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Intel Core i5-5250U

Intel Core i5-5250U: An Overview of an Ultraportable Processor for Basic Tasks (April 2025)

Introduction: Who Is Broadwell Relevant for Today?

The Intel Core i5-5250U processor, released in 2015, represents an era of ultrabooks focused on balancing performance and battery life. Ten years after its release, it maintains niche relevance in the budget segment. In 2025, it can be found in used devices or affordable new entry-level laptops (starting at $250). Let’s explore whether it’s worth considering in the age of ARM chips and 5nm technologies.

1. Architecture and Process Technology: Why Do 14nm Fabrics Still Work?

Basic Configuration

- Cores and Threads: 2 cores, 4 threads (Hyper-Threading).

- Frequencies: Base clock — 1.6 GHz, turbo mode — up to 2.7 GHz.

- Cache: 3 MB L3.

- iGPU: Intel HD Graphics 6000 (300–1000 MHz, 48 EU).

Broadwell Features

- 14nm Process Technology: A breakthrough for 2015, reducing power consumption by 30% compared to Haswell (22nm).

- Improved Graphics: The HD 6000 outperforms the HD 5500 by 15-20%, supports 4K via DisplayPort.

- Memory Support: DDR3L-1600 or LPDDR3-1866 (up to 16 GB).

Practical Example: In 2025, this is sufficient for multitasking with 10 tabs in Chrome, Word, and Zoom (without background effects). However, 4K streaming may cause lags.

2. TDP 15W: How Does It Affect Laptop Design?

- Thermal Package: 15W allows for the creation of thin (up to 18mm) devices without active cooling.

- Operating Modes: In stressful scenarios (e.g., PDF rendering), the processor briefly boosts its frequency to 2.7 GHz but quickly returns to base clock due to TDP constraints.

- Power Saving Technologies:

- Intel SpeedStep — dynamic frequency adjustment.

- C-States — turning off unused cores.

Tip: In 2025, laptops with the i5-5250U are better used with SSDs — this compensates for weak multitasking by improving response speed.

3. Performance: What Can You Do in 2025?

Office Work

- Microsoft 365: Word, Excel — runs smoothly.

- Google Workspace: 30+ tabs in Edge/Chrome will cause stutters.

- Zoom/Teams: HD video calls + screen sharing — 70-80% workload.

Multimedia

- Video: 4K@30 FPS (local playback) or YouTube 1080p@60.

- Editing: In Shotcut or DaVinci Resolve (1080p projects), rendering will take 3-4 times longer than on a Core i5-1235U (2023).

Gaming

- HD 6000 in 2025: Only old titles on low settings:

- CS:GO — 720p, 30-40 FPS.

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

- Stardew Valley — steady 60 FPS.

Turbo Mode: Rarely activates in games — GPU becomes a "bottleneck".

4. Use Cases: Who Should Consider the i5-5250U in 2025?

- Students: For lectures, writing papers, watching classes.

- Office Workers: Working with documents, emails, ERP systems.

- Senior Users: Simple interface, non-demanding tasks.

Not Suitable For:

- 4K video editing.

- Running modern games.

- Machine learning.

5. Battery Life: How Does 15W TDP Affect Battery?

- Typical Runtime: 6-8 hours (with a 45 Wh battery capacity).

- Savings Factors:

- Screen Brightness: Reducing to 50% adds 1.5-2 hours.

- "Power Saving" Mode in Windows/Linux reduces CPU frequency by 20%.

Example: The ASUS ZenBook UX305CA (2015) with the i5-5250U and SSD shows 5 hours of active Wi-Fi usage in 2025.

6. Comparison with Competitors: What to Look at Instead?

AMD (2015-2016)

- A10-8700P (Carrizo-L, 4 cores): Better in multitasking but has a TDP of 15–35W and heating issues.

- Ryzen 3 3250U (2020): Twice the performance at the same TDP.

Apple

- MacBook Air (M1, 2020): 4-5 times faster in Single-Core, 8-10 hours of battery life.

