Intel Core i5-3550S vs Intel Xeon E5-2609 v3 Comparison

The Intel Core i5-3550S and Intel Xeon E5-2609 v3 are two very different processors from different eras and market segments, yet their benchmark scores place them in a surprisingly close contest. The data shows a desktop-oriented quad-core from 2012 squaring off against a server/workstation hexa-core from 2014, with the Xeon taking the majority of wins but by margins so thin they fall within typical run-to-run variance.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results show a near-total sweep for the Intel Xeon E5-2609 v3, though the margins are remarkably small. In the Cinebench R15 multicore test, the Xeon scores 386 against the i5-3550S's 383, a delta of -0.8% — technically a win for the Xeon but a difference of only three points. The single-core R15 result is a perfect tie at 54 points each, with the delta recorded as 0% and the win attributed to the i5-3550S.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the pattern repeats. The Xeon takes the multicore test with 1611 points versus 1599, a 0.7% lead. In single-core, the Xeon wins again at 227 points against 225, a 0.9% margin — the largest delta in the entire comparison. The Cinebench R23 results mirror the R20 outcome: the Xeon leads in multicore with 3836 over 3808 (0.7%) and in single-core with 541 over 537 (0.7%).

The aggregate picture is clear: the Xeon E5-2609 v3 wins five of six head-to-head tests, but no single victory exceeds 1%. The i5-3550S's only recorded win is the R15 single-core tie, which the data attributes to the lower-numbered competitor. In practice, these deltas are so small that the two CPUs are effectively interchangeable in raw Cinebench throughput. The average benchmark scores reinforce this: the i5-3550S averages 1118 across its benchmark suite, while the Xeon averages 1109 — a gap of less than 1% in favor of the older chip. Both sit at the 31st percentile of all CPUs, and their nearest rivals are clustered within a two-point range. The i5-3550S's closest competitor is the AMD Ryzen 3 1200 at 1116 (0.2% delta), while the Xeon's is the Intel Core i5-4570T at 1108 (0.1% delta). Neither chip has a meaningful performance advantage over the other in synthetic workloads.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two parts is substantial, even if the benchmark scores are not. The i5-3550S is built on the Ivy Bridge architecture using a 22 nm process, packing 1,400 million transistors into a 160 mm² die. The Xeon E5-2609 v3 uses Haswell-EP, also on a 22 nm node, but with a much larger 356 mm² die containing 2,600 million transistors. That nearly doubled transistor count and die area buy the Xeon two additional cores: six cores and six threads versus four cores and four threads on the i5.

The core count advantage does not translate into a clock speed advantage. The i5-3550S runs at a 3.00 GHz base clock with a 3.70 GHz boost clock, while the Xeon has a 1900.00 MHz base clock and no boost capability at all. This is a fundamental design difference: the desktop chip relies on high clocks and a single-threaded-friendly architecture, while the server chip offers more physical cores at a lower frequency. The lack of boost on the Xeon means its six cores are locked to that 1900.00 MHz operating point, which explains why its multicore scores barely exceed the i5's despite having 50% more cores.

Cache and memory configurations also diverge sharply. Both share 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, but the L3 cache differs dramatically: the i5 has 6 MB shared, while the Xeon has 15 MB shared. The Xeon also supports DDR4 memory over a quad-channel bus with a rated bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, whereas the i5 is limited to DDR3 on a dual-channel bus with no bandwidth figure listed. ECC memory support is exclusive to the Xeon, reflecting its server/workstation positioning. The Xeon also offers 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes compared to the i5's 16 lanes, and it does not include integrated graphics — the i5 ships with Intel HD 2500.

The platform sockets are incompatible: the i5 uses Intel Socket 1155, the Xeon uses Intel Socket 2011-3. The Xeon's production status is listed as end-of-life, while the i5's status is not specified. Both have locked multipliers, so neither supports overclocking.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-2609 v3 has six cores and six threads, while the Intel Core i5-3550S has four cores and four threads.

Q: Does the Xeon's core advantage show up in benchmark scores?

A: Minimally. The Xeon wins the Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multicore tests, but by margins of only 0.7-0.8%. The i5-3550S actually has a slightly higher average benchmark score at 1118 versus the Xeon's 1109.

Q: Which chip has a higher clock speed?

A: The i5-3550S has a 3.00 GHz base clock and a 3.70 GHz boost clock. The Xeon E5-2609 v3 has a 1900.00 MHz base clock and no boost clock listed.

Q: What memory types do the two processors support?

A: The i5-3550S supports DDR3 on a dual-channel bus. The Xeon E5-2609 v3 supports DDR4 on a quad-channel bus with a stated bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s.

Q: Does either processor support ECC memory?

A: Only the Xeon E5-2609 v3 supports ECC memory. The i5-3550S does not.

Q: What are the socket requirements for each?

A: The i5-3550S uses Intel Socket 1155, while the Xeon E5-2609 v3 uses Intel Socket 2011-3. They are not interchangeable.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear but counterintuitive picture. The Xeon E5-2609 v3 wins five of six head-to-head benchmarks, but its largest victory is just 0.9%, and its overall average benchmark score is actually lower than the i5-3550S's. The Xeon's extra two cores and 15 MB of L3 cache are offset by its dramatically lower 1900.00 MHz clock speed and lack of boost. For single-threaded workloads, the i5-3550S is effectively tied with the Xeon in R15, and only 0.7-0.9% behind in R20 and R23 — a negligible gap. For multicore workloads, the Xeon's 0.7-0.8% lead is similarly inconsequential in practical terms.

Who should pick which depends on platform requirements rather than raw performance. The i5-3550S is a desktop part with integrated graphics, DDR3 support, and a 65 W TDP, suited for a mainstream Socket 1155 build. The Xeon E5-2609 v3 is a server/workstation part with ECC memory, quad-channel DDR4 at 51.2 GB/s, 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes, and an 85 W TDP, aimed at a Socket 2011-3 platform. The Xeon's launch MSRP was $306. Neither chip offers a meaningful performance advantage over the other in the tested Cinebench workloads, so the decision rests on memory support, ECC needs, PCIe lane count, and platform availability. The benchmark data does not favor one as a performance pick; it favors the one that fits the intended system.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-3550S | Intel Xeon E5-2609 v3 |

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

| Cores | 4 | 6 |

| Threads | 4 | 6 |

| Base Clock | 3.00 GHz | 1900.00 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.70 GHz | None |

| TDP | 65 W | 85 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1155 | Intel Socket 2011-3 |

| Architecture | Ivy Bridge | Haswell |

| Codename | Ivy Bridge | Haswell-EP |

| Generation | Core i5 (Ivy Bridge) | Xeon E5 (Haswell-EP) |

| Transistors | 1,400 million | 2,600 million |

| Die Size | 160 mm² | 356 mm² |

| L3 Cache | 6 MB (shared) | 15 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR3 | DDR4 |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Quad-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not listed | 51.2 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 3, 40 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 2500 | None |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Server/Workstation |

| Production Status | Not listed | End-of-life |

| Release Date | 2012-04-28 | 2014-09-07 |

| Launch MSRP | Not listed | $306 |

| Part Number | SR0P3 | SR1YC |