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Intel Core m5-6Y54

Intel Core m5-6Y54: Obsolete Yet Still Relevant for Ultra-Portability

Processor Analysis for Thin Laptops in the Context of 2025

Architecture and Process Technology: Skylake Efficiency at 14 nm

The Intel Core m5-6Y54 processor, released in 2015, is based on the Skylake microarchitecture and 14 nm process technology. It is a dual-core chip with support for Hyper-Threading (4 threads), a base frequency of 1.1 GHz, and turbo mode up to 2.7 GHz. The integrated Intel HD Graphics 515 (24 EU, 300–900 MHz) provides basic multimedia support.

Architecture Features:

- Energy Efficiency: Skylake optimized power management, crucial for ultrabooks.

- Intel Speed Shift: This technology speeds up the transition between processor states, reducing latency.

- Support for DDR3L/LPDDR3: The maximum RAM capacity is 16 GB, but most devices used 4–8 GB.

Despite its age, this chip can still be found in used or budget thin laptops in 2025. Modern counterparts (e.g., Intel Core Ultra U-series or Apple M3) outperform it in every parameter, but the m5-6Y54 remains a symbol of the era when Intel focused on ultra-low TDP.

TDP 4.5 W: Thermal Design Power for Passive Cooling

The 4.5 W TDP is a key feature of the Core m5-6Y54. This allowed for the creation of fanless laptops, such as the Apple MacBook 12" (2015–2017) or Lenovo Yoga 730.

Pros:

- Silence.

- Minimalist design (case thickness up to 13 mm).

- Low heat output.

Cons:

- Limited performance under load.

- Turbo mode operates temporarily (usually 10-15 seconds), after which frequency decreases due to overheating.

Performance: Modest Results in 2025

According to Geekbench 6 (2025):

- Single-Core: 713

- Multi-Core: 1351

Real Tasks:

- Office Work: Chrome with 10+ tabs, Word, Zoom — occasional stuttering may occur.

- Multimedia: 4K video playback (with hardware acceleration) is possible, but rendering in DaVinci Resolve is unacceptable.

- Gaming: Only older games at low settings (e.g., CS:GO — 20–25 FPS at 720p).

Turbo Boost Mode: Increases frequency up to 2.7 GHz, but due to passive cooling, it is effective only for short tasks (loading web pages, opening applications).

Use Cases: Who is the Core m5-6Y54 Relevant for in 2025?

1. Secondary Laptop: Buying a used device for $150–$250 for travel or as a backup.

2. Basic Tasks: Web browsing, document work, online courses.

3. Linux Enthusiasts: Lightweight distributions (Lubuntu, Xubuntu) can revitalize older machines.

Not Suitable For:

- Modern gaming and video editing.

- Running neural network models (e.g., Stable Diffusion).

Battery Life: Up to 10 Hours in 2025?

Laptops with the Core m5-6Y54 were equipped with 30–40 Wh batteries. By 2025, their capacity could decrease to 60–70%, but with battery replacement, the potential is:

- 8–10 hours at 150 nits brightness while working in Google Docs.

- 5–6 hours while watching YouTube.

Power-saving Technologies:

- C-States: Putting unused cores into sleep mode.

- Panel Self Refresh: Reducing screen power consumption.

Comparison with Competitors: Against Apple and AMD

Intel Core m5-6Y54 (2015):

- TDP: 4.5 W

- Geekbench 6 Single: 713

- Graphics: HD 515

Apple M1 (2020):

- TDP: 10 W

- Geekbench 6 Single: 2300

- Graphics: Apple M1 7-core GPU

AMD Ryzen 3 7320U (2022):

- TDP: 15 W

- Geekbench 6 Single: 1450

- Graphics: Radeon 610M

Conclusions:

- Apple M1 outperforms the m5-6Y54 by 3 times in performance with double the TDP.

- Ryzen 3 7320U (Zen 2) is relevant in budget laptops of 2025 ($400–$500) and offers 4 cores/8 threads.

Pros and Cons: Why to Buy or Not to Buy?

Strengths:

- Ultra-portability.

- Silence.

- Low prices in the second-hand market.

Weaknesses:

- Obsolete performance.

- Limited support for modern OS (e.g., Windows 12 requires at least 4 cores).

- Weak graphics.

Laptop Selection Recommendations for 2025

If you are considering devices with the Core m5-6Y54:

1. Type of Device: Ultrabook with SSD (minimum 256 GB) and 8 GB RAM.

2. Screen: IPS panel with a resolution of 1920×1080.

3. Price: No more than $250 for a used device in good condition.

Advice: It may be better to add $100–200 and choose a laptop with Ryzen 3 7320U or Intel Core i3-N305 — they will support modern applications and last longer.

Final Conclusion: Who is this Processor For?

The Core m5-6Y54 in 2025 is suitable for:

- Minimalists who need a cheap, lightweight laptop for text and internet use.

- Travelers willing to cope with limitations for the sake of compactness.

- Enthusiasts repurposing old devices for Linux projects.

Key Benefit: A balance of price and portability. However, for most users, modern budget chips from Intel, AMD, or Apple will be a more sensible investment.

Basic

Label Name

Intel

Platform

Mobile

Launch Date

July 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.

M5-6Y54

Code Name

SkyLake

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

1.10 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

CPU Socket

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

FCBGA1515

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.

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.

3.0

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.

1x4 | 2x2 | 1x2+2x1 and 4x1

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.

LPDDR3-1866 | DDR3L-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

4 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).

29.8 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

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.

Intel® HD Graphics 515

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

4K Support

Yes | at 60Hz

DirectX Support

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

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.

4096x2304@24Hz

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

Max Resolution (eDP - Integrated Flat Panel)

Max Resolution (Integrated Flat Panel) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor for a device with an integrated flat panel (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your device.

3840x2160@60Hz

Max Resolution (VGA)

N/A

Number of Displays Supported

Graphics Output

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

eDP/DP/HDMI/DVI

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® Smart Cache

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.

4.5

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

713

Geekbench 6

Multi Core Score

1351

Geekbench 5

Single Core Score

628

Geekbench 5

Multi Core Score

1343

Passmark CPU

Single Core Score

1305

Passmark CPU

Multi Core Score

2289

Compared to Other CPU

Geekbench 6 Single Core

Core i7-5550U

843 +18.2%

Core i3-7167U

770 +8%

Core m5-6Y54

713

Athlon 300U

660 -7.4%

Xeon D-1557

628 -11.9%

Geekbench 6 Multi Core

Athlon X4 845

1656 +22.6%

Core i7-4578U

1510 +11.8%

Core m5-6Y54

1351

Pentium Silver N6000

1182 -12.5%

Core i7-3520M

1053 -22.1%

Geekbench 5 Single Core

Celeron G3900T

673 +7.2%

FX-8300

652 +3.8%

Core m5-6Y54

628

Core i3-3220

606 -3.5%

Xeon Platinum 8176

584 -7%

Geekbench 5 Multi Core

FX-4100

1473 +9.7%

Xeon E3-1220L

1401 +4.3%

Core m5-6Y54

1343

A8-7680

1244 -7.4%

Ryzen Embedded R1600

1160 -13.6%

Passmark CPU Single Core

Celeron G6900TE

1393 +6.7%

Xeon D-1518

1359 +4.1%

Core m5-6Y54

1305

Pentium G6960

1264 -3.1%

Celeron G550

1205 -7.7%

Passmark CPU Multi Core

A8-5500B

2648 +15.7%

Core i5-2390T

2448 +6.9%

Core m5-6Y54

2289

Athlon II X4 631

2150 -6.1%

Celeron 6305E

1981 -13.5%