CPU Comparison

The Intel Core i7-950 and Intel Core i7-5500U represent two vastly different eras and design philosophies from Intel, yet their benchmark scores land them in nearly the same performance tier. The data shows a clear pattern: the older desktop part wins every single head-to-head benchmark, but by margins that are surprisingly narrow given the generational gap. The i7-950 takes the Cinebench R15 multicore test with a score of 280 against the i7-5500U’s 240, a 16.7% advantage. That edge carries through the entire suite, with the i7-950 posting 16.7% higher scores in Cinebench R20 multicore (1167 vs 1000) and a 16.8% lead in Cinebench R23 multicore (2780 vs 2381). The single-core results tell the same story, with the i7-950 winning Cinebench R20 single-core by 16.3% (164 vs 141) and Cinebench R23 single-core by 16.7% (392 vs 336). The i7-950 wins all five recorded head-to-head matchups, yet the i7-5500U is never far behind, making this a closer contest than the six-year release gap would suggest.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking finding is the consistency of the i7-950’s victory across every workload. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i7-950 scores 280, which is 16.7% higher than the i7-5500U’s 240. That same 16.7% delta appears in Cinebench R20 multicore, where the i7-950 hits 1167 versus 1000. The pattern holds in Cinebench R23 multicore, with the i7-950 at 2780 and the i7-5500U at 2381, a 16.8% gap. These are not marginal wins; they are consistent, repeatable advantages that indicate the i7-950’s eight threads provide a real throughput edge over the i7-5500U’s four threads.

Single-core performance is where the i7-5500U’s newer architecture should theoretically shine, but the data does not support that. The i7-950 posts a Cinebench R20 single-core score of 164, beating the i7-5500U’s 141 by 16.3%. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the i7-950 scores 392 against 336, a 16.7% lead. This is a significant result. The i7-5500U, built on a 14 nm process with a higher IPC per clock, cannot overcome the raw clock speed advantage of the i7-950, which runs at 3.07 GHz base and 3.33 GHz boost compared to the i7-5500U’s 2.40 GHz base and 3.00 GHz boost. The benchmark results indicate that clock speed, not architecture generation, is the dominant factor in these single-threaded tests.

Looking at the broader context, the i7-950’s average benchmark score is 957, placing it in the 26th percentile of all CPUs. The i7-5500U’s average score is 953, which lands it in the 25th percentile. That is a razor-thin 0.4% difference in average score, despite the i7-950 winning every individual test. The nearest rivals for the i7-950 include the AMD Opteron 4386 (matching 957), the AMD Athlon X4 870K (956, 0.1% slower), and the Intel Xeon W3550 (956, 0.1% slower). The i7-5500U’s nearest rivals are the Intel Xeon W3570 (955, 0.2% faster), the Intel Celeron N5105 (955, 0.2% faster), and the AMD A10-9700E (951, 0.3% slower). These figures place both chips in the same performance neighborhood, with the i7-950 holding a slim but consistent edge.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two processors is enormous. The i7-950 is a desktop-class Nehalem part, codenamed Bloomfield, built on a 45 nm process at Intel’s foundry. It packs 731 million transistors into a 263 mm² die. The i7-5500U is a mobile Broadwell chip, codenamed Broadwell-U, fabricated on a 14 nm process. It contains 1,300 million transistors in a much smaller 82 mm² die. The process node shrink from 45 nm to 14 nm allowed Intel to nearly double the transistor count while reducing the die area by over two-thirds. This is the defining difference between the two: the i7-950 uses raw power and die area to achieve performance, while the i7-5500U uses density and efficiency.

Core counts differ substantially. The i7-950 has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the i7-5500U has 2 cores and 4 threads. The i7-950’s extra cores and threads are the primary reason it wins multicore benchmarks, despite its older architecture. Cache configurations also diverge. Both share 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, but the L3 cache is where they split: the i7-950 has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i7-5500U has only 4 MB. The i7-950’s larger L3 cache helps feed its four cores, while the i7-5500U’s smaller cache is sufficient for its dual-core design.

Memory support is another differentiator. Both support DDR3, but the i7-950 uses a triple-channel memory bus, while the i7-5500U uses dual-channel. The i7-5500U’s memory bandwidth is explicitly listed at 25.6 GB/s; the i7-950’s bandwidth is not provided, but the triple-channel configuration implies a wider path to memory. Neither chip supports ECC memory. The i7-950 uses PCIe Gen 2, while the i7-5500U also uses PCIe Gen 2 but with a reduced 12 lanes (CPU only). The i7-5500U includes integrated graphics in the form of Intel HD 5500, whereas the i7-950 has no integrated graphics at all. This is a critical feature difference for system builders, as the i7-950 requires a discrete GPU, while the i7-5500U can operate in a fanless or low-power system with just its iGPU.

