Intel Core i5-5200U vs Intel Core i5-5250U Comparison

Intel Core i5-5250U vs Intel Core i5-5200U: this is a close matchup between two 15 W Broadwell-U mobile processors from the same family, released on the same date. The benchmark data shows a clear split: the Core i5-5200U wins the Cinebench suite by slim margins of roughly 2%, while the Core i5-5250U dominates the Geekbench tests by margins of 8% to 11%. The average benchmark scores favor the i5-5250U (856 vs. 838), placing it at the 23rd percentile of all CPUs versus the 22nd percentile for the i5-5200U. However, the i5-5200U has a higher base clock and a smaller die, while the i5-5250U counters with faster memory bandwidth and a more advanced integrated GPU. The picture is nuanced, and the choice depends on which workload matters more.

Architecture Differences

Both processors share the same fundamental architecture: Broadwell-U, built on Intel's 14 nm process node, with 2 cores and 4 threads. They use the same Intel BGA 1168 socket and belong to the Core i5 (Broadwell-U) generation. The L1 cache is identical at 64 KB per core, the L2 cache at 256 KB per core, and the L3 cache is 3 MB shared on both parts. Neither supports ECC memory, neither has an unlocked multiplier, and both are marked as end-of-life products with a release date of 2015-02-28.

The key architectural differences appear in the physical implementation and graphics. The Core i5-5250U contains 1,900 million transistors on a 133 mm² die, whereas the Core i5-5200U has 1,300 million transistors on an 82 mm² die. This is a substantial difference in transistor density, with the i5-5250U packing roughly 46% more transistors into a die that is about 62% larger by area. The integrated graphics differ as well: the i5-5250U carries Intel HD 6000, while the i5-5200U uses Intel HD 5500. Memory support is DDR3 dual-channel on both, but the i5-5250U has a higher memory bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s compared to 25.6 GB/s for the i5-5200U. PCIe configuration is identical: Gen 2 with 12 lanes from the CPU.

Clock speeds present a direct trade-off. The i5-5250U has a base clock of 1.60 GHz, significantly lower than the i5-5200U's 2.20 GHz, but both share the same boost clock of 2.70 GHz. This means the i5-5200U starts at a higher frequency and needs less boosting to reach its peak, which explains its advantage in sustained single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads. The i5-5250U compensates with a larger transistor count, which likely contributes to its superior performance in certain memory-heavy or graphics-related tasks, as reflected in the Geekbench results.

The Verdict

The data indicates a preference for the Intel Core i5-5200U in traditional CPU rendering benchmarks. It wins 5 of the 7 head-to-head tests, taking Cinebench R15 multicore (214 vs. 209), R20 multicore (892 vs. 873), R20 singlecore (126 vs. 123), R23 multicore (2125 vs. 2079), and R23 singlecore (300 vs. 293). The margins are consistent, ranging from 2.1% to 2.4% in its favor. If your primary concern is Cinebench-style rendering or general single-threaded execution, the i5-5200U is the stronger choice from this benchmark set.

The Intel Core i5-5250U wins the remaining two tests decisively: Geekbench multicore (1587 vs. 1464, a lead of 8.4%) and Geekbench singlecore (825 vs. 742, a lead of 11.2%). This suggests the i5-5250U has a measurable advantage in memory bandwidth and integrated graphics throughput, as those factors can influence Geekbench's diverse workload mix. The i5-5250U also holds a higher average benchmark score of 856 versus 838, though the percentile difference is marginal (23rd vs. 22nd). For users running Geekbench-style applications, or those who value the higher memory bandwidth and HD 6000 graphics, the i5-5250U is the better pick.

In practical terms, neither processor is a clear winner for all tasks. The i5-5200U is better for CPU-bound rendering and single-threaded speed, while the i5-5250U is better for memory-sensitive and graphics-related workloads. Given the small margins in Cinebench and the large margins in Geekbench, the i5-5250U offers the more compelling overall package if you consider the full benchmark spectrum, but the i5-5200U is the safer bet for pure compute.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher base clock?

A: The Intel Core i5-5200U has a base clock of 2.20 GHz, while the Intel Core i5-5250U has a base clock of 1.60 GHz. Both share the same boost clock of 2.70 GHz.

Q: How do the integrated graphics compare?

A: The Intel Core i5-5250U features Intel HD 6000, while the Intel Core i5-5200U features Intel HD 5500. The i5-5250U's graphics are the more advanced of the two.

Q: What is the difference in memory bandwidth?

A: The Intel Core i5-5250U supports memory bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s, whereas the Intel Core i5-5200U supports 25.6 GB/s. Both use dual-channel DDR3 memory.

Q: Which processor wins in Cinebench multicore tests?

