Intel Core i5-3550

The Intel Core i5-3550 is a desktop processor built on the Ivy Bridge architecture, released on April 28, 2012. It features four cores and four threads, with a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 3.70 GHz. The chip carries a launch MSRP of $194 and is currently listed as end-of-life. In the benchmark database, it holds an average score of 1173, which places it in the 33rd percentile of all CPUs tracked.

Benchmark Performance

The i5-3550 produces a consistent set of scores across the Cinebench suite. In Cinebench R15, it scores 408 points in the multi-core test and 57 points in the single-core test. The R20 version yields 1704 points multi-core and 240 points single-core. The R23 test shows a multi-core score of 4058 and a single-core score of 573. These results combine to an average benchmark score of 1173. The average benchmark score of 1173 is the central reference point for this chip. This score is derived from the aggregate of the Cinebench tests. The 33rd percentile ranking means that a majority of the CPUs in the database score higher, placing the i5-3550 firmly in the entry-level to mid-range tier of the historical record. The R15 multi-core score of 408 points places it in a specific bracket. The R20 and R23 scores scale accordingly. The consistency of the single-core scores, 57, 240, and 573, shows a stable IPC profile across different test versions.

The 33rd percentile ranking indicates that a majority of the database outperforms this processor. However, the nearest rival data shows an extremely tight performance cluster. The Intel Celeron N5105 posts an average score of 1174, placing the i5-3550 0.1% behind. The Intel Core i5-4440 scores 1176, putting the i5-3550 0.3% behind. Conversely, the i5-3550 is 0.3% faster than the Intel Core i7-2960XM, which scores 1170, and 0.4% faster than the AMD Opteron 6220, which scores 1168. The deltas are all within a small fraction of a percent, indicating that the i5-3550 is statistically equivalent to these competing parts in aggregate performance.

Power and Thermals

The processor is rated for a TDP of 77 watts. This is a moderate power envelope for a desktop CPU. The underlying 22 nm process node integrates 1,400 million transistors on a 160 mm² die, which helps manage thermal density. A standard capable air cooler is sufficient to handle the 77 W thermal output. The multiplier is locked, meaning the operating frequency is fixed to the base clock of 3.30 GHz and the boost clock of 3.70 GHz. This locked design prevents voltage and frequency tuning, ensuring that thermal and power characteristics remain strictly within the stock 77 W specification. The data implies a cooling tier that does not require exotic liquid solutions, but rather a mainstream air cooler. The 160 mm² die size is a direct result of the 22 nm process. This relatively compact die, combined with the 1,400 million transistors, allows for a 77 W TDP. The thermal interface and cooling requirements are therefore modest, aligning with the locked multiplier to prevent users from exceeding the designed power envelope. The 77 W TDP is a critical specification for system integrators. It implies that a modest tower cooler or a high-quality low-profile cooler can manage the thermal output. The 22 nm process node contributes to this manageable power draw. Since the multiplier is locked, users cannot easily overclock to push thermals higher, meaning the cooling requirement is strictly defined by the stock 77 W envelope.

Single-Thread vs Multi-Thread Behavior

The benchmark data reveals a clear split between single-threaded and multi-threaded performance. The Cinebench R23 single-core score of 573 is significantly lower than the multi-core score of 4058. This is expected given the four physical cores. Since the processor has four cores and four threads, it does not support simultaneous multithreading. Multi-threaded workloads are therefore limited to four concurrent threads. In contrast, the boost clock of 3.70 GHz is available for single-threaded tasks, providing a higher frequency than the base clock of 3.30 GHz. Applications that rely on a single thread, such as older games or legacy productivity software, will benefit from the 3.70 GHz boost. Rendering and encoding tasks will utilize all four cores, but the lack of hyper-threading prevents the processor from fully saturating more than four cores, resulting in lower throughput compared to processors with a higher thread count. The single-core R15 score of 57 and R20 score of 240 are relatively low compared to modern parts, but they are competitive within its generation. The multi-core scaling from R15 to R23 shows a consistent linear progression as the test load increases. The 4-thread limit is the primary bottleneck for modern multi-threaded applications, which often scale beyond four threads. For users running lightly threaded legacy software, the 3.70 GHz boost clock ensures responsive performance. The boost clock of 3.70 GHz is the maximum single-core frequency. The base clock of 3.30 GHz represents the all-core sustained frequency. In workloads that utilize all four cores, the processor will operate closer to the base clock, while lightly threaded tasks can reach the boost clock. This dynamic frequency scaling is a standard feature of the Ivy Bridge architecture. The multi-core R15 score of 408 compared to the single-core score of 57 shows a scaling factor that reflects the four physical cores. The R20 and R23 tests maintain a similar ratio, confirming that the 4-thread design is the primary constraint on parallel performance.

Platform and Compatibility

The Intel Core i5-3550 is designed for the Intel Socket 1155 platform. It supports dual-channel DDR3 memory, with a maximum memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s. ECC memory is not supported. The CPU provides 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes for discrete graphics and expansion. Integrated graphics are handled by the Intel HD 2500 unit. The processor is part of the Ivy Bridge architecture, with a part number of SR0P0. Since its release on April 28, 2012, the platform has reached end-of-life status, meaning new motherboards and processors for this socket are no longer manufactured. The cache hierarchy includes 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. This memory configuration defines the platform's data throughput capabilities and upgrade path, which is limited to other LGA 1155 parts that are also out of production. The dual-channel DDR3 memory bus provides a theoretical bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s. This is a limiting factor for memory-intensive applications, but it is typical for the platform. The lack of ECC memory support further defines the target market as consumer desktop systems rather than servers or workstations. The upgrade path for the Intel Socket 1155 platform is limited to other processors within the same socket generation. Since the platform is end-of-life, users are often forced to consider a full platform change for any meaningful performance increase. The 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes are sufficient for a single modern graphics card, but the platform's age limits support for newer technologies.

How It Compares

Against the Intel Celeron N5105, the i5-3550 is effectively tied, sitting 0.1% behind in average score (1173 vs 1174). This is notable because the N5105 is a much newer low-power design, yet the older Ivy Bridge part holds its own in this aggregate metric. The delta of 0.1% is so small that real-world performance differences would be imperceptible in most applications.

The Intel Core i5-4440 leads the i5-3550 by 0.3% in average score (1176 vs 1173). This marginal advantage indicates that the i5-4440's architecture provides a slight edge in the benchmark suite, but the i5-3550 remains a close competitor. The 0.3% gap is similarly negligible, suggesting that users upgrading between these two parts would see no meaningful change in average performance.

The i5-3550 outperforms the Intel Core i7-2960XM by 0.3% (1173 vs 1170). The i7-2960XM is a mobile Extreme Edition processor, and the desktop i5-3550's newer architecture and desktop power delivery contribute to this lead. The 0.3% lead over the i7-2960XM is a point of interest, as it demonstrates that the desktop i5-3550 can match or exceed a mobile flagship from the same era.

The AMD Opteron 6220 trails the i5-3550 by 0.4% (1168 vs 1173). The Opteron is a server-oriented part, and the i5-3550's desktop design proves more efficient in this benchmark comparison, securing a 0.4% advantage. Finally, the 0.4% advantage over the Opteron 6220 highlights the efficiency of the desktop architecture in general-purpose tasks. In summary, the i5-3550 sits in a dense performance cluster. Its nearest rivals are all within a 0.4% delta, making the choice between them largely dependent on platform availability rather than raw performance. The data shows a processor that was competitive at its release and remains functional for basic tasks today.