Core i5-3550 vs Core i3-1005G1
Core i5-3550
Core i3-1005G1
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 i5-3550 is positioned at rank 694 and the Core i3-1005G1 is on rank 573, so the Core i3-1005G1 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-3550
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-1005G1
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-3550 | Core i3-1005G1 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($30) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) | ✨ Modern (Ice Lake (Client) (2019) / 10 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-3550 | Core i3-1005G1 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($30) | ✅ 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 i5-3550 and Core i3-1005G1
Core i5-3550
The Core i5-3550 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 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 77 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 4,778 points. Launch price was $205.
Core i3-1005G1
The Core i3-1005G1 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 August 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Ice Lake (Client) (2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1526. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 4,827 points. Launch price was $281.
Processing Power
The Core i5-3550 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i3-1005G1 offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Core i5-3550 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the Core i5-3550 versus 3.4 GHz on the Core i3-1005G1 — a 8.5% clock advantage for the Core i5-3550 (base: 3.3 GHz vs 1.2 GHz). The Core i5-3550 uses the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture (22 nm), while the Core i3-1005G1 uses Ice Lake (Client) (2019) (10 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-3550 scores 4,778 against the Core i3-1005G1's 4,827 — a 1% lead for the Core i3-1005G1. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Core i5-3550 vs 4 MB (total) on the Core i3-1005G1.
| Feature | Core i5-3550 | Core i3-1005G1 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.7 GHz+9% | 3.4 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.3 GHz+175% | 1.2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB (total)+50% | 4 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 22 nm | 10 nm-55% |
| Architecture | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) | Ice Lake (Client) (2019) |
| PassMark | 4,778 | 4,827+1% |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 2,319 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 603 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 2,605 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-3550 uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i3-1005G1 uses FCBGA1526 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i5-3550 | Core i3-1005G1 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | FCBGA1526 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR4-3200 / LPDDR4-3733 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Core i5-3550) / VT-x / VT-d / EPT (Core i3-1005G1). The Core i3-1005G1 includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics (Ice Lake)), while the Core i5-3550 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-1005G1 targets Thin-and-light.
| Feature | Core i5-3550 | Core i3-1005G1 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Intel UHD Graphics (Ice Lake) |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | Yes |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x / VT-d / EPT |
| Target Use | — | Thin-and-light |
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