Intel Core i3-9350K vs Intel Core i7-8550U

Processor comparisons   17-03-2021
   For example there are difficulties with the choice of a processor, you will solve them by reading the comprehensive tests Intel Core i3-9350K vs Intel Core i7-8550U and understand which is better for games or normal use for video editing, rendering, machine learning, programming, streaming. Here you can find useful information from real streaming and video editing tests or various benchmarks. A careful review of all the specifications, to make it easier to understand, is made by the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of joint testing in special test applications like UserBenchmark, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), DaVinci Resolve Studio, VeraCrypt, RealBench, 3DMark, Prime95, PCMark 10, PassMark, WPrime, SuperPi, GeekBench 6, 5.2, Dolphin Emulator, AIDA64, Handbrake, Blender, Blender, Furmark, MATLAB, 7zip, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Gears 5.
   And how good the processors are in games:

World of Warcraft: Shadowlands
Red Dead Redemption 2
Cyberpunk 2077
Fallout 76
Overwatch
Apex Legends
Assassin's Creed Valhalla
Grand Theft Auto V
Valorant
Rainbow Six Siege
Fortnite
Halo Infinite
Valheim
Watch Dogs Legion
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Warzone
DOOM: Eternal
Last Man Standing
Borderlands 3
Death Stranding

After reading the results of joint benchmarks and videos, you already be able to figure out which CPU is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i7-8550U or Intel Core i3-9350K.

Summary benchmark results

As a percentage of the maximum value based on a sample from the entire base of all processors
Processor Benchmark

Core i3-9350K

52%

Core i7-8550U

51%

This value shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i3-9350K is 1% better than Core i7-8550U. The data source is several popular tests. More detailed information of the benchmarks is below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i3-9350K

52%

Core i7-8550U

52%

The maximum result in this parameter is 100 percent, which is the performance of the most powerful processor at the moment. And it is clear that this is a server processor, on which no one will play games. Because this processor costs several tens of thousands of dollars. Therefore, if you think that the selected CPU has a small game result, look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the final table below.
List of less popular games in which processors were compared: Microsoft Flight Simulator, Forza Horizon 4, DOTA 2A, Half-Life: Alyx, Monster Hunter World, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), NBA 2K20, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Battlefield V, League of Legends (LOL), Horizon Zero Dawn, Ghostrunner, Control, Metro Exodus, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Hitman 3, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG).

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	93.2	91.9
Valorant	105.9	104.4
Cyberpunk 2077	59.3	58.5
Apex Legends	99.5	98.1
Call of Duty Warzone	79.4	78.3
Overwatch	85.7	84.6
Red Dead Redemption 2	73.0	72.0
DOOM Eternal	52.9	52.2
Warzone	82.6	81.4
Assassin's Creed	88.9	87.7
Valheim	87.9	86.6

The numbers in this table indicate the maximum FPS that was received on the device with the corresponding processor. Depending on the configuration of the computer (RAM size and Video Card) and graphics quality settings (Ultra, Medium, Normal), the results may differ quite significantly. We recommend that you better study the results of the Cinebench, GeekBench and Passmark becnmarks.
The tested computers not only did they have different amounts of RAM and different video cards. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: FullHD, 2K or 4K. Therefore, the game benchmark data is approximate. But all video cards met the average system requirements of games. You will get more accurate information about how powerful the processor will be in games, if you get acquainted with the benchmarks that are made with the same video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Core i3-9350K

45%

Core i7-8550U

228%

To make a finishing choice on which processor is better, you should also consider the generation of its core. The newer the processor generation, the better its performance in games and benchmarks, as well as its energy efficiency. In this case the Core i7-8550U is more energy efficient than the Core i3-9350K since it has less power consumption: 91W vs. 15W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, you need to know its TDP. You need to buy a cooler that has the TDP data specified in the specification was greater than the TDP of the compared processor.

Software benchmarks

For example you want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for machine learning, streaming, programming, video rendering or video editing, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to achieve maximum performance, the processor turns on all threads and cores that it has. You will find out this data from the benchmark tables below. Before you take into account the data from these tests, be sure to find out whether the software that you are going to use on your computer can work in multi-threaded mode. Because there are still many programs that use only one core to run, and all the benefit of multi-core mode are unused.
Cinebench 23, 20 an 15
The results of this benchmark show Single-threaded and Multi-threaded CPU performance

	Intel Core i3-9350K	Intel Core i7-8550U
Cinbench 15 Single-core	165	167
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	832	564
Cinbench 20 Single-core	476	354
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	1833	1211
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1000	979
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	3885	3111

Passmark
This popular benchmark displays Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	Intel Core i3-9350K	Intel Core i7-8550U
Single-Core	2875	2072
Multi-Core	7773	5970

GeekBench 6, 5.2
This benchmark shows Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	Intel Core i3-9350K	Intel Core i7-8550U
Single-Core	1254	1027
Multi-Core	5053	3788

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most helpful will be the the possibility of overclocking it and release date of the processor. The newer the processor, the longer it will last you. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system later. The same can be said about overclocking. If the processor can be overclocked, thereby increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce maximum FPS in the newest games. The savings are obvious! Accordingly, you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	Intel Core i3-9350K	Intel Core i7-8550U
Announcement date	April 01, 2020	April 01, 2017
Type	Desktop	Laptop
Socket	FCLGA1151	FC-BGA1356
Core name	Coffee Lake	Kaby Lake R
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	9	8
Turbo Frequency	4.6 MHz	4 MHz
Frequency	4 MHz	1.8 MHz
Cores	4	4
Threads	4	8
Bus rate	8 GT/s	4 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	14 nm	14 nm
Transistors count	2400 millions	1820 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	91 W	15 W
Memory type	DDR4-2400	DDR4-2400, LPDDR3-2133
Max. Memory	64 Gb	32 Gb
Memory Frequency
Memory bandwidth	37.5 GB/s	37.5 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache
L3 cache	8 MB	8 MB
Overclocking	Yes	Yes
Supports ECC	Yes	No
Part number

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Core i3-9350K is 55% better than Core i7-8550U in terms of CPU frequency. Also keep in mind that high CPU frequency affects battery life through power consumption (relevant for laptops).

Result:
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i3-9350K is better: 28
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i7-8550U is better: 3
Although it should be realized that all the number in the article above do not mean that you should be guided entirely by them and trust a simple comparison of these figures. Be sure to watch benchmarks video and read the reviews of real owners of Intel Core i3-9350K and Intel Core i7-8550U before making a choice which of the CPUs to buy for gaming.

• Intel Core i3-9350K specs and review.

• Intel Core i7-8550U specs and review.