Quick Verdict
A step up from the i5-5200U thanks to HD 6000 graphics and faster DDR3-1866 memory, but the dual-core design remains a fundamental limitation by modern standards.
Overview
Launch
2015
Status
End-of-lifeGeneration
5th Gen (Broadwell-U)
Market
Mobile
The Intel Core i5-5250U is a dual-core Broadwell-U mobile processor with Intel HD 6000 graphics and DDR3-1866 support, targeting premium ultrabooks that needed better GPU performance than the standard HD 5500 variant.
The Intel Core i5-5250U features 2 cores and 4 threads with a base clock of 1.6 GHz and turbo up to 2.7 GHz.
Unlike the i5-5200U, it uses the larger 133mm² die with 1.9 billion transistors, enabling the more capable Intel HD 6000 graphics with 24 Execution Units at higher 300-950 MHz clocks. It supports faster DDR3-1866 memory with 29.
9 GB/s bandwidth and maintains the 15W TDP with configurable TDP down to 9.5W. This chip was designed for ultrabooks where better integrated graphics mattered, such as those with higher resolution displays.
Specifications
Performance
The lower base clock of 1.6 GHz can cause sluggishness during burst workloads despite the same turbo frequency.
Dual-core design is fundamentally unsuitable for virtualization workloads.
HD 6000 offers a modest improvement over HD 5500, enabling some older games at 720p low settings.
14nm process delivers reasonable efficiency, though the larger die consumes more power than the smaller HD 5500 variant.
- •HD 6000 is an improvement over HD 5500 but still limited
- •Older titles like Team Fortress 2 and League of Legends can run at 720p medium
- •Shared memory bandwidth limits GPU performance
- •Not viable for any modern AAA title
- •No dedicated AI hardware
- •Insufficient compute for AI workloads
- •Not applicable for this processor class
Architecture
14nm
Process Node
Broadwell-U
Codename
2C / 4T
Core Config
3 MB
L3 Cache
15 W
TDP
Architecture Overview
The i5-5250U uses the larger of Intel's two Broadwell-U die configurations. While the smaller 82mm² die packs only the CPU cores and a GT2-class GPU (HD 5500), the 133mm² die used here adds a more capable GT3-class GPU (HD 6000) with additional render resources and higher clock speeds. This die contains 1.9 billion transistors versus 1.3 billion on the smaller variant. The trade-off is a higher minimum configurable TDP of 9.5W versus 7.5W, and the GPU draws more power under load, leaving less thermal headroom for sustained CPU boost clocks. This is why the i5-5250U has a lower 1.6 GHz base clock compared to the i5-5200U's 2.2 GHz — Intel had to allocate more of the power budget to the enhanced graphics subsystem.
CPU Design
Two Broadwell CPU cores with Hyper-Threading, each with 64KB L1 and 256KB L2 private caches, sharing a 3MB L3 Smart Cache.
Memory Subsystem
Dual-channel DDR3-1866 controller providing 29.9 GB/s bandwidth, a meaningful upgrade over DDR3-1600 that benefits both CPU and GPU workloads.
PCIe & I/O
12 PCIe Gen 2 lanes from the CPU, identical to other Broadwell-U variants.
Overclocking
Locked multiplier, BGA soldered to motherboard, no overclocking capability.
- 14nm process shrink from 22nm
- HD 6000 replacing HD 5000 with more EUs and higher clocks
- DDR3-1866 support over DDR3-1600
- Better overall power efficiency
Key Highlights
- HD 6000 graphics significantly better than HD 5500
- DDR3-1866 provides more memory bandwidth
- 15W TDP maintains ultrabook compatibility
- Good for HD video playback and media consumption
- Configurable TDP for OEM design flexibility
- Lower base clock than i5-5200U (1.6 vs 2.2 GHz)
- Only 2 physical cores with dual-core limitation
- DDR3 memory is obsolete
- PCIe Gen 2 lanes are outdated
- End-of-life with no support or updates
- Not compatible with Windows 11
History
The Core i5-5250U holds a notable place in computing history as the processor inside the 2015 MacBook Air 13-inch, making it one of the most widely distributed Broadwell-U chips. Apple chose this specific variant for its superior HD 6000 graphics, which better supported the Air's 1440x900 display and external monitor output.</br></br>Intel positioned the i5-5250U as the sweet spot in the Broadwell-U i5 lineup for OEMs wanting better than baseline graphics without stepping up to the 28W Iris variants.
The larger 133mm² die with 1.9 billion transistors was shared with the Iris 6100 models, meaning Intel was essentially binning the same silicon into different product tiers based on GPU capability and power configuration.</br></br>This chip arrived at a pivotal moment when Intel's dominance in mobile computing was beginning to face serious competition.
