Intel Core i5-3550 socket: LGA 1155

What the Core i5-3550 is

Intel Core i5-3550 is a quad core Ivy Bridge desktop processor that Intel released in April 2012 near the top of the locked i5 stack. It runs at 3.3 GHz base with Turbo Boost 2.0 to 3.7 GHz, with 6 MB Intel Smart Cache and 4 threads. The 22 nm process holds power to 77 W, the standard tower rating.

Graphics are Intel HD Graphics 2500 at 650 MHz to 1150 MHz. The block covers office displays and video, while the chip leans on a discrete card for heavier 3D work. The memory controller runs DDR3 at 1333 or 1600 MT/s in two channels, and the core adds AVX, VT-x and VT-d.

The high base clock gives the model its character. Even fully loaded work runs at 3.3 GHz, while lightly threaded tasks reach 3.7 GHz. Towers pair it with H77 or Z77, 8 GB to 16 GB of RAM and an SSD for a direct response. The How to find your CPU socket type guide helps verify the board before a cooler swap.

Socket and motherboard compatibility

The Core i5-3550 fits LGA 1155 in FCLGA1155 form. 7 series boards boot it with a shipping BIOS, and most 6 series H61, H67, P67 and Z68 boards accept it after a BIOS update with Ivy Bridge microcode. B65, Q65 and Q67 stay Sandy Bridge only. Intel lists 7 series chipsets among the compatible sets for this SKU.

At 77 W the chip is the tower reference, so every desktop LGA 1155 board feeds it. Z77 suits buyers who may later fit a K chip, while H77 and B75 cover fixed clock builds. The CPU cooler compatibility by socket guide covers the shared 75 mm cooler mount.

Memory, PCIe and cooling

Memory support is DDR3-1333 and 1600, two channels, up to 32 GB for 25.6 GB/s. Two matched DIMMs reach that peak, and the shared graphics block benefits first. ECC is not supported, and DDR4 is not possible here.

PCI Express is 16 lanes from the CPU at PCIe 3.0, arranged as 1x16, 2x8 or 1x8 plus 2x4. Many systems add a mainstream 2012 card for games or extra monitors, which the quad cores feed without strain. Office builds often stay on HD 2500 alone.

Cooling is the 77 W desktop pattern with a 67.4 C case limit class. The boxed cooler holds stock clocks with fair case airflow, while a tower cooler lowers noise under long renders. Mounting is 75 × 75 mm push pin.

Upgrade paths

Within LGA 1155 the Core i5-3550 can step to the faster locked i5-3570 or the unlocked i5-3570K on the same board, where the BIOS lists them. Memory, storage and the cooler carry over, so the swap is small. A slower office reference on the same socket is Intel Pentium G2020.

A platform change to LGA 1200 or newer needs a new board, DDR4 memory and a new mount. Keep the 3550 tower for home or office work where four fast Ivy cores still meet the need.