Intel Core i5-5200U vs Intel Core i7-5550U Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data records five head-to-head comparisons between the Intel Core i5-5200U and the Intel Core i7-5550U, and the i7-5550U wins every single test. The most consistent pattern is in the Cinebench multi-core workloads. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-5200U scores 214 points while the i7-5550U scores 238 points, a delta of 10.1% in favor of the i7. That exact 10.1% gap repeats in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the i5-5200U records 892 points versus 992 points for the i7-5550U. The same 10.1% margin appears again in Cinebench R23 multi-core: 2125 points for the i5-5200U against 2363 points for the i7-5550U.

Single-core performance tells a similar story, though the margin is slightly narrower. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the i5-5200U scores 126 points and the i7-5550U scores 139 points, a 9.4% advantage for the i7. Cinebench R23 single-core shows the i5-5200U at 300 points and the i7-5550U at 333 points, a 9.9% gap. Across all five recorded benchmarks, the i7-5550U leads by roughly 9% to 10%, making the multi-core advantage slightly larger than the single-core advantage. The data records zero wins for the i5-5200U and five wins for the i7-5550U.

Interestingly, the average benchmark score in the database tells a different story. The i5-5200U has an average benchmark score of 838, while the i7-5550U has an average of 813. This discrepancy arises because the average scores incorporate different benchmark sets and possibly additional tests beyond the head-to-head comparisons. The head-to-head data is the more direct measure, and it consistently favors the i7-5550U. Both processors sit at the 22nd percentile among all CPUs in the database, meaning neither is a standout performer in absolute terms, but within this pair, the i7-5550U is clearly the stronger part.

Architecture Differences

Both processors share the same fundamental design. They are built on the Broadwell architecture, specifically the Broadwell-U codename, using Intel's 14 nm process node. Both have 2 physical cores and 4 threads, both use the Intel BGA 1168 socket, and both are mobile parts with a 15 W TDP. Neither has an unlocked multiplier, and both support DDR3 memory in a dual-channel configuration. The similarities end there, however, as several specifications diverge.

The most significant architectural difference is the transistor count and die size. The i5-5200U packs 1,300 million transistors on an 82 mm² die, while the i7-5550U contains 1,900 million transistors on a 133 mm² die. That is a substantial increase in both complexity and physical area, which explains the performance gap despite identical core counts and thread counts. The larger die in the i7-5550U also houses more cache. The i5-5200U has 64 KB of L1 per core and 256 KB of L2 per core, matching the i7-5550U, but the L3 cache differs: the i5-5200U has 3 MB shared, while the i7-5550U has 4 MB shared. That extra 1 MB of L3 cache is a plausible contributor to the i7's consistent lead in both single-core and multi-core benchmarks.

Clock speeds also differ. The i5-5200U has a base clock of 2.20 GHz and a boost clock of 2.70 GHz. The i7-5550U has a base clock of 2.00 GHz, which is actually lower than the i5, but its boost clock reaches 3.00 GHz, which is higher. The i7-5550U gives up base frequency but gains boost frequency, and the benchmark results suggest the higher boost clock, combined with the larger cache, more than compensates for the lower base clock. Memory bandwidth also favors the i7-5550U: 29.9 GB/s versus 25.6 GB/s for the i5-5200U, despite both using dual-channel DDR3.

The integrated graphics differ as well. The i5-5200U carries Intel HD 5500, while the i7-5550U carries Intel HD 6000. Both are integrated solutions with no discrete memory, but the HD 6000 is the more capable iGPU in this pairing. PCIe support is identical: Gen 2 with 12 lanes (CPU only). Neither processor supports ECC memory, and both are marked as end-of-life production status with a release date of 2015-02-28. The part numbers are SR23Y for the i5-5200U and SR26A for the i7-5550U.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmarks in the head-to-head comparisons?

A: The Intel Core i7-5550U wins all five recorded head-to-head benchmarks. The i5-5200U has zero wins, while the i7-5550U has five wins.

Q: How much faster is the i7-5550U in multi-core Cinebench tests?

A: In Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests, the i7-5550U is consistently 10.1% ahead of the i5-5200U. The scores are 238 versus 214 in R15, 992 versus 892 in R20, and 2363 versus 2125 in R23.

Q: Does the i5-5200U have any advantage in clock speed?

A: Yes, the i5-5200U has a higher base clock of 2.20 GHz compared to 2.00 GHz for the i7-5550U. However, the i7-5550U has a higher boost clock of 3.00 GHz versus 2.70 GHz, and the benchmark results favor the i7.

Q: What is the difference in cache size between the two processors?

A: Both have 64 KB of L1 per core and 256 KB of L2 per core. The difference is in L3 cache: the i5-5200U has 3 MB shared, while the i7-5550U has 4 MB shared.

