Athlon 220GE vs Core i5-3550S

CPU

GPU

Athlon 220GE

2 Cores4 Thrd35 WWMax: 3.4 GHz2018

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Core i5-3550S

4 Cores4 Thrd65 WWMax: 3.7 GHz2012

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Athlon 220GE vs Core i5-3550S Performance Spectrum

Athlon 220GE

2 / 4

4,441

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7965WX

Core i5-3550S

4 / 4

4,442

0.0%

About PassMark

PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Athlon 220GE vs Core i5-3550S FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Athlon 220GE vs Core i5-3550S: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Athlon 220GE

2018

Why buy it

✅+43.1% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
✅Costs $140 less on MSRP ($65 MSRP vs $205 MSRP).
✅Delivers 215.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 68.3 vs 21.7 PassMark/$ ($65 MSRP vs $205 MSRP).
✅Draws 35W instead of 65W, a 30W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (4,441 vs 4,442).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (4 MB vs 6 MB).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-3550S.

Core i5-3550S

2012

Why buy it

✅+0% higher PassMark.
✅+50% larger total L3 cache (6 MB vs 4 MB).
✅100% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 8) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Athlon 220GE.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (619 vs 886).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 21.7 vs 68.3 PassMark/$ ($205 MSRP vs $65 MSRP).
❌85.7% higher power demand at 65W vs 35W.

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon 220GE better than Core i5-3550S?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Athlon 220GE is ahead with a 0.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-3550S pulls ahead with 0% better PassMark. Core i5-3550S also has the bigger cache pool with 50% larger total L3 cache (6 MB vs 4 MB).

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-3550S is the stronger fit. You are getting 0% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 50% larger total L3 cache (6 MB vs 4 MB).

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Athlon 220GE is the better buy right now. Athlon 220GE comes in $140 cheaper on MSRP at $65 MSRP versus $205 MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. The compromise is that Core i5-3550S is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 0% better PassMark. It is also 215.3% better value on MSRP (68.3 vs 21.7 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Athlon 220GE makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2018 vs 2012). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Athlon 220GE vs Core i5-3550S Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Athlon 220GE

The Athlon 220GE is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 1 June 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Zen (2017−2020) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 4,441 points. Launch price was $65.

Core i5-3550S

The Core i5-3550S is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 29 April 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 6144 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 4,442 points. Launch price was $350.

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Processing Power

The Athlon 220GE packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i5-3550S offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Core i5-3550S has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.4 GHz on the Athlon 220GE versus 3.7 GHz on the Core i5-3550S — a 8.5% clock advantage for the Core i5-3550S (base: 3.4 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Athlon 220GE uses the Zen (2017−2020) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i5-3550S uses Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon 220GE scores 4,441 against the Core i5-3550S's 4,442 — a 0% lead for the Core i5-3550S. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 886 vs 619, a 35.5% lead for the Athlon 220GE that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Athlon 220GE vs 6144 kB (total) on the Core i5-3550S.

Feature	Athlon 220GE	Core i5-3550S
Cores / Threads	2 / 4	4 / 4+100%
Boost Clock	3.4 GHz	3.7 GHz+9%
Base Clock	3.4 GHz+13%	3 GHz
L3 Cache	4 MB (total)	6144 kB (total)+50%
L2 Cache	512K (per core)+100%	256 kB (per core)
Process	14 nm-36%	22 nm
Architecture	Zen (2017−2020)	Ivy Bridge (2012−2013)
PassMark	4,441	4,442
Geekbench 6 Single	886+43%	619
Geekbench 6 Multi	2,023	—

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon 220GE uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i5-3550S uses LGA1155 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2667 on the Athlon 220GE versus DDR3-1600 on the Core i5-3550S — the Athlon 220GE supports 66.7% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon 220GE supports up to 64 GB of RAM compared to 32 GB — 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 8 (Athlon 220GE) vs 16 (Core i5-3550S) — the Core i5-3550S offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: A320,B350,X370,B450,X470 (Athlon 220GE) and H61,H67,P67,Z68,B75,Z77 (Core i5-3550S).

Feature	Athlon 220GE	Core i5-3550S
Socket	AM4	LGA1155
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2667+67%	DDR3-1600
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB+100%	32 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	8	16+100%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Athlon 220GE has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Athlon 220GE) vs VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-3550S). Both include integrated graphics — Radeon Vega 3 (Athlon 220GE) and HD Graphics 2500 (Core i5-3550S) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Athlon 220GE targets Desktop, Core i5-3550S targets Legacy Desktop. Direct competitor: Athlon 220GE rivals Pentium Gold G5400; Core i5-3550S rivals FX-6350.

Feature	Athlon 220GE	Core i5-3550S
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	Radeon Vega 3	HD Graphics 2500
Unlocked	Yes	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	AMD-V	VT-x, VT-d, EPT
Target Use	Desktop	Legacy Desktop

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Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon 220GE was priced at $65, while the Core i5-3550S came in at $205. On launch pricing ($65 vs $205), Athlon 220GE was $140 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon 220GE delivers 68.3 pts/$ vs 21.7 pts/$ for the Core i5-3550S — making the Athlon 220GE the 103.7% better value option.

Feature	Athlon 220GE	Core i5-3550S
MSRP	$65-68%	$205
Performance per Dollar	68.3+215%	21.7
Release Date	2018	2012

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