Core 2 Quad Q9550s vs Core i3-550

Primary details

Comparing Core i3-550 and Core 2 Quad Q9550s processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking	2448	not rated
Place by popularity	not in top-100	not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation	0.11	no data
Market segment	Desktop processor	Desktop processor
Power efficiency	1.31	no data
Architecture codename	Clarkdale (2010−2011)	Yorkfield (2007−2009)
Release date	30 May 2010 (14 years ago)	27 January 2009 (15 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)	$101	no data

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

Detailed specifications

Core i3-550 and Core 2 Quad Q9550s basic parameters such as number of cores, number of threads, base frequency and turbo boost clock, lithography, cache size and multiplier lock state. These parameters indirectly say of CPU speed, though for more precise assessment you have to consider their test results.

Physical cores	2 (Dual-core)	4 (Quad-Core)
Threads	4	4
Base clock speed	3.2 GHz	2.83 GHz
Boost clock speed	3.2 GHz	0.83 GHz
Bus rate	2.5 GT/s	1333 MHz
L1 cache	64 KB (per core)	64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	256 KB (per core)	12 MB (shared)
L3 cache	4 MB (shared)	0 KB
Chip lithography	32 nm	45 nm
Die size	81 mm2	2x 107 mm2
Maximum core temperature	73 °C	no data
Maximum case temperature (TCase)	no data	76 °C
Number of transistors	382 million	820 million
64 bit support	+	+
Windows 11 compatibility	-	-
VID voltage range	no data	0.85V-1.3625V

Compatibility

Information on Core i3-550 and Core 2 Quad Q9550s compatibility with other computer components: motherboard (look for socket type), power supply unit (look for power consumption) etc. Useful when planning a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. Note that power consumption of some processors can well exceed their nominal TDP, even without overclocking. Some can even double their declared thermals given that the motherboard allows to tune the CPU power parameters.

Number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Socket	FCLGA1156	LGA775
Power consumption (TDP)	73 Watt	65 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i3-550 and Core 2 Quad Q9550s. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensions	Intel® SSE4.2	no data
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)	+	+
Turbo Boost Technology	-	-
Hyper-Threading Technology	+	-
Idle States	+	+
Thermal Monitoring	-	+
Demand Based Switching	-	-
PAE	36 Bit	no data
FDI	+	no data
FSB parity	no data	+

Security technologies

Core i3-550 and Core 2 Quad Q9550s technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT	-	+
EDB	+	+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i3-550 and Core 2 Quad Q9550s are enumerated here.

VT-d	no data	+
VT-x	+	+
EPT	+	no data

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i3-550 and Core 2 Quad Q9550s. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory types	DDR3	DDR1, DDR2, DDR3
Maximum memory size	16.38 GB	no data
Max memory channels	2	no data
Maximum memory bandwidth	21 GB/s	no data

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card	Intel HD Graphics for Previous Generation Intel Processors	On certain motherboards (Chipset feature)
Clear Video HD	+	no data

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i3-550 and Core 2 Quad Q9550s integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported

2

no data

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i3-550 and Core 2 Quad Q9550s.

PCIe version	2.0	2.0
PCI Express lanes	16	no data

Pros & cons summary

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Recency	30 May 2010	27 January 2009
Physical cores	2	4
Chip lithography	32 nm	45 nm
Power consumption (TDP)	73 Watt	65 Watt

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Should you still have questions on choice between Core i3-550 and Core 2 Quad Q9550s, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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