Processor N100 vs i3-550

Primary details

Comparing Core i3-550 and Processor N100 processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking	2443	1782
Place by popularity	not in top-100	65
Cost-effectiveness evaluation	0.07	no data
Market segment	Desktop processor	Laptop
Series	no data	Intel Alder Lake-N
Power efficiency	1.31	37.08
Architecture codename	Clarkdale (2010−2011)	Alder Lake-N (2023)
Release date	30 May 2010 (14 years ago)	3 January 2023 (1 year ago)
Launch price (MSRP)	$101	$128

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

Detailed specifications

Core i3-550 and Processor N100 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	0.1 GHz
Boost clock speed	3.2 GHz	3.4 GHz
Bus rate	2.5 GT/s	no data
L1 cache	64 KB (per core)	96 KB (per core)
L2 cache	256 KB (per core)	2 MB (shared)
L3 cache	4 MB (shared)	6 MB (shared)
Chip lithography	32 nm	10 nm
Die size	81 mm2	no data
Maximum core temperature	73 °C	105 °C
Number of transistors	382 million	no data
64 bit support	+	+
Windows 11 compatibility	-	+

Compatibility

Information on Core i3-550 and Processor N100 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	Intel BGA 1264
Power consumption (TDP)	73 Watt	6 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i3-550 and Processor N100. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensions	Intel® SSE4.2	no data
AES-NI	-	+
FMA	-	+
AVX	-	+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)	+	+
Turbo Boost Technology	-	no data
Hyper-Threading Technology	+	no data
Idle States	+	no data
Demand Based Switching	-	no data
PAE	36 Bit	no data
FDI	+	no data

Security technologies

Core i3-550 and Processor N100 technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT	-	+
EDB	+	no data

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i3-550 and Processor N100 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 Processor N100. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory types	DDR3	DDR4, DDR5
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	Intel UHD Graphics 24EUs (Alder Lake-N)
Clear Video HD	+	no data

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i3-550 and Processor N100 integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported

2

no data

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i3-550 and Processor N100.

PCIe version	2.0	3.0
PCI Express lanes	16	9

Pros & cons summary

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Performance score	1.05	2.44
Recency	30 May 2010	3 January 2023
Physical cores	2	4
Chip lithography	32 nm	10 nm
Power consumption (TDP)	73 Watt	6 Watt

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Should you still have questions on choice between Core i3-550 and Processor N100, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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