Intel Atom N550

The Intel Atom N550 is a 2-core, 4-thread mobile processor built on the Pineview architecture using Intel's 45nm process. It runs at a fixed 1500 MHz base clock with no boost capability, carries a 9W TDP, and was released on 2010-08-22. The part is end-of-life and targets the mobile segment, with integrated graphics available on certain motherboards as a chipset feature.

Benchmark Performance

The FACT PACK reports an average benchmark score of 0 and an empty benchmarks array. No measured results are present in the database. The only performance-related positional metric is percentileVsAllCpus, which is 50. This places the N550 exactly at the median of all CPUs tracked in the database — half of all ranked processors sit below it and half above it. However, because the aggregate score is 0, this percentile is a positional artifact of the dataset rather than a reflection of computed performance.

The nearestRivals array is empty, so there are no direct comparison scores, and no percentage deltas can be calculated. The absence of rival data means the N550 cannot be positioned against specific competing parts using benchmark deltas. The only quantifiable performance indicators are the fixed 1500 MHz base clock, the 2-core/4-thread configuration, and the cache hierarchy of 64 KB L1 and 512 KB L2 per core. With no boost clock listed, the processor operates at a single frequency point; sustained workload performance is bounded by that 1500 MHz figure.

The 50th percentile rank is notable in that it is the midpoint of the distribution, yet the zero score suggests the database has not recorded any benchmark submissions for this part. In practical terms, the data indicates that the N550's performance cannot be validated against measured workloads. The 2 cores and 4 threads imply simultaneous multi-threading, but the low base clock and lack of a boost state cap the throughput potential. The 176 million transistors on an 87 mm² die at 45nm provide the physical context for the design, but the benchmark section contains no derived scores to interpret.

Power and Thermals

The N550 is rated at a 9W TDP. This is the single most important thermal figure in the FACT PACK. A 9W envelope is low for a processor, which implies that a modest cooling solution — such as a small heatsink or a low-profile fan — is sufficient to maintain operation. The mobile segment designation reinforces this: the chip is designed for systems where power draw and heat dissipation are constrained.

The 45nm process node, produced by Intel as the foundry, is the manufacturing technology behind the 176 million transistors and 87 mm² die size. The combination of a 45nm process and a 9W TDP indicates a design prioritizing efficiency over peak performance. The base clock of 1500 MHz is the only frequency listed; there is no boost clock, so the processor does not have a higher thermal state to manage. Thermal behavior is therefore predictable: a fixed 1500 MHz load at 9W TDP.

The integrated graphics are listed as "On certain motherboards (Chipset feature)". This means the graphics capability is not a fixed part of the processor package but depends on the motherboard chipset. For thermal purposes, the graphics processing would draw from the same overall platform power budget, but the FACT PACK does not provide a separate graphics TDP figure. The 9W TDP is the processor-only rating. The end-of-life production status does not alter the thermal characteristics, but it does mean the chip is no longer in active production.

How It Compares

The nearestRivals field is empty in the FACT PACK. Consequently, there are no rival processors with scores or deltaPct values to compare against. The only relative metric available is the 50th percentile ranking across all CPUs in the database. This percentile places the N550 at the median of the full CPU distribution. Without rival entries, it is not possible to state that the N550 is "30% ahead" or "20% behind" any specific competitor. The comparison section is therefore limited to the positional data: the chip sits at the 50th percentile, which is the exact middle of the database's CPU rankings.

The absence of rivals also means the N550's performance class cannot be triangulated. In a typical benchmark database, a 2-core/4-thread processor at 1500 MHz with a 9W TDP would occupy a specific tier relative to other low-power mobile parts. However, the FACT PACK provides no such reference points. The only concrete comparison is the percentile itself: 50. This indicates that, in the database's ordering, the N550 is neither in the lower nor upper half of all CPUs — it is precisely at the midpoint. The 0 average benchmark score, however, complicates this picture, as a score of 0 would normally place a part at the bottom of any measured ranking. The database appears to assign the percentile based on the distribution of listed parts rather than on measured results.

Given the lack of nearestRivals data, any statement about competitive positioning would be speculative. The FACT PACK simply does not include the necessary comparison set. The N550's position is best described as "median in the database, with no measured benchmark score and no listed rivals." This is the complete comparative picture the data supports.

Who Should Consider It

The N550 is a mobile-segment processor with 2 cores and 4 threads at a fixed 1500 MHz base clock. The 9W TDP and the integrated graphics available on certain motherboards position it as a low-power part. Based on the specification profile, the N550 is suited to workloads that do not require high clock speeds or large core counts. The 64 KB L1 and 512 KB L2 per core are the available cache resources; there is no L3 cache. Memory support is limited to DDR2 and DDR3, with no ECC support and no listed memory bus width or bandwidth.

For office-style tasks such as document editing, spreadsheet work, and web browsing, the 2-core/4-thread configuration at 1500 MHz provides a baseline level of parallelism. The 4 threads allow the operating system to schedule multiple lightweight processes, but the low clock speed constrains single-threaded responsiveness. The absence of a boost clock means there is no headroom for transient performance spikes.

For content creation or gaming workloads, the data provides no benchmark scores to support a recommendation. The integrated graphics are a chipset feature rather than a dedicated GPU, and the FACT PACK lists no graphics performance metrics. The 9W TDP and 45nm process suggest the design target was efficiency, not high-throughput computation. Users with workloads that are heavily single-threaded or that require sustained high frequency would find the fixed 1500 MHz limiting.

The 50th percentile rank in the database, despite the zero score, indicates that the part is not an outlier in the dataset's distribution. However, with no measured benchmarks, any workload-based recommendation must be grounded in the specifications: 2 cores, 4 threads, 1500 MHz, 9W TDP, DDR2/DDR3 memory, and no ECC. The chip is end-of-life, so new system designs would need to consider availability. The mobile segment designation and the low TDP make it a candidate for compact, low-power systems where battery life or heat dissipation is prioritized over performance.

FAQ

Q: What is the base clock speed of the Intel Atom N550?

A: The base clock is 1500.00 MHz. There is no boost clock listed in the FACT PACK.

Q: How many cores and threads does the N550 have?

A: The N550 has 2 cores and 4 threads, indicating support for simultaneous multi-threading.

Q: What is the TDP of the N550?

A: The thermal design power is 9W, which is a low figure for a processor.

Q: Does the N550 support ECC memory?

A: No, the FACT PACK lists eCCMemory as false. The supported memory types are DDR2 and DDR3.

Q: What socket does the N550 use?

A: The socket is Intel BGA 559.

Q: When was the N550 released and what is its production status?

A: The release date is 2010-08-22 and the production status is end-of-life.

Q: Does the N550 have integrated graphics?

A: Integrated graphics are available "On certain motherboards (Chipset feature)", meaning the graphics capability depends on the motherboard chipset rather than being a fixed processor component.