CPU Comparison

The Intel Core i5-5287U and the Intel Processor N95 are both mobile-class chips, but they come from completely different eras and design philosophies. The data shows a clear generational shift in performance, with the newer N95 taking a decisive lead in every benchmark where the two are directly compared. The i5-5287U, a Broadwell part from early 2015, holds its own in overall average scores due to its older dual-core design, but the N95’s modern Gracemont architecture delivers superior raw throughput in multi-threaded and single-threaded tasks alike.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head comparison is unambiguous, with the Intel Processor N95 winning all three available benchmark matchups. The most dramatic difference emerges in the Cinebench R23 single-core test, where the N95 scores 914 against the i5-5287U’s 366. That is a -60% deltaPct, meaning the i5-5287U trails by a staggering 60%. This is not a marginal gap; it is a generational leap in per-core efficiency and IPC, making the N95 vastly more responsive in lightly-threaded workloads like everyday application use and basic web browsing.

Multi-core performance tells a similar story, though the margin narrows. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the N95 scores 2769 versus 2596 for the i5-5287U, a -6.2% deltaPct. The i5-5287U manages to stay competitive here because its 28W TDP allows for sustained boost clocks, but the N95’s four physical cores still come out ahead. The older chip’s two cores and four threads simply cannot match the N95’s additional cores, even when the N95 is constrained to a lower power envelope.

The oldest benchmark in the comparison, Cinebench R15 multi-core, shows the largest absolute gap. The N95 posts 445 points, while the i5-5287U manages just 261, a -41.3% deltaPct. This test is heavily reliant on multi-threaded scaling, and the N95’s four cores clearly dominate the i5-5287U’s two. The i5-5287U’s hyper-threading helps, but it cannot compensate for half the physical core count.

It is importantly the i5-5287U does not win a single head-to-head matchup. The winsA field is 0, while winsB is 3. Despite this, the average benchmark score for both chips is nearly identical: 1072 for the i5-5287U and 1070 for the N95. This is because the i5-5287U has additional benchmark scores in its profile, Cinebench R20 and Geekbench tests, that are not part of the direct comparison. The N95’s percentile ranking is 29, just one point below the i5-5287U’s 30, placing both in the lower third of all CPUs.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two processors is immense. The i5-5287U is built on Intel’s 14nm Broadwell process, a node that was high-end in 2015 but is now two generations old. The N95, by contrast, uses a 10nm process with the Gracemont microarchitecture, part of the Alder Lake-N family. This node shrink alone explains much of the N95’s efficiency and performance advantage, allowing it to deliver higher scores while consuming less power.

The core count and layout differ fundamentally. The i5-5287U has 2 cores and 4 threads, relying on Hyper-Threading to handle additional workloads. The N95 has 4 cores and 4 threads, with no Hyper-Threading, but the extra physical cores provide a more substantial performance boost in multi-threaded scenarios. The cache hierarchy also reflects the generational shift. The i5-5287U features 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, with 3 MB of shared L3. The N95 increases L1 to 96 KB per core, uses 2 MB of shared L2, and doubles the L3 to 6 MB shared. This larger, more efficient cache structure contributes directly to the N95’s superior single-core performance.

Memory support is another point of divergence. The i5-5287U uses DDR3 in a dual-channel configuration, delivering a memory bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s. The N95 supports both DDR4 and DDR5 in a single-channel configuration, but still achieves a higher memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The newer memory standards and increased bandwidth give the N95 a tangible advantage in memory-intensive tasks, despite the single-channel limitation. PCIe support also improves, with the N95 offering Gen 3 with 9 lanes versus the i5-5287U’s Gen 2 with 12 lanes. While the lane count is lower, the newer PCIe generation provides higher per-lane bandwidth.

The integrated graphics differ as well. The i5-5287U ships with Intel Iris 6100, a capable GPU for its time. The N95 uses UHD Graphics 710, which is more modern but not directly benchmarked in the provided data. The N95’s TDP is significantly lower at 15W compared to the i5-5287U’s 28W, making the N95 the more power-efficient choice for fanless or compact designs. The production status also tells a story: the i5-5287U is end-of-life, while the N95 is an active product.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in single-core performance?

A: The Intel Processor N95 is significantly faster. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the N95 scores 914 against the i5-5287U’s 366, a -60% deltaPct. The N95’s modern Gracemont architecture delivers substantially higher per-core IPC.

Q: How do the multi-core scores compare?

