Intel Core i3-5005U

The Intel Core i3-5005U is a dual-core Broadwell-U mobile processor from Intel, built on a 14 nm process with a 15 W TDP. Benchmark results place it near the very bottom of the performance distribution, at the 17th percentile of all CPUs, with a 686 average benchmark score. Its nearest rivals are all within a 0.5% performance delta, indicating this chip sits at a highly crowded performance tier where the differences between competing processors are effectively negligible.

How It Compares

The Core i3-5005U's most direct rival is the Intel Core i3-3240, which scores an identical 686 average. The delta is exactly 0%, meaning the two processors are statistically indistinguishable in aggregate benchmark performance. This is notable because the i3-3240 is a desktop part from an older generation, yet the mobile i3-5005U matches it in overall throughput — an indication of just how much the 14 nm process and Broadwell architecture improved efficiency per clock.

Against the Intel Celeron G4900T, the i3-5005U holds a razor-thin 0.1% advantage (686 vs 685). The G4900T is a dual-core desktop Celeron, and the data shows the mobile i3 essentially ties it in average score. From a performance standpoint, there is no meaningful winner here; the difference falls well within typical run-to-run variance for benchmark suites.

The Intel Core m5-6Y57 trails by 0.4%, scoring 684 versus 686. The m5 is a fanless-oriented ultra-low-power part, and its near-parity with the i3-5005U is remarkable given the power class gap between them. The data suggests both chips deliver roughly equivalent sustained throughput, with the m5 doing so at a lower TDP envelope.

The Intel Celeron G3950 completes the rival group, scoring 683 for a 0.5% deficit. Once again, a dual-core desktop Celeron lands squarely in the same performance band as the i3-5005U. The clustering of all four rivals within 0.5% of each other tells a clear story: this performance tier is saturated, and the i3-5005U neither leads nor lags its competition in any meaningful way.

Who Should Consider It

The benchmark data positions the i3-5005U as a light-duty processor. With a Geekbench single-core score of 619 and a multi-core score of 1241, it can handle everyday office workloads such as document editing, web browsing, and email without difficulty. The single-threaded performance, while low by modern standards, is sufficient for responsive interaction with lightweight applications.

For gaming, the data suggests limited capability. The processor's 17th percentile ranking and modest multicore scores mean it will struggle with modern titles that demand higher thread counts and stronger per-core performance. The integrated Intel HD 5500 graphics further constrains gaming potential, as there is no discrete GPU data in the benchmark results to suggest otherwise. Older or less demanding games may be playable, but the overall profile is not oriented toward gaming.

Content creation workloads — video editing, 3D rendering, or heavy photo processing — are not well supported by this chip. The Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 1709 indicates rendering performance that would produce very long export times for even modest projects. The processor is better suited to users whose primary needs are basic productivity, media consumption, and general-purpose computing rather than sustained creative workloads.

Benchmark Performance

The i3-5005U's Cinebench results reveal a processor with a vast gap between its strongest and weakest showings relative to rivals. In Cinebench R23, the multi-core score of 1709 and single-core score of 241 represent the chip's overall rendering capability. The corresponding R20 scores are 717 multi-core and 101 single-core, while the older R15 test yields a 172 multi-core result.

The Geekbench results show a less severe imbalance: 1241 multi-core and 619 single-core. Across all benchmark suites, the multi-core scores consistently exceed their single-core counterparts by a factor of roