CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-5300U vs Core i7-5650U
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i5-5300U is a dual-core Broadwell-U mobile processor with Intel HD 5500 graphics, offering slightly higher clocks than the i5-5200U for mainstream ultrabooks requiring balanced 15W performance.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Slightly better than the i5-5200U due to higher clocks but the improvement is barely noticeable in everyday use.
Good for basic tasks, but dual-core limits heavy work.
Gaming
HD 5500 graphics are identical to the i5-5200U and insufficient for any modern gaming.
HD 6000 is better than standard, but still weak for gaming.
Virtualization
Dual-core design is not suitable for virtualization workloads.
Not recommended for VMs.
Efficiency
Reasonable efficiency for 2015, though modern processors deliver far more performance per watt.
Good efficiency, though the larger GPU increases idle power slightly.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No AI acceleration hardware
- Dual-core design cannot handle AI workloads
- Not applicable for this processor class or era
- No AI hardware
- Dual-core limits inference
Content Creation
Gaming
- HD 5500 identical to i5-5200U
- Only the lightest casual games are playable at 720p low
- No eDRAM means limited GPU memory bandwidth
- Not suitable for any modern gaming
- 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
- Slightly higher clocks than i5-5200U
- Same 15W TDP with 7.5W cTDP option
- Cost-effective smaller die
- Good for basic computing tasks
- Adequate HD video playback
Cons
- Barely faster than i5-5200U in real-world use
- Only 2 physical cores with dual-core limitation
- HD 5500 without eDRAM is weak for GPU tasks
- DDR3 memory is obsolete
- Not compatible with Windows 11
- Same price as much better Iris-equipped variants
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- Outdated DDR3 memory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 i5-5300U
- AMD A10-8700PRival
Mobile Budget
- AMD FX-7500Rival
Mobile Mainstream
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-5200URival
Mobile Ultrabook
- Intel Core i3-5010URival
Mobile Ultrabook
- AMD A8-7410Rival
Mobile Budget
- Intel Core i5-6300UAlt
Skylake successor with DDR4, improved architecture, and similar power profile.
- Intel Core i5-8250UAlt
Four cores at 15W for dramatically better multi-threaded performance.
- AMD Ryzen 3 3200UAlt
Budget dual-core with Vega graphics and DDR4 support.
Modern dual-core with Iris Xe graphics and 10nm process.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 5500UAlt
Six cores with Vega 7 graphics in a 15W envelope, vastly outperforming this chip.
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
The i5-5300U offers a small clock speed bump over the i5-5200U but remains in the same dual-core performance class, making it equally outdated for modern computing needs.
Best for: Buying a used business laptop for under $80 for basic web browsing and email
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 i5-5300U 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 i5-5300U or Core i7-5650U?
For gaming, the Core i7-5650U leads with a gaming performance score of 25/100 among Intel Core i5-5300U and Core i7-5650U.
Do Intel Core i5-5300U 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 i5-5300U posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i5-5300U (2,700). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.