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Intel Core M-5Y10

Intel Core M-5Y10: An Ultraportable Processor for Mobility, Not Power

Introduction

The Intel Core M-5Y10 processor, released in 2014-2015, was revolutionary for its time due to its ultra-low power consumption and passive cooling. However, even a decade later, devices based on it remain relevant for a niche audience that values compactness and battery life. In this article, we will explore who this CPU is suitable for in 2025, how it handles modern tasks, and what to look out for when purchasing.

Architecture and Process Technology: Evolution in Miniature

Broadwell Architecture, 14nm, 2 Cores and 4 Threads

The Core M-5Y10 is built on the Broadwell architecture (5th generation Intel Core) with a 14nm process technology. It is the first mass-market CPU with a TDP of 4.5W, which does not require active cooling. Its key specifications include:

- 2 cores / 4 threads thanks to Hyper-Threading.

- Base frequency: 0.8 GHz, Turbo Boost up to 2.0 GHz.

- L3 cache: 4 MB — modest even for 2015.

- iGPU: Intel HD Graphics 5300 with 24 EUs and a frequency of up to 800 MHz.

Architecture Features

- Passive Cooling: The lack of a fan allows for the creation of laptops less than 10mm thick (for example, Apple MacBook 12" 2015).

- Power Saving Modes: Technologies like Speed Shift and Dynamic Tuning optimize performance under load.

Power Consumption and TDP: Quiet, But Not Fast

TDP 4.5W: The Cost of Compactness

Such a low thermal envelope (3-5 times less than modern U-series processors) means:

- The ability to operate without a cooler.

- A limitation on peak performance: under prolonged load, the frequency drops to 1.2-1.5 GHz.

Thermal Limitations

Even in 2025, laptops with the Core M-5Y10 suffer from throttling: for instance, during video conversion in HandBrake, the processor quickly drops its frequency, increasing task time by 2-3 times compared to modern Core i3 models.

Performance: Modest Results in 2025

Office Work and Web Browsing

- Geekbench 6: 687 (Single-Core) / 1326 (Multi-Core) — on par with Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2 (2020).

- Real-World Tasks:

- Running 10 tabs in Chrome + Word + Zoom: possible stutters.

- 4K YouTube: plays with hiccups without VP9 hardware decoding.

Multimedia and Gaming

- Video Editing: Only light edits in 1080p (DaVinci Resolve) with severe lags.

- Games:

- CS:GO — 20-25 FPS on low settings (720p).

- Minecraft — 30 FPS (Render Distance 8 chunks).

- Modern games (e.g., Genshin Impact) will not run.

Turbo Boost: A Brief Surge

Under short-term loads (opening an application), the frequency rises to 2.0 GHz, but falls back to 1.2-1.5 GHz after 10-15 seconds.

Usage Scenarios: Who is the Core M-5Y10 Suitable for in 2025?

1. Ultraportable Devices:

- Tablets with keyboards (e.g., Microsoft Surface Pro 4).

- Travel laptops (weighing less than 1 kg: Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro).

2. Secondary Tasks:

- Document work, email.

- Watching movies in 1080p.

3. Office Kiosks or Terminals: Low-cost used devices (from $100).

Not Suitable for:

- Students for rendering or programming.

- Gamers.

- Freelancers working with graphics.

Battery Life: 8-10 Hours — Myth or Reality?

Battery in 2025

Even with new batteries (replaced with 40-50 Wh), the working time will not exceed 6-7 hours with active use (Chrome + Slack). The reason is the outdated process technology: 14 nm vs. 5-7 nm in modern chips.

Power Saving Technologies

- Intel SpeedStep: Dynamic frequency adjustment.

- C-States: Disabling unused cores.

- Display Power Savings: Reducing brightness and refresh rate of the display.

Tip: In OS settings, set the “Battery Saver” mode to increase battery life by 15-20%.

Comparison with Competitors: Against Apple, AMD, and Modern Intel

1. Apple M1 (2020):

- Single-threaded performance is 3 times higher.

- TDP of 10W, but MacBook Air battery life can reach up to 18 hours.

2. AMD Ryzen 3 7320U (2022):

- 4 cores / 8 threads, Zen 2, 6W TDP.

- Geekbench 6 Multi-Core: ~3200.