Q: Are these processors on the same socket and process node?

A: Yes, both use the Intel BGA 1168 socket and the same 14 nm process node. Both are Broadwell-U parts with 2 cores and 4 threads.

Q: Which processor has a larger die and more transistors?

A: The i7-5550U has a 133 mm² die with 1,900 million transistors, while the i5-5200U has an 82 mm² die with 1,300 million transistors. The i7-5550U is physically larger and more complex.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous. The Intel Core i7-5550U outperforms the Intel Core i5-5200U in every recorded head-to-head benchmark, with margins between 9.4% and 10.1%. The multi-core advantage is a consistent 10.1% across three different Cinebench versions, while the single-core advantage sits at roughly 9.4% to 9.9%. For anyone choosing strictly on benchmark performance, the i7-5550U is the superior part.

That said, the i5-5200U is not a poor performer. Its average benchmark score of 838 places it alongside the Intel Core i5-3380M (0% delta), the Intel Xeon X3450 (0.1% delta), and the Intel Core i7-920 (0.3% delta). The i7-5550U, with an average score of 813, sits near the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9775 (0% delta), the Intel Xeon X3440 (0.2% delta), and the AMD A10-6800K (0.5% delta). The average scores are close, and both CPUs occupy the 22nd percentile of all CPUs in the database. The head-to-head tests, however, are the direct comparison, and they favor the i7-5550U.

The i7-5550U also brings more cache (4 MB versus 3 MB), higher memory bandwidth (29.9 GB/s versus 25.6 GB/s), a better integrated GPU (Intel HD 6000 versus Intel HD 5500), and a higher boost clock (3.00 GHz versus 2.70 GHz). The only specification where the i5-5200U leads is base clock (2.20 GHz versus 2.00 GHz), and that does not translate into any benchmark win. The i7-5550U is the choice for anyone prioritizing raw performance in CPU-bound tasks.

Specification Differences

The following specifications differ between the Intel Core i5-5200U and the Intel Core i7-5550U:

• Base clock: 2.20 GHz (i5-5200U) versus 2.00 GHz (i7-5550U)
• Boost clock: 2.70 GHz (i5-5200U) versus 3.00 GHz (i7-5550U)
• Transistors: 1,300 million (i5-5200U) versus 1,900 million (i7-5550U)
• Die size: 82 mm² (i5-5200U) versus 133 mm² (i7-5550U)
• L3 cache: 3 MB shared (i5-5200U) versus 4 MB shared (i7-5550U)
• Memory bandwidth: 25.6 GB/s (i5-5200U) versus 29.9 GB/s (i7-5550U)
• Integrated graphics: Intel HD 5500 (i5-5200U) versus Intel HD 6000 (i7-5550U)
• Launch MSRP: $281 (i5-5200U) versus $426 (i7-5550U)
• Part number: SR23Y (i5-5200U) versus SR26A (i7-5550U)

Identical specifications include: 2 cores, 4 threads, 15 W TDP, Intel BGA 1168 socket, Broadwell architecture, Broadwell-U codename, 14 nm process node, Intel foundry, 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, DDR3 memory support, dual-channel memory bus, no ECC support, PCIe Gen 2 with 12 lanes (CPU only), mobile market segment, end-of-life production status, release date of 2015-02-28, and locked multiplier.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-5550U wins in every benchmark category recorded in the database. In multi-core workloads, it holds a 10.1% advantage across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23. In single-core workloads, it holds a 9.4% to 9.9% advantage. The i7-5550U also wins on secondary characteristics: it has more L3 cache, higher memory bandwidth, a larger die with more transistors, and a better integrated GPU. It is the better processor for multi-threaded applications, single-threaded applications, and even graphics-related tasks, at least as far as the integrated GPU comparison suggests.

The Intel Core i5-5200U has no benchmark wins. Its only recorded advantages are a higher base clock (2.20 GHz versus 2.00 GHz) and a lower launch MSRP of $281 versus $426 for the i7-5550U. In terms of measured performance, the i5-5200U is consistently behind. The data does not reveal any workload where the i5-5200U comes out ahead, so it would be the fallback choice only if the lower launch MSRP is the deciding factor or if the higher base clock is somehow relevant to a specific use case, though the benchmark results do not support that.

For users who need maximum performance from a 15 W mobile processor in this pairing, the i7-5550U is the clear recommendation. For users who prioritize the lower launch MSRP, the i5-5200U exists as a less expensive alternative, but the recorded data shows it sacrifices roughly 10% of performance in both single-core and multi-core tasks. The i7-5550U also offers a more capable integrated GPU and more cache, which could matter for light gaming or GPU-accelerated workloads, though no dedicated graphics benchmarks are recorded in this data set.