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Intel Core i3-3240 vs AMD Phenom II X2 550

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CPU comparison with benchmarks


Intel Core i3-3240 CPU1 vs CPU2 AMD Phenom II X2 550
Intel Core i3-3240 AMD Phenom II X2 550

CPU comparison

In this CPU comparison, we compare the Intel Core i3-3240 and the AMD Phenom II X2 550 and use benchmarks to check which processor is faster.

We compare the Intel Core i3-3240 2 core processor released in Q3/2012 with the AMD Phenom II X2 550 which has 2 CPU cores and was introduced in Q4/2009.
Intel Core i3 (205) Family AMD Phenom II (52)
Intel Core i 3000 (31) CPU group AMD Phenom II - 545 (9)
3 Generation 2
Ivy Bridge S Architecture Callisto (K10)
Desktop Segment Desktop
-- Predecessor --
-- Successor --

CPU Cores and Base Frequency

The Intel Core i3-3240 is a 2 core processor with a clock frequency of 3.40 GHz. The processor can compute 4 threads at the same time. The AMD Phenom II X2 550 clocks with 3.10 GHz, has 2 CPU cores and can calculate 2 threads in parallel.
Intel Core i3-3240 Characteristic AMD Phenom II X2 550
2 Cores 2
4 Threads 2
normal Core architecture normal
Yes Hyperthreading No
No Overclocking ? Yes
3.40 GHz Frequency 3.10 GHz
-- Turbo Frequency (1 Core) --
-- Turbo Frequency (All Cores) --

NPU AI performance

The performance values of the processor's AI unit. The isolated NPU performance is specified here, the total AI performance (NPU+CPU+iGPU) can be higher. Processors with support for artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) can process many calculations, especially audio, image and video processing, much faster than classic processors.
Intel Core i3-3240 Characteristic AMD Phenom II X2 550
-- AI hardware --
-- AI specifications --
-- NPU + CPU + iGPU --

Integrated graphics (iGPU)

Graphics (iGPU) integrated into the processor not only enable image output without having to rely on a dedicated graphics solution, but can also efficiently accelerate video playback.
Intel HD Graphics 2500 GPU no iGPU
0.65 GHz GPU frequency --
1.05 GHz GPU (Turbo) --
7 GPU Generation --
22 nm Technology
3 Max. displays
6 Compute units --
48 Shader --
No Hardware Raytracing No
No Frame Generation No
2 GB Max. GPU Memory --
11.0 DirectX Version --

Hardware codec support

A photo or video codec that is accelerated in hardware can greatly accelerate the working speed of a processor and extend the battery life of notebooks or smartphones when playing videos.
Intel HD Graphics 2500 GPU no iGPU
No Codec h265 / HEVC (8 bit) No
No Codec h265 / HEVC (10 bit) No
Decode / Encode Codec h264 No
No Codec VP9 No
No Codec VP8 No
No Codec AV1 No
Decode / Encode Codec AVC No
Decode Codec VC-1 No
Decode Codec JPEG No

Memory & PCIe

Up to 32 GB of memory in a maximum of 2 memory channels is supported by the Intel Core i3-3240, while the AMD Phenom II X2 550 supports a maximum of GB of memory with a maximum memory bandwidth of 21.3 GB/s enabled.
Intel Core i3-3240 Characteristic AMD Phenom II X2 550
DDR3-1600 Memory DDR3-1333, DDR2-1066
32 GB Max. Memory
2 (Dual Channel) Memory channels 2 (Dual Channel)
25.6 GB/s Max. Bandwidth 21.3 GB/s
No ECC No
-- L2 Cache --
3.00 MB L3 Cache 6.00 MB
2.0 PCIe version --
16 PCIe lanes --
8.0 GB/s PCIe Bandwidth --

Thermal Management

The Intel Core i3-3240 has a TDP of 55 W. The TDP of the AMD Phenom II X2 550 is 80 W. System integrators use the TDP of the processor as a guide when dimensioning the cooling solution.
Intel Core i3-3240 Characteristic AMD Phenom II X2 550
55 W TDP (PL1 / PBP) 80 W
-- TDP (PL2) --
-- TDP up --
-- TDP down --
-- Tjunction max. --

Technical details

The Intel Core i3-3240 has 3.00 MB cache and is manufactured in 22 nm. The cache of AMD Phenom II X2 550 is at 6.00 MB. The processor is manufactured in 45 nm.
Intel Core i3-3240 Characteristic AMD Phenom II X2 550
22 nm Technology 45 nm
Monolithic Chip design Unknown
x86-64 (64 bit) Instruction set (ISA) x86-64 (64 bit)
SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX ISA extensions SSE3, SSE4a
LGA 1155 Socket AM3
VT-x, VT-x EPT Virtualization AMD-V
Yes AES-NI No
Windows 10, Linux Operating systems Windows 10, Linux
Q3/2012 Release date Q4/2009
117 $ Release price --
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Rate these processors

Here you can rate the Intel Core i3-3240 to help other visitors make their purchasing decisions. The average rating is 3.1 stars (12 ratings). Rate now:
Here you can rate the AMD Phenom II X2 550 to help other visitors make their purchasing decisions. The average rating is 5.0 stars (1 ratings). Rate now:

