Quick Verdict
The i5-3550S offers slightly better clocks than the i5-3470S within the same 65W envelope, but its outdated platform makes it unsuitable for modern use.
Overview
Launch
2012
Status
End-of-lifeGeneration
3rd Gen (Ivy Bridge)
Market
Desktop
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 Intel Core i5-3550S features 4 cores and 4 threads with a base clock of 3.0 GHz and turbo boost up to 3.7 GHz — a 100 MHz improvement over the i5-3470S in both metrics.
The 65W TDP places it in Intel's power-optimized desktop category, suitable for small form factor and business PCs. With 6MB of shared L3 cache, dual-channel DDR3 support, and Intel HD 2500 integrated graphics, it offers the same feature set as the i5-3470S with marginally better CPU performance. Released slightly earlier than the i5-3470S in April 2012, it served as the step-up option for users who wanted the most CPU performance available within the 65W power budget.
Specifications
Performance
The 3.7 GHz turbo provides marginally better performance than the i5-3470S, but the difference is barely noticeable in real-world use.
Same four-core, four-thread design limits virtualization capability as other S-series i5 processors.
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.
The 65W TDP with slightly higher clocks is well-optimized for the 22nm process, though modern chips deliver far more performance per watt.
- •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
- •No AI acceleration hardware
- •Not applicable for this processor generation
- •Insufficient compute for AI workloads
Architecture
22nm
Process Node
Ivy Bridge
Codename
4C / 4T
Core Config
6 MB
L3 Cache
65 W
TDP
Architecture Overview
The i5-3550S uses the same 160mm² quad-core Ivy Bridge die as other quad-core i5 desktop processors, manufactured on Intel's 22nm FinFET process. It is essentially a higher-binned version of the i5-3470S, with a 3.0 GHz base clock and 3.7 GHz turbo representing the best silicon quality Intel could offer within the 65W TDP envelope. The 100 MHz improvement over the i5-3470S in both base and turbo clocks comes from better binning — Intel selects dies that can sustain higher frequencies at the same voltage and power targets. The 6MB shared L3 cache, dual-channel DDR3-1600 memory controller, and 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes are identical to the i5-3470S. The integrated HD 2500 graphics with 6 Execution Units at 650-1150 MHz is also the same, with a 50 MHz higher maximum GPU clock than the i5-3470S's 1100 MHz.
CPU Design
Four Ivy Bridge CPU cores without Hyper-Threading, 64KB L1 and 256KB L2 per core, 6MB shared L3 Smart Cache, operating at 3.0 GHz base and 3.7 GHz turbo within a 65W TDP.
Memory Subsystem
Dual-channel DDR3-1600 memory controller providing 25.6 GB/s peak bandwidth, supporting up to 32GB capacity.
PCIe & I/O
16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes from the CPU, identical to all quad-core Ivy Bridge desktop processors.
Overclocking
Locked multiplier with limited BCLK adjustment capability only.
- 22nm process shrink from 32nm
- PCIe 3.0 support over PCIe 2.0
- Higher clocks at the same 65W TDP
- HD 2500 over HD 2000 with more EUs
Key Highlights
- 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
- 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
History
The Core i5-3550S was among the first Ivy Bridge desktop processors to launch on April 29, 2012, arriving slightly ahead of the broader i5-3470 family. As a 65W S-series processor, it targeted the growing segment of small form factor and business desktops that needed quad-core performance within strict thermal constraints.</br></br>The i5-3550S was essentially a better-binned version of what would later become the i5-3470S, offering 100 MHz higher clocks in both base and turbo frequencies within the same 65W power envelope.
For OEMs building small form factor business desktops, this made it the premium choice among 65W i5 options. HP, Dell, and Lenovo frequently specified the i5-3550S in their small form factor corporate desktops throughout 2012-2014.</br></br>This processor also represented an important transition point in Intel's desktop TDP strategy.
The 65W TDP that the i5-3550S championed would become Intel's mainstream desktop standard starting with Haswell in 2013, replacing the 77W TDP that had defined mainstream desktop processors for years. In retrospect, the i5-3550S was ahead of its time in proving that 65W was sufficient for mainstream quad-core desktop performance, a philosophy that continues to influence Intel's desktop processor design today.
