Quick Verdict
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.
Overview
Launch
2011
Status
End-of-lifeGeneration
2nd Gen Core i5 (Sandy Bridge)
Market
Mobile
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 Core i5-2557M runs at just 1.7 GHz base with a 2.7 GHz turbo, using only 17 watts.
Its BGA 1023 package made it a fit for early ultrabooks and thin laptops, but the heavy frequency reduction compared to the 35 W i5-2540M meant noticeably lower performance.
Specifications
Performance
Noticeably slower than standard-voltage Sandy Bridge in sustained workloads due to thermal throttling in thin chassis.
Technically supports VT-x but too slow for practical virtualization use.
Even weaker than the 35 W variant due to lower sustained clocks. Not viable for any modern game.
17 W TDP was efficient for 2011 but modern chips deliver 10x the performance at similar power.
- •Lower sustained clocks than 35 W variants
- •Intel HD 3000 graphics only
- •No modern API support
- •No AI acceleration capabilities
- •Insufficient compute for any AI workload
Architecture
32nm
Process Node
Sandy Bridge
Codename
2C / 4T
Core Config
3 MB
L3 Cache
17 W
TDP
Architecture Overview
The i5-2557M uses the same Sandy Bridge dual-core die as the i5-2540M but operates at drastically reduced voltages and clock speeds to hit a 17 W TDP. The 1.7 GHz base clock with 17x multiplier and 100 MHz base clock is notably lower than the 26x multiplier of the standard-voltage part. Intel achieved this through binning, selecting dies that could maintain stability at lower voltages. The Intel HD 3000 GPU is also clocked lower to stay within the power budget, though the 12 EU count remains the same.
CPU Design
Dual-core with Hyper-Threading, same 149 mm² die but voltage-limited for low-power operation.
Memory Subsystem
Dual-channel DDR3-1333, same as standard Sandy Bridge mobile.
PCIe & I/O
16 PCIe 2.0 lanes, though typically unused in ultraportable designs without discrete graphics.
Overclocking
Not supported in any form.
- On-die GPU integration
- AVX instruction set
- Better performance per watt than Arrandale ULV
- HD 3000 graphics vs GMA HD
Key Highlights
- 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
- 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
History
The Core i5-2557M arrived in June 2011 as part of Intel's push to supply processors for the nascent ultrabook category championed by CEO Paul Otellini. The ultrabook concept demanded thin, light, and responsive laptops with long battery life, which required processors that could operate within strict thermal and power constraints. The 17 W TDP of the i5-2557M was Intel's answer, sitting between the 10-15 W ultra-low-voltage UM parts and the 35 W standard mobile parts.
</br></br>However, the i5-2557M was somewhat of an awkward middle child. It was too power-hungry for the thinnest ultrabook designs that would later gravitate toward the 10-15 W U-series, and too slow to compete with the 35 W standard-voltage parts in regular laptops. This positioning, combined with its relatively late launch timing, made it one of the less common Sandy Bridge mobile SKUs.
Improvements over Previous Generation
- On-die GPU integration
- AVX instruction set
- Better performance per watt than Arrandale ULV
- HD 3000 graphics vs GMA HD
Alternatives & Competitors
Should You Buy It?
Not Recommended for the right buyer
None, this processor cannot be purchased separately
Avoid if…
- Any laptop purchase consideration
- Expecting responsive modern computing
- Running anything beyond basic office tasks
Use Cases
Interesting Facts
The i5-2557M was released in June 2011, four months after the standard-voltage Sandy Bridge mobile lineup, timed to coincide with the first wave of ultrabooks.
Its 17 W TDP placed it in Intel's low-voltage category, distinct from the ultra-low-voltage 10-15 W UM parts and standard 35 W M parts.
The 900 MHz gap between base and turbo clock (1.7 to 2.7 GHz) is proportionally larger than on standard Sandy Bridge mobile parts.
Part number SR0CS is a single sSPEC, unlike the dual part numbers seen on the i5-2540M, suggesting a single production run or narrower distribution.
The i5-2557M was less commonly used than the i3-2367M or i7-2637M in the ultrabook segment, making it relatively rare.
Despite having the same HD 3000 GPU, the i5-2557M's graphics performance was lower due to reduced GPU turbo clocks within the 17 W power envelope.
Intel's Low Voltage (LV) category at 17 W was a short-lived classification that was restructured into the U-series with Ivy Bridge.
The i5-2557M launched at the same $225 tray price as the i5-2540M, despite significantly lower performance, reflecting the premium placed on low-power chips.
Many laptops using this CPU had soldered RAM as well, making them completely non-upgradeable.
The 17 W TDP includes the integrated GPU power consumption, making the actual CPU-only power budget even smaller.
People Also Ask
What is the difference between i5-2557M and i5-2540M?
The i5-2557M is a 17 W low-voltage part running at 1.7 GHz base, while the i5-2540M is a 35 W standard-voltage part running at 2.6 GHz base. The 2540M is significantly faster.
What is the turbo boost of the i5-2557M?
The maximum turbo frequency is 2.7 GHz with one active core.
Can the i5-2557M be upgraded?
No, it uses a BGA 1023 package soldered directly to the motherboard.
What laptops used the i5-2557M?
It appeared in select early ultrabooks and thin laptops from 2011, though it was less common than the i3-2367M or i7-2637M.
Is 17 W good for a laptop CPU?
In 2011, 17 W was considered efficient for a Core i5. Today, 15 W U-series processors deliver far more performance at similar power levels.
Does the i5-2557M support AES-NI?
Yes, it includes AES-NI hardware encryption instructions despite the low TDP.
Can the i5-2557M run Windows 11?
Not officially supported. Intel does not provide Windows 11 drivers for Sandy Bridge processors.
What graphics does the i5-2557M have?
Intel HD 3000 with 12 Execution Units, though clocked lower than on 35 W variants due to the 17 W power limit.
How does the i5-2557M compare to modern low-voltage CPUs?
Modern 15 W U-series processors like the i5-1240P deliver approximately 8-10x the multi-core performance and vastly superior integrated graphics.
What does the M suffix mean on the i5-2557M?
In Sandy Bridge, the M suffix indicated a mobile processor. The low voltage was indicated by the model number range (2557 vs 2540), not the suffix. Intel later changed this naming convention.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the TDP of the i5-2557M?
17 watts, classified as a low-voltage mobile processor.
How many cores does the i5-2557M have?
2 physical cores with 4 threads via Hyper-Threading.
What is the L3 cache size?
3 MB of shared L3 cache.
Does the i5-2557M support VT-x?
Yes, it supports VT-x and VT-d.
What process node is it built on?
32nm with Intel's high-k metal gate transistors.
What is the part number for the i5-2557M?
SR0CS is the Intel sSPEC number.
Does it support DDR3L?
Officially DDR3-1333, but many implementations used DDR3L for power efficiency.
What is the base clock multiplier?
17.0x with a 100 MHz base clock.
Can it run 64-bit operating systems?
Yes, it supports Intel 64 (x86-64).
Does it support AVX?
Yes, Sandy Bridge introduced AVX support across the lineup.