CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-5200U vs Intel Core i5-5257U
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i5-5200U is a dual-core, four-thread mobile processor from the Broadwell-U family, built on Intel's 14nm process for thin-and-light ultrabooks requiring balanced performance and power efficiency.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Sufficient for basic document editing and email but struggles with heavy spreadsheet workloads or multitasking.
Higher base clock and 28W TDP deliver better sustained performance than 15W variants, but dual-core design still limits multi-threaded workloads.
Gaming
The HD 5500 integrated graphics can barely manage older or lightweight titles at low resolution and settings.
Iris 6100 was the best integrated GPU in the Broadwell-U lineup, handling older games at 720p-1080p low settings reasonably well for 2015.
Virtualization
Not suitable for virtualization due to limited cores and memory bandwidth.
Slightly better than 15W variants but still fundamentally limited by dual-core design.
Efficiency
The 14nm process was efficient for its era, though modern 10nm and 7nm chips far surpass it.
The 28W TDP reduces efficiency compared to 15W variants, requiring active cooling and reducing battery life in thin laptops.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No dedicated AI acceleration hardware
- Dual-core design makes AI inference impractical
- Not suitable for any machine learning workloads
- No AI acceleration hardware
- GPU compute insufficient for modern AI workloads
- Not applicable for this processor generation
Content Creation
Gaming
- HD 5500 with 24 EUs is insufficient for modern gaming
- Older titles like CS:GO and Minecraft run at playable frame rates at 720p low
- No support for modern graphics APIs beyond DirectX 11.2
- Shared memory architecture reduces GPU performance
- Iris 6100 with 48 EUs was the best Broadwell-U GPU option
- Titles like Dota 2, CS:GO, and League of Legends run at 1080p medium at 30-60 FPS
- eDRAM cache significantly helps GPU performance
- Modern games remain unplayable even at lowest settings
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- Low 15W TDP ideal for thin laptops
- Configurable TDP down to 7.5W for fanless designs
- First 14nm consumer processor generation
- Intel HD 5500 better than Haswell's HD 4400
- Hyper-Threading provides 4 logical threads
Cons
- Only 2 physical cores limit multi-threaded performance
- DDR3 memory support is outdated
- PCIe Gen 2 lanes are slow by modern standards
- No dedicated AI or hardware security features
- End-of-life with no security updates or support
- Integrated graphics inadequate for modern workloads
Pros
- Best integrated GPU in Broadwell-U i5 lineup with Iris 6100
- 128MB eDRAM benefits both CPU and GPU workloads
- 2.7 GHz base clock is strong for a 2015 dual-core
- Good for Retina display driving and 4K output
- Configurable TDP for OEM flexibility
Cons
- 28W TDP limits use to larger ultrabook designs
- Only 2 physical cores with dual-core limitation
- DDR3 memory is obsolete
- Active cooling required in all implementations
- End-of-life with no security updates
- Not Windows 11 compatible
Competitors & Alternatives
Intel Core i5-5200U
- AMD A8-7410Rival
Mobile Budget
- AMD A10-8700PRival
Mobile Budget
- Intel Core i3-5010URival
Mobile Ultrabook
- Intel Pentium 3805URival
Mobile Budget
- AMD FX-7500Rival
Mobile Mainstream
- Intel Core i5-6200UAlt
Skylake successor with DDR4 support, better GPU, and improved architecture.
- Intel Core i5-7200UAlt
Kaby Lake refresh with higher clocks and better efficiency.
- AMD Ryzen 3 3200UAlt
Modern dual-core with much better integrated graphics and DDR4 support.
10nm Ice Lake with significantly better GPU and modern features.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 3500UAlt
Four real cores with Vega graphics offering vastly superior performance.
Intel Core i5-5257U
- AMD A10-8700PRival
Mobile Mainstream
- AMD FX-7500Rival
Mobile Mainstream
- Intel Core i7-5557URival
Mobile Premium Ultrabook
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-5250URival
Mobile Ultrabook
- AMD A12-8700PRival
Mobile Mainstream
- Intel Core i5-6267UAlt
Skylake successor with Iris 550 and DDR4 support in the same 28W envelope.
- Intel Core i5-8259UAlt
Four cores with Iris Plus 655 for much better multi-threaded and GPU performance.
- Alt
If buying a used MacBook, the M1 MacBook Air offers dramatically better performance and efficiency.
Compare head-to-head - AMD Ryzen 5 4600UAlt
Six cores with Vega graphics in a 15W envelope, far outperforming this chip in every metric.
Iris Xe graphics and four cores on 10nm for a modern thin-and-light experience.
Compare head-to-head
Our Verdict on Each
The i5-5200U was a solid ultrabook chip in 2015 but is now thoroughly outdated for modern workloads, offering only basic computing capability by today's standards.
Best for: Purchasing a used ultrabook under $100 for basic web browsing and document editing
Read the full reviewThe Iris 6100 graphics made this the most capable dual-core Broadwell-U for GPU workloads, but the 28W TDP limited it to larger ultrabook designs and it remains outdated by modern standards.
Best for: Buying a used MacBook Pro 13-inch 2015 for under $150 for basic use with a Retina display
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i5-5200U or Intel Core i5-5257U?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i5-5257U comes out ahead with a score of 6.5/10. That said, the best choice depends on your workload — check the spec and performance breakdown above for gaming, productivity and efficiency differences.
Which is faster for gaming, Intel Core i5-5200U or Intel Core i5-5257U?
For gaming, the Intel Core i5-5257U leads with a gaming performance score of 22/100 among Intel Core i5-5200U and Intel Core i5-5257U.
Which uses less power?
The Intel Core i5-5200U has the lowest rated TDP. Power draw across these chips: Intel Core i5-5200U (15 W), Intel Core i5-5257U (28 W).
Do Intel Core i5-5200U and Intel Core i5-5257U use the same socket?
Yes — all of these CPUs use the Intel BGA 1168 socket, so they share compatible motherboards.
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Intel Core i5-5257U posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i5-5200U (2,550), Intel Core i5-5257U (2,950). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.