A: The N95 wins in multi-core as well. It scores 2769 in Cinebench R23 multi-core versus 2596 for the i5-5287U, a 6.2% advantage. In the older Cinebench R15 multi-core test, the N95’s lead expands to 41.3%, scoring 445 versus 261.

Q: Do these processors have the same number of cores?

A: No. The i5-5287U has 2 cores and 4 threads, while the N95 has 4 cores and 4 threads. The N95’s additional physical cores are a primary reason for its multi-threaded performance lead.

Q: What memory types do they support?

A: The i5-5287U supports DDR3 in a dual-channel configuration. The N95 supports both DDR4 and DDR5, but in a single-channel configuration. Despite the single-channel limit, the N95 achieves higher memory bandwidth at 38.4 GB/s versus 29.9 GB/s.

Q: Which chip is more power-efficient?

A: The N95 has a lower TDP of 15W compared to the i5-5287U’s 28W. This makes the N95 more suitable for low-power and fanless designs, while the i5-5287U requires more thermal headroom.

Q: Is the i5-5287U still in production?

A: No, it is end-of-life. The N95 is an active product, meaning it is still available for new designs. The i5-5287U’s launch date was in early 2015, while the N95 launched in early 2023.

Specification Differences

The following specifications differ between the two processors:

• Cores: 2 (i5-5287U) vs 4 (N95)
• Threads: 4 (i5-5287U) vs 4 (N95)
• Base Clock: 2.90 GHz (i5-5287U) vs 100.00 GHz (N95)
• Boost Clock: 3.30 GHz (i5-5287U) vs 3.40 GHz (N95)
• TDP: 28W (i5-5287U) vs 15W (N95)
• Socket: Intel BGA 1168 (i5-5287U) vs Intel BGA 1264 (N95)
• Architecture: Broadwell (i5-5287U) vs Gracemont (N95)
• Process Node: 14 nm (i5-5287U) vs 10 nm (N95)
• Transistors: 1,900 million (i5-5287U) vs null (N95)
• Die Size: 133 mm² (i5-5287U) vs null (N95)
• L1 Cache: 64 KB per core (i5-5287U) vs 96 KB per core (N95)
• L2 Cache: 256 KB per core (i5-5287U) vs 2 MB shared (N95)
• L3 Cache: 3 MB shared (i5-5287U) vs 6 MB shared (N95)
• Memory Support: DDR3 (i5-5287U) vs DDR4, DDR5 (N95)
• Memory Bus: Dual-channel (i5-5287U) vs Single-channel (N95)
• Memory Bandwidth: 29.9 GB/s (i5-5287U) vs 38.4 GB/s (N95)
• PCIe: Gen 2, 12 Lanes (i5-5287U) vs Gen 3, 9 Lanes (N95)
• Integrated Graphics: Intel Iris 6100 (i5-5287U) vs UHD Graphics 710 (N95)
• Production Status: End-of-life (i5-5287U) vs Active (N95)
• Launch Date: 2015-02-28 (i5-5287U) vs 2023-01-02 (N95)
• Launch MSRP: $315 (i5-5287U) vs null (N95)
• Part Number: SR26H (i5-5287U) vs null (N95)

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unequivocal: the Intel Processor N95 is the superior processor for nearly all modern workloads. It wins every head-to-head benchmark, with a particularly dominant 60% lead in single-core performance as measured by Cinebench R23. The N95’s four cores, larger cache, newer memory support, and lower TDP make it a more capable and efficient choice for current applications. The i5-5287U’s only saving grace is its higher average benchmark score of 1072 versus 1070, but this is a statistical tie driven by benchmarks not shared between the two. In any direct comparison, the N95 is faster. The i5-5287U is an end-of-life product from 2015, and its 28W TDP makes it less suitable for modern compact systems. Anyone building or upgrading a machine today should choose the N95 without hesitation.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Processor N95 wins in every scenario where the two are compared. Its single-core advantage makes it the obvious pick for general productivity, web browsing, and any software that relies on fast per-thread execution. Its multi-core lead in Cinebench R15 and R23 makes it better suited for content creation, light video encoding, and multitasking. The N95’s lower TDP and newer process node also make it the better option for battery-powered devices, compact mini-PCs, and fanless builds where thermal output is a constraint. The i5-5287U, with its 28W TDP and older Broadwell architecture, offers no benchmarked advantage over the N95. Its dual-channel memory support and higher PCIe lane count might matter in niche scenarios, but the data does not include any test where that translates into a performance win. The i5-5287U is effectively obsolete for new purchases, while the N95 represents a capable, efficient, and modern choice.