CPU Comparison
Core i7-4650U vs Core i7-5500U
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i7-4650U is an ultra-low voltage mobile processor launched in June 2013 as part of the initial Haswell rollout. Designed for premium ultrabooks, this 15W dual-core CPU features Hyper-Threading, allowing it to process 4 threads concurrently. It operates at a base frequency of 1.7 GHz and can boost up to 3.3 GHz, dynamically scaling its performance based on thermal headroom. Built on Intel's 22nm Tri-Gate process, it utilizes the BGA 1168 socket, soldering it directly to the motherboard. The chip includes 4MB of L3 cache and supports DDR3 memory. A key differentiator of this SKU is the inclusion of Intel HD Graphics 5000, which doubles the execution units compared to standard HD 4400 graphics, offering superior media processing and light gaming capabilities. The i7-4650U was targeted at business professionals and consumers needing a balance of high efficiency and snappy single-threaded responsiveness in extremely portable form factors.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Handles basic office tasks but struggles with heavy multitasking.
Gaming
Only capable of running very old or lightweight 2D games.
Virtualization
Not recommended for VMs due to dual-core limitation.
Efficiency
Good efficiency for 2015, but poor compared to modern chips.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
No data
- No AI hardware
- Dual-core limits any CPU-based AI inference
Content Creation
No data
Gaming
No data
- Integrated HD 5500 is very weak
- Only suitable for 2D or old indie games
- No dedicated video memory
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- Excellent 15W power efficiency
- HD 5000 graphics are capable for legacy media
- Good burst single-core performance
- Enabled extremely thin laptop designs
Cons
- Low 1.7 GHz base clock
- Only 2 physical cores
- Soldered BGA package
- Obsolete DDR3 memory support
Pros
- Excellent battery life for its era
- Low 15W TDP
- Good for basic office tasks
- Enabled thin-and-light designs
Cons
- Only 2 cores
- DDR3 memory only
- Weak integrated graphics
- Soldered to motherboard
- Struggles with modern web multitasking
Competitors & Alternatives
Core i7-4650U
- AMD A10-5745MRival
Ultra-Low Power Mobile
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i7-4500URival
Ultra-Low Power Mobile
- AMD A8-5557MRival
Ultra-Low Power Mobile
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-4200URival
Ultra-Low Power Mobile
- Intel Core i7-4600URival
Ultra-Low Power Mobile
- Intel Core i7-5500UAlt
Broadwell successor with 14nm efficiency.
Previous generation alternative if upgrading an Ivy Bridge system.
Compare head-to-head
Core i7-5500U
- AMD A8-7100Rival
Mobile APU
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-5200URival
Mobile Thin & Light
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i7-4500URival
Mobile Thin & Light
- Intel Core i7-6500UAlt
Skylake successor with DDR4 support.
- AMD Ryzen 3 3200UAlt
Newer dual-core with better graphics and modern platform.
Modern 10nm alternative with vastly superior performance.
Compare head-to-head- Alt
Incredible leap in efficiency and speed over Broadwell-U.
Compare head-to-head - Intel Core i5-8250UAlt
8th gen quad-core alternative that outperforms it heavily.
Our Verdict on Each
A strong ultrabook chip for 2013, offering excellent efficiency and graphics, but its low base clock and dual-core design show their age today.
Best for: Buying a retro ultrabook for basic typing tasks
Read the full reviewA highly efficient dual-core processor for 2015 ultrabooks that provided excellent battery life, though it struggles significantly with modern multitasking.
Best for: Buying a very cheap used laptop for basic web browsing or typing.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is faster for gaming, Core i7-4650U or Core i7-5500U?
For gaming, the Core i7-5500U leads with a gaming performance score of 20/100 among Core i7-4650U and Core i7-5500U.
Do Core i7-4650U and Core i7-5500U use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Core i7-4650U: BGA 1168, Core i7-5500U: Intel BGA 1168), so each needs a compatible motherboard.
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Core i7-4650U posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Core i7-4650U (0). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.