the database-wide percentiles, where the i5-3330S sits one point higher at the 32nd percentile versus the 31st. But that ranking reflects the entire CPU landscape, not the direct comparison, and the head-to-head results are unambiguous. For anyone choosing between these two specific Ivy Bridge parts, the i5-3550S is the one the benchmarks support.