CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-2557M vs Intel Core i5-450M
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i5-2557M is a low-voltage Sandy Bridge dual-core processor with a 17 W TDP, designed for ultraportable laptops where thermal headroom and battery life are primary constraints.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Noticeably slower than standard-voltage Sandy Bridge in sustained workloads due to thermal throttling in thin chassis.
Marginally faster than the i5-430M in CPU-bound tasks, but the difference is barely noticeable in real use.
Gaming
Even weaker than the 35 W variant due to lower sustained clocks. Not viable for any modern game.
Slightly better than the i5-430M but still entirely dependent on discrete graphics for any gaming capability.
Virtualization
Technically supports VT-x but too slow for practical virtualization use.
Slightly more headroom than the 430M but still impractical for serious VM workloads.
Efficiency
17 W TDP was efficient for 2011 but modern chips deliver 10x the performance at similar power.
Same 35 W TDP with only ~6% more frequency than the i5-430M, resulting in slightly worse performance per watt.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No AI acceleration capabilities
- Insufficient compute for any AI workload
- No AI capabilities
- No AVX support
- Completely unsuitable for AI workloads
Content Creation
Gaming
- Lower sustained clocks than 35 W variants
- Intel HD 3000 graphics only
- No modern API support
- Graphics on chipset, not CPU
- GMA HD extremely limited
- Requires discrete GPU for any gaming
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- 17 W TDP enabled truly portable laptop designs
- Turbo boost to 2.7 GHz helps burst workloads
- AES-NI and VT-x support despite low power
- Same feature set as standard-voltage Sandy Bridge
Cons
- 1.7 GHz base clock was slow even in 2011
- Sustained performance suffers in thin chassis with limited cooling
- BGA package cannot be upgraded
- Intel HD 3000 graphics are completely outdated
- Massive performance gap versus modern low-voltage processors
Pros
- Slightly faster than i5-430M at the same TDP
- Socket G1 allows upgrade to i7-620M
- AES-NI and VT-x/VT-d support
- Reliable and well-tested platform
- Hyper-Threading improves multitasking
Cons
- Minimal performance improvement over i5-430M
- Launched just months before Sandy Bridge made it obsolete
- No on-die GPU
- No AVX instruction support
- DDR3-1066 memory speed limitation
- Only 8 GB maximum RAM
Competitors & Alternatives
Intel Core i5-2557M
- AMD A4-3305MRival
Mobile Low-Voltage
- AMD E-450Rival
Mobile APU
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-2540MRival
Mobile Standard Voltage
- Intel Core i3-2367MRival
Mobile Low-Voltage
- Intel Core i7-2637MRival
Mobile Low-Voltage
- Intel Core i5-3317UAlt
Ivy Bridge 17 W successor with HD 4000 graphics and better efficiency.
Haswell ULV with significantly better performance at 15 W TDP.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 5500UAlt
Modern low-voltage option with 6 cores and 15 W configurable TDP.
Current-generation low-power chip with 12 cores and excellent efficiency.
Compare head-to-head
Intel Core i5-450M
- AMD Turion II N530Rival
Mobile Mainstream
- AMD Phenom II N620Rival
Mobile Performance
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-430MRival
Mobile Mainstream
- Intel Core i5-520MRival
Mobile Performance
- Intel Core i7-620MRival
Mobile Performance
Fastest Arrandale i5 with 2.66 GHz base and 3.33 GHz turbo.
Compare head-to-head- Intel Core i5-2410MAlt
Sandy Bridge replacement requiring a new laptop but offering on-die graphics and AVX support.
- AMD Ryzen 5 5500UAlt
Modern alternative with vastly superior performance for a new laptop purchase.
Our Verdict on Each
The i5-2557M sacrificed significant performance to achieve its 17 W TDP, making it a poor choice even in 2011 for anything beyond basic tasks. Modern low-voltage chips deliver dramatically more performance at similar power levels.
Best for: None, this processor cannot be purchased separately
Read the full reviewThe i5-450M is a minor clock speed increase over the i5-430M that arrived just months before Sandy Bridge rendered the entire Arrandale lineup obsolete. Only relevant for existing Socket G1 laptop owners considering a cheap upgrade.
Best for: Found in an existing laptop at no additional cost
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i5-2557M or Intel Core i5-450M?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i5-2557M comes out ahead with a score of 4.5/10. 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 i5-2557M or Intel Core i5-450M?
For gaming, the Intel Core i5-2557M leads with a gaming performance score of 12/100 among Intel Core i5-2557M and Intel Core i5-450M.
Which uses less power?
The Intel Core i5-2557M has the lowest rated TDP. Power draw across these chips: Intel Core i5-2557M (17 W), Intel Core i5-450M (35 W).
Do Intel Core i5-2557M and Intel Core i5-450M use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Intel Core i5-2557M: Intel BGA 1023, Intel Core i5-450M: Intel Socket G1), so each needs a compatible motherboard.
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Intel Core i5-2557M posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i5-2557M (3,200), Intel Core i5-450M (3,000). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.