Intel Core i7-2715QE vs Intel Core i7-5500U Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-2715QE has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Intel Core i7-5500U has 2 cores and 4 threads.

Q: How do the two chips compare in average benchmark score?

A: The Core i7-5500U records an average benchmark score of 953, while the Core i7-2715QE scores 942. The 5500U is 0.3% ahead of the AMD A10-9700E (951) and 0.2% behind the Intel Xeon W3570 (955) and Intel Celeron N5105 (955). The 2715QE sits 0.1% ahead of the Intel Core i3-8145U (941) and 0.1% behind the AMD Athlon X4 860K (943).

Q: Which chip has the higher boost clock?

A: Both processors share the same boost clock of 3.00 GHz. The Core i7-5500U has a higher base clock at 2.40 GHz, compared to 2.10 GHz for the 2715QE.

Q: What is the power consumption difference?

A: The Core i7-5500U has a TDP of 15 watts, while the Core i7-2715QE has a TDP of 45 watts. This is a 30-watt difference in favor of the newer chip.

Q: Which processor has the larger L3 cache?

A: The Core i7-2715QE has 6 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Core i7-5500U has 4 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: Which chip was released earlier?

A: The Core i7-2715QE was released on January 2, 2011, while the Core i7-5500U was released on February 28, 2015. Both are now end-of-life products.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data shows a clear and consistent pattern: the Intel Core i7-2715QE wins in every single recorded head-to-head test. Out of five Cinebench comparisons, the 2715QE takes all five victories. The Core i7-5500U records zero wins in the direct comparison.

The wins for the 2715QE are not marginal; they range from a 12.7% advantage in Cinebench R15 multicore to a 13% advantage in Cinebench R20 multicore, Cinebench R20 singlecore, Cinebench R23 multicore, and Cinebench R23 singlecore. This consistency across both single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads suggests the older Sandy Bridge chip maintains a structural performance edge in the tested scenarios.

The Core i7-5500U does not claim any benchmark victory in the head-to-head set. However, its average benchmark score of 953 is slightly higher than the 2715QE's 942, driven by Geekbench results where the 5500U records 1689 multicore and 881 singlecore. The 2715QE has no Geekbench entries in the database, so that portion of the average favors the Broadwell part.

In terms of percentile ranking against all CPUs, both processors sit at the 25th percentile. Neither chip distinguishes itself as a high-performer in the broader market context, but the 2715QE demonstrates superior results in the Cinebench suite.

Architecture Differences

The Core i7-5500U is built on the Broadwell architecture, specifically the Broadwell-U codename, using a 14 nm process node. It integrates 1,300 million transistors on a die size of 82 mm². The Core i7-2715QE, by contrast, uses the Sandy Bridge architecture with a 32 nm process node, integrating 1,160 million transistors on a substantially larger die of 216 mm².

The manufacturing process difference is significant: the 14 nm node allows the 5500U to pack more transistors into a much smaller physical area, which contributes to its dramatically lower power envelope. Despite the smaller die, the 5500U carries more transistors, indicating a denser design.

Integrated graphics differ as well. The 5500U features Intel HD 5500, while the 2715QE ships with Intel HD 3000. The newer Broadwell part benefits from a more modern graphics solution.

Memory support also diverges. The 5500U officially supports DDR3 memory with a dual-channel bus and a memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s. The 2715QE lists dual-channel memory support, but the database records no specific memory type or bandwidth figure for it.

The PCIe configuration is only listed for the 5500U, which provides Gen 2 with 12 lanes (CPU only). No PCIe data is recorded for the 2715QE.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across several core specification fields:

• Cores: 2 (5500U) vs 4 (2715QE)
• Threads: 4 (5500U) vs 8 (2715QE)
• Base clock: 2.40 GHz (5500U) vs 2.10 GHz (2715QE)
• Boost clock: identical at 3.00 GHz for both
• TDP: 15 W (5500U) vs 45 W (2715QE)
• Socket: Intel BGA 1168 (5500U) vs Intel BGA 1023 (2715QE)
• Process node: 14 nm (5500U) vs 32 nm (2715QE)
• Transistors: 1,300 million (5500U) vs 1,160 million (2715QE)
• Die size: 82 mm² (5500U) vs 216 mm² (2715QE)
• L3 cache: 4 MB shared (5500U) vs 6 MB shared (2715QE)
• L1 cache: 64 KB per core for both
• L2 cache: 256 KB per core for both
• Integrated graphics: Intel HD 5500 (5500U) vs Intel HD 3000 (2715QE)
• Part number: SR23W (5500U) vs SR076 (2715QE)
• Release date: February 28, 2015 (5500U) vs January 2, 2011 (2715QE)
• Launch MSRP: $393 for the 5500U; no MSRP is recorded for the 2715QE

Neither processor supports ECC memory, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench results uniformly favor the Intel Core i7-2715QE. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the 2715QE scores 275 against 240 for the 5500U, a 12.7% advantage. This is the smallest relative gap in the comparison.

Cinebench R20 multicore shows the 2715QE at 1149 against 1000 for the 5500U, a 13% lead. The same 13% delta appears in Cinebench R20 singlecore, where the 2715QE scores 162 and the 5500U scores 141.

Cinebench R23 multicore records 2737 for the 2715QE and 2381 for the 5500U, again a 13% difference. Cinebench R23 singlecore follows the identical pattern: 386 for the 2715QE versus 336 for the 5500U, a 13% gap.

The consistency of the 13% delta across R20 and R23 tests, both single and multi-core, is notable. It suggests that the 2715QE's advantage is not workload-dependent within the Cinebench family; the older chip simply delivers proportionally higher performance across the board.

The 5500U does have a counterpoint in the Geekbench results, though no direct head-to-head comparison exists in the database for that suite. Its Geekbench multicore score of 1689 and singlecore score of 881 are recorded, but the 2715QE has no Geekbench entries, so a direct percentage comparison cannot be established.

In the broader context of rivals, the 5500U's average score of 953 places it just 0.2% below the Intel Xeon W3570 (955) and the Intel Celeron N5105 (955), and 0.3% above the AMD A10-9700E (951). The 2715QE's average of 942 is 0.1% above the Intel Core i3-8145U (941) and 0.3% below the AMD A8-7670K (944).

The Verdict

The data points to a clear choice for raw Cinebench performance: the Intel Core i7-2715QE. It wins all five head-to-head tests, with a consistent 12.7% to 13% margin over the Core i7-5500U. Anyone prioritizing multi-threaded rendering or single-threaded Cinebench workloads should select the 2715QE based on these recorded measurements.

The 5500U, however, holds advantages in power efficiency and integration. Its 15 W TDP is one-third of the 2715QE's 45 W, making it suited for thermally constrained mobile designs. It also has a higher base clock (2.40 GHz vs 2.10 GHz) and a more modern 14 nm process with a smaller die (82 mm² vs 216 mm²). The 5500U's average benchmark score of 953 edges out the 2715QE's 942, driven by Geekbench results that are absent for the older chip.

The 2715QE compensates with double the cores and threads (4/8 vs 2/4) and a larger 6 MB L3 cache versus 4 MB. Its 32 nm process and larger die suggest an older design, but the benchmark outcomes demonstrate that architectural generation does not automatically translate to superior measured performance in this comparison.

For users needing maximum Cinebench throughput, the 2715QE is the justified pick. For users prioritizing lower power draw, a higher base clock, and a smaller physical footprint, the 5500U offers those attributes, though it concedes every direct benchmark in the database. Both processors sit at the 25th percentile of all CPUs, indicating neither is a standout in the broader performance landscape. The choice ultimately hinges on whether the workload is benchmark-centric or efficiency-centric.