AMD's Carrizo platform was pushing more GPU performance into the same power envelope, and Apple was already laying the groundwork for its own silicon transition. The i5-5250U would ultimately be one of the last Intel chips used in the MacBook Air before Apple began the M1 transition, making it a transitional piece of computing history.
Improvements over Previous Generation
- 14nm process shrink from 22nm
- HD 6000 replacing HD 5000 with more EUs and higher clocks
- DDR3-1866 support over DDR3-1600
- Better overall power efficiency
Alternatives & Competitors
Should You Buy It?
Not Recommended for the right buyer
Buying a used MacBook Air or ultrabook for under $80 for basic tasks
Avoid if…
- Purchasing any new device in 2026
- Needing Windows 11 compatibility
- Running modern applications with any GPU demands
- Doing any video editing or content creation
- Multitasking with more than a few browser tabs
Use Cases
Interesting Facts
The i5-5250U was famously used in the 2015 MacBook Air 13-inch, one of Apple's most popular laptops.
Its 1.6 GHz base clock is the lowest among Broadwell-U i5 processors, a compromise for the enhanced GPU.
The 133mm² die it uses is the same physical silicon as the Iris 6100 variants, but with the GT3 GPU partially disabled.
HD 6000 has 24 Execution Units like HD 5500, but with higher maximum clock (950 vs 900 MHz) and more render backends.
This chip was part of the last Intel Mac generation before Apple began transitioning to its own silicon.
The 9.5W configurable TDP minimum is higher than the 7.5W of the smaller die variants, limiting fanless design options.
The i5-5250U and i5-5257U share the same die but differ in GPU tier (HD 6000 vs Iris 6100) and TDP (15W vs 28W).
At $315 launch price, it was $34 more expensive than the i5-5200U, primarily for the upgraded graphics.
Broadwell-U was the shortest-lived Intel mobile platform, replaced by Skylake-U within about a year.
The DDR3-1866 support gave it roughly 17% more memory bandwidth than DDR3-1600 variants.
People Also Ask
What is the difference between i5-5250U and i5-5200U?
The i5-5250U has Intel HD 6000 graphics (vs HD 5500), DDR3-1866 support (vs DDR3-1600), a larger 133mm² die, but a lower 1.6 GHz base clock (vs 2.2 GHz).
Can the i5-5250U run Windows 11?
No, the i5-5250U does not meet Windows 11 requirements including TPM 2.0 and is not on the supported CPU list.
Is the i5-5250U good for video editing?
No, the dual-core design and limited GPU make it unsuitable for any serious video editing. Only very basic SD editing would be勉强 possible.
What Mac used the i5-5250U?
The 2015 MacBook Air 13-inch used the i5-5250U as its standard processor configuration.
How does HD 6000 compare to HD 5500?
HD 6000 offers roughly 15-20% better graphics performance than HD 5500 due to higher clock speeds and additional render backends, though both have 24 Execution Units.
Why does the i5-5250U have a lower base clock than i5-5200U?
The larger die with the more powerful GPU consumes more power, so Intel reduced the base clock to 1.6 GHz to stay within the 15W TDP envelope while allowing the GPU to run at higher clocks.
Does the i5-5250U support 4K output?
It can output 4K at 30Hz via HDMI and 4K at 60Hz via DisplayPort, but actual 4K video playback performance is limited.
Is the i5-5250U still usable in 2026?
Only for basic web browsing, email, and document editing. Modern web applications and multitasking will feel slow.
What is the configurable TDP of the i5-5250U?
The standard TDP is 15W with a configurable TDP down option of 9.5W.
Does the i5-5250U support hardware encryption?
Yes, it supports AES-NI instructions for hardware-accelerated encryption.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Execution Units does HD 6000 have?
Intel HD 6000 has 24 Execution Units, the same count as HD 5500, but with higher maximum clock speed and more render backends.
What memory speed does the i5-5250U support?
It supports DDR3-1866 in dual-channel configuration, providing up to 29.9 GB/s of memory bandwidth.
Can I replace the i5-5250U in my laptop?
No, it uses a BGA 1168 socket and is permanently soldered to the motherboard.
What is the turbo boost frequency of the i5-5250U?
The maximum turbo boost frequency is 2.7 GHz.
Does the i5-5250U support VT-d?
Yes, it supports both VT-x and VT-d virtualization technologies.
What is the die size of the i5-5250U?
It uses a 133mm² die with 1.9 billion transistors.
Is the i5-5250U good for programming?
It can handle basic text editing and light IDE work, but compilation times and running containers will be slow due to the dual-core design.
What is the part number for the i5-5250U?
The standard part number is SR26C.
Does the i5-5250U support ECC memory?
No, it does not support ECC memory.
What was the launch price of the i5-5250U?
The recommended customer price at launch was $315.