Intel Pentium 3550M
Also called intel pentium 3550m, pentium 3550m, 3550m, pentium-3550m
Intel Pentium laptop processor on Haswell, with 2 cores and 2 threads and 2 MB L3 at 37 W TDP on a 22 nm process addressing up to 32 GB and Intel HD Graphics for 4th Generation Intel Processors.
What you need to know
Intel Pentium 3550M is a legacy laptop cpu.
Intel Pentium 3550M launched in October 1, 2013., It has 2 cores and 2 threads on Haswell, dropping into the FCPGA946 socket. Treat the spec table as the facts. Age alone does not tell you to throw it out.
- Still good?
- Only if the workload is light
- Product age
- 12 years old
- Upgrade pressure
- Moderate
What this hardware means today
Age and usefulness are not the same number. This page keeps them separate.
- Performance today
- Modest. Laptop performance depends on the OEM power limit as much as this SKU name.
- Product age 12 years old
- Legacy. Launched October 1, 2013. Newer platforms exist. That does not make this chip unusable by itself.
- Support status
- Supported. Current Windows and current applications still run on this class of CPU. Platform BIOS support depends on the motherboard or laptop vendor.
- Upgrade pressure
- Moderate. Upgrade pressure comes from platform features and specific CPU-bound work, not from the chip being unusable.
Where does it sit?
Haswell sits on Intel's recent Core timeline. Later desktop branding moved toward Core Ultra.
Performance context
These are qualitative readings, not a fake 8.7 out of 10. Workload still wins.
Gaming: Good
Fine when the laptop GPU is the limit. CPU names on thin laptops often are not.
Productivity: Modest
2 cores cover office, browser, and compile work in this class.
Multithreaded workloads: Average
2 threads. Heavy encodes still scale further on higher-core parts.
General use: Good
Everyday Windows use is not where most people notice this SKU first.
Efficiency: Depends on the laptop
The same SKU in two laptops can draw very different power. Read the device, not the CPU name alone.
Should you upgrade?
Probably not based on CPU performance alone.
Upgrade makes more sense if
- Your workload is strongly CPU limited
- You need a newer platform for memory, I/O, or chipset features
- You need substantially more multicore performance
- You are buying a whole new laptop anyway
Upgrade makes less sense if
- The GPU is the real bottleneck
- Current applications are already responsive
- The CPU rarely limits your workload
Specifications
Figures below follow the Feex Hardware Database record for this SKU. Fields without a recorded value are omitted.
Processor
Intel Pentium 3550M is built on Haswell using a 22 nm process.
| Manufacturer | Intel |
|---|---|
| Family | Pentium |
| Architecture | Haswell |
| Generation | Intel Pentium Processor 3000 Series |
| Manufacturing process | 22 nm |
| Segment | Laptop |
Cores and threads
Intel Pentium 3550M has 2 cores and 2 threads.
| Cores | 2 |
|---|---|
| Threads | 2 |
Clock speeds
Base clock is 2.3 GHz.
| Base frequency | 2.3 GHz |
|---|
Cache
Cache on this sheet is 2 MB L3.
| L3 cache | 2 MB |
|---|---|
| Total cache | 2 MB |
Memory
Intel Pentium 3550M addresses 32 GB across 2 memory channels.
| Max capacity | 32 GB |
|---|---|
| Channels | 2 |
Package and power
Intel Pentium 3550M uses the FCPGA946 socket and a 37 W TDP.
| Socket | FCPGA946 |
|---|---|
| TDP | 37 W |
| PCIe | Revision 2.0, 16 lanes |
Integrated graphics
Intel Pentium 3550M includes Intel HD Graphics for 4th Generation Intel Processors.
| Integrated graphics | Intel HD Graphics for 4th Generation Intel Processors |
|---|
Market
Intel Pentium 3550M launched October 1, 2013.
| Launch date | October 1, 2013 |
|---|---|
| Model | 3550M |
Features
Intel Pentium 3550M records 3 instruction sets on this sheet.
| Instruction sets | 64-bit (x86-64)SSE4.1SSE4.2 |
|---|---|
| Security | Hardware RNG |
| Virtualization | Extended Page Tables (EPT)VT-x (Hardware Virtualization) |
Compatibility
| Socket | FCPGA946 |
|---|---|
| Board | A shared socket is not automatic compatibility. Check the motherboard CPU list and BIOS revision. |
| Memory | up to 32 GB |
| Graphics | Intel HD Graphics for 4th Generation Intel Processors |
A shared socket is not automatic compatibility. Boards often need a BIOS update before a newer chip in the same socket will post.
Laptop power limits, cooling, and the OEM firmware matter as much as the model name.
Read the memory list on the board. The CPU can list more standards than one motherboard will accept.
No post after a CPU swap
Clear CMOS only after you confirm the board list includes this SKU and the BIOS is new enough. A supported name on a box is not the same as a flashed board.
Sources and verification
Reviewed by Feex editorial. Last verified August 2026 Status: Partially Verified. How we research.
- Feex Hardware Database · Specification source used for this sheet. CC BY 4.0.
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