Phenom II X3 P840 vs Core i5-3550S
Phenom II X3 P840
Core i5-3550S
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 Phenom II X3 P840 is positioned at rank 45 and the Core i5-3550S is on rank 758, so the Phenom II X3 P840 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Phenom II X3 P840
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-3550S
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Phenom II X3 P840 | Core i5-3550S |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($100) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Champlain (2010−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Phenom II X3 P840 | Core i5-3550S |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($100) |
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 Phenom II X3 P840 and Core i5-3550S
Phenom II X3 P840
The Phenom II X3 P840 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Max frequency: 1.9 GHz. L2 cache: 1.5 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: S1. Thermal design power (TDP): 1.5 MB. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 4,425 points. Launch price was $149.
Core i5-3550S
The Core i5-3550S 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 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 6144 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 4,442 points. Launch price was $350.
Processing Power
The Phenom II X3 P840 packs 3 cores / 3 threads, while the Core i5-3550S offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Core i5-3550S has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 1.9 GHz on the Phenom II X3 P840 versus 3.7 GHz on the Core i5-3550S — a 64.3% clock advantage for the Core i5-3550S. The Phenom II X3 P840 uses the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i5-3550S uses Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Phenom II X3 P840 scores 4,425 against the Core i5-3550S's 4,442 — a 0.4% lead for the Core i5-3550S.
| Feature | Phenom II X3 P840 | Core i5-3550S |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 3 / 3 | 4 / 4+33% |
| Boost Clock | 1.9 GHz | 3.7 GHz+95% |
| Base Clock | — | 3 GHz |
| L3 Cache | — | 6144 kB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 1.5 MB+500% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 22 nm-51% |
| Architecture | Champlain (2010−2011) | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) |
| PassMark | 4,425 | 4,442 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 619 |
Memory & Platform
The Phenom II X3 P840 uses the S1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i5-3550S uses LGA1155 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Phenom II X3 P840 | Core i5-3550S |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | S1 | LGA1155 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Phenom II X3 P840) / VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-3550S). The Core i5-3550S includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 2500), while the Phenom II X3 P840 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-3550S targets Legacy Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i5-3550S rivals FX-6350.
| Feature | Phenom II X3 P840 | Core i5-3550S |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | HD Graphics 2500 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | — | Legacy Desktop |
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