CPU Comparison
Core i7-5600U vs Intel Core i5-5287U
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i7-5600U is a low-power mobile processor launched in 2015, designed primarily for business-class ultrabooks and professional thin-and-light laptops. Built on the 14nm Broadwell-U architecture, it offers two cores and four threads, with a base clock of 2.6 GHz and a maximum turbo frequency of 3.2 GHz. This slight frequency bump over the 5500U provided a marginal performance edge for enterprise users. The chip includes 4 MB of L3 cache and integrates Intel HD Graphics 5500 for handling everyday visual workloads. With a 15-watt thermal design power, it is highly energy-efficient, enabling long battery life. The i7-5600U also featured Intel vPro technology, making it attractive for corporate IT environments requiring remote management and security features. Though end-of-life, it was a highly reliable workhorse processor that powered a generation of premium business laptops, balancing performance and efficiency perfectly indeed very truly.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Good for office tasks, but dual-core limits heavy multitasking.
The 2.9 GHz base clock provides the best sustained single-threaded performance in the Broadwell-U i5 range, though dual-core limits multi-tasking capability.
Gaming
HD 5500 is only suitable for very old or 2D games.
The highest-clocked Iris 6100 in the Broadwell-U lineup provides marginally better gaming than the i5-5257U, but remains limited by dual-core and shared memory architecture.
Virtualization
vPro helps, but dual-core limits running multiple VMs.
Still limited by dual-core design despite the higher clocks.
Efficiency
Excellent efficiency for 2015 business laptops.
The 28W TDP is a significant power draw for a dual-core processor, resulting in reduced battery life compared to 15W alternatives.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No AI hardware
- Dual-core limits inference
- No AI acceleration hardware
- Not designed for AI workloads
- Completely unsuitable for modern AI tasks
Content Creation
Gaming
- Not designed for gaming
- HD 5500 is very weak
- Only for basic 2D applications
- Iris 6100 at 1100 MHz is the fastest Broadwell-U i5 GPU configuration
- Older esports titles playable at 1080p medium settings
- eDRAM provides a noticeable boost over non-eDRAM variants
- Modern AAA games remain unplayable
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- Intel vPro for enterprise management
- Excellent battery life for its era
- Good for office productivity
- Low 15W TDP
Cons
- Only 2 cores
- Outdated DDR3 memory
- Weak integrated graphics
- Soldered to motherboard
- Struggles with modern multitasking
Pros
- Highest CPU clocks in the Broadwell-U i5 lineup
- Iris 6100 with eDRAM for best-in-class integrated GPU
- 3.3 GHz turbo for strong single-threaded performance
- Good build-to-order upgrade for 2015 MacBook Pro
- 128MB eDRAM benefits CPU and GPU alike
Cons
- Only 2 physical cores fundamentally limit performance
- 28W TDP requires active cooling and reduces battery life
- DDR3 memory is obsolete
- Same $315 price as lower-clocked i5-5257U offered questionable value
- Not compatible with Windows 11
- End-of-life with no support
Competitors & Alternatives
Core i7-5600U
- AMD A8-7100Rival
Mobile APU
- Intel Core i7-5500URival
Mobile Thin & Light
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-5300URival
Mobile Business
- Intel Core i7-6600UAlt
Skylake successor with DDR4 and vPro.
Modern quad-core vPro alternative with massive performance gains.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 4500UAlt
Modern 6-core alternative for business laptops.
Modern 10nm alternative with better efficiency and graphics.
Compare head-to-head- Alt
Revolutionary efficiency and performance for mobile work.
Compare head-to-head
Intel Core i5-5287U
- Intel Core i7-5557URival
Mobile Premium Ultrabook
- AMD A10-8700PRival
Mobile Mainstream
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-5257URival
Mobile Premium Ultrabook
- AMD FX-7500Rival
Mobile Mainstream
- Intel Core i7-5650URival
Mobile Premium Ultrabook
- Intel Core i5-6287UAlt
Skylake successor with Iris 550, DDR4, and improved architecture.
- Alt
The M1 MacBook Air dramatically outperforms this chip in every metric while being fanless.
Compare head-to-head Four cores with Turbo Boost up to 3.9 GHz in a 15W envelope.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 5600UAlt
Six cores, twelve threads with Vega 7 graphics in a modern, efficient design.
12th-gen hybrid architecture with 12 cores in a 28W envelope offering dramatically more performance.
Compare head-to-head
Our Verdict on Each
A solid Broadwell-U chip tailored for enterprise environments with vPro, offering good efficiency and adequate performance for office work.
Best for: Buying a refurbished ThinkPad or Latitude for basic typing.
Read the full reviewThe top Broadwell-U i5 offers the best single-threaded and GPU performance in its class, but dual-core limits and 28W power draw mean even budget modern chips outperform it comprehensively.
Best for: Purchasing a used MacBook Pro 2015 with this upgrade for under $200 for basic creative work
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Core i7-5600U or Intel Core i5-5287U?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i5-5287U comes out ahead with a score of 6.7/10. 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, Core i7-5600U or Intel Core i5-5287U?
For gaming, the Intel Core i5-5287U leads with a gaming performance score of 24/100 among Core i7-5600U and Intel Core i5-5287U.
Which uses less power?
The Core i7-5600U has the lowest rated TDP. Power draw across these chips: Core i7-5600U (15 W), Intel Core i5-5287U (28 W).
Do Core i7-5600U and Intel Core i5-5287U 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 i5-5287U posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i5-5287U (3,120). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.