Intel Core i5-3550 vs Intel Core i7-3635QM Comparison

The Intel Core i5-3550 and Intel Core i7-3635QM are both Ivy Bridge parts, but they target very different platforms. The i5-3550 is a desktop chip with a 77 W TDP, while the i7-3635QM is a mobile processor with a 45 W TDP. Despite the i7’s higher core count and thread count, the benchmark data shows a remarkably close contest, with the desktop i5 narrowly ahead in every single test.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data is unusually one-sided in terms of winners, though the margins are extremely thin. Across all six Cinebench tests, the Intel Core i5-3550 wins every round. The largest margin is a 0.5% advantage, seen in both Cinebench R15 multi-core and Cinebench R23 single-core. In the former, the i5-3550 scores 410 against the i7-3635QM’s 408. In the latter, the desktop chip posts 575 versus 572.

The remaining four tests show even narrower gaps. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the i5-3550 scores 1710 against 1703, a 0.4% difference. The single-core R20 result is 241 versus 240, also a 0.4% edge. Cinebench R23 multi-core sees the i5-3550 at 4073 and the i7-3635QM at 4057, again a 0.4% lead. The Cinebench R15 single-core test is a dead heat at 57 points each, though the winner is still recorded as the i5-3550 with a 0% delta.

These margins are so small that they are effectively within noise for any real-world workload. The i5-3550 has a higher base clock of 3.30 GHz versus 2.40 GHz, and a higher boost clock of 3.70 GHz versus 3.40 GHz. That clock advantage likely explains the single-core wins. The i7-3635QM counters with 8 threads against the i5’s 4, which should help in multi-threaded tasks, yet the i5 still edges ahead. The data suggests the i7’s lower clocks outweigh its extra threads in these specific benchmarks.

Looking at the broader average benchmark score, the i5-3550 sits at 1178, while the i7-3635QM is at 1170. That is a 0.7% difference in favor of the desktop part. Both chips occupy the 33rd percentile among all CPUs, meaning they are in the same performance tier overall. The nearest rivals confirm this positioning. The i5-3550’s closest competitor is the Intel Core i5-4440, which scores 1179, a -0.1% delta. The i7-3635QM’s closest rival is the Intel Core i7-2960XM at 1169, a 0.1% delta. Both chips also sit near the Intel Core i3-7320, which scores 1173.

The i7-3635QM does have additional Geekbench results not present for the i5-3550. It scores 1790 in Geekbench multi-core and 532 in single-core. However, since no corresponding Geekbench scores exist for the i5-3550 in the data, these numbers cannot be directly compared. They serve only as absolute reference points for the mobile chip.

The Verdict

The data points to a straightforward conclusion: the Intel Core i5-3550 is the faster processor in every benchmark where the two are directly compared. Its wins range from 0% to 0.5%, which is a consistent, if marginal, sweep. For anyone choosing strictly on measured Cinebench performance, the i5-3550 is the safer pick.

However, the context matters. The i5-3550 is a desktop part with a 77 W TDP, designed for socketed motherboards. The i7-3635QM is a mobile part with a 45 W TDP, soldered to the board via Intel BGA 1224. These are not interchangeable products. A user building a desktop has no option to use the i7-3635QM, and a laptop buyer cannot install the i5-3550.

The i7-3635QM’s redeeming quality is its thread count. With 8 threads versus 4, it is better suited for heavily parallel workloads that scale beyond 4 threads. Yet the Cinebench multi-core results show the i5-3550 still wins, meaning the i7’s clock disadvantage is severe enough to negate its threading advantage in these tests. The i5-3550 also carries a launch MSRP of $194, which is a data point for historical reference, but the i7-3635QM has no listed price.

For a desktop user prioritizing raw single-thread and multi-thread Cinebench scores, the i5-3550 is the clear winner. For a mobile user who needs a quad-core Ivy Bridge part with Hyper-Threading, the i7-3635QM is the only viable choice of the two, and its performance deficit is small enough to be negligible in most everyday tasks.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Core i5-3550 wins with a score of 4073, compared to the i7-3635QM’s 4057, a 0.4% advantage.

Q: How much faster is the i5-3550 in single-core performance?

A: In Cinebench R15 single-core, both score 57, a 0% difference. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the i5-3550 scores 241 versus 240, a 0.4% lead. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the i5-3550 scores 575 versus 572, a 0.5% lead.

Q: Does the i7-3635QM have more threads than the i5-3550?

