Core i7-5550U vs Core i7-870S
Core i7-5550U
Core i7-870S
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 i7-5550U is positioned at rank 485 and the Core i7-870S is on rank 1008, so the Core i7-5550U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-5550U
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-870S
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-5550U | Core i7-870S |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($80) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Broadwell-U (2015) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Lynnfield (2009−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-5550U | Core i7-870S |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($80) |
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 i7-5550U and Core i7-870S
Core i7-5550U
The Core i7-5550U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 March 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Broadwell-U (2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1168. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,780 points. Launch price was $426.
Core i7-870S
The Core i7-870S is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 July 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Lynnfield (2009−2010) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.66 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1156. Thermal design power (TDP): 82 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,765 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
The Core i7-5550U packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i7-870S offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Core i7-870S has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3 GHz on the Core i7-5550U versus 3.6 GHz on the Core i7-870S — a 18.2% clock advantage for the Core i7-870S (base: 2 GHz vs 2.66 GHz). The Core i7-5550U uses the Broadwell-U (2015) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i7-870S uses Lynnfield (2009−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-5550U scores 2,780 against the Core i7-870S's 2,765 — a 0.5% lead for the Core i7-5550U. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Core i7-5550U vs 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-870S.
| Feature | Core i7-5550U | Core i7-870S |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 8+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3 GHz | 3.6 GHz+20% |
| Base Clock | 2 GHz | 2.66 GHz+33% |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total) | 8 MB (total)+100% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm-69% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Broadwell-U (2015) | Lynnfield (2009−2010) |
| PassMark | 2,780 | 2,765 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-5550U uses the FCBGA1168 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-870S uses LGA1156 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-5550U | Core i7-870S |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1168 | LGA1156 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
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