Intel (Modern Analogues)

- Celeron N5100 (2021, 10nm): Weaker in Single-Core (Geekbench 6 ~650) but cheaper.

Conclusion: Even budget processors from 2023-2024 (e.g., Intel N100) surpass i5-5250U in energy efficiency.

7. Pros and Cons: Is It Worth Getting in 2025?

Strengths

- Price: Laptops from $250 (new, e.g., HP 14s-dk0023ur).

- Repairability: Replacing SSD/RAM is easier than in modern ultrabooks.

- OS Support: Runs on Windows 10/11, Linux (Ubuntu 24.04 LTS).

Weaknesses

- 2 cores: Multitasking is limited.

- Outdated Graphics: No support for Vulkan, DirectX 12 Ultimate.

- Durability: Chip wear after 7-10 years of use.

8. Recommendations for Choosing a Laptop

- Type of Device: Ultrabooks or budget Chromebooks (e.g., Acer Chromebook Spin 311).

- What to Check:

- RAM Size: Minimum 8 GB.

- Storage Type: Only SSD (256 GB and above).

- Screen: IPS panel with 1920×1080 resolution.

- Avoid: Laptops with HDD and 4 GB RAM — they will turn the i5-5250U into a "sluggish" machine.

Tip: If your budget is up to $400, it’s better to choose a new device with Intel N200 (Acer Aspire 3, $349) — +40% battery life and support for Wi-Fi 6.

9. Final Conclusion: Who Is the i5-5250U Made For in 2025?

This processor is a choice for those who need:

- A cheap laptop for basic tasks.

- A backup device for travel.

- A project for upgrading (installing Linux, replacing thermal paste).

Key Benefits:

- Low cost of ownership.

- Proven reliability (provided the battery is replaced).

- Sufficient performance for 80% of everyday tasks.

Alternative: If the budget allows for $500+, consider the Ryzen 3 7320U or Apple MacBook Air (M1, used from $550).

Conclusion

The Intel Core i5-5250U in 2025 is an outdated but functional option for less demanding users. It should only be considered under strict budget constraints or as a temporary solution. For comfortable work in modern conditions, it is better to invest in devices released in 2023-2024.

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.

i5-5250U

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

1.60 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.

2.70 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

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 1600/1866

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 6000

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.

950 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

806

Geekbench 6

Multi Core Score

1560

Geekbench 5

Single Core Score

613

Geekbench 5

Multi Core Score

1318

Passmark CPU

Single Core Score

1531

Passmark CPU

Multi Core Score

2465

Compared to Other CPU

Geekbench 6 Single Core

Xeon Silver 4208

906 +12.4%

Core i5-6300U

865 +7.3%

Core i5-5250U

806

Xeon E3-1245 v2

736 -8.7%

Ryzen 3 2200GE

681 -15.5%

Geekbench 6 Multi Core

Ryzen 3 5125C

1888 +21%

Core i7-5600U

1728 +10.8%

Core i5-5250U

1560

Ryzen 3 3250U

1428 -8.5%

Celeron G5920

1248 -20%

Geekbench 5 Single Core

Xeon Gold 5120

658 +7.3%

Xeon D-1527

638 +4.1%

Core i5-5250U

613

Xeon E5-2643 v2

590 -3.8%

Core i5-2510E

570 -7%

Geekbench 5 Multi Core

Pentium G3470

1461 +10.8%

Pentium Silver N5030

1386 +5.2%

Core i5-5250U

1318

FirePro A320

1234 -6.4%

PRO A10-9700E

1149 -12.8%

Passmark CPU Single Core

Xeon E3-1220L

1587 +3.7%

A6-7480

1563 +2.1%

Core i5-5250U

1531

Pentium G2120T

1493 -2.5%

FX-8320

1471 -3.9%

Passmark CPU Multi Core

A8-6500

2855 +15.8%

Core i3-3250

2650 +7.5%

Core i5-5250U

2465

Celeron G4930T

2297 -6.8%

Pentium N4200

2167 -12.1%