Intel Core i3-1115GRE vs Intel Core i7-5557U Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data paints a remarkably one-sided picture. Across every recorded Cinebench test, the Intel Core i3-1115GRE finishes ahead of the Intel Core i7-5557U by a substantial margin. The smallest advantage occurs in Cinebench R15 multicore, where the i3-1115GRE scores 392 against 270 for the i7-5557U, a 45.2% delta. That pattern holds almost exactly across the other multicore tests: 1637 versus 1126 in R20 multicore (45.4% ahead), and 3899 versus 2682 in R23 multicore (45.4% ahead). The consistency is striking; these are not isolated wins but a uniform performance gap across the entire Cinebench suite.

Single-core results show an even larger relative gap. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the i3-1115GRE records 231 points, while the i7-5557U manages 158, giving the newer chip a 46.2% lead. The R23 single-core test repeats the pattern: 550 versus 378, a 45.5% delta. Even the R15 single-core test, which is not listed in the head-to-head table but appears in the individual benchmark sets, shows the i3-1115GRE at 55 points; the i7-5557U has no corresponding R15 single-core score recorded, but the multicore delta already establishes the trend.

The database also includes Geekbench scores for the i7-5557U only: 2099 multicore and 1060 single-core. Since the i3-1115GRE has no Geekbench entry, those numbers cannot be compared directly, but they do contextualize the i7-5557U’s standing. Its average benchmark score across all recorded tests is 1110, placing it in the 31st percentile of all CPUs. The i3-1115GRE averages 1127, which lands it in the 32nd percentile. Despite the i3-1115GRE winning every head-to-head Cinebench contest, the overall percentile rankings are nearly identical. The reason is that the i7-5557U has Geekbench results in its average, while the i3-1115GRE does not, so the two averages are built from different test sets.

Looking at the nearest rivals in the database adds further context. The i3-1115GRE’s closest competitor is the Intel Core i5-3330S, with an average score of 1128, a 0.1% difference. The Intel Core i7-2720QM also scores 1128, also 0.1% behind. The i7-5557U’s nearest rival is the Intel Xeon E5630 at 1110, a 0.0% delta, followed closely by the Intel Xeon E5-2609 v3 at 1109, a 0.1% difference. In other words, despite the i3-1115GRE’s commanding Cinebench victories, both chips sit in the same performance tier when averaged across their full recorded benchmark sets.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU wins the most benchmarks in the head-to-head comparison?

A: The Intel Core i3-1115GRE wins all five recorded head-to-head Cinebench tests. The Intel Core i7-5557U wins none. The wins include R15 multicore (392 vs 270), R20 multicore (1637 vs 1126), R20 single-core (231 vs 158), R23 multicore (3899 vs 2682), and R23 single-core (550 vs 378).

Q: How large is the performance gap in multicore workloads?

A: The delta is consistently around 45% in favor of the i3-1115GRE. In R15 multicore the gap is 45.2%, in R20 multicore it is 45.4%, and in R23 multicore it is also 45.4%. The i3-1115GRE produces 1637 points in R20 multicore versus 1126 for the i7-5557U, and 3899 versus 2682 in R23.

Q: Is the single-core advantage similar to the multicore advantage?

A: The single-core gap is slightly larger. In R20 single-core, the i3-1115GRE leads by 46.2% (231 vs 158). In R23 single-core, the lead is 45.5% (550 vs 378). These deltas are close to the multicore margins, indicating the i3-1115GRE does not sacrifice single-threaded performance to achieve its multicore lead.

Q: How do the two CPUs compare in overall percentile ranking?

A: The i3-1115GRE sits in the 32nd percentile of all CPUs, while the i7-5557U sits in the 31st percentile. Despite the i3-1115GRE’s large Cinebench wins, the overall percentile difference is just one point. This is partly because the i7-5557U has Geekbench scores included in its average, while the i3-1115GRE does not.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each CPU?

A: The i3-1115GRE has an average benchmark score of 1127. The i7-5557U has an average of 1110. The difference is 17 points, or roughly 1.5% of the i7-5557U’s average.

Q: Are these chips still in production?

A: The i3-1115GRE is listed as Active, while the i7-5557U is listed as End-of-life. The i3-1115GRE was released on 2020-09-01, and the i7-5557U was released on 2015-02-28.