A: The Intel Core i5-5200U wins all four Cinebench multicore tests: R15 (214 vs. 209), R20 (892 vs. 873), and R23 (2125 vs. 2079). The margins range from 2.1% to 2.3%.

Q: Which processor wins in Geekbench tests?

A: The Intel Core i5-5250U wins both Geekbench tests: multicore (1587 vs. 1464, a lead of 8.4%) and singlecore (825 vs. 742, a lead of 11.2%).

Q: Do both processors have the same cache configuration?

A: Yes, both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 3 MB of shared L3 cache. There is no difference in cache hierarchy.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data reveals a consistent pattern of narrow Cinebench wins for the i5-5200U and substantial Geekbench wins for the i5-5250U. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i5-5200U scores 214 against 209 for the i5-5250U, a delta of 2.3%. The R20 multicore test shows a similar story: 892 vs. 873, a 2.1% lead. Single-threaded Cinebench results follow suit: R20 singlecore gives the i5-5200U a 126 vs. 123 win (2.4%), and R23 singlecore gives it 300 vs. 293 (2.3%). The R23 multicore result completes the sweep: 2125 vs. 2079, a 2.2% margin.

The Geekbench results invert the picture dramatically. In Geekbench multicore, the i5-5250U scores 1587, which is 8.4% higher than the i5-5200U's 1464. The singlecore gap is even larger: 825 vs. 742, a lead of 11.2% for the i5-5250U. These deltas are roughly five times larger than the Cinebench margins, suggesting that the i5-5250U's advantages (memory bandwidth, transistor count, and HD 6000 graphics) have a pronounced effect on Geekbench's workload mix, which includes memory and graphics components.

The overall win count is 5 for the i5-5200U and 2 for the i5-5250U, but the average benchmark scores tell a different story: the i5-5250U averages 856 across all tests, slightly ahead of the i5-5200U's 838. This means the i5-5250U's large Geekbench wins outweigh the i5-5200U's small Cinebench wins in the aggregate. The nearest rival data reinforces this: the i5-5250U sits at an average score of 856, matching the Intel Core i5-2500T exactly, while the i5-5200U's 838 average matches the Intel Core i5-3380M.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specification fields. The base clock is the most obvious: 1.60 GHz for the i5-5250U versus 2.20 GHz for the i5-5200U, a difference of 0.60 GHz. The boost clock is identical at 2.70 GHz. The transistor count differs significantly: 1,900 million for the i5-5250U versus 1,300 million for the i5-5200U. Die size also varies: 133 mm² for the i5-5250U versus 82 mm² for the i5-5200U.

Memory bandwidth is another differentiator: 29.9 GB/s for the i5-5250U versus 25.6 GB/s for the i5-5200U. The integrated graphics differ, with the i5-5250U using Intel HD 6000 and the i5-5200U using Intel HD 5500. The launch MSRP is $315 for the i5-5250U and $281 for the i5-5200U. The part numbers are SR26C for the i5-5250U and SR23Y for the i5-5200U. All other specifications are identical: 2 cores, 4 threads, 15 W TDP, Intel BGA 1168 socket, Broadwell architecture, 14 nm process, DDR3 dual-channel memory support, no ECC, PCIe Gen 2 with 12 lanes, and a release date of 2015-02-28.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-5200U is the clear winner in Cinebench-based rendering workloads. It takes every Cinebench test in the database, with margins of 2.1% to 2.4%. This advantage stems from its higher base clock of 2.20 GHz, which provides a stronger starting point for sustained multi-threaded and single-threaded CPU tasks. For users running CPU-intensive applications like video encoding, 3D rendering, or any workload that relies heavily on raw compute, the i5-5200U is the better choice based on the recorded data.

The Intel Core i5-5250U wins decisively in Geekbench tests, with leads of 8.4% in multicore and 11.2% in singlecore. These larger margins suggest the i5-5250U excels in workloads that benefit from its higher memory bandwidth (29.9 GB/s vs. 25.6 GB/s) and its more advanced Intel HD 6000 graphics. The larger transistor count (1,900 million vs. 1,300 million) may also contribute to better overall efficiency in memory-heavy or graphics-adjacent tasks. For users who run Geekbench-style benchmarks, which include a mix of integer, floating-point, memory, and graphics tests, the i5-5250U offers a significant performance edge.

The use-case split is therefore clear: choose the i5-5200U for pure CPU compute and rendering, and choose the i5-5250U for memory-sensitive workloads or those that can leverage integrated graphics. The i5-5250U's higher average benchmark score (856 vs. 838) and better percentile ranking (23rd vs. 22nd) indicate that, on balance, it is the more capable processor across the full test suite, despite losing the head-to-head count.