Improvements over Previous Generation
- 22nm process shrink from 32nm
- PCIe 3.0 support over PCIe 2.0
- Higher clocks at the same 65W TDP
- HD 2500 over HD 2000 with more EUs
Alternatives & Competitors
Should You Buy It?
Not Recommended for the right buyer
Maintaining an existing SFF desktop that already uses this processor
Avoid if…
- Building any new system in 2026
- Modern gaming or content creation
- Needing Windows 11 support
- Any multi-threaded productivity workload
- Requiring modern security features
Use Cases
Interesting Facts
The i5-3550S was released on April 29, 2012 — slightly earlier than the i5-3470S which launched on June 1, 2012.
Its 3.7 GHz turbo is the highest among all 65W Ivy Bridge i5 desktop processors.
The GPU clock of 650-1150 MHz is 50 MHz higher than the i5-3470S's 650-1100 MHz range.
The i5-3550S uses the full 160mm² die with 1.4 billion transistors, the same as standard quad-core Ivy Bridge processors.
This processor was commonly found in HP ProDesk, Dell OptiPlex, and Lenovo ThinkCentre small form factor business desktops.
The part number SR0P3 identifies this specific SKU.
Despite its higher clocks, real-world performance difference from the i5-3470S is only about 3-5% — barely noticeable in everyday use.
The i5-3550S does not support Intel vPro, TXT, or SIPP business features, unlike some higher-end Ivy Bridge models.
This was one of Intel's first 65W mainstream desktop processors, a TDP that would become the new standard starting with Haswell.
The earlier release date suggests the i5-3550S was part of the initial Ivy Bridge launch wave, while the i5-3470 family came slightly later.
People Also Ask
What is the difference between i5-3550S and i5-3470S?
The i5-3550S has a 100 MHz higher base clock (3.0 vs 2.9 GHz) and 100 MHz higher turbo (3.7 vs 3.6 GHz). Everything else — cache, TDP, GPU, and features — is identical or near-identical.
Is the i5-3550S good for gaming?
No, the four threads without Hyper-Threading and HD 2500 graphics make it unsuitable for modern gaming, though the 3.7 GHz turbo provides slightly better single-threaded performance than other S-series models.
Can the i5-3550S run Windows 11?
No, it does not meet Windows 11 requirements and is not on the supported CPU list.
What is the TDP of the i5-3550S?
The TDP is 65W.
What does the S mean in i5-3550S?
The S suffix indicates a 'Performance-Optimized Lifestyle' processor with a lower 65W TDP compared to standard 77W variants.
What socket does the i5-3550S use?
It uses the Intel LGA 1155 socket.
Does the i5-3550S have integrated graphics?
Yes, it features Intel HD 2500 integrated graphics with 6 Execution Units at 650-1150 MHz.
Is the i5-3550S better than i5-3470?
The i5-3470 has a higher base clock (3.2 vs 3.0 GHz) and 77W TDP, while the i5-3550S has a higher turbo (3.7 vs 3.6 GHz) and 65W TDP. For sustained workloads, the i5-3470 is faster. For burst workloads, they are nearly identical.
When was the i5-3550S released?
It was released on April 29, 2012, as part of the initial Ivy Bridge desktop launch.
Is the i5-3550S still usable in 2026?
Only for basic web browsing and document editing. Its age and lack of modern features make it unsuitable for current workloads.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the turbo boost speed of the i5-3550S?
The maximum Intel Turbo Boost 2.0 frequency is 3.7 GHz.
Does the i5-3550S support AES-NI?
Yes, it supports AES New Instructions for hardware-accelerated encryption.
What memory does the i5-3550S support?
It supports dual-channel DDR3 memory up to DDR3-1600 speeds.
What is the maximum temperature for the i5-3550S?
The maximum case temperature (Tcase) is 69°C.
Does the i5-3550S support virtualization?
Yes, it supports Intel VT-x and VT-d virtualization technologies.
What part number is the i5-3550S?
The standard part number is SR0P3.
How much cache does the i5-3550S have?
It has 64KB L1 per core, 256KB L2 per core, and 6MB shared L3 cache.
What is the die size of the i5-3550S?
It uses the full 160mm² quad-core Ivy Bridge die with 1.4 billion transistors.
Does the i5-3550S support vPro?
No, the i5-3550S does not support Intel vPro technology.
What is the base clock of the i5-3550S?
The base clock is 3.0 GHz.