i3-3220 vs i5-3550S: How do they compare?

[2timer]

*Edit* I mistakenly used the incorrect SKUs - my apologies. See post #7.

Hi guys. I would like it if somebody could explain the performance of the i3-3220 vs the i5-3550S a little more in-depth. I've been searching the internet, but real benchmarks are hard to find for these SKUs.

Both processors are rated 65W TDP, while the i5 has 4 cores, and the i3 has 2 cores, 4 threads. The i3 is clocked at 3.3 Ghz, and the i5 at 2.8 Ghz, with a 3.2 Ghz TurboBoost function.

It's just really confusing me to figure out which is the better choice. Let's say I'm playing Bioshock Infinite. My understanding is that the TurboBoost feature on the i5 would only be enabled when one or two cores are active. Again, I'm going on scant info, but I do have this source (on Nehalem) : http://m.tomshardware.com/reviews/core-i5-750s-power,2557-2.html

Intel... disables the TurboBoost feature when three or four processing cores are under load... The end result is TurboBoost staying inactive

OK, so that said, do I assume that when playing a modern game like Bioshock Infinite, that at least 3 cores are active, and the TurboBoost is disabled, so clock speed is 2.8 Ghz?

If my understanding is correct, then which CPU would offer better performance, and why?

 

[Enigmoid]

Hi guys. I would like it if somebody could explain the performance of the i3-3220 vs the i5-3550S a little more in-depth. I've been searching the internet, but real benchmarks are hard to find for these SKUs.

Both processors are rated 65W TDP, while the i5 has 4 cores, and the i3 has 2 cores, 4 threads. The i3 is clocked at 3.3 Ghz, and the i5 at 2.8 Ghz, with a 3.2 Ghz TurboBoost function.

It's just really confusing me to figure out which is the better choice. Let's say I'm playing Bioshock Infinite. My understanding is that the TurboBoost feature on the i5 would only be enabled when one or two cores are active. Again, I'm going on scant info, but I do have this source (on Nehalem) : http://m.tomshardware.com/reviews/core-i5-750s-power,2557-2.html



OK, so that said, do I assume that when playing a modern game like Bioshock Infinite, that at least 3 cores are active, and the TurboBoost is disabled, so clock speed is 2.8 Ghz?

If my understanding is correct, then which CPU would offer better performance, and why?

In the few games that only use two cores the i3 may perform better. In general the minor difference in clock speed will be pretty unnoticeable. Newer cpu models do not have the same boost problems and will maintain the full 4 core frequency (probably 3.0 ghz on four cores or 3.1 on two) under heavy load. However more and more games are using more than two cores so the i5 is the better bet.

Bioshock infinite does not use that much cpu power and will perform identically.
Starcraft 2 only uses two cores and will perform a little better (5-10%) on the i3.
Crysis 3 will perform MUCH better on the i5.

 

[mavere]

Your numbers for i5-3550S are completely off from Intel's official ones. Also, that article is older, and Turbo Boost now adapts much better to load.

There's pretty much no way the i3-3220 would have better performance in any situation. Unless the i5's higher TDP becomes a liability, larger power envelope + better binning + adaptive load balancing = a rather convincing victory.

 

[008Rohit]

Nehalem is old now. Turbo Boost works as long as your processor is within the max. TDP limits.

The 3550S would perform slightly better overall, but why would you get it after all for a higher price?

 

[2timer]

In the few games that only use two cores the i3 may perform better. In general the minor difference in clock speed will be pretty unnoticeable. Newer cpu models do not have the same boost problems and will maintain the full 4 core frequency (probably 3.0 ghz on four cores or 3.1 on two) under heavy load. However more and more games are using more than two cores so the i5 is the better bet.

Bioshock infinite does not use that much cpu power and will perform identically.
Starcraft 2 only uses two cores and will perform a little better (5-10%) on the i3.
Crysis 3 will perform MUCH better on the i5.

Great, thanks for the analysis. One thing is still confusing, though: how can a 4 core CPU keep all 4 cores at 3.2 Ghz, still within the same power envelop as 2C/4T? My understanding is that even with 4 threads, the 4 cores would use considerably more power.

 

[Schmide]

i5-3550S is clocked at 3.0ghz and has a 3.7 turbo not to mention the 6mb L3.

Considering a 3.2ghz 3470 is about 10-25% faster in games, id give an advantage of 5-15% to the i5-3550S.

 

[2timer]

Wait... I messed up the OP, I wrote i5-3550S and I meant i5-3330S Lots of SKUs, it's easy to get mixed up.

So, I'm still pretty sure that if more than 2 cores are taxed, TurboBoost is disabled. Thanks to a previous poster, I know Bioshock Infinite doesn't use the cores as fully as Crysis 3. But I'm wondering if Bioshock Infinite would get TurboBoosted?

 

[2timer]

i5-3550S is clocked at 3.0ghz and has a 3.7 turbo not to mention the 6mb L3.

Considering a 3.2ghz 3470 is about 10-25% faster in games, id give an advantage of 5-15% to the i5-3550S.

Cool, thanks.

What the heck is going on in your avatar?

 

[Headfoot]

Wait... I messed up the OP, I wrote i5-3550S and I meant i5-3330S Lots of SKUs, it's easy to get mixed up.

So, I'm still pretty sure that if more than 2 cores are taxed, TurboBoost is disabled. Thanks to a previous poster, I know Bioshock Infinite doesn't use the cores as fully as Crysis 3. But I'm wondering if Bioshock Infinite would get TurboBoosted?

Not necessarily. Different motherboard manufacturers will modify the default Turbo behavior. One common enhancement that z68 or z77 boards will frequently have is that they will always turbo all 4 cores to the maximum turbo bin. Each brand calls this feature something different, but it usually is some combination of the words Core + Turbo + Boost. Gigabyte calls it Enhanced Turbo, Asus calls it MultiCore enhancement

 

[Schmide]

Cool, thanks.

What the heck is going on in your avatar?

Answered in off topic. Enter at risk to your psyche.

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2321963