Where Each One Wins

The i3-1115GRE wins every benchmark category recorded in the head-to-head table. That includes all multicore tests, where its Tiger Lake architecture delivers 45% or better margins, and all single-core tests, where the lead is even slightly larger. For workloads that depend on Cinebench-style rendering or CPU throughput, the i3-1115GRE is the clear choice. Its 3899 R23 multicore score versus 2682 for the i7-5557U shows a meaningful advantage in sustained multi-threaded tasks.

The i7-5557U does have a few areas where it is not simply outclassed. Its Geekbench results, while not directly comparable to the i3-1115GRE (which lacks Geekbench scores), show a reasonable single-core score of 1060 and multicore of 2099. These numbers indicate the i7-5557U is still capable in general-purpose computing, just not competitive with the newer chip in the Cinebench suite. The i7-5557U also carries a higher TDP of 28 watts versus 15 watts for the i3-1115GRE, which means it is designed for a different thermal envelope. In systems where power draw is a constraint, the i3-1115GRE may be preferable despite its lower TDP, but the i7-5557U’s higher TDP suggests it was intended for slightly thicker or actively cooled chassis.

For users who prioritize raw CPU benchmark performance, the i3-1115GRE is the only winner here. For users who need a chip with a longer production history, the i7-5557U has been on the market since early 2015 and may have broader ecosystem support in legacy platforms. However, the recorded data shows no benchmark category where the i7-5557U comes out ahead.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in almost every major specification except core count and thread count. Both have 2 cores and 4 threads, but nearly everything else is different.

Clock speeds are a clear point of divergence. The i7-5557U has a base clock of 3.10 GHz and a boost clock of 3.40 GHz. The i3-1115GRE has a lower base clock of 2.20 GHz but a much higher boost clock of 3.90 GHz. In practice, the i3-1115GRE’s boost behavior appears to deliver the large benchmark wins recorded in the data.

Thermal design power differs by 13 watts: the i3-1115GRE is rated at 15 watts, while the i7-5557U is rated at 28 watts. The socket is different as well: the i3-1115GRE uses Intel BGA 1449, and the i7-5557U uses Intel BGA 1168. These sockets are not interchangeable.

Memory support is another major split. The i3-1115GRE supports DDR4 and LPDDR4X, while the i7-5557U supports DDR3. Both are dual-channel, but the i7-5557U has a recorded memory bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s. The i3-1115GRE has no memory bandwidth figure in the database. ECC memory is supported on the i3-1115GRE but not on the i7-5557U.

PCIe capabilities differ as well. The i3-1115GRE offers PCIe Gen 4 with 4 lanes (CPU only), while the i7-5557U offers PCIe Gen 2 with 12 lanes (CPU only). The integrated graphics also differ: the i3-1115GRE has UHD Graphics G4 with 48 execution units, while the i7-5557U has Intel Iris 6100.

The launch MSRP differs significantly: the i3-1115GRE launched at $338, and the i7-5557U launched at $426. Both are locked multipliers, meaning neither supports overclocking.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two chips spans five years of Intel development. The i3-1115GRE is built on Tiger Lake, specifically the Tiger Lake-U codename, using a 10 nm process node. The i7-5557U is Broadwell, codename Broadwell-U, using a 14 nm process node. The newer 10 nm process is a key reason the i3-1115GRE achieves higher performance at a lower TDP.

The die size difference is small but notable: the i3-1115GRE has a die size of 144 mm², while the i7-5557U has a die size of 133 mm². The i7-5557U has a recorded transistor count of 1,900 million, while the i3-1115GRE has no transistor count listed.

Cache hierarchies are substantially different. The i3-1115GRE has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The i7-5557U has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The i3-1115GRE’s L2 cache is roughly five times larger per core, and its L3 cache is 50% larger overall.

The generation labels reflect the architectural lineage: the i3-1115GRE is listed as Core i3 (Willow Cove-U), while the i7-5557U is Core i7 (Broadwell-U). Willow Cove is the CPU microarchitecture used in Tiger Lake, representing a significant IPC improvement over Broadwell. The benchmark data confirms this: the i3-1115GRE’s single-core scores are over 45% higher despite a lower base clock, which points directly to architectural efficiency gains rather than raw clock speed.

The foundry for both is Intel, and both are mobile-market parts. The production status differs, with the i3-1115GRE active and the i7-5557U end-of-life. The i3-1115GRE also supports ECC memory, a feature absent from the i7-5557U, and its integrated graphics are based on a newer architecture with 48 execution units versus the older Iris 6100.