Core i5-2550K

Details and Benchmarks for Intel Core i5-2550K

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Benchmark Results

Combined benchmark scores based on multiple data points, giving a quick overview of this processor's performance.

Overall Score

Overall score for Core i5-2550K based on all benchmark results gathered. Look at this like a meta score, you will find more specific workload ratings below.

4,937 Rank: 919
Rank Name Score Visual
915 FX-770K 4,942
+0.1%
916 Ryzen 5 3550H 4,941
+0.1%
917 Core i7-7Y75 4,938
+0%
918 Xeon D-1577 4,937
+0%
919 Core i5-2550K 4,937
920 Xeon Silver 4112 4,934
-0.1%
921 Xeon E3-1271 v3 4,934
-0.1%
922 Athlon 240GE 4,933
-0.1%
923 Ryzen 7 PRO 2700U 4,933
-0.1%
924 Core i3-8121U 4,932
-0.1%

View full ranking →

Multicore Score

Multicore performance score for Core i5-2550K based on multi-threaded benchmark results.

4,702 Rank: 960
Rank Name Score Visual
956 Core 2 Duo T5750 4,703
+0%
957 Xeon E5-2630L v2 4,703
+0%
958 Core i7-975 4,703
+0%
959 Xeon E3-1535M v6 4,702
+0%
960 Core i5-2550K 4,702
961 Core i7-990X 4,700
+-0%
962 Core i5-4460 4,699
-0.1%
963 Ryzen 5 3500U 4,698
-0.1%
964 Ryzen 3 PRO 3300U 4,698
-0.1%
965 Xeon E3-1245 v5 4,696
-0.1%

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Singlecore Score

Single-core performance score for Core i5-2550K based on single-threaded benchmark results.

5,094 Rank: 884
Rank Name Score Visual
880 Core i3-7100H 5,098
+0.1%
881 Pentium G3430 5,096
+0%
882 Core i5-3570K 5,095
+0%
883 Ryzen 5 PRO 2400GE 5,094
+0%
884 Core i5-2550K 5,094
885 Pentium G3460 5,093
+-0%
886 Celeron G3930TE 5,086
-0.2%
887 Core i7-4700MQ 5,083
-0.2%
888 Core i5-4330M 5,082
-0.2%
889 Xeon E5-2680 v4 5,081
-0.3%

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Workload Scores

Performance scores grouped by workload type, normalized and aggregated from multiple raw benchmark results.

Number Crunching

Aggregated score for Core i5-2550K based on integer math, floating point math, and prime number computation benchmarks.

4,608 Rank: 945
Rank Name Score Visual
941 Xeon X3470 4,612
+0.1%
942 Core i5-7400T 4,611
+0.1%
943 Core i7-2860QM 4,610
+0%
944 Core i5-6300HQ 4,609
+0%
945 Core i5-2550K 4,608
946 Core i7-2600S 4,608
+0%
947 Core i7-875K 4,608
+0%
948 Pentium Silver N6005 4,608
+0%
949 Xeon D-1518 4,607
+-0%
950 Core i5-3330S 4,607
+-0%

View full ranking →

Data Processing

Aggregated score for Core i5-2550K based on data encryption, data compression, and string sorting benchmarks.

4,586 Rank: 944
Rank Name Score Visual
940 Xeon X3470 4,587
+0%
941 Xeon X5570 4,587
+0%
942 Xeon W3550 4,587
+0%
943 Core i3-7350K 4,586
+0%
944 Core i5-2550K 4,586
945 Core i5-3450 4,586
+0%
946 Core i5-6440HQ 4,585
+-0%
947 Xeon W3570 4,585
+-0%
948 Core i3-1115G4E 4,584
+-0%
949 Xeon W-2102 4,583
-0.1%

View full ranking →

Physics & Compute

Aggregated score for Core i5-2550K based on physics simulation and extended instruction set (SSE/AVX) benchmarks.

