Intel Core i5-3360M vs Intel Core i7-5550U Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a clean sweep for the Intel Core i5-3360M across every shared benchmark. The i5-3360M wins all five head-to-head comparisons, with margins ranging from 3.4% to 4.3%. While these are not overwhelming victories, they are consistent. The largest single win comes in Cinebench R20 single-core, where the i5-3360M scores 145 against the i7-5550U's 139, a 4.3% advantage. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-3360M posts 246 versus 238, a 3.4% lead, which is the narrowest margin recorded.

The multi-core gap widens slightly in newer test versions. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the i5-3360M scores 1029 against 992, a 3.7% delta. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows the same 3.7% delta, with scores of 2451 and 2363. Single-core performance in Cinebench R23 favors the i5-3360M by 3.9%, scoring 346 versus 333. These results indicate that the older Ivy Bridge chip maintains a slight but repeatable performance edge in every measured workload.

The i7-5550U does not win any head-to-head benchmark. Its average benchmark score across the database is 813, compared to 835 for the i5-3360M. This places the i5-3360M at the 22nd percentile of all CPUs, and the i7-5550U also sits at the 22nd percentile, meaning both chips are positioned identically in the overall performance distribution. The i5-3360M's nearest rival, the Intel Xeon X3450, scores 837 with a delta of -0.2%, indicating the i5-3360M is essentially tied with that desktop-class Xeon. The i7-5550U's nearest rival, the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9775, scores 813 with a 0% delta, placing the two chips in a dead heat.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher multi-core performance in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core i5-3360M scores 2451 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, which is 3.7% higher than the i7-5550U's 2363.

Q: How does single-core performance compare between the two?

A: The i5-3360M leads in both single-core tests. In Cinebench R20 single-core, it scores 145 versus 139 (4.3% higher), and in Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 346 versus 333 (3.9% higher).

Q: What is the difference in average benchmark scores?

A: The i5-3360M has an average benchmark score of 835, while the i7-5550U averages 813, a difference of 22 points in favor of the i5-3360M.

Q: Are both processors in the same performance percentile?

A: Yes, both are recorded at the 22nd percentile of all CPUs in the database, despite the i5-3360M having a higher average score.

Q: Which chip has a larger L3 cache?

A: The i7-5550U has 4 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i5-3360M has 3 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: What is the production status of each processor?

A: The i7-5550U is listed as end-of-life, while the i5-3360M has no production status recorded in the database.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations and manufacturing processes. The i5-3360M uses the Ivy Bridge architecture, built on a 22 nm process node with a die size of 118 mm². The i7-5550U uses the Broadwell architecture (Broadwell-U codename), built on a 14 nm process node with a die size of 133 mm². The i7-5550U integrates 1,900 million transistors, while the i5-3360M has no transistor count recorded. The newer 14 nm process allows the i7-5550U to achieve a much lower thermal design power despite having a larger die.

Both processors feature 2 cores and 4 threads, with identical per-core L1 and L2 cache sizes (64 KB and 256 KB per core, respectively). The L3 cache differs: the i5-3360M has 3 MB shared, while the i7-5550U has 4 MB shared. Memory support also differs. The i7-5550U explicitly supports DDR3 memory with a dual-channel bus and a recorded memory bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s. The i5-3360M has dual-channel memory bus support, but no specific memory type or bandwidth is recorded in the database.

The integrated graphics differ as well. The i5-3360M pairs with Intel HD 4000, while the i7-5550U includes Intel HD 6000. The i7-5550U also has PCIe Gen 2 with 12 lanes (CPU only), while the i5-3360M has no PCIe configuration recorded. Neither processor supports ECC memory, and both have locked multipliers. The release dates are separated by nearly three years: the i5-3360M launched on 2012-05-31, and the i7-5550U launched on 2015-02-28.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specification fields. The base clock is a major difference: the i5-3360M runs at 2.80 GHz, while the i7-5550U has a base clock of 2000.00 MHz, which is 2.00 GHz. Boost clocks also differ, with the i5-3360M reaching 3.50 GHz and the i7-5550U reaching 3.00 GHz. Thermal design power is dramatically different: the i5-3360M has a TDP of 35 W, while the i7-5550U has a TDP of 15 W, making the i7-5550U significantly more power-efficient.

The sockets are different: the i5-3360M uses Intel BGA 1023, and the i7-5550U uses Intel BGA 1168. The part numbers are SR0MW for the i5-3360M and SR26A for the i7-5550U. The i7-5550U has a launch MSRP of $426, while the i5-3360M has no recorded launch MSRP. The memory bandwidth is recorded only for the i7-5550U at 29.9 GB/s. The integrated graphics differ (HD 4000 vs. HD 6000), as do the production statuses (the i7-5550U is end-of-life, the i5-3360M has no status). The i7-5550U also has explicit memory support for DDR3, while the i5-3360M's memory support is not recorded.

Where Each One Wins

The i5-3360M wins in every measured performance category. It is ahead in multi-core workloads across all three Cinebench versions (R15, R20, R23), with deltas between 3.4% and 3.7%. It is also ahead in single-core workloads, with deltas of 4.3% in R20 and 3.9% in R23. Based on the recorded data, the i5-3360M is the better choice for any application that depends on raw CPU throughput, whether single-threaded or multi-threaded.

The i7-5550U does not win any benchmark, but it offers a different set of advantages. Its 15 W TDP is less than half of the i5-3360M's 35 W TDP, which makes it more suitable for thin-and-light mobile designs where thermal and power constraints are paramount. It also has a larger L3 cache (4 MB versus 3 MB), a smaller manufacturing process (14 nm versus 22 nm), and a higher-quality integrated GPU (HD 6000 versus HD 4000), which could matter for basic graphics tasks. The i7-5550U also supports DDR3 memory with a recorded bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s, while the i5-3360M's memory capabilities are not specified.

In terms of the database's nearest rivals, the i5-3360M sits alongside the Intel Xeon X3450 (avg score 837, delta -0.2%) and the Intel Core i5-5200U (avg score 838, delta -0.3%). The i7-5550U is tied with the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9775 (avg score 813, delta 0%) and slightly ahead of the AMD A10-6800K (avg score 809, delta 0.5%). These comparisons show that the i5-3360M is competitive with older desktop Xeon parts, while the i7-5550U matches a 2008-era desktop extreme edition chip.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i5-3360M outperforms the Intel Core i7-5550U in every recorded test. If the priority is maximum CPU performance, the i5-3360M is the correct choice. It leads by 3.4% to 4.3% across all Cinebench workloads, and its average benchmark score of 835 is 22 points higher than the i7-5550U's 813. For users running CPU-intensive applications, the i5-3360M delivers measurably better results.

The i7-5550U is not without merit, but its advantages are not visible in the compute benchmarks. Its 15 W TDP makes it a far more efficient part, and its 14 nm process, larger L3 cache, and newer integrated graphics make it a more modern design. However, none of these features translate into a performance win in the measured tests. The i7-5550U also carries a launch MSRP of $426, a figure that is not recorded for the i5-3360M, but that price does not buy superior benchmark results.

For a system where performance is the sole criterion, the i5-3360M wins outright. For a system where power efficiency, newer architecture, and a more capable integrated GPU are important, the i7-5550U offers those qualities, but the data shows it sacrifices a small amount of CPU performance to achieve them. The i5-3360M is the stronger computing part; the i7-5550U is the more efficient and modern design. The choice depends on whether the user values the 3.4% to 4.3% compute advantage or the 20 W power savings and architectural improvements of the i7-5550U. Based strictly on benchmark scores, the Intel Core i5-3360M is the winner.