CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-5250U vs Core i7-5650U
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i5-5250U is a dual-core Broadwell-U mobile processor with Intel HD 6000 graphics and DDR3-1866 support, targeting premium ultrabooks that needed better GPU performance than the standard HD 5500 variant.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
The lower base clock of 1.6 GHz can cause sluggishness during burst workloads despite the same turbo frequency.
Good for basic tasks, but dual-core limits heavy work.
Gaming
HD 6000 offers a modest improvement over HD 5500, enabling some older games at 720p low settings.
HD 6000 is better than standard, but still weak for gaming.
Virtualization
Dual-core design is fundamentally unsuitable for virtualization workloads.
Not recommended for VMs.
Efficiency
14nm process delivers reasonable efficiency, though the larger die consumes more power than the smaller HD 5500 variant.
Good efficiency, though the larger GPU increases idle power slightly.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No dedicated AI hardware
- Insufficient compute for AI workloads
- Not applicable for this processor class
- No AI hardware
- Dual-core limits inference
Content Creation
Gaming
- HD 6000 is an improvement over HD 5500 but still limited
- Older titles like Team Fortress 2 and League of Legends can run at 720p medium
- Shared memory bandwidth limits GPU performance
- Not viable for any modern AAA title
- Can handle older games at 720p
- HD 6000 is a step up but still weak
- Not for modern AAA gaming
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- HD 6000 graphics significantly better than HD 5500
- DDR3-1866 provides more memory bandwidth
- 15W TDP maintains ultrabook compatibility
- Good for HD video playback and media consumption
- Configurable TDP for OEM design flexibility
Cons
- Lower base clock than i5-5200U (1.6 vs 2.2 GHz)
- Only 2 physical cores with dual-core limitation
- DDR3 memory is obsolete
- PCIe Gen 2 lanes are outdated
- End-of-life with no support or updates
- Not compatible with Windows 11
Pros
- Better integrated graphics than standard U-series
- Low 15W TDP
- Supports faster 1866 MT/s DDR3
- Good for media playback
Cons
- Only 2 cores
- Outdated DDR3 memory
- Weak for modern multitasking
- Soldered to motherboard
- Short market lifespan
Competitors & Alternatives
Intel Core i5-5250U
- AMD A10-8700PRival
Mobile Mainstream
- AMD FX-7500Rival
Mobile Mainstream
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-5200URival
Mobile Ultrabook
- Intel Core i7-5550URival
Mobile Ultrabook
- AMD A8-7410Rival
Mobile Budget
- Intel Core i5-6260UAlt
Skylake successor with Iris 540 graphics and DDR4 support.
- Intel Core i5-8250UAlt
Four cores with significantly better multi-threaded performance.
- AMD Ryzen 5 3500UAlt
Four cores with Vega 8 graphics for much better overall performance.
- Alt
If considering a used MacBook, the M1 MacBook Air offers dramatically better performance.
Compare head-to-head Modern dual-core with much better single-thread and GPU performance at similar price points.
Compare head-to-head
Core i7-5650U
- AMD A10-7300Rival
Mobile APU
- Intel Core i7-5550URival
Mobile Thin & Light
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-5250URival
Mobile Thin & Light
- Intel Core i7-6560UAlt
Skylake successor with Iris graphics and DDR4.
- AMD Ryzen 5 5500UAlt
Modern 6-core alternative with Vega graphics.
- Alt
Massive leap in efficiency and graphics performance.
Compare head-to-head Modern 10nm alternative with Iris Plus graphics.
Compare head-to-headCoffee Lake-U with Iris Plus and much higher performance.
Compare head-to-head
Our Verdict on Each
A step up from the i5-5200U thanks to HD 6000 graphics and faster DDR3-1866 memory, but the dual-core design remains a fundamental limitation by modern standards.
Best for: Buying a used MacBook Air or ultrabook for under $80 for basic tasks
Read the full reviewA strong Broadwell-U chip that offered better graphics than standard models, making it ideal for premium ultrabooks needing a graphical edge.
Best for: Buying a used MacBook Air for basic typing and media consumption.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i5-5250U or Core i7-5650U?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Core i7-5650U 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 i5-5250U or Core i7-5650U?
For gaming, the Core i7-5650U leads with a gaming performance score of 25/100 among Intel Core i5-5250U and Core i7-5650U.
Do Intel Core i5-5250U and Core i7-5650U 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 i5-5250U posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i5-5250U (2,620). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.