Core i5-2550K vs Core i3-8109U
Core i5-2550K
Core i3-8109U
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 i5-2550K is positioned at rank 841 and the Core i3-8109U is on rank 857, so the Core i5-2550K offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-2550K
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-8109U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-2550K | Core i3-8109U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($46) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake-U (2018−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-2550K | Core i3-8109U |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($46) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 i5-2550K and Core i3-8109U
Core i5-2550K
The Core i5-2550K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in Janeiro 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 6144 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 4,228 points. Launch price was $189.
Core i3-8109U
The Core i3-8109U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 5 April 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-U (2018−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1528. Thermal design power (TDP): 28 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 4,184 points. Launch price was $304.
Processing Power
The Core i5-2550K packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i3-8109U offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Core i5-2550K has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.8 GHz on the Core i5-2550K versus 3.6 GHz on the Core i3-8109U — a 5.4% clock advantage for the Core i5-2550K (base: 3.4 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Core i5-2550K uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i3-8109U uses Coffee Lake-U (2018−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-2550K scores 4,228 against the Core i3-8109U's 4,184 — a 1% lead for the Core i5-2550K. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 707 vs 1,100, a 43.5% lead for the Core i3-8109U that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 6144 kB (total) on the Core i5-2550K vs 4 MB (total) on the Core i3-8109U.
| Feature | Core i5-2550K | Core i3-8109U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.8 GHz+6% | 3.6 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.4 GHz+13% | 3 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 6144 kB (total)+50% | 4 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 14 nm-56% |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Coffee Lake-U (2018−2019) |
| PassMark | 4,228+1% | 4,184 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 4,058 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 707 | 1,100+56% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 2,010 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-2550K uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i3-8109U uses FCBGA1528 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1600 on the Core i5-2550K versus DDR4-2400 on the Core i3-8109U — the Core i3-8109U supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 32 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes.
| Feature | Core i5-2550K | Core i3-8109U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | FCBGA1528 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1600 | DDR4-2400+33% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization support: Yes (Core i5-2550K) vs VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i3-8109U). The Core i3-8109U includes integrated graphics (Iris Plus Graphics 655), while the Core i5-2550K requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-8109U targets Performance Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i3-8109U rivals Ryzen 3 3200U.
| Feature | Core i5-2550K | Core i3-8109U |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Iris Plus Graphics 655 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | Yes | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | — | Performance Laptop |
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