CPU Comparison
Core i7-5600U vs Intel Core i5-5350U
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.
Handles basic document editing and web apps smoothly, but struggles with heavy multitasking.
Gaming
HD 5500 is only suitable for very old or 2D games.
Only capable of running very old or extremely lightweight 2D games.
Virtualization
vPro helps, but dual-core limits running multiple VMs.
Not recommended due to low core count and limited memory bandwidth.
Efficiency
Excellent efficiency for 2015 business laptops.
Still highly efficient for basic tasks, offering excellent battery life in older laptops.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No AI hardware
- Dual-core limits inference
- No dedicated AI hardware
- Far too slow for local inference
Content Creation
Gaming
- Not designed for gaming
- HD 5500 is very weak
- Only for basic 2D applications
- Integrated HD 6000 lacks power for modern 3D titles
- Suitable for retro emulation and 2D indie games
- Shares system RAM, limiting frame rates
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- Outdated DDR3 memory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
- Excellent power efficiency for its era
- Good for basic daily computing
- Integrated HD 6000 handles 4K video well
- Low heat output
Cons
- Only 2 cores and 4 threads
- Soldered to motherboard (BGA)
- Uses obsolete DDR3 memory
- Weak integrated graphics for 3D work
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 i5-5350U
- Intel Core i7-5650URival
Mobile
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-5200URival
Mobile
- AMD A10-8700PRival
Mobile
- Intel Core i7-5500URival
Mobile
- AMD A8-7410Rival
Mobile
- Intel Core i5-8250UAlt
Offers 4 cores and much better modern performance.
- AMD Ryzen 5 2500UAlt
Superior Vega graphics and quad-core design.
- Intel Core i3-7100UAlt
Newer architecture with similar basic performance.
- Intel Core i5-6200UAlt
The direct Skylake successor with DDR4 support.
- AMD Ryzen 3 3200UAlt
Better budget mobile performance.
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 reviewA historically significant processor for battery life, but its dual-core architecture is too weak for modern demanding workloads.
Best for: Today, the Core i5-5350U is strictly an end-of-life component and should not be considered for new builds. If you are purchasing a used laptop featuring this processor, it should only be for basic tasks such as web browsing, word processing, and media consumption. It can be found at very low prices on the secondary market, making it a viable option for students or budget-conscious users needing a simple machine. However, its dual-core architecture struggles significantly with modern multitasking and heavy workloads. Ensure the device is priced appropriately for its age, as it lacks support for modern standards like DDR4 memory and PCIe 3.0. Avoid this chip if you intend to do any gaming, video editing, or intensive productivity work.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Do Core i7-5600U and Intel Core i5-5350U 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 i5-5350U posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i5-5350U (2,950). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.