Core i3-550 vs Pentium G2010
Core i3-550
Pentium G2010
Performance Spectrum - CPU
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Core i3-550 is positioned at rank 965 and the Pentium G2010 is on rank 669, so the Pentium G2010 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-550
Performance Per Dollar Pentium G2010
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-550 | Pentium G2010 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Clarkdale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-550 | Pentium G2010 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+1%) |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core i3-550 and Pentium G2010
Core i3-550
The Core i3-550 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 May 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Clarkdale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1156. Thermal design power (TDP): 73 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,632 points. Launch price was $101.
Pentium G2010
The Pentium G2010 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 21 January 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 3072 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 55 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,641 points. Launch price was $466.
Processing Power
The Core i3-550 packs 2 cores / 4 threads, matching the Pentium G2010's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the Core i3-550 versus 2.8 GHz on the Pentium G2010 — a 13.3% clock advantage for the Core i3-550 (base: 3.2 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Core i3-550 uses the Clarkdale (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Pentium G2010 uses Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-550 scores 1,632 against the Pentium G2010's 1,641 — a 0.5% lead for the Pentium G2010. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Core i3-550 vs 3072 kB (total) on the Pentium G2010.
| Feature | Core i3-550 | Pentium G2010 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 3.2 GHz+14% | 2.8 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.2 GHz+14% | 2.8 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total)+33% | 3072 kB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 22 nm-31% |
| Architecture | Clarkdale (2010−2011) | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) |
| PassMark | 1,632 | 1,641 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 1,320 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 437 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 899 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-550 uses the LGA1156 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Pentium G2010 uses LGA1155 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i3-550 | Pentium G2010 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1156 | LGA1155 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: Yes (Core i3-550) / not specified (Pentium G2010). The Core i3-550 includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics), while the Pentium G2010 requires a dedicated GPU.
| Feature | Core i3-550 | Pentium G2010 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | Yes | — |
Value Analysis
The Core i3-550 launched at $138 MSRP, while the Pentium G2010 debuted at $64. At current prices ($5 vs $5), the Pentium G2010 is $0 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i3-550 delivers 326.4 pts/$ vs 328.2 pts/$ for the Pentium G2010 — making the Pentium G2010 the 0.5% better value option.
| Feature | Core i3-550 | Pentium G2010 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $138 | $64-54% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $5 | $5 |
| Performance per Dollar | 326.4 | 328.2 |
| Release Date | 2010 | 2013 |
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