Intel Core i5-3335S vs Intel Core i5-3350P Comparison

The Intel Core i5-3350P and Intel Core i5-3335S are two quad-core Ivy Bridge desktop processors aimed at similar sockets, yet the benchmark data reveals a clear and consistent performance hierarchy between them. Both CPUs occupy the 30th percentile of all processors tracked, and their average benchmark scores are nearly identical — 1088 for the 3350P and 1083 for the 3335S. This near-parity in overall standing, however, masks a decisive edge for the 3350P in every single head-to-head test recorded, making this comparison less about choosing a winner and more about understanding how much performance the 3335S sacrifices in exchange for its other attributes.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking pattern in the head-to-head data is the uniformity of the 3350P's victory. Across seven benchmark comparisons, the 3350P wins all seven, with zero wins for the 3335S. The margins, however, are not uniform; they cluster into two distinct tiers. In the Cinebench suite, the 3350P consistently leads by roughly 18%. For instance, in Cinebench R15 multi-core, the 3350P scores 371 against the 3335S's 314, a delta of 18.2%. This margin repeats almost exactly in Cinebench R20 multi-core (1546 vs 1310, an 18% delta) and Cinebench R23 single-core (519 vs 440, an 18% delta). The single-core Cinebench R20 test shows a 17.9% advantage (217 vs 184), and the multi-core R23 test also lands at 17.9% (3681 vs 3121).

The Geekbench results tell a different story — the gap narrows considerably. In Geekbench multi-core, the 3350P scores 1730 compared to 1647 for the 3335S, a delta of just 5%. The single-core Geekbench test shows an even smaller margin: 584 versus 562, a 3.9% difference. This discrepancy between Cinebench and Geekbench deltas is curious. It suggests that the 3350P's advantage is more pronounced under sustained, multi-threaded rendering workloads than in the shorter, more varied tasks Geekbench uses. The data implies that the 3350P's higher base and boost clocks (3.10 GHz and 3.30 GHz versus 2.70 GHz and 3.20 GHz) translate into a larger performance gap when all cores are pegged for extended periods, as in Cinebench's rendering loop.

The average benchmark scores reinforce this split. The 3350P's average of 1088 places it exactly level with the AMD Athlon 220GE (deltaPct 0) and a hair ahead of the Intel Core i5-2450P by 0.2%. The 3335S, with an average of 1083, sits precisely at the Intel Core i5-2320's score (deltaPct 0) and 0.1% ahead of the Pentium Gold G6505T. Both CPUs are within 0.3% of the Intel Core i3-6320, but from opposite directions — the 3350P is 0.3% faster, the 3335S is 0.2% slower. This positions the 3350P as the stronger performer relative to its immediate peers, while the 3335S is the weaker sibling.

Architecture Differences

Both processors share the same fundamental silicon: they are built on Intel's 22 nm process node, use the Ivy Bridge architecture, and belong to the same Core i5 (Ivy Bridge) generation. They also share the same socket (Intel Socket 1155), the same dual-channel DDR3 memory support, and identical cache hierarchies — 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3. Neither supports ECC memory, neither has an unlocked multiplier, and both use PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU.

The first notable difference is in the silicon itself. The 3335S lists a transistor count of 1,480 million and a die size of 160 mm². The 3350P's fact pack does not list a transistor count, but its die size is smaller at 133 mm². This is a significant discrepancy that the data does not explain. The 3335S also includes integrated graphics — the Intel HD 4000 — while the 3350P lists no integrated graphics at all. This absence of an iGPU on the 3350P is a defining architectural choice, freeing up die area and thermal headroom that the 3335S must allocate to its graphics block.

Clock speeds are the other major architectural divergence. The 3350P runs at a 3.10 GHz base clock and boosts to 3.30 GHz. The 3335S is clocked lower, at 2.70 GHz base and 3.20 GHz boost. The 3335S's "S" suffix traditionally indicates a low-power variant, and indeed its TDP is 65 watts versus the 3350P's 69 watts — a modest 4-watt reduction. This lower TDP is achieved through the lower base clock, while the boost clock is only 100 MHz slower. The release dates differ by about two months, with the 3350P launching on September 2, 2012, and the 3335S on October 31, 2012.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the 3350P wins every test, so the "Where Each One Wins" section is less about conditional performance and more about the magnitude of the win in different scenarios. For multi-threaded rendering workloads, the 3350P's dominance is pronounced. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it beats the 3335S by 18.2%, and in R20 multi-core the lead is 18%. These are precisely the kinds of workloads that leverage all four cores continuously, and the higher 3.10 GHz base clock on the 3350P pays off handsomely. The 3335S, with its 2.70 GHz base clock, falls behind by nearly a fifth of the performance.

