Intel Core i5-3550S vs Intel Core i7-2720QM Comparison

The Intel Core i7-2720QM and Intel Core i5-3550S represent two distinct design philosophies: a mobile quad-core with Hyper-Threading from the Sandy Bridge generation, and a desktop quad-core without Hyper-Threading from the Ivy Bridge generation. The recorded benchmark data leaves no ambiguity: the i5-3550S wins all seven head-to-head tests, with margins ranging from 10.2% to 22.3%. This result holds despite the i7-2720QM offering twice the thread count, a fact that underscores the impact of clock speed and architecture generation.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The i5-3550S dominates every measured workload. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i5 scores 383 against the i7's 344, a 10.2% advantage. The same pattern appears in Cinebench R20 multicore: 1599 versus 1435, a 10.3% lead. Cinebench R23 multicore shows 3808 against 3417, again a 10.3% gap. These multicore results are particularly telling because the i7-2720QM has 8 threads to the i5's 4, yet the i5 still pulls ahead by roughly a tenth. The i5's higher base clock (3.00 GHz vs 2.20 GHz) and boost clock (3.70 GHz vs 3.30 GHz) clearly compensate for the missing Hyper-Threading.

Single-threaded performance tells a similar story. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the i5 scores 225 versus 202, a 10.2% edge. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 537 versus 482, also a 10.2% difference. The largest single-threaded margin appears in Geekbench single-core, where the i5 scores 623 against the i7's 484, a substantial 22.3% advantage. This is the biggest win in the entire comparison, and it highlights the i5's superior per-core efficiency.

Geekbench multicore also favors the i5, with 1716 versus 1535, a 10.5% lead. Across all seven tests, the i5-3550S never loses a single round. The i7-2720QM's best showing is in the multicore tests, where it stays within 10.3% of the i5, but it never overtakes. The data indicates that the i5's newer 22 nm Ivy Bridge architecture and higher clocks deliver a consistent performance advantage, even when outnumbered in threads.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster overall?

A: The Intel Core i5-3550S wins all seven head-to-head benchmarks. Its advantages range from 10.2% in Cinebench R15 multicore to 22.3% in Geekbench single-core.

Q: Does the i7-2720QM's Hyper-Threading help it win any test?

A: No. Despite having 8 threads versus the i5's 4, the i7 loses every multicore test. The i5 leads by 10.2% in Cinebench R15, 10.3% in R20 and R23, and 10.5% in Geekbench multicore.

Q: How do their clock speeds compare?

A: The i5-3550S has a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 3.70 GHz. The i7-2720QM runs at 2.20 GHz base and 3.30 GHz boost. The i5's higher clocks are a likely factor in its consistent lead.

Q: What are the power consumption differences?

A: The i7-2720QM has a TDP of 45 watts, while the i5-3550S has a TDP of 65 watts. The i7 is more power-efficient, but that does not translate into performance in the recorded benchmarks.

Q: Which processor has better integrated graphics?

A: The i7-2720QM features Intel HD 3000, while the i5-3550S has Intel HD 2500. The i7's integrated graphics are a higher tier, but no graphics benchmarks are included in the data.

Q: Are they compatible with the same motherboards?

A: No. The i7-2720QM uses Intel BGA 1224, a mobile socket, while the i5-3550S uses Intel Socket 1155, a desktop socket. They are not interchangeable.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations. The i7-2720QM is built on Sandy Bridge, a 32 nm process, while the i5-3550S uses Ivy Bridge on a 22 nm node. The i5's process is more advanced, allowing a smaller die size of 160 mm² compared to the i7's 216 mm², despite packing more transistors: 1,400 million versus 1,160 million. This density improvement is a hallmark of the newer generation.

The i5-3550S also lists memory support for DDR3, while the i7-2720QM does not specify a memory type in the database. Both use dual-channel memory buses. The i5 includes PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), whereas the i7 has no PCIe information recorded. Integrated graphics differ as well: the i7 has Intel HD 3000, the i5 has Intel HD 2500. The i7 is a mobile part, the i5 a desktop part, which explains the socket and form factor differences.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs share several core specifications: both have 4 physical cores, 64 KB L1 cache per core, 256 KB L2 cache per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. They also both lack ECC memory support and have locked multipliers. The differences are substantial elsewhere.

• Threads: i7-2720QM has 8 threads, i5-3550S has 4.
• Base clock: 2.20 GHz (i7) vs 3.00 GHz (i5).
• Boost clock: 3.30 GHz (i7) vs 3.70 GHz (i5).
• TDP: 45 W (i7) vs 65 W (i5).
• Socket: Intel BGA 1224 (i7) vs Intel Socket 1155 (i5).
• Architecture: Sandy Bridge (i7) vs Ivy Bridge (i5).
• Process node: 32 nm (i7) vs 22 nm (i5).
• Transistors: 1,160 million (i7) vs 1,400 million (i5).
• Die size: 216 mm² (i7) vs 160 mm² (i5).
• Memory support: Not specified (i7) vs DDR3 (i5).
• PCIe: Not specified (i7) vs Gen 3, 16 lanes (CPU only) (i5).
• Integrated graphics: Intel HD 3000 (i7) vs Intel HD 2500 (i5).
• Market segment: Mobile (i7) vs Desktop (i5).
• Release date: 2011-01-02 (i7) vs 2012-04-28 (i5).
• Part number: SR00W (i7) vs SR0P3 (i5).
• Production status: End-of-life (i7) vs not specified (i5).

The Verdict

The data points to a clear performance winner: the Intel Core i5-3550S. It wins every benchmark, with margins that range from 10.2% to 22.3%. For desktop users seeking raw compute performance, the i5-3550S is the superior choice. Its higher clocks and newer Ivy Bridge architecture overcome the i7's thread advantage, making it the faster processor in both single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads.

The i7-2720QM, however, is a mobile processor. It fits into Intel BGA 1224 sockets, which means it is designed for laptops and compact systems. Its lower TDP of 45 watts, compared to the i5's 65 watts, makes it a more power-efficient option for portable devices. If the requirement is a mobile platform, the i7-2720QM is the only one of the two that can be used, and its performance, while behind the i5, is still respectable for its segment.

For anyone building a desktop system, the i5-3550S is the obvious pick based on the recorded benchmarks. For a laptop or embedded application where the i7's socket and power envelope are required, the i7-2720QM remains a viable, if slower, alternative. The choice ultimately depends on the platform, not on performance alone.