4,608 Rank: 943
Rank Name Score Visual
939 Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U 4,609
+0%
940 Ryzen 5 2500U 4,609
+0%
941 Core i5-3470S 4,609
+0%
942 Xeon X5667 4,609
+0%
943 Core i5-2550K 4,608
944 Core i5-3335S 4,608
+0%
945 Ryzen 3 PRO 2200GE 4,607
+-0%
946 Core i7-6650U 4,607
+-0%
947 Core i7-6567U 4,607
+-0%
948 Core i3-7100 4,607
+-0%

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Core i5-2550K Details

The Intel Core i5-2550K ranks among the middle tier of processors in its category, with an overall benchmark score of 4937, placing it at #918 out of 2060 CPUs. It sits just behind the Core i7-7Y75 and slightly ahead of the Celeron G4920, indicating its position as a capable but aging mainstream CPU. Despite being released in 2011, it remains relevant for budget builds and retro systems, especially when paired with an enthusiast-grade motherboard and overclocking headroom. Its closest competitors include the Core i7-975 and Xeon E5-2630L v2, both of which are marginally faster but differ significantly in architecture and intended use cases.

At the heart of the Core i5-2550K is a quad-core design built on Intel’s 32 nm process, with a base frequency of 3.4 GHz and a turbo boost up to 3.8 GHz. The CPU operates on the LGA1155 socket and supports dual-channel DDR3 memory up to 1333 MHz, with a maximum capacity of 32 GB and a bandwidth of 21 GB/s. With a 95 W TDP, it requires a robust cooling solution, particularly when pushed beyond stock settings. The processor supports Intel’s Hyper-Threading technology, allowing it to handle four threads simultaneously, which aids in multitasking and productivity workloads.

The integrated HD Graphics 4600 GPU, while not powerful by modern standards, provides basic display output support with up to three monitors and a maximum frequency of 1150 MHz. This makes the i5-2550K suitable for office work, media playback, and light gaming on lower settings. The GPU supports PCIe 2.0 and up to 2x8 or 1x8+2x4 lane configurations, enabling some flexibility in system design.

In terms of features, the Core i5-2550K supports a wide range of Intel technologies, including AVX2, AES-NI, SSE4.1/4.2, VT-x, and VT-d, which enhance encryption, virtualization, and multimedia performance. It also includes Intel’s Enhanced SpeedStep Technology (EIST) for power efficiency and TXT for secure boot environments. However, it lacks support for ECC memory and newer instruction sets like AVX-512, which limits its appeal in high-performance computing and server environments.

Benchmark results reveal a single-core score of 5094 and a multicore score of 4702, indicating a strong performance in single-threaded applications but a moderate edge in multi-threaded workloads. This aligns with its position as a consumer-grade processor from the early Haswell era, designed for general-purpose computing rather than heavy rendering or content creation. Compared to modern CPUs like the Ryzen 9 9950X or Core Ultra 9 285K, the i5-2550K falls far behind in both single- and multi-core performance, with a top-tier score of over 8500 on the single-core scale.

As of March 2026, the Core i5-2550K remains a viable option for retro enthusiasts, budget systems, or embedded applications where cost and power efficiency are key considerations. While it lacks the modern features and performance of today’s processors, its reliability and overclocking potential ensure it still holds value in niche markets. For most users, however, it is no longer competitive with current-generation CPUs in either performance or efficiency.
Frequently Compared

AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2920X 34 views

Intel Core i7-7700K 33 views

AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 2200GE 31 views

Intel Xeon Silver 4112 31 views

AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 3900 30 views

Intel Xeon Silver 4108 29 views

Intel Xeon Silver 4116T 28 views

Intel Xeon Silver 4210 28 views

AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U 26 views

Intel Xeon Silver 4214 26 views

Intel Core i5-2550K

Main Specifications

Designer: Intel
Name: Core i5-2550K
Model Number: i5-2550K
Cores: 4
Threads: 4
Base Frequency: 3400 MHz
Socket: LGA1155
Max CPUs: 1
TDP: 95 W

Cache Specifications

Memory Specifications

Supported Memory Type: DDR3 1066/1333
Memory Channels: 2
Maximum Memory: 0 GB
Maximum Bandwidth: 21 GB/s
ECC Support: No

PCI-Express Specifications

PCIe Revision: 2.0
PCIe Lanes: 16
PCIe Configuration: Up to 1x16, 2x8, 1x8+2x4

Integrated Graphics

GPU: HD Graphics 4600
GPU Designer: Intel
GPU Max Frequency: 1150 MHz

Physical Specifications

Process: 32 nm
Word Size: 64-bit

CPU Features

SSE4.1 SSE4.2 AVX2 AES x86-64 HT EIST TXT vPro VT-x VT-d EPT Secure Key SMEP SIPP IPT TSX Flex Memory FMA
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