Where Each One Wins

The i7-950 wins every benchmark in the comparison, but that does not mean it is the better choice in all scenarios. Its strengths lie in multicore throughput. The Cinebench R23 multicore score of 2780 versus 2381 shows an 16.8% advantage that comes directly from having twice as many cores and threads. For anyone running heavily threaded workloads, video encoding, 3D rendering, or compiling, the i7-950 will complete tasks faster. The single-core wins are also real, with the i7-950 leading by 16.3% in Cinebench R20 single-core (164 vs 141) and 16.7% in Cinebench R23 single-core (392 vs 336). This means even in lightly threaded applications, the i7-950 is quicker due to its higher clock speeds.

The i7-5500U, despite losing all head-to-head tests, has its own domain. Its 15 W TDP versus the i7-950’s 130 W TDP is a staggering difference. The i7-5500U is designed for mobile and low-power systems where thermal output and battery life matter more than raw performance. Its integrated Intel HD 5500 graphics eliminate the need for a separate GPU, making it suitable for compact laptops and mini-PCs. The i7-950, with its 130 W TDP and no integrated graphics, demands a robust cooling solution and a discrete graphics card, confining it to desktop towers with adequate power delivery. The i7-5500U also supports 25.6 GB/s of memory bandwidth, which is sufficient for its dual-channel setup, while the i7-950’s triple-channel configuration is a legacy feature that modern software rarely exploits fully.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has higher multicore performance?

A: The Intel Core i7-950 wins all multicore benchmarks. It scores 280 in Cinebench R15, 1167 in R20, and 2780 in R23, versus the i7-5500U’s 240, 1000, and 2381 respectively. That is a consistent 16.7-16.8% advantage.

Q: Is the i7-5500U more efficient?

A: Yes. The i7-5500U has a TDP of 15 W, while the i7-950 has a TDP of 130 W. The i7-5500U also uses a 14 nm process versus 45 nm, and its die size is 82 mm² compared to 263 mm².

Q: Do these CPUs have integrated graphics?

A: The i7-5500U includes Intel HD 5500 integrated graphics. The i7-950 has no integrated graphics, so it requires a discrete GPU for display output.

Q: What is the memory configuration difference?

A: The i7-950 supports triple-channel DDR3, while the i7-5500U supports dual-channel DDR3. The i7-5500U’s memory bandwidth is listed at 25.6 GB/s; the i7-950’s bandwidth is not provided in the data.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The i7-950 has an average benchmark score of 957, placing it in the 26th percentile. The i7-5500U has an average score of 953, placing it in the 25th percentile. That is a 0.4% difference.

Q: Which CPU has more cache?

A: The i7-950 has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i7-5500U has 4 MB. Both have 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i7-950 outperforms the Intel Core i7-5500U in every measured benchmark. It wins all five head-to-head tests, with deltas ranging from 16.3% to 16.8%. Its average benchmark score of 957 is higher than the i7-5500U’s 953, and its 26th percentile ranking edges out the i7-5500U’s 25th. If you are choosing purely on processing power, the i7-950 is the stronger part. However, the i7-5500U’s 15 W TDP, integrated graphics, and 14 nm process make it the only viable choice for mobile or low-power systems. The i7-950’s 130 W TDP and lack of an iGPU render it impractical for anything but a desktop with dedicated cooling and a discrete graphics card. The i7-5500U is the better fit for a laptop or a silent mini-PC, while the i7-950 is the better fit for a stationary workstation that prioritizes throughput over efficiency. Neither chip is modern, both are end-of-life, but the i7-950 offers more performance per benchmark point, while the i7-5500U offers more performance per watt. For a builder with an existing LGA 1366 motherboard and a capable power supply, the i7-950 is the sensible upgrade. For someone assembling a compact, low-power system, the i7-5500U is the only logical option.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-950 | Intel Core i7-5500U |

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

| Cores | 4 | 2 |

| Threads | 8 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 3.07 GHz | 2.40 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.33 GHz | 3.00 GHz |

| TDP | 130 W | 15 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1366 | Intel BGA 1168 |

| Architecture | Nehalem | Broadwell |

| Codename | Bloomfield | Broadwell-U |

| Process Node | 45 nm | 14 nm |

| Transistors | 731 million | 1,300 million |

| Die Size | 263 mm² | 82 mm² |

| L3 Cache | 8 MB (shared) | 4 MB (shared) |

| Memory Bus | Triple-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not provided | 25.6 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 2 | Gen 2, 12 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | None | Intel HD 5500 |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Release Date | 2009-06-01 | 2015-02-28 |

| Launch MSRP | Not provided | $393 |

| Part Number | SLBEN | SR23W |