i5-3330 vs i5-3550

#ad 
Buy on Amazon
VS

Aggregate performance score

Core i5-3550
2012
4 cores / 4 threads, 77 Watt
3.02
+17.1%
Core i5-3330
2012
4 cores / 4 threads, 77 Watt
2.58

Core i5-3550 outperforms Core i5-3330 by a moderate 17% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i5-3550 and Core i5-3330 processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking16421740
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation0.560.23
Market segmentDesktop processorDesktop processor
SeriesIntel Core i5 (Desktop)no data
Power efficiency3.713.17
Architecture codenameIvy Bridge (2012−2013)Ivy Bridge (2012−2013)
Release date29 April 2012 (12 years ago)3 September 2012 (12 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$205$360

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

i5-3550 has 143% better value for money than i5-3330.

Detailed specifications

Core i5-3550 and Core i5-3330 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 cores4 (Quad-Core)4 (Quad-Core)
Threads44
Base clock speed3.3 GHz3 GHz
Boost clock speed3.7 GHz3.2 GHz
Bus rate5 GT/s5 GT/s
L1 cache64 KB (per core)64 KB (per core)
L2 cache256K (per core)256 KB (per core)
L3 cache6 MB (shared)6 MB (shared)
Chip lithography22 nm22 nm
Die size160 mm2133 mm2
Maximum core temperature67 °Cno data
Maximum case temperature (TCase)67 °C67 °C
Number of transistors1,400 millionno data
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility--

Compatibility

Information on Core i5-3550 and Core i5-3330 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 configuration11
SocketFCLGA1155FCLGA1155
Power consumption (TDP)77 Watt77 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i5-3550 and Core i5-3330. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVXIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX
AES-NI++
AVX++
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
My WiFino data+
Turbo Boost Technology2.02.0
Hyper-Threading Technology--
Idle States++
Thermal Monitoring++
FDI++

Security technologies

Core i5-3550 and Core i5-3330 technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT+-
EDB++
Secure Key++
Identity Protection++
Anti-Theft++

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i5-3550 and Core i5-3330 are enumerated here.

VT-d++
VT-x++
EPT++

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i5-3550 and Core i5-3330. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR3DDR3
Maximum memory size32 GB32 GB
Max memory channels22
Maximum memory bandwidth25.6 GB/s25.6 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardIntel HD Graphics 2500Intel HD Graphics 2500
Quick Sync Video++
Clear Video HD++
Graphics max frequency1.15 GHz1.05 GHz
InTru 3D++

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i5-3550 and Core i5-3330 integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported33

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i5-3550 and Core i5-3330.

PCIe version3.03.0

Synthetic benchmark performance

Various benchmark results of the processors in comparison. Overall score is measured in points in 0-100 range, higher is better.


Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark performance rating. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

i5-3550 3.02
+17.1%
i5-3330 2.58

Passmark

Passmark CPU Mark is a widespread benchmark, consisting of 8 different types of workload, including integer and floating point math, extended instructions, compression, encryption and physics calculation. There is also one separate single-threaded scenario measuring single-core performance.

i5-3550 4800
+17.1%
i5-3330 4100

GeekBench 5 Single-Core

GeekBench 5 Single-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses only a single CPU core.

i5-3550 642
+14.8%
i5-3330 559

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses all available CPU cores.

i5-3550 1910
+15.5%
i5-3330 1654

3DMark Fire Strike Physics

i5-3550 5870
+11.6%
i5-3330 5260

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 3.02 2.58
Recency 29 April 2012 3 September 2012

i5-3550 has a 17.1% higher aggregate performance score.

i5-3330, on the other hand, has an age advantage of 4 months.

The Core i5-3550 is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i5-3330 in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i5-3550 and Core i5-3330, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

Vote for your favorite

Do you think we are right or mistaken in our choice? Vote by clicking "Like" button near your favorite CPU.


Intel Core i5-3550
Core i5-3550
Intel Core i5-3330
Core i5-3330

Similar processor comparisons

We picked several similar comparisons of processors in the same market segment and performance relatively close to those reviewed on this page.

Community ratings

Here you can see how users rate the processors, as well as rate them yourself.


3.8 645 votes

Rate Core i5-3550 on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
3.7 1222 votes

Rate Core i5-3330 on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

Questions & comments

Here you can ask a question about Core i5-3550 or Core i5-3330, agree or disagree with our judgements, or report an error or mismatch.