Core i5-2550K vs Core i3-8140U

The Core i5-2550K packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i3-8140U 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 3.9 GHz on the Core i3-8140U — a 2.6% clock advantage for the Core i3-8140U (base: 3.4 GHz vs 2.1 GHz). The Core i5-2550K is built on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. In PassMark, the Core i5-2550K scores 4,228 against the Core i3-8140U's 4,227 — a 0% lead for the Core i5-2550K. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 707 vs 1,225, a 53.6% lead for the Core i3-8140U that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 6144 kB (total) on the Core i5-2550K vs 4 MB Intel® Smart Cache on the Core i3-8140U.

The Core i5-2550K uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i3-8140U 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 i3-8140U — the Core i3-8140U supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i3-8140U supports up to 64 GB of RAM compared to 32 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes.

Virtualization support: Yes (Core i5-2550K) vs VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i3-8140U). The Core i3-8140U includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 620), while the Core i5-2550K requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-8140U targets Mainstream Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i3-8140U rivals Ryzen 3 3300U.