3. Intel N100 (2023):

- 4 cores, 6W TDP, AV1 decoding.

- Performance is twice as high for $200-300.

Conclusion: The Core M-5Y10 is outdated even for the budget segment. Its advantage lies in ultra-cheap used devices (from $100).

Pros and Cons: Why You Should Be Cautious in 2025?

Pros:

- Silent operation (no fan).

- Compact devices.

- Low price on the secondary market.

Cons:

- Weak performance for modern OS (Windows 11 requires at least 4 GB RAM and 64 GB storage, but on Core M-5Y10 it runs sluggishly).

- Lack of support for modern codecs (AV1, VP9).

- Limited upgrades: RAM and SSD are often soldered.

Recommendations for Laptop Selection: What to Buy Instead of Core M-5Y10?

Budget up to $300:

- New Devices: Chuwi Gemibook Pro (Intel N100, 8GB RAM, $279).

- Used MacBook Air M1: From $400 (but more reliable and powerful).

Buying Tips:

1. Look for an SSD of 256+ GB: eMMC storage in older models is unreliable.

2. Check ports: USB-C with charging support will make life easier.

3. Avoid screens with a resolution below 1920x1080.

Final Conclusion: A Narrow Niche for Minimalists

The Intel Core M-5Y10 in 2025 is suitable only for:

- As a secondary laptop for short trips.

- For elderly users, who need a cheap device for Skype and reading news.

- Retro tech enthusiasts, collecting ultrabooks.

Key Benefits:

- Requires no maintenance (no dust in the cooler).

- Lighter than most modern laptops.

Alternative: If the budget allows, it’s better to choose a device with Intel N100, AMD Mendocino, or Apple M1 — they will remain relevant until 2030.

Conclusion

The Core M-5Y10 is a symbol of the ultraportability era, but in 2025 it trails behind even budget newcomers. It’s only worth purchasing under strict budget constraints or for collectible interest. For everyday tasks, look for more modern solutions.

Basic

Label Name

Intel

Platform

Mobile

Launch Date

September 2014

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.

5Y10

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

800 MHz

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.

2.00 GHz

Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 Frequency

2.00 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

4 MB

CPU Socket

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

FCBGA1234

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

4.5 W

Max. Operating Temperature

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

95 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.

x1 (6) | x2 (4) | x4 (3)

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.

LPDDR3 1333/1600; DDR3L/DDR3L-RS 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.

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

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 5300

Graphics Base Frequency

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

100 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.

800 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.

2560x1600@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.

4 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 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

687

Geekbench 6

Multi Core Score

1326

Geekbench 5

Single Core Score

440

Geekbench 5

Multi Core Score

906

Passmark CPU

Single Core Score

1119

Passmark CPU

Multi Core Score

1906

Compared to Other CPU

Geekbench 6 Single Core

Xeon Silver 4110

808 +17.6%

Xeon Bronze 3206R

742 +8%

Core M-5Y10

687

Xeon E3-1280 v2

644 -6.3%

Core i7-3615QM

605 -11.9%

Geekbench 6 Multi Core

FX-6330

1637 +23.5%

PRO A8-9600

1496 +12.8%

Core M-5Y10

1326

Xeon E5-4610

1167 -12%

Ryzen Embedded R1102G

1040 -21.6%

Geekbench 5 Single Core

Core i3-6006U

475 +8%

Opteron 4386

456 +3.6%

Core M-5Y10

440

A4-5300

416 -5.5%

Xeon E5-2650L v2

389 -11.6%

Geekbench 5 Multi Core

Celeron G4930E

1074 +18.5%

A10-5750M

1010 +11.5%

Core M-5Y10

906

Core i3-3227U

840 -7.3%

PRO A6-9500E

768 -15.2%

Passmark CPU Single Core

Core i7-2630QM

1226 +9.6%

Core m3-6Y30

1179 +5.4%

Core M-5Y10

1119

A4-3400

1078 -3.7%

Xeon E5-2609 v4

1020 -8.8%

Passmark CPU Multi Core

Core i3-2105

2193 +15.1%

Core M-5Y71

2025 +6.2%

Core M-5Y10

1906

Celeron 3965U

1743 -8.6%

A6-6420K

1576 -17.3%