CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-5250U vs Intel Core i3-1115G4
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.
Handles word processing and spreadsheets effortlessly, but heavily multitasked office environments will expose the 2-core limitation.
Gaming
HD 6000 offers a modest improvement over HD 5500, enabling some older games at 720p low settings.
The Iris Xe iGPU can handle older or 2D indie games at low settings, but modern AAA titles are unplayable.
Virtualization
Dual-core design is fundamentally unsuitable for virtualization workloads.
2 cores and 4 threads are insufficient for running anything beyond a single, very lightweight virtual machine.
Efficiency
14nm process delivers reasonable efficiency, though the larger die consumes more power than the smaller HD 5500 variant.
The configurable 12W-28W TDP range allows OEMs to tune it for excellent battery life in thin chassis designs.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No dedicated AI hardware
- Insufficient compute for AI workloads
- Not applicable for this processor class
- No dedicated NPU
- AVX-512 provides some acceleration for specific vector math workloads
- Not intended for AI development or 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
- Lacks the core count and GPU power for modern gaming
- Can manage basic e-sports titles like League of Legends at 720p/1080p low
- Memory bandwidth limitations heavily cap iGPU performance
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- DDR3 memory is obsolete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
- High 4.1 GHz boost clock for snappy single-thread tasks
- Modern Iris Xe-LP integrated graphics
- Low 15W TDP enables thin, quiet laptops
- AVX-512 instruction set support
- Efficient 10nm SuperFin manufacturing process
Cons
- Only 2 cores and 4 threads severely limit multitasking
- 6MB L3 cache is small for modern workloads
- Only 4 direct CPU PCIe 4.0 lanes
- No DDR5 or LPDDR5 support
- BGA package prevents any upgrades
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
Intel Core i3-1115G4
- AMD Ryzen 3 5300URival
Mobile
- AMD Ryzen 3 3250URival
Mobile
- Compare head-to-headApple M1Rival
Mobile
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c Gen 2Rival
Mobile
- MediaTek Kompanio 500TRival
Mobile
Offers 4 cores and 8 threads, doubling the multitasking capability with only a small power increase.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 5500UAlt
Provides 6 Zen 2 cores and 12 threads, vastly superior multi-core performance.
12th-gen successor featuring 2 P-Cores and 4 E-Cores for much better background task handling.
Compare head-to-head- Apple M1 (base)Alt
Far superior performance per watt and unmatched battery life in a similar power class.
- AMD Ryzen 3 5400UAlt
6 cores at a competitive price point, offering much better long-term usability.
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 capable entry-level mobile processor for basic tasks, hindered by its 2-core limit but benefiting from strong single-core speeds and a modern iGPU architecture.
Best for: Purchasing a highly discounted budget laptop for basic school or office work where no heavy multitasking is required.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i5-5250U or Intel Core i3-1115G4?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i5-5250U comes out ahead with a score of 6.2/10. That said, the best choice depends on your workload — check the spec and performance breakdown above for gaming, productivity and efficiency differences.
Do Intel Core i5-5250U and Intel Core i3-1115G4 use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Intel Core i5-5250U: Intel BGA 1168, Intel Core i3-1115G4: BGA 1449), so each needs a compatible motherboard.
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.