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Intel Core i5-5300U

Intel Core i5-5300U: Review of an Ultra-Budget Processor for Basic Tasks (April 2025)

Introduction

The Intel Core i5-5300U processor, released in 2015, is part of the fifth generation of Intel Core (codename Broadwell). Despite its age, it is still found in used and some new budget laptops. By 2025, this chip is already outdated for high workloads but may be of interest as an extremely low-cost solution for simple tasks. Let's explore who should pay attention to devices with this CPU.

Architecture and Process Technology: Compactness and Energy Efficiency

Cores, Threads, and Frequencies

The Core i5-5300U is built on the Broadwell architecture with a 14 nm process technology. It is a dual-core processor with Hyper-Threading support (4 threads). The base frequency is 2.3 GHz, and the maximum turbo frequency is 2.9 GHz. In comparison, modern budget processors, such as the Intel Core i3-N305 (2023), feature 8 cores and frequencies up to 3.8 GHz.

Integrated Graphics

The integrated GPU is the Intel HD Graphics 5500 with 24 execution units (EUs). It supports DirectX 11.1 and 4K output via HDMI 1.4, but is not suitable for gaming. In 2025, it is sufficient only for office applications, streaming video (up to 1080p), and browser-based 2D games.

Power Consumption and TDP: A Balance Between Performance and Battery Life

The processor's TDP is 15 W, which is typical for ultrabooks. In idle mode, power consumption drops to 2-3 W thanks to Intel SpeedStep technology. However, under peak loads (such as rendering PDFs or opening several tabs in Chrome), the chip may briefly exceed its TDP, leading to throttling in compact cases without efficient cooling.

Performance: Modest Results Even for Basic Tasks

Office Work and Multimedia

- Office Applications: Microsoft Office, Google Workspace — work without delays, but running Zoom and 10 browser tabs simultaneously may cause stuttering.

- Video: Streaming at 1080p (Netflix, YouTube) — plays stably. 4K — may experience frame drops without hardware decoding for VP9.

- Photo Editors: Adobe Lightroom (basic retouching) — acceptable, but exporting 20 photos will take 3-4 minutes compared to 30 seconds on the Core i5-1235U (2022).

Gaming

- CS:GO (720p, low settings) — 25-35 FPS with drops.

- Minecraft (without shaders) — 40-50 FPS.

- Modern AAA games (2025) — will not run even at minimal settings.

Turbo Mode: Brief Boost

Under load on 1-2 cores, the frequency rises to 2.9 GHz, but due to the limited thermal envelope (15 W) and two cores, multi-threaded performance is weak. In the Cinebench R23 test:

- Single-threaded: ~630 points.

- Multi-threaded: ~1250 points (for comparison: Ryzen 3 7320U, 2023 — 3100 points).

Use Scenarios: Who is the i5-5300U Suitable For in 2025?

1. Students — for typing, working on presentations, online courses.

2. Seniors — surfing the internet, email, photo viewing.

3. Backup Laptop — as a cheap second device for travel.

4. Office Workers — if tasks are limited to Excel and corporate CRMs.

Not Suitable for:

- Gamers.

- Designers and video editors.

- Users working with neural networks or virtualization.

Battery Life: Up to 7 Hours in Ideal Conditions

Laptops with the i5-5300U were equipped with 40-50 Wh batteries. With moderate use (brightness at 50%, Wi-Fi, browsing), the battery life was 5-7 hours. Modern processors like the AMD Ryzen 5 7530U provide 9-12 hours with similar battery capacity thanks to optimization from the 6 nm process technology.

Power-Saving Technologies:

- Intel Smart Cache — reduces data access delays.

- Panel Self-Refresh — lowers screen power consumption in static scenarios.

Comparison with Competitors: Against Modern Chips

AMD Ryzen 3 3300U (2019)

- Pros: 4 cores, Vega 6 iGPU (twice as powerful as HD 5500).