Average performance in benchmarks

⌀ Single core performance in 2 CPU benchmarks
Intel Core i3-3240 (100%)
AMD Phenom II X2 550 (65%)
⌀ Multi core performance in 4 CPU benchmarks
Intel Core i3-3240 (100%)
AMD Phenom II X2 550 (55%)

Geekbench 5, 64bit (Single-Core)

Geekbench 5 is a cross plattform benchmark that heavily uses the systems memory. A fast memory will push the result a lot. The single-core test only uses one CPU core, the amount of cores or hyperthreading ability doesn't count.
Intel Core i3-3240 Intel Core i3-3240
2C 4T @ 3.40 GHz
672 (100%)
AMD Phenom II X2 550 AMD Phenom II X2 550
2C 2T @ 3.10 GHz
404 (60%)

Geekbench 5, 64bit (Multi-Core)

Geekbench 5 is a cross plattform benchmark that heavily uses the systems memory. A fast memory will push the result a lot. The multi-core test involves all CPU cores and taks a big advantage of hyperthreading.
Intel Core i3-3240 Intel Core i3-3240
2C 4T @ 3.40 GHz
1483 (100%)
AMD Phenom II X2 550 AMD Phenom II X2 550
2C 2T @ 3.10 GHz
736 (50%)

Estimated results for PassMark CPU Mark

Some of the CPUs listed below have been benchmarked by CPU-monkey. However the majority of CPUs have not been tested and the results have been estimated by a CPU-monkey’s secret proprietary formula. As such they do not accurately reflect the actual Passmark CPU mark values and are not endorsed by PassMark Software Pty Ltd.
Intel Core i3-3240 Intel Core i3-3240
2C 4T @ 3.40 GHz
2322 (100%)
AMD Phenom II X2 550 AMD Phenom II X2 550
2C 2T @ 3.10 GHz
1995 (86%)

CPU-Z Benchmark 17 (Multi-Core)

The CPU-Z benchmark measures a processor's performance by measuring the time it takes the system to complete all benchmark calculations. The faster the benchmark is completed, the higher the score.
Intel Core i3-3240 Intel Core i3-3240
2C 4T @ 3.40 GHz
835 (100%)
AMD Phenom II X2 550 AMD Phenom II X2 550
2C 2T @ 3.10 GHz
283 (34%)

Cinebench R15 (Single-Core)

Cinebench R15 is the successor of Cinebench 11.5 and is also based on the Cinema 4 Suite. Cinema 4 is a worldwide used software to create 3D forms. The single-core test only uses one CPU core, the amount of cores or hyperthreading ability doesn't count.
Intel Core i3-3240 Intel Core i3-3240
2C 4T @ 3.40 GHz
119 (100%)
AMD Phenom II X2 550 AMD Phenom II X2 550
2C 2T @ 3.10 GHz
82 (69%)

Cinebench R15 (Multi-Core)

Cinebench R15 is the successor of Cinebench 11.5 and is also based on the Cinema 4 Suite. Cinema 4 is a worldwide used software to create 3D forms. The multi-core test involves all CPU cores and taks a big advantage of hyperthreading.
Intel Core i3-3240 Intel Core i3-3240
2C 4T @ 3.40 GHz
306 (100%)
AMD Phenom II X2 550 AMD Phenom II X2 550
2C 2T @ 3.10 GHz
157 (51%)

Geekbench 6 (Single-Core)

Geekbench 6 is a partial load benchmark for modern computers, notebooks and smartphones. In the single-core test, only the fastest CPU core is measured. The test run simulates the performance in practice.
Intel Core i3-3240 Intel Core i3-3240
2C 4T @ 3.40 GHz
586 (100%)
AMD Phenom II X2 550 AMD Phenom II X2 550
2C 2T @ 3.10 GHz
0 (0%)

Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core)

The practical Geekbench 6 multi-core benchmark tests the system's performance under partial load. The processor's maximum power consumption is far from being used up.
Intel Core i3-3240 Intel Core i3-3240
2C 4T @ 3.40 GHz
1240 (100%)
AMD Phenom II X2 550 AMD Phenom II X2 550
2C 2T @ 3.10 GHz
0 (0%)

iGPU - FP32 Performance (Single-precision GFLOPS)

The theoretical computing performance of the internal graphics unit of the processor with simple accuracy (32 bit) in GFLOPS. GFLOPS indicates how many billion floating point operations the iGPU can perform per second.
Intel Core i3-3240 Intel Core i3-3240
Intel HD Graphics 2500 @ 1.05 GHz
101 (100%)
AMD Phenom II X2 550 AMD Phenom II X2 550
@ 0.00 GHz
0 (0%)

CPU-Z Benchmark 17 (Single-Core)

The CPU-Z benchmark measures a processor's performance by measuring the time it takes the system to complete all benchmark calculations. The faster the benchmark is completed, the higher the score.
Intel Core i3-3240 Intel Core i3-3240
2C 4T @ 3.40 GHz
286 (100%)
AMD Phenom II X2 550 AMD Phenom II X2 550
2C 2T @ 3.10 GHz
0 (0%)

Devices using this processor
Intel Core i3-3240 AMD Phenom II X2 550
Unknown Unknown

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