CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-5300U vs Intel Core i3-1115G4
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.
Handles word processing and spreadsheets effortlessly, but heavily multitasked office environments will expose the 2-core limitation.
Gaming
HD 5500 graphics are identical to the i5-5200U and insufficient for any modern gaming.
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 not suitable for virtualization workloads.
2 cores and 4 threads are insufficient for running anything beyond a single, very lightweight virtual machine.
Efficiency
Reasonable efficiency for 2015, though modern processors deliver far more performance per watt.
The configurable 12W-28W TDP range allows OEMs to tune it for excellent battery life in thin chassis designs.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No AI acceleration hardware
- Dual-core design cannot handle AI workloads
- Not applicable for this processor class or era
- No dedicated NPU
- AVX-512 provides some acceleration for specific vector math workloads
- Not intended for AI development or 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
- 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
- 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- DDR3 memory is obsolete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
- 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 i5-5300U
- 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.
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
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 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 i5-5300U or Intel Core i3-1115G4?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i5-5300U comes out ahead with a score of 6.1/10. 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 Intel Core i3-1115G4?
For gaming, the Intel Core i3-1115G4 leads with a gaming performance score of 18/100 among Intel Core i5-5300U and Intel Core i3-1115G4.
Do Intel Core i5-5300U and Intel Core i3-1115G4 use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Intel Core i5-5300U: 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 i5-5300U posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i5-5300U (2,700). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.