CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-3550S vs Intel Core i5-3550
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i5-3550S is a 65W quad-core Ivy Bridge desktop processor with a 3.0 GHz base clock and 3.7 GHz turbo, offering slightly higher clocks than the i5-3470S for power-efficient desktop systems.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
The 3.7 GHz turbo provides marginally better performance than the i5-3470S, but the difference is barely noticeable in real-world use.
Handles basic office apps, but struggles with heavy multitasking.
Gaming
The slightly higher clocks provide a marginal improvement over the i5-3470S but the same fundamental limitations apply — four threads without HT bottleneck modern gaming.
Can run older games fine, but lacks single-thread speed for modern AAA titles.
Virtualization
Same four-core, four-thread design limits virtualization capability as other S-series i5 processors.
Limited by 4 threads, but VT-x/VT-d support allows basic VM usage.
Efficiency
The 65W TDP with slightly higher clocks is well-optimized for the 22nm process, though modern chips deliver far more performance per watt.
Good efficiency for 2012, but outdated by modern 14nm/10nm standards.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No AI acceleration hardware
- Not applicable for this processor generation
- Insufficient compute for AI workloads
- No AI hardware
- Unsuitable for modern AI workloads
Content Creation
Gaming
- 3.7 GHz turbo is the highest among 65W Ivy Bridge i5 models
- Still limited by four threads without Hyper-Threading
- HD 2500 graphics insufficient for gaming
- Modern titles will be CPU-bottlenecked even with a discrete GPU
- Requires a dedicated GPU
- Single-core performance is too low for modern games
- PCIe 3.0 support is a plus for compatibility
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- Highest turbo (3.7 GHz) among 65W Ivy Bridge i5 models
- 100 MHz higher base and turbo than i5-3470S
- 65W TDP for cooler operation
- Full 6MB L3 cache
- PCIe 3.0 support
Cons
- Only marginally faster than i5-3470S
- No Hyper-Threading limits multi-threaded performance
- HD 2500 integrated graphics are weak
- End-of-life LGA 1155 platform
- No Windows 11 support
- DDR3 memory is obsolete
Pros
- True 4 physical cores
- Supports PCIe 3.0
- Low price on used market
- Good for legacy system repairs
Cons
- Obsolete 22nm process
- Locked multiplier
- Weak HD 2500 integrated graphics
- Uses DDR3 memory
Competitors & Alternatives
Intel Core i5-3550S
- AMD FX-6300Rival
Desktop Mainstream
- AMD A10-5700Rival
Desktop Low Power
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-3470SRival
Desktop Low Power
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-3570Rival
Desktop Mainstream
- AMD A8-5500Rival
Desktop Budget
Haswell successor with AVX2, better IPC, and the same 65W TDP.
Compare head-to-headModern 6-core, 65W processor with dramatically better performance.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 5600GEAlt
Efficient 6-core, 12-thread modern processor for SFF builds.
Modern low-power 4-thread processor with vastly superior IPC.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 3 4300GEAlt
Budget quad-core with modern Vega integrated graphics and DDR4.
Intel Core i5-3550
- AMD FX-4300Rival
Desktop
- AMD FX-6100Rival
Desktop
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-3570Rival
Desktop
- Intel Core i5-3450Rival
Desktop
- AMD A10-5800KRival
Desktop
Vastly superior modern quad-core with hyper-threading.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 3600Alt
Excellent value used hex-core.
Slightly faster Haswell alternative for the same socket.
Compare head-to-headCheaper Sandy Bridge alternative if overclocking is desired.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 3 4100Alt
Budget modern alternative.
Our Verdict on Each
The i5-3550S offers slightly better clocks than the i5-3470S within the same 65W envelope, but its outdated platform makes it unsuitable for modern use.
Best for: Maintaining an existing SFF desktop that already uses this processor
Read the full reviewA solid legacy processor that still handles basic tasks, but lacks the performance and modern features needed for current workloads.
Best for: The Core i5-3550 is completely obsolete and should not be considered for a new build. If you are repairing an older LGA 1155 system or building a budget retro gaming rig, it can be a functional, cheap drop-in part. It still handles basic web browsing and document editing adequately, provided you use lightweight software and an SSD. However, its lack of modern instruction sets and low single-thread performance will bottleneck any modern GPU or application. If you have an existing system, it might be worth a cheap upgrade from a Pentium or i3, but otherwise, save your money for a modern platform. Do not spend more than a few dollars on this chip, as even the cheapest new processors offer vastly superior performance-per-watt.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i5-3550S or Intel Core i5-3550?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i5-3550 comes out ahead with a score of 6/10. That said, the best choice depends on your workload — check the spec and performance breakdown above for gaming, productivity and efficiency differences.
Which is faster for gaming, Intel Core i5-3550S or Intel Core i5-3550?
For gaming, the Intel Core i5-3550 leads with a gaming performance score of 30/100 among Intel Core i5-3550S and Intel Core i5-3550.
Which uses less power?
The Intel Core i5-3550S has the lowest rated TDP. Power draw across these chips: Intel Core i5-3550S (65 W), Intel Core i5-3550 (77 W).
Do Intel Core i5-3550S and Intel Core i5-3550 use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Intel Core i5-3550S: LGA 1155, Intel Core i5-3550: Intel Socket 1155 (LGA1155)), so each needs a compatible motherboard.
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Intel Core i5-3550S posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i5-3550S (6,950), Intel Core i5-3550 (6,000). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.