- Cons: TDP of 15 W, but battery life is worse due to less optimized process technology.

Apple M1 (2020)

- Single-threaded performance is 80% higher, multi-threaded is 3 times greater. MacBook Air's battery life is up to 18 hours. However, new devices with the M1 start at $800, while laptops with the i5-5300U start at $300.

Intel Core i5-1135G7 (2020)

- 4 cores, Iris Xe (4 times faster than HD 5500), Thunderbolt 4 support. Even in 2025, this is a more relevant choice for nettops priced at $400-500.

Pros and Cons of the Core i5-5300U

Pros:

- Extremely low price of laptops (new models — $300-400).

- Sufficient performance for basic tasks.

- Low heat output — suitable for thin cases.

Cons:

- Outdated architecture: no AVX2 support, no USB 3.2 Gen 2, no Wi-Fi 6.

- Weak iGPU.

- Limited multi-threaded performance.

Recommendations for Choosing a Laptop

1. Device Type: Only ultrabooks or budget Chromebooks.

2. Essential Components:

- SSD (256 GB minimum).

- 8 GB RAM (expandable to 16 GB — a plus).

- Full HD display (avoid HD+ 1366x768 — it's 2025!).

3. Avoid models with HDD and 4 GB RAM — such devices will lag even on Windows 11.

Examples of New Laptops in 2025 with i5-5300U:

- Lenovo V15 Gen 1 (2025 re-release): 8/256, FHD, price — $329.

- HP 255 G8: 8/512, TN display — $349.

Final Conclusion: Who Is This Processor For?

The Intel Core i5-5300U in 2025 is a choice for those who value minimal cost and are willing to accept limitations. This processor is suitable for:

- Buying a first laptop for a child.

- A backup device for travel.

- Office tasks in companies with tight budgets.

Key Benefits:

- Price under $350.

- Reliability (architecture proven over the years).

- Compatibility with Windows 11 (provided TPM 2.0 is available).

If your budget allows for spending $100-150 more, consider laptops with the Intel Core i3-N305 or AMD Ryzen 3 5425U — they will last longer and will not disappoint in performance.

Basic

Label Name

Intel

Platform

Mobile

Launch Date

March 2015

Model Name

The Intel processor number is just one of several factors - along with processor brand, system configurations, and system-level benchmarks - to be considered when choosing the right processor for your computing needs.

i5-5300U

Code Name

Broadwell

CPU Specifications

Total Cores

Cores is a hardware term that describes the number of independent central processing units in a single computing component (die or chip).

Total Threads

Where applicable, Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology is only available on Performance-cores.

Basic Frequency

2.30 GHz

Max Turbo Frequency

Max Turbo Frequency is the maximum single-core frequency at which the processor is capable of operating using Intel® Turbo Boost Technology and, if present, Intel® Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 and Intel® Thermal Velocity Boost. Frequency is typically measured in gigahertz (GHz), or billion cycles per second.

2.90 GHz

Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 Frequency

2.90 GHz

Intel Turbo Boost Technology

Intel® Turbo Boost Technology dynamically increases the processor's frequency as needed by taking advantage of thermal and power headroom to give you a burst of speed when you need it, and increased energy efficiency when you don’t.

2.0

Intel Hyper-Threading Technology

Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology (Intel® HT Technology) delivers two processing threads per physical core. Highly threaded applications can get more work done in parallel, completing tasks sooner.

Yes

L3 Cache

3 MB

CPU Socket

The socket is the component that provides the mechanical and electrical connections between the processor and motherboard.

FCBGA1168

Technology

Lithography refers to the semiconductor technology used to manufacture an integrated circuit, and is reported in nanometer (nm), indicative of the size of features built on the semiconductor.

14 nm

TDP

15 W

Max. Operating Temperature

Junction Temperature is the maximum temperature allowed at the processor die.

105°C

PCI Express Version

PCI Express Revision is the supported version of the PCI Express standard. Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (or PCIe) is a high-speed serial computer expansion bus standard for attaching hardware devices to a computer. The different PCI Express versions support different data rates.

