CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-5250U vs Intel Core i5-5257U
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.
Higher base clock and 28W TDP deliver better sustained performance than 15W variants, but dual-core design still limits multi-threaded workloads.
Gaming
HD 6000 offers a modest improvement over HD 5500, enabling some older games at 720p low 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
Dual-core design is fundamentally unsuitable for virtualization workloads.
Slightly better than 15W variants but still fundamentally limited by dual-core design.
Efficiency
14nm process delivers reasonable efficiency, though the larger die consumes more power than the smaller HD 5500 variant.
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 hardware
- Insufficient compute for AI workloads
- Not applicable for this processor class
- No AI acceleration hardware
- GPU compute insufficient for modern AI workloads
- Not applicable for this processor generation
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
- 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
- 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
- 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 i5-5250U
- 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 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
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 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 i5-5250U 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 i5-5250U or Intel Core i5-5257U?
For gaming, the Intel Core i5-5257U leads with a gaming performance score of 22/100 among Intel Core i5-5250U and Intel Core i5-5257U.
Which uses less power?
The Intel Core i5-5250U has the lowest rated TDP. Power draw across these chips: Intel Core i5-5250U (15 W), Intel Core i5-5257U (28 W).
Do Intel Core i5-5250U 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 i5-5250U (2,620), Intel Core i5-5257U (2,950). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.