A: Yes. The i7-3635QM has 8 threads, while the i5-3550 has 4 threads. Both have 4 physical cores.

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

A: The i5-3550 has an average benchmark score of 1178, while the i7-3635QM has an average of 1170. This is a 0.7% difference in favor of the i5-3550.

Q: Are these processors in the same performance percentile?

A: Yes, both are in the 33rd percentile among all CPUs.

Q: Which processor has a higher TDP?

A: The i5-3550 has a TDP of 77 W, while the i7-3635QM has a TDP of 45 W.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications. The i5-3550 has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the i7-3635QM has 4 cores and 8 threads. Base clocks are 3.30 GHz for the i5-3550 and 2.40 GHz for the i7-3635QM. Boost clocks are 3.70 GHz and 3.40 GHz, respectively. The TDP is 77 W for the desktop chip and 45 W for the mobile chip.

The socket is a major differentiator. The i5-3550 uses Intel Socket 1155, while the i7-3635QM uses Intel BGA 1224. The integrated graphics differ as well: the i5-3550 has Intel HD 2500, and the i7-3635QM has Intel HD 4000. The i5-3550 supports DDR3 memory with a dual-channel bus and a memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s. The i7-3635QM also supports dual-channel DDR3, but its memory bandwidth is not listed.

The i5-3550 has a PCIe specification of Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i7-3635QM has no PCIe data listed. The i5-3550 has a listed part number of SR0P0, while the i7-3635QM has none. The release dates differ, with the i5-3550 launching on 2012-04-28 and the i7-3635QM on 2012-08-31. The i5-3550 has a launch MSRP of $194; the i7-3635QM has no MSRP listed. The i5-3550 is marked as end-of-life, while the i7-3635QM has no production status listed.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on the same Ivy Bridge architecture and codename, using a 22 nm process node at Intel’s foundry. Both have a die size of 160 mm². The transistor counts are close but not identical: the i5-3550 has 1,400 million transistors, while the i7-3635QM has 1,480 million. The cache structure is identical in capacity. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache.

The key architectural difference is in threading. The i7-3635QM supports Hyper-Threading, which doubles its thread count to 8. The i5-3550 does not support Hyper-Threading, leaving it at 4 threads. Both have the same generation label of "Core i5 (Ivy Bridge)" and "Core i7 (Ivy Bridge)" respectively, but the i7 branding reflects the added threading capability. Neither processor has its multiplier unlocked, and neither supports ECC memory.

The integrated graphics differ in model, with the i5-3550 featuring Intel HD 2500 and the i7-3635QM featuring Intel HD 4000. This is a notable architectural difference, as the HD 4000 is a higher-tier iGPU. However, no benchmark data is provided for either graphics solution, so performance cannot be quantified. The market segments are clear: the i5-3550 is a Desktop part, while the i7-3635QM is a Mobile part.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-3550 wins in every direct benchmark comparison. It takes the multi-core tests in Cinebench R15 (410 vs 408), R20 (1710 vs 1703), and R23 (4073 vs 4057). It also wins the single-core tests in R20 (241 vs 240) and R23 (575 vs 572), and ties in R15 single-core (57 vs 57). Its higher clock speeds, both base and boost, are the likely driver of these wins. Given its 77 W TDP and desktop socket, it is the better choice for a stationary build where power consumption is less of a concern and where the higher clocks can be sustained.

The Intel Core i7-3635QM does not win any benchmark in the head-to-head data. However, its strengths lie outside the measured tests. It has 8 threads, which is double the i5-3550’s thread count, making it architecturally better suited for workloads that can utilize more than 4 threads. Its 45 W TDP makes it far more power-efficient, which is critical for a mobile platform. Its Geekbench scores of 1790 multi-core and 532 single-core provide additional reference points, though they lack a direct comparison. The i7-3635QM also features the Intel HD 4000 integrated graphics, which is a step up from the HD 2500 in the i5-3550, potentially making it more capable for light graphics tasks without a discrete GPU.

The choice comes down to platform. For a desktop user who wants the highest Cinebench scores from these two Ivy Bridge parts, the i5-3550 is the winner. For a laptop user who needs a quad-core Ivy Bridge CPU with Hyper-Threading and a lower 45 W TDP, the i7-3635QM is the only option, and its performance deficit of 0.7% in average score is minor. The data shows a clear performance hierarchy, but the socket and TDP differences make this a comparison of two non-competing products.