Intel Celeron N5100 vs Intel Core i7-5500U Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a clear and consistent picture: the Intel Celeron N5100 wins every recorded head-to-head comparison against the Intel Core i7-5500U. Across five Cinebench tests, the N5100 holds a commanding lead, with the smallest margin being 17.5% and the largest reaching 18%.

In the Cinebench R15 multicore test, the N5100 scores 282 points against the i7-5500U's 240 points, a 17.5% advantage. This pattern repeats in Cinebench R20 multicore, where the N5100 posts 1179 versus 1000, a 17.9% lead. The single-core results tell the same story: in Cinebench R20 single-core, the N5100 achieves 166, while the i7-5500U manages 141, a 17.7% gap. The most decisive result comes in Cinebench R23 multicore, where the N5100's 2809 outpaces the i7-5500U's 2381 by exactly 18%. Rounding out the sweep, Cinebench R23 single-core shows the N5100 at 396 against the i7-5500U's 336, another 17.9% win.

The consistency of these margins is noteworthy. A 17.5% to 18% advantage across all five tests indicates a fundamental performance differential rather than a workload-specific quirk. The N5100's wins are not narrow or test-dependent; they are uniform and substantial.

Looking at broader database rankings, the two processors sit close in overall standing. The N5100 holds a 26th percentile among all CPUs with an average benchmark score of 966. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon X5570 at 967 (within 0.1%), the AMD Ryzen 7 3700U at 968 (within 0.2%), and the Intel Core i5-2400S at 968 (also within 0.2%). The Intel Pentium Gold G5500T trails slightly at 963, 0.3% behind the N5100.

The i7-5500U, meanwhile, rests at the 25th percentile with an average score of 953. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon W3570 at 955 (0.2% ahead), the Intel Celeron N5105 at 955 (0.2% ahead), the AMD A10-9700E at 951 (0.3% behind), and the Intel Xeon W3550 at 956 (0.3% ahead). The difference in average scores between the two chips is only 13 points, but the head-to-head Cinebench results show the N5100 winning every individual test by a wide margin.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel eras and design philosophies. The Celeron N5100 uses the Tremont architecture on the Jasper Lake codename, built on a 10 nm process node. The Core i7-5500U uses the Broadwell architecture on the Broadwell-U codename, built on a 14 nm process. Both are manufactured by Intel, but the newer 10 nm node gives the N5100 a density and efficiency edge.

Core counts differ significantly. The N5100 has 4 physical cores and 4 threads. The i7-5500U has only 2 physical cores but 4 threads due to Hyper-Threading. Despite the thread parity, the N5100's extra physical cores contribute to its multicore performance lead. The base clock speeds tell a revealing story: the N5100 runs at 1100.00 MHz base, while the i7-5500U starts at 2.40 GHz. The boost clocks are closer, with the N5100 reaching 2.80 GHz and the i7-5500U boosting to 3.00 GHz.

Cache layouts differ as well. Both have 64 KB of L1 per core and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. However, the N5100 has 1.5 MB of shared L2 cache, while the i7-5500U has 256 KB of L2 per core, which translates to 512 KB total across two cores. This gives the N5100 a substantial L2 cache advantage.

Memory support diverges sharply. The N5100 supports DDR4 and LPDDR4 memory with dual-channel access and a memory bandwidth of 46.9 GB/s. The i7-5500U is limited to DDR3 with dual-channel access and a memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s. The N5100 offers nearly double the theoretical memory bandwidth.

PCIe connectivity also differs. The N5100 provides PCIe Gen 3 with 8 lanes (CPU only), while the i7-5500U provides PCIe Gen 2 with 12 lanes (CPU only). The newer PCIe generation may offer higher per-lane bandwidth even with fewer lanes.

Integrated graphics present another distinction. The N5100 carries UHD Graphics 24EU, while the i7-5500U carries Intel HD 5500. Both are integrated solutions aimed at basic display and video tasks, but they represent different graphics architectures.

Power consumption is dramatically different. The N5100 has a TDP of 6 watts, while the i7-5500U has a TDP of 15 watts. This makes the N5100 far more efficient in terms of performance per watt, given its benchmark advantage at lower power draw.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins the most benchmark tests?

A: The Intel Celeron N5100 wins all 5 recorded head-to-head tests. The Core i7-5500U does not win any.

Q: How large is the performance difference in the most recent benchmark?

A: In Cinebench R23 multicore, the N5100 scores 2809 versus the i7-5500U's 2381, an 18% difference.

Q: Which chip has more physical cores?

A: The Celeron N5100 has 4 physical cores and 4 threads. The Core i7-5500U has 2 physical cores and 4 threads.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The N5100 offers 46.9 GB/s of memory bandwidth, while the i7-5500U offers 25.6 GB/s. The N5100 provides nearly double the bandwidth.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The N5100 has an average benchmark score of 966, placing it at the 26th percentile. The i7-5500U has an average score of 953, placing it at the 25th percentile.

Q: Is the thermal design power different?

A: Yes. The N5100 has a TDP of 6 watts, while the i7-5500U has a TDP of 15 watts.

Specification Differences

| Field | Intel Celeron N5100 | Intel Core i7-5500U |

|-------|---------------------|----------------------|

| Cores | 4 | 2 |

| Threads | 4 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 1100.00 MHz | 2.40 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 2.80 GHz | 3.00 GHz |

| TDP | 6 W | 15 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1338 | Intel BGA 1168 |

| Architecture | Tremont | Broadwell |

| Codename | Jasper Lake | Broadwell-U |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 14 nm |

| Transistors | Not listed | 1,300 million |

| Die Size | 63.8 mm² | 82 mm² |

| L2 Cache | 1.5 MB (shared) | 256 KB (per core) |

| Memory Support | DDR4, LPDDR4 | DDR3 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 46.9 GB/s | 25.6 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 8 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 2, 12 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 24EU | Intel HD 5500 |

| Release Date | Not recorded | 2015-02-28 |

| Launch MSRP | Not recorded | $393 |

| Part Number | SRKGZ | SR23W |

The Verdict

The data shows the Intel Celeron N5100 as the superior processor in every benchmarked scenario. For users prioritizing raw performance, the N5100 delivers a consistent 17.5% to 18% advantage across all Cinebench tests, both single-core and multi-core. The N5100 also offers higher memory bandwidth, a larger L2 cache, a newer process node, and dramatically lower power consumption.

The Core i7-5500U does have some advantages in the specification sheet. It features a higher boost clock at 3.00 GHz compared to the N5100's 2.80 GHz, and it supports PCIe Gen 2 with more lanes (12 versus 8). It also has a smaller L2 cache per core but that is offset by the N5100's larger shared L2. The i7-5500U's launch MSRP was $393, but the database does not list a launch price for the N5100.

For users seeking a low-power mobile processor with the best available benchmark scores, the Celeron N5100 is the clear winner. Its 6-watt TDP makes it suited for fanless or compact designs, while its 4 cores provide the throughput advantage visible in the benchmarks. The i7-5500U, despite its higher clock speeds and premium-tier branding, trails in every measured test. The data indicates that the newer Tremont architecture, combined with the 10 nm process and doubled core count, gave the budget-tier Celeron a decisive edge over the older Broadwell-based Core i7 in practical performance.

The 25th percentile standing of the i7-5500U versus the 26th percentile of the N5100 might suggest near-parity, but the head-to-head results tell a different story. Percentile rankings aggregate a broad set of workloads, while the Cinebench results in the database show where the N5100 consistently outperforms. For users who rely on rendering, multi-threaded tasks, or even single-thread responsiveness, the data points to the N5100 as the better investment in terms of measured performance.