Xeon W-1290 vs Core i5-3550

Primary details

Comparing Core i5-3550 and Xeon W-1290 processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in performance ranking	1542	549
Place by popularity	not in top-100	not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation	1.00	46.36
Market segment	Desktop processor	Server
Series	Intel Core i5 (Desktop)	no data
Architecture codename	Ivy Bridge (2012−2013)	Comet Lake (2020)
Release date	29 April 2012 (12 years ago)	13 May 2020 (4 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)	$205	no data
Current price	$116 (0.6x MSRP)	$345

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

Xeon W-1290 has 4536% better value for money than i5-3550.

Detailed specifications

Core i5-3550 and Xeon W-1290 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	4 (Quad-Core)	10 (Deca-Core)
Threads	4	20
Base clock speed	3.3 GHz	3.2 GHz
Boost clock speed	3.7 GHz	5.1 GHz
L1 cache	64 KB (per core)	64K (per core)
L2 cache	256K (per core)	256K (per core)
L3 cache	6 MB (shared)	20 MB (shared)
Chip lithography	22 nm	14 nm
Die size	160 mm2	206 mm2
Maximum core temperature	67 °C	100 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)	67 °C	70 °C
Number of transistors	1,400 million	no data
64 bit support	+	+
Windows 11 compatibility	-	+
Unlocked multiplier	No	No

Compatibility

Information on Core i5-3550 and Xeon W-1290 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	FCLGA1155	FCLGA1200
Power consumption (TDP)	77 Watt	80 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i5-3550 and Xeon W-1290. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

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

Security technologies

Core i5-3550 and Xeon W-1290 technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT	+	+
EDB	+	+
Secure Key	+	+
Identity Protection	+	+
SGX	no data	Yes with Intel® ME
OS Guard	no data	+
Anti-Theft	+	no data

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i5-3550 and Xeon W-1290 are enumerated here.

VT-d	+	+
VT-x	+	+
EPT	+	+

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i5-3550 and Xeon W-1290. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory types	DDR3	DDR4-2933
Maximum memory size	32 GB	128 GB
Max memory channels	2	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	25.6 GB/s	45.8 GB/s
ECC memory support	-	+

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card Compare	Intel HD Graphics 2500	Intel UHD Graphics P630
Max video memory	no data	64 GB
Quick Sync Video	+	+
Clear Video	no data	+
Clear Video HD	+	+
Graphics max frequency	1.15 GHz	1.2 GHz
InTru 3D	+	+

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i5-3550 and Xeon W-1290 integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported

3

3

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i5-3550 and Xeon W-1290 integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

4K resolution support	no data	+
Max resolution over HDMI 1.4	no data	4096x2160@30Hz
Max resolution over eDP	no data	4096x2304@60Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPort	no data	4096x2304@60Hz

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i5-3550 and Xeon W-1290 integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectX	no data	12
OpenGL	no data	4.5

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i5-3550 and Xeon W-1290.

PCIe version	3.0	3.0
PCI Express lanes	no data	16

Synthetic benchmark performance

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

---

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.

Xeon W-1290 outperforms Core i5-3550 by 317% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

---

Pros & cons summary

---

Performance score	3.11	12.98
Recency	29 April 2012	13 May 2020
Physical cores	4	10
Threads	4	20
Chip lithography	22 nm	14 nm
Power consumption (TDP)	77 Watt	80 Watt

---

Should you still have questions on choice between Core i5-3550 and Xeon W-1290, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

Vote for your favorite

Do you think we are right or mistaken in our choice? Vote by clicking "Like" button near your favorite CPU.

---