For single-threaded tasks, the 3350P still wins, but the edge is slightly smaller. Cinebench R23 single-core shows an 18% delta (519 vs 440), while Cinebench R20 single-core is at 17.9% (217 vs 184). The Geekbench single-core test narrows the gap to 3.9% (584 vs 562), indicating that in lighter, bursty single-threaded work, the 3335S's 3.20 GHz boost clock can nearly match the 3350P's 3.30 GHz boost. The 3335S's 100 MHz boost clock deficit is much less punishing than its 400 MHz base clock deficit.

The 3335S's only potential advantage is not visible in these benchmarks. It has the Intel HD 4000 integrated graphics, which means a system built around it does not require a discrete GPU for basic display output. The 3350P, lacking any iGPU, forces the user to pair it with a dedicated graphics card. This is not a performance win in the CPU benchmarks, but it is a feature difference that could matter for a specific build configuration. The data shows no benchmark where the 3335S wins; its value lies entirely outside the CPU performance metrics.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the benchmark data, the Intel Core i5-3350P is the superior processor. It wins all seven head-to-head comparisons, with deltas ranging from 3.9% to 18.2%. The average benchmark score of 1088 versus 1083 further confirms its edge. For anyone building a system with a discrete GPU, where the 3350P's lack of integrated graphics is irrelevant, the choice is clear: the 3350P delivers more performance for essentially the same thermal envelope (69 watts vs 65 watts). The 18% lead in Cinebench multi-core tests is substantial — the difference between a smooth render and a noticeable wait.

The 3335S is the pick only in a specific scenario: when integrated graphics are a hard requirement. Since the 3350P has no iGPU, the 3335S is the only one of the two that can output video without an add-in card. If the build is a low-power media center or an office PC with minimal GPU demands, the 3335S's 65-watt TDP and HD 4000 graphics make it a viable option. But the performance cost is real — the data shows it trails by 17.9% to 18.2% in most Cinebench tests. The 3335S also sits lower against its own rivals, matching the Intel Core i5-2320's average score, while the 3350P matches the AMD Athlon 220GE and edges out the i5-2450P. The verdict is not close: for raw CPU performance, the 3350P wins decisively; for a system that needs an iGPU, the 3335S is the only choice, and the user must accept its slower clocks.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core i5-3350P wins all multi-core Cinebench tests. It leads by 18.2% in Cinebench R15 (371 vs 314), 18% in R20 (1546 vs 1310), and 17.9% in R23 (3681 vs 3121).

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-3335S have any benchmark wins over the i5-3350P?

A: No. Across all seven recorded head-to-head benchmarks, the 3350P wins every test, and the 3335S records zero wins.

Q: Why is the Geekbench score gap smaller than the Cinebench gap?

A: In Geekbench multi-core, the 3350P leads by only 5% (1730 vs 1647), and in single-core by 3.9% (584 vs 562). This is much smaller than the ~18% Cinebench deltas, likely because Geekbench's varied workloads do not sustain full-core loading as long as Cinebench's rendering loops.

Q: Do both processors have the same amount of cache?

A: Yes. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core i5-3335S includes the Intel HD 4000 integrated graphics. The Intel Core i5-3350P has no integrated graphics listed.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The i5-3350P has a TDP of 69 watts, while the i5-3335S has a TDP of 65 watts, a difference of 4 watts.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-3350P | Intel Core i5-3335S |

|---|---|---|

| Base Clock | 3.10 GHz | 2.70 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.30 GHz | 3.20 GHz |

| TDP | 69 W | 65 W |

| Transistors | Not listed | 1,480 million |

| Die Size | 133 mm² | 160 mm² |

| Integrated Graphics | None | Intel HD 4000 |

| Release Date | 2012-09-02 | 2012-10-31 |

| Part Number | SR0WS | Not listed |