Intel Core i5-3550S vs Intel Processor N97 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded head-to-head results reveal a split profile that depends heavily on the workload and the benchmark generation. Across the four shared tests, the Intel Processor N97 takes three wins, while the Intel Core i5-3550S claims one decisive victory. The margin of those wins, however, tells a more nuanced story than the raw win count.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the N97 scores 479 against the i5-3550S's 383, a 25.1% advantage. That is a clear lead for the newer part in a legacy rendering workload. The single-core R15 result is even more lopsided: the N97 posts 161 versus 54 for the i5-3550S, a 198.1% delta. That is the largest gap in the entire comparison, and it indicates a fundamental difference in per-thread capability between the two architectures.

The picture flips in Cinebench R23 multi-core. Here the i5-3550S scores 3808, beating the N97's 2913 by 23.5%. This is the only test where the older desktop chip wins, and it wins by a substantial margin. The result suggests that sustained all-core throughput under modern rendering loads favors the Ivy Bridge part despite its age. In R23 single-core, however, the N97 reasserts dominance with 973 against 537, an 81.2% advantage.

Interpreting these numbers requires attention to the benchmark generations. The N97 leads in R15 multi-core by 25.1%, but trails in R23 multi-core by 23.5%. The i5-3550S cannot match the N97's single-core performance in either generation, with deficits of 198.1% in R15 and 81.2% in R23. The average benchmark score in the database puts the N97 at 1132 and the i5-3550S at 1118, a difference of roughly 1.3%. The N97 sits at the 32nd percentile of all CPUs, while the i5-3550S sits at the 31st percentile, so the two are effectively neighbors in the overall distribution.

The nearest rivals recorded for the N97 include the Intel Core i3-10110U with an average score of 1131 and a delta of 0.1%, the Intel Pentium Gold G5500 at 1130 with a 0.2% delta, and the Intel Core i3-4370 at 1130 with a 0.2% delta. For the i5-3550S, the nearest rivals are the Intel Core i3-4150 at 1119 with a -0.1% delta, the Intel Core i7-2860QM at 1120 with a -0.1% delta, the AMD Athlon 240GE at 1121 with a -0.2% delta, and the AMD Ryzen 3 1200 at 1116 with a 0.2% delta. These neighbor lists reinforce the conclusion that the two processors occupy nearly the same overall performance tier, despite their very different architectures and release eras.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in single-core workloads?

A: The Intel Processor N97 wins every recorded single-core test. It leads by 198.1% in Cinebench R15 single-core (161 versus 54) and by 81.2% in Cinebench R23 single-core (973 versus 537).

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-3550S faster in any benchmark?

A: Yes. The i5-3550S wins Cinebench R23 multi-core with a score of 3808 against the N97's 2913, a 23.5% advantage. This is the only head-to-head test where the i5-3550S takes the lead.

Q: How do the two processors compare in overall average benchmark score?

A: The N97 has an average benchmark score of 1132, while the i5-3550S has an average of 1118. The N97 sits at the 32nd percentile of all CPUs, and the i5-3550S sits at the 31st percentile.

Q: What memory types does each processor support?

A: The N97 supports DDR4 and DDR5 with a single-channel memory bus and 38.4 GB/s bandwidth. The i5-3550S supports DDR3 with a dual-channel memory bus; no bandwidth figure is recorded in the database.

Q: Which processor has a lower thermal design power?

A: The N97 has a TDP of 12 watts, compared to 65 watts for the i5-3550S. The N97 is a 12-watt part, while the i5-3550S is a 65-watt part.

Q: Do both processors have the same core and thread count?

A: Yes, both have 4 cores and 4 threads. The differences lie in architecture, clock speeds, cache layout, and supporting features.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from entirely different design eras and target different market segments. The Intel Processor N97 uses the Gracemont architecture, belongs to the Intel Processor (Alder Lake-N) generation, and is built on Intel's 10 nm process. The Intel Core i5-3550S uses the Ivy Bridge architecture, belongs to the Core i5 (Ivy Bridge) generation, and is built on Intel's 22 nm process. The N97 is classified as a mobile part, while the i5-3550S is a desktop part.

Core counts are identical at 4 cores and 4 threads, but clock behavior differs. The N97 has a base clock of 2.00 GHz and a boost clock of 3.60 GHz. The i5-3550S has a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 3.70 GHz. The i5-3550S therefore has a higher base and boost clock on paper, yet it loses decisively in single-core benchmarks, which indicates that the Gracemont core has a substantially higher instructions-per-clock advantage that the clock speed gap cannot offset.

