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Intel Core Ultra 5 115U

Name: Intel Core Ultra 5 115U
Brand: Intel

Intel Core Ultra 5 115U processor review

Intel Core Ultra 5 115U: Not Much Left from Core Ultra 5

By its name, the Core Ultra 5 115U stands quite close to the 125U. However, the difference in the processor's architecture is much more significant. Intel retained 2 P-cores but reduced the number of E-cores from eight to four. The platform remains modern, but the multi-threaded performance has suffered more than one might expect from the Core Ultra 5.

Where Intel Cut Costs

The Core Ultra 5 115U features 2 performance P-cores, 4 E-cores, and 2 low-power LP E-cores. The Core Ultra 5 125U has eight E-cores.

Intel removed half of the E-cores while making minimal changes to the maximum frequencies.

Parameter	Core Ultra 5 115U	Core Ultra 5 125U
Cores / Threads	8 / 10	12 / 14
Configuration	2P + 4E + 2 LPE	2P + 8E + 2 LPE
Max frequency of P-cores	4.2 GHz	4.3 GHz
L3 Cache	10 MB	12 MB
Xe cores (GPU)	3	4
Base Power	15 W	15 W
Max Turbo Power	57 W	57 W

In single-threaded tests, the 115U keeps close to the higher models in the series. However, during prolonged multi-threaded workloads, the loss of four E-cores becomes quite noticeable.

Performance in Real Laptops

In Geekbench 6, two Windows laptops show nearly identical results.

Device	Geekbench 6 Single	Geekbench 6 Multi
Acer Aspire Spin 14 ASP14-52MTN-51V5	2096	7409
Ninkear S13 16 GB / 1 TB	2041	7440

A brief Geekbench does not capture the difference in prolonged power limits.

In Cinebench R23, the difference is massive.

Device	Long Power Limit	Single Core	Multi Core
Acer Aspire Spin 14 ASP14-52MTN-51V5	around 28 W	1518	7569
Ninkear S13	around 15 W	1523	4531

Single Core almost does not change, but in Multi Core, Acer is about 67% faster.

At a limit of around 28 W, the Core Ultra 5 115U can achieve over 7500 points in Cinebench R23 Multi. At 15 W, the trimmed configuration drops to 4531 points.

By its name alone, the Core Ultra 5 115U cannot determine the performance of a specific laptop.

The Core Ultra 5 115U is also found in the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714, but its Geekbench results should not be compared directly with Windows models due to platform differences.

Integrated Graphics is Also Reduced

The Core Ultra 5 115U uses Intel Graphics built on the Xe-LPG architecture with 3 Xe-cores and a frequency of up to 1.8 GHz. The Core Ultra 5 125U has 4 Xe-cores.

Three Xe-cores are primarily designed for interface, video, and light graphical load. They fall significantly short of the integrated Arc Graphics in the higher Meteor Lake-H.

The media block has suffered less. There is hardware encoding and decoding for AV1, HEVC, and H.264.

NPU Available, But No Longer a Benefit

Intel AI Boost delivers up to 11 TOPS, while the overall claimed AI performance of the platform reaches 21 TOPS.

11 TOPS was a typical result for the first Meteor Lake, but the current NPUs are noticeably faster. The NPU can accelerate supported local functions, but it is no longer a compelling argument for the 115U.

Position of 115U in the Lineup

Even among the Core Ultra Series 1, the 115U model stands out from the overall scheme.

Processor	Architecture	Configuration
Core Ultra 5 115U	Meteor Lake	2P + 4E + 2 LPE
Core Ultra 5 125U	Meteor Lake	2P + 8E + 2 LPE
Core Ultra 5 135U	Meteor Lake	2P + 8E + 2 LPE

Laptops with the 115U are considerably less common than those with the 125U. It was released alongside the Acer Aspire Spin 14, Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714, and Ninkear S13.

Laptops and Prices

The main problem with the Core Ultra 5 115U today is the price of devices.

The Acer Aspire Spin 14 with 16 GB LPDDR5X and a 1 TB SSD costs about 999 euros. The Ninkear S13 with 16 GB of memory and a 1 TB SSD is around 859 euros before any temporary discounts.

Laptops with the newer Core Ultra 5 225U start at around 960 euros. It has more cores, higher frequencies, and faster integrated graphics.

The Aspire Spin 14 is a convertible with a touchscreen, while the Ninkear S13 is a Windows tablet with a detachable keyboard. There is also a premium for an unusual form factor.

However, at 900-1000 euros, the Core Ultra 5 115U looks like a weak purchase. If you don’t need a transformer or tablet, it would make more sense to look for a faster processor within that budget.

Conclusion

The 115U features Thunderbolt 4, DDR5/LPDDR5X, a modern media block, and an NPU.

But Intel has significantly cut CPU capabilities compared to the other first-generation Core Ultra 5s. The loss of four E-cores hits a prolonged multi-threaded load particularly hard, and the integrated graphics are weaker than those in the 125U.

A laptop with the 115U can still be justified for around 600-700 euros, especially if it is a good convertible or compact model.

At 900-1000 euros, the unusual screen, case, or form factor must genuinely justify the extra cost.

The Core Ultra 5 115U should only be considered in a well-priced laptop. Paying extra for the Core Ultra label is definitely not worth it.

Basic

Label Name

Intel

Platform

Laptop

Launch Date

December 2023

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.

Core Ultra 5 115U

Code Name

Meteor Lake

Foundry

Intel

Generation

Ultra 5 (Meteor Lake)

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.

Performance-cores

Efficient-cores

Performance-core Base Frequency

1.5 GHz

Efficient-core Base Frequency

1000 MHz

Efficient-core Max Turbo Frequency

Maximum E-core turbo frequency derived from Intel® Turbo Boost Technology.

3.5 GHz

Performance-core Max Turbo Frequency

Maximum P-core turbo frequency derived from Intel® Turbo Boost Technology.

4.2 GHz

L1 Cache

112 KB per core

L2 Cache

2 MB per core

L3 Cache

10 MB shared

Bus Frequency

100MHz

CPU Socket

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

Intel BGA 2049

Multiplier

15.0

Unlocked Multiplier

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.

7 nm

TDP

15 W

PCIe Version

PCI Express is a high-speed serial computer expansion bus standard used for connecting high-speed components, replacing older standards such as AGP, PCI, and PCI-X. It has gone through multiple revisions and improvements since its initial release. PCIe 1.0 was first introduced in 2002, and in order to meet the growing demand for higher bandwidth, subsequent versions have been released over time.

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.

DDR5

Depends on motherboard-5600

Memory Channels

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

ECC Memory Support

ECC Memory Supported indicates processor support for Error-Correcting Code memory. ECC memory is a type of system memory that can detect and correct common kinds of internal data corruption. Note that ECC memory support requires both processor and chipset support.

GPU Specifications

Integrated Graphics Model

An integrated GPU refers to the graphics core that is integrated into the CPU processor. Leveraging the processor's powerful computational capabilities and intelligent power efficiency management, it delivers outstanding graphics performance and a smooth application experience at a lower power consumption.

Arc Xe-LPG 48EU