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Intel Core i5-2557M

Intel Core i5-2557M: Architecture, Performance, and Use Cases in 2025

Analysis of the ultra-mobile Sandy Bridge processor 14 years after its release

1. Architecture and Process Technology: The Legacy of Sandy Bridge

The Intel Core i5-2557M processor, released in 2011, became part of the revolutionary Sandy Bridge line. This architecture marked the transition to a 32nm process technology, which allowed for reduced power consumption and improved component integration.

- Cores and Threads: 2 physical cores with Hyper-Threading support (4 threads). Base frequency - 1.7 GHz, maximum in Turbo Boost mode - 2.7 GHz.

- Integrated Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 3000 with a frequency of 650–1200 MHz. Supports DirectX 10.1 and a resolution of up to 2560x1600.

- Cache: 3 MB L3 cache.

A distinctive feature of Sandy Bridge is the combination of CPU and GPU on a single chip, which enhanced energy efficiency. However, by modern standards (for instance, in comparison with 7nm Intel chips from 2025), 32nm technology appears outdated.

2. TDP and Power Consumption: A Balance for Ultrabooks

The TDP of the i5-2557M is 17 W, classifying it as an energy-efficient processor for thin laptops. This allowed for the creation of devices thinner than 20 mm, but with a caveat: under heavy load (such as video rendering), the chip quickly reached its thermal limit, activating throttling.

3. Performance: Realities of 2025

Geekbench 6 results (394 / 722) show that the processor can only handle basic tasks:

- Office Work: Word, Excel, and a browser with 5–7 tabs. Launching large PDFs or Excel files with macros results in stutters.

- Multimedia: Viewing Full HD videos is possible, but 4K is not supported hardware-wise. Converting a 10-minute video in HandBrake takes 25–30 minutes (compared to 2–3 minutes for the Intel Core i5-1340P from 2023).

- Gaming: Only old games at low settings (e.g., Half-Life 2 - 40–50 FPS, CS:GO - 20–25 FPS).

Turbo Boost temporarily raises the frequency to 2.7 GHz, but due to the modest TDP, this mode only lasts 10–15 seconds.

4. Use Cases: Who Is It Suitable For in 2025?

- Students: For lectures, writing papers, and Zoom conferences.

- Office Tasks: Working with documents and email, but not with large databases.

- Backup Device: As a second laptop for travel.

Not suitable for video editing, 3D modeling, modern gaming, and neural network tasks (e.g., Stable Diffusion).

5. Battery Life: How Long Will the Battery Last?

Even in 2025, laptops with the i5-2557M (with a battery replacement) can run for 5–7 hours in reading or video viewing mode. This is achieved through:

- Intel SpeedStep: Dynamic frequency reduction during idle.

- C-states: Disabling unused CPU blocks.

However, modern processors such as the Apple M2 or Intel Meteor Lake provide 12–18 hours of operation under similar loads.

6. Comparison with Competitors

- AMD from that Time: A6-4455M (2 cores / 2.6 GHz). Falls short in multithreading but features more powerful Radeon HD 7500G graphics.

- Modern Alternatives: Intel N100 (2023, 4 cores / 3.4 GHz, 6 W TDP). Outperforms the i5-2557M in multitasking by 70–80%.

- Apple M1: A system-on-chip from 2020 with 8 cores. Even the basic M1 is four times faster in multithreading tests.

7. Pros and Cons

Strengths:

- Low heat output.

- Support for virtualization (VT-x).

- Compatibility with Windows 10/11 (with limitations).

Weaknesses:

- No support for AVX2, USB 3.0 (only 2.0).

- Maximum RAM capacity - 16 GB DDR3-1333.

- Outdated PCIe 2.0.

8. Recommendations for Choosing a Laptop

If you are still considering a device with the i5-2557M in 2025 (e.g., a refurbished model for a collection), pay attention to:

- Type of Storage: An SSD (SATA III) is essential. An HDD will make the system impractically slow.

- Display: A Full HD matrix with IPS is the minimum for comfortable work.

- Price: New devices with this CPU have not been produced since 2013. Refurbished models cost $50–$100, but their purchase makes sense only for specific tasks (e.g., running legacy software).

9. Final Conclusion

The Intel Core i5-2557M is a veteran processor that, in 2025, will be suitable for:

- Minimalist work without multitasking requirements.

- Enthusiasts building retro computers.

- As a temporary solution for a limited budget.

Key benefits: zero cost on the secondhand market, compact devices, quiet operation. However, for most users, it is more reasonable to choose budget laptops with processors from 2023–2024 (e.g., based on Intel Core i3-N305 or AMD Ryzen 3 7320U), which will remain relevant until the end of the decade.

Note: All assessments are based on tests conducted in April 2025. Prices are indicated for refurbished devices, as new laptops with the i5-2557M have not been produced since 2013.

Basic

Label Name

Intel

Platform

Mobile

Launch Date

April 2011

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.

i5-2557M

Code Name

Sandy Bridge

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.

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.

2.70 GHz

Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 Frequency

2.70 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

CPU Socket

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

FCBGA1023

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.

32 nm

Max. Operating Temperature

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

100 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.

1x16 | 2x8 | 1x8 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.

DDR3 1066/1333

Max Memory Size

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

8.01 GB

Memory Channels

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

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).

21.3 GB/s

ECC Memory Supported

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

GPU Name

Intel® HD Graphics 3000

Graphics Base Frequency

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

350 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.

1.20 GHz

Number of Displays Supported

Graphics Output

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

eDP/DP/HDMI/SDVO/CRT

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

Instruction Set Extensions

Intel® AVX

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

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 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 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

394

Geekbench 6

Multi Core Score

722

Geekbench 5

Single Core Score

486

Geekbench 5

Multi Core Score

971

Passmark CPU

Single Core Score

1081

Passmark CPU

Multi Core Score

1713

Compared to Other CPU

Geekbench 6 Single Core

Core i7-2630QM

460 +16.8%

Opteron 6378

425 +7.9%

Core i5-2557M

394

Celeron J4005

361 -8.4%

Opteron 6180 SE

317 -19.5%

Geekbench 6 Multi Core

A8-5500B

962 +33.2%

Pentium N4200

868 +20.2%

Core i5-2557M

722

Celeron G1620

635 -12%

E2-3200

521 -27.8%

Geekbench 5 Single Core

Xeon E5-2680 v2

514 +5.8%

Xeon E5-2630L v2

499 +2.7%

Core i5-2557M

486

Pentium G2020T

468 -3.7%

Athlon X4 970

450 -7.4%

Geekbench 5 Multi Core

A8-6500B

1134 +16.8%

Core i7-3687U

1063 +9.5%

Core i5-2557M

971

Core i7-2617M

878 -9.6%

A6-9400

817 -15.9%

Passmark CPU Single Core

Xeon E5630

1180 +9.2%

Core i7-2637M

1126 +4.2%

Core i5-2557M

1081

A6-4400M

1026 -5.1%

Pentium B960

962 -11%

Passmark CPU Multi Core

Pentium G3450T

2016 +17.7%

PRO A6-8570

1906 +11.3%

Core i5-2557M

1713

A8-3530MX

1572 -8.2%

Xeon E3-1220L v3

1407 -17.9%