Core i9-9980XE vs Core i3-550

Primary details

Comparing Core i3-550 and Core i9-9980XE processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in performance ranking	2340	282
Place by popularity	not in top-100	not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation	0.04	9.02
Market segment	Desktop processor	Desktop processor
Series	no data	Intel Core i9
Architecture codename	Clarkdale (2010−2011)	Sky Lake-X
Release date	30 May 2010 (14 years ago)	19 October 2018 (5 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)	$101	$1,979
Current price	$197 (2x MSRP)	$1129 (0.6x MSRP)

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

i9-9980XE has 22450% better value for money than i3-550.

Detailed specifications

Core i3-550 and Core i9-9980XE basic parameters such as number of cores, number of threads, base frequency and turbo boost clock, lithography, cache size and multiplier lock state. These parameters indirectly say of CPU speed, though for more precise assessment you have to consider their test results.

Physical cores	2 (Dual-core)	18 (Octadeca-Core)
Threads	4	36
Base clock speed	3.2 GHz	3 GHz
Boost clock speed	3.2 GHz	4.5 GHz
L1 cache	64 KB (per core)	64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	256 KB (per core)	1 MB (per core)
L3 cache	4 MB (shared)	24.75 MB (shared)
Chip lithography	32 nm	14 nm
Die size	81 mm2	484 mm2
Maximum core temperature	73 °C	84 °C
Number of transistors	382 million	no data
64 bit support	+	+
Windows 11 compatibility	-	+
Unlocked multiplier	No	Yes

Compatibility

Information on Core i3-550 and Core i9-9980XE compatibility with other computer components: motherboard (look for socket type), power supply unit (look for power consumption) etc. Useful when planning a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. Note that power consumption of some processors can well exceed their nominal TDP, even without overclocking. Some can even double their declared thermals given that the motherboard allows to tune the CPU power parameters.

Number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Socket	FCLGA1156	FCLGA2066
Power consumption (TDP)	73 Watt	165 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i3-550 and Core i9-9980XE. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensions	Intel® SSE4.2	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2, Intel® AVX-512
AES-NI	-	+
AVX	no data	+
vPro	no data	+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)	+	+
Turbo Boost Technology	-	2.0
Hyper-Threading Technology	+	+
TSX	no data	+
Idle States	+	no data
Thermal Monitoring	-	no data
Demand Based Switching	-	no data
PAE	36 Bit	no data
Turbo Boost Max 3.0	no data	+
FDI	+	no data
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued

Security technologies

Core i3-550 and Core i9-9980XE technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT	-	no data
EDB	+	+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i3-550 and Core i9-9980XE are enumerated here.

AMD-V	no data	+
VT-d	no data	+
VT-x	+	+
EPT	+	no data

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i3-550 and Core i9-9980XE. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory types	DDR3	DDR4
Maximum memory size	16.38 GB	128 GB
Max memory channels	2	4
Maximum memory bandwidth	21 GB/s	85 GB/s
ECC memory support	no data	-

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card	Intel® HD Graphics for Previous Generation Intel® Processors	N/A
Clear Video HD	+	no data

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i3-550 and Core i9-9980XE integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported

2

no data

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i3-550 and Core i9-9980XE.

PCIe version	2.0	3.0
PCI Express lanes	16	44

Synthetic benchmark performance

Various benchmark results of the processors in comparison. Overall score is measured in points in 0-100 range, higher is better.

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Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark performance rating. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

Core i9-9980XE outperforms Core i3-550 by 1711% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

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Pros & cons summary

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Performance score	1.04	18.83
Recency	30 May 2010	19 October 2018
Physical cores	2	18
Threads	4	36
Cost	$101	$1979
Chip lithography	32 nm	14 nm
Power consumption (TDP)	73 Watt	165 Watt

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Should you still have questions on choice between Core i3-550 and Core i9-9980XE, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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