Cache hierarchies are also different. The N97 has 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of shared L2 cache, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The i5-3550S has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3. The N97 has a larger L1 allocation per core and a smaller L2, while the i5-3550S has a larger per-core L2. The L3 is identical at 6 MB shared. The i5-3550S is the only one of the two with recorded transistor and die size data: 1,400 million transistors and a 160 mm² die.

Memory support diverges sharply. The N97 supports DDR4 and DDR5 with a single-channel memory bus and a recorded bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The i5-3550S supports DDR3 with a dual-channel memory bus, but no bandwidth figure is recorded. Neither part supports ECC memory. PCIe support also differs: the N97 provides Gen 3 with 9 lanes (CPU only), while the i5-3550S provides Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The N97 has more PCIe lanes available for its platform, which matters for expansion options in mobile designs.

Integrated graphics differ as well. The N97 carries UHD Graphics 730, while the i5-3550S carries Intel HD 2500. Both are integrated solutions, but the N97's graphics are from a much newer family. The N97 is an active production part with a release date of January 3, 2023, while the i5-3550S has a release date of April 29, 2012, and no production status is recorded in the database.

The socket and physical interface are completely different. The N97 uses Intel BGA 1264, a soldered mobile socket, while the i5-3550S uses Intel Socket 1155, a desktop socket. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier. The N97 has the part number SRMLM, and the i5-3550S has the part number SR0P3. Neither part has a recorded launch MSRP in the database.

The Verdict

The recorded data supports a clear split recommendation based on workload and platform constraints. For single-threaded performance, the Intel Processor N97 is the unambiguous choice. It leads by 198.1% in Cinebench R15 single-core and by 81.2% in Cinebench R23 single-core. Any workload that depends heavily on per-thread responsiveness favors the N97 by a wide margin.

For multi-threaded rendering in modern benchmarks, the Intel Core i5-3550S has the edge. Its 23.5% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core (3808 versus 2913) shows that sustained all-core throughput under modern rendering loads favors the older desktop chip. If the primary use case is multi-threaded rendering with the Cinebench R23 engine, the i5-3550S is the better performer.

For platform-level considerations, the N97 offers modern memory support for DDR4 and DDR5, a 12-watt TDP, a 38.4 GB/s memory bandwidth, and an active production status with a 2023 release date. The i5-3550S is a 65-watt part with DDR3 support and a 2012 release date. The N97's power envelope is dramatically lower at 12 watts, and the i5-3550S's is 65 watts.

The percentile data places the two processors within one percentile of each other in overall distribution, with the N97 at the 32nd percentile and the i5-3550S at the 31st. The average benchmark scores are close, 1132 versus 1118, and the nearest rival lists show both parts sitting within a tight cluster of similar-scoring CPUs. The data does not support a claim that either chip is in a different performance class overall. Instead, the choice comes down to whether the workload is single-threaded or single-core dominated, in which case the N97 wins, or multi-threaded modern rendering, in which case the i5-3550S wins.

Specification Differences

The table below lists only the recorded fields where the two processors differ. Fields that match between the two, such as 4 cores, 4 threads, 6 MB of shared L3 cache, ECC memory set to false, Intel manufacturing, Gen 3 PCIe, and unlocked multiplier unlocked set to false, are not repeated here.

| Field | Intel Processor N97 | Intel Core i5-3550S |

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

| Base Clock | 2.00 GHz | 3.00 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.60 GHz | 3.70 GHz |

| TDP | 12 watts | 65 watts |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1264 | Intel Socket 1155 |

| Architecture | Gracemont | Ivy Bridge |

| Generation | Intel Processor (Alder Lake-N) | Core i5 (Ivy Bridge) |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 22 nm |

| Transistors | Not recorded | 1,400 million |

| Die Size | Not recorded | 160 mm² |

| L1 Cache (per core) | 96 KB per core | 64 KB per core |

| Memory Support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR3 |

| Memory Bus | Single-channel (38.4 GB/s) | Dual-channel (38.4 GB/s) |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 730 | Intel HD 2500 |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Production Status | Active | Not recorded |

| Release Date | 2023-01-01-2023 | 2012-04-28 |