Core 2 Quad Q9550 vs Core i5-3570K

VS

Aggregate performance score

Core i5-3570K
2012
4 cores / 4 threads, 77 Watt
3.12
+112%
Core 2 Quad Q9550
2008
4 cores / 4 threads, 95 Watt
1.47

Core i5-3570K outperforms Core 2 Quad Q9550 by a whopping 112% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i5-3570K and Core 2 Quad (Desktop) Q9550 processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking16282170
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation0.52no data
Market segmentDesktop processorDesktop processor
SeriesIntel Core i5 (Desktop)Core 2 Quad (Desktop)
Power efficiency3.841.47
Architecture codenameIvy Bridge (2012−2013)Yorkfield (2007−2009)
Release date29 April 2012 (12 years ago)no data
Launch price (MSRP)$235no data

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

no data

Detailed specifications

Core i5-3570K and Core 2 Quad (Desktop) Q9550 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 cores4 (Quad-Core)4 (Quad-Core)
Threads44
Base clock speed3.4 GHzno data
Boost clock speed3.8 GHz2.83 GHz
Bus rate5 GT/s1333 MHz
L1 cache64K (per core)64K (per core)
L2 cache256K (per core)12288 KB
L3 cache6 MB (shared)0 KB
Chip lithography22 nm45 nm
Die size160 mm22x 107 mm2
Maximum core temperature67 °Cno data
Maximum case temperature (TCase)67 °C71 °C
Number of transistors1,400 million820 million
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility--
Unlocked multiplier+-

Compatibility

Information on Core i5-3570K and Core 2 Quad (Desktop) Q9550 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 configuration11
SocketFCLGA1155LGA775
Power consumption (TDP)77 Watt95 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i5-3570K and Core 2 Quad (Desktop) Q9550. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVXno data
AES-NI+-
AVX+-
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
Turbo Boost Technology2.0no data
Hyper-Threading Technology-no data
Idle States+no data
Thermal Monitoring+-
FDI+no data

Security technologies

Core i5-3570K and Core 2 Quad (Desktop) Q9550 technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT-no data
EDB+no data
Secure Key+no data
Identity Protection+-
Anti-Theft+no data

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i5-3570K and Core 2 Quad (Desktop) Q9550 are enumerated here.

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

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i5-3570K and Core 2 Quad (Desktop) Q9550. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR3DDR1,DDR2,DDR3
Maximum memory size32 GBno data
Max memory channels2no data
Maximum memory bandwidth25.6 GB/sno data

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardIntel HD Graphics 4000no data
Quick Sync Video+-
Clear Video HD+no data
Graphics max frequency1.15 GHzno data
InTru 3D+no data

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i5-3570K and Core 2 Quad (Desktop) Q9550 integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported3no data

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i5-3570K and Core 2 Quad (Desktop) Q9550.

PCIe version3.0no data

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.

i5-3570K 3.12
+112%
Core 2 Quad Q9550 1.47

Passmark

Passmark CPU Mark is a widespread benchmark, consisting of 8 different types of workload, including integer and floating point math, extended instructions, compression, encryption and physics calculation. There is also one separate single-threaded scenario measuring single-core performance.

i5-3570K 4956
+112%
Core 2 Quad Q9550 2338

GeekBench 5 Single-Core

GeekBench 5 Single-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses only a single CPU core.

i5-3570K 686
+85.4%
Core 2 Quad Q9550 370

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses all available CPU cores.

i5-3570K 2052
+97.7%
Core 2 Quad Q9550 1038

Cinebench 10 32-bit single-core

Cinebench R10 is an ancient ray tracing benchmark for processors by Maxon, authors of Cinema 4D. Its single core version uses just one CPU thread to render a futuristic looking motorcycle.

i5-3570K 5286
+70.2%
Core 2 Quad Q9550 3106

Cinebench 10 32-bit multi-core

Cinebench Release 10 Multi Core is a variant of Cinebench R10 using all the processor threads. Possible number of threads is limited by 16 in this version.

i5-3570K 18325
+69.3%
Core 2 Quad Q9550 10825

3DMark06 CPU

3DMark06 is a discontinued DirectX 9 benchmark suite from Futuremark. Its CPU part contains two scenarios, one dedicated to artificial intelligence pathfinding, another to game physics using PhysX package.

i5-3570K 6561
+55.1%
Core 2 Quad Q9550 4230

Cinebench 11.5 64-bit multi-core

Cinebench Release 11.5 Multi Core is a variant of Cinebench R11.5 which uses all the processor threads. A maximum of 64 threads is supported in this version.

i5-3570K 6
+77%
Core 2 Quad Q9550 3

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 3.12 1.47
Chip lithography 22 nm 45 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 77 Watt 95 Watt

i5-3570K has a 112.2% higher aggregate performance score, a 104.5% more advanced lithography process, and 23.4% lower power consumption.

The Core i5-3570K is our recommended choice as it beats the Core 2 Quad Q9550 in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i5-3570K and Core 2 Quad Q9550, 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.


Intel Core i5-3570K
Core i5-3570K
Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550
Core 2 Quad Q9550

Similar processor comparisons

We picked several similar comparisons of processors in the same market segment and performance relatively close to those reviewed on this page.

Community ratings

Here you can see how users rate the processors, as well as rate them yourself.


4 1629 votes

Rate Core i5-3570K on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
4.1 1876 votes

Rate Core 2 Quad Q9550 on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

Questions & comments

Here you can ask a question about Core i5-3570K or Core 2 Quad Q9550, agree or disagree with our judgements, or report an error or mismatch.