2.0

Number of PCI Express Lanes

A PCI Express (PCIe) lane consists of two differential signaling pairs, one for receiving data, one for transmitting data, and is the basic unit of the PCIe bus. Max # of PCI Express Lanes is the total number of supported lanes.

Intel 64

Intel® 64 architecture delivers 64-bit computing on server, workstation, desktop and mobile platforms when combined with supporting software.¹ Intel 64 architecture improves performance by allowing systems to address more than 4 GB of both virtual and physical memory.

Yes

Instruction Set

The instruction set is a hard program stored inside the CPU that guides and optimizes CPU operations. With these instruction sets, the CPU can run more efficiently. There are many manufacturers that design CPUs, which results in different instruction sets, such as the 8086 instruction set for the Intel camp and the RISC instruction set for the ARM camp. x86, ARM v8, and MIPS are all codes for instruction sets. Instruction sets can be extended; for example, x86 added 64-bit support to create x86-64. Manufacturers developing CPUs that are compatible with a certain instruction set need authorization from the instruction set patent holder. A typical example is Intel authorizing AMD, enabling the latter to develop CPUs compatible with the x86 instruction set.

64-bit

PCI Express Configurations

PCI Express (PCIe) Configurations describe the available PCIe lane configurations that can be used to link to PCIe devices.

4x1 | 2x4

Memory Specifications

Memory Type

Intel® processors come in four different types: Single Channel, Dual Channel, Triple Channel, and Flex Mode. Maximum supported memory speed may be lower when populating multiple DIMMs per channel on products that support multiple memory channels.

DDR3L 1333/1600 | LPDDR3 1333/1600

Max Memory Size

Max memory size refers to the maximum memory capacity supported by the processor.

16 GB

Memory Channels

The number of memory channels refers to the bandwidth operation for real world application.

Bus Speed

5 GT/s

Max Memory Bandwidth

Max Memory bandwidth is the maximum rate at which data can be read from or stored into a semiconductor memory by the processor (in GB/s).

25.6 GB/s

GPU Specifications

GPU Name

Intel® HD Graphics 5500

Graphics Base Frequency

Graphics Base frequency refers to the rated/guaranteed graphics render clock frequency in MHz.

300 MHz

Graphics Frequency

Graphics max dynamic frequency refers to the maximum opportunistic graphics render clock frequency (in MHz) that can be supported using Intel® HD Graphics with Dynamic Frequency feature.

900 MHz

Graphics Video Max Memory

16 GB

DirectX Support

DirectX* Support indicates support for a specific version of Microsoft’s collection of APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) for handling multimedia compute tasks.

11.2/12

Max Resolution (HDMI)

Max Resolution (HDMI) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor via the HDMI interface (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your system.

2560X1600@60Hz

Max Resolution (DP)

Max Resolution (DP) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor via the DP interface (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your system.

3840x2160@60Hz

Number of Displays Supported

Graphics Output

Graphics Output defines the interfaces available to communicate with display devices.

eDP/DP/HDMI

Miscellaneous

Intel Virtualization Technology (VT-x)

Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x) allows one hardware platform to function as multiple “virtual” platforms. It offers improved manageability by limiting downtime and maintaining productivity by isolating computing activities into separate partitions.

Yes

Intel Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)

Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d) continues from the existing support for IA-32 (VT-x) and Itanium® processor (VT-i) virtualization adding new support for I/O-device virtualization. Intel VT-d can help end users improve security and reliability of the systems and also improve performance of I/O devices in virtualized environments.

Yes

Intel Standard Manageability (ISM)

Intel® Standard Manageability is the manageability solution for Intel vPro® Essentials platforms and is a subset of Intel® AMT with out-of-band management over Ethernet and Wi-Fi, but no KVM or new life cycle management features.

Intel® SSE4.1 | Intel® SSE4.2 | Intel® AVX2

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology is an advanced means of enabling high performance while meeting the power-conservation needs of mobile systems. Conventional Intel SpeedStep® Technology switches both voltage and frequency in tandem between high and low levels in response to processor load. Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology builds upon that architecture using design strategies such as Separation between Voltage and Frequency Changes, and Clock Partitioning and Recovery.

Yes

Execute Disable Bit

Execute Disable Bit is a hardware-based security feature that can reduce exposure to viruses and malicious-code attacks and prevent harmful software from executing and propagating on the server or network.

Yes

Cache

CPU Cache is an area of fast memory located on the processor. Intel® Smart Cache refers to the architecture that allows all cores to dynamically share access to the last level cache.

3 MB

Intel AES New Instructions

Intel® AES New Instructions (Intel® AES-NI) are a set of instructions that enable fast and secure data encryption and decryption. AES-NI are valuable for a wide range of cryptographic applications, for example: applications that perform bulk encryption/decryption, authentication, random number generation, and authenticated encryption.

Yes

Intel Clear Video HD Technology

Intel® Clear Video HD Technology, like its predecessor, Intel® Clear Video Technology, is a suite of image decode and processing technologies built into the integrated processor graphics that improve video playback, delivering cleaner, sharper images, more natural, accurate, and vivid colors, and a clear and stable video picture. Intel® Clear Video HD Technology adds video quality enhancements for richer color and more realistic skin tones.

Yes

Intel Clear Video Technology

Yes

Intel VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)

Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT), also known as Second Level Address Translation (SLAT), provides acceleration for memory intensive virtualized applications. Extended Page Tables in Intel® Virtualization Technology platforms reduces the memory and power overhead costs and increases battery life through hardware optimization of page table management.

Yes

Intel InTru 3D Technology

Yes

Intel Flex Memory Access

Yes

Intel OS Guard

Yes

OpenGL Support

OpenGL (Open Graphics Library) is a cross-language, multi-platform API (Application Programming Interface) for rendering 2D and 3D vector graphics.

4.3

Intel Quick Sync Video

Intel® Quick Sync Video delivers fast conversion of video for portable media players, online sharing, and video editing and authoring.

Yes

Benchmarks

Geekbench 6

Single Core Score

815

Geekbench 6

Multi Core Score

1573

Geekbench 5

Single Core Score

715

Geekbench 5

Multi Core Score

1385

Passmark CPU

Single Core Score

1633

Passmark CPU

Multi Core Score

2730

Compared to Other CPU

Geekbench 6 Single Core

Core i5-4278U

919 +12.8%

Core m7-6Y75

876 +7.5%

Core i5-5300U

815

Celeron G5900T

748 -8.2%

Core i7-3770

694 -14.8%

Geekbench 6 Multi Core

Xeon E3-1260L

1890 +20.2%

FX-8320E

1734 +10.2%

Core i5-5300U

1573

Core i5-2400S

1433 -8.9%

Core i3-10110Y

1252 -20.4%

Geekbench 5 Single Core

Core i3-4360

747 +4.5%

Xeon D-1541

735 +2.8%

Core i5-5300U

715

Core i7-4610M

690 -3.5%

Xeon E5-2697 v4

672 -6%

Geekbench 5 Multi Core

PRO A12-9800

1542 +11.3%

A8-6500

1461 +5.5%

Core i5-5300U

1385

Pentium Silver N5000

1317 -4.9%

Core i7-2710QE

1231 -11.1%

Passmark CPU Single Core

Pentium G4560T

1697 +3.9%

Core i3-7100H

1668 +2.1%

Core i5-5300U

1633

FX-4350

1606 -1.7%

Xeon W3680

1573 -3.7%

Passmark CPU Multi Core

A10-6790K

3070 +12.5%

Core i5-2500T

2929 +7.3%

Core i5-5300U

2730

Core i5-5350U

2591 -5.1%

Phenom II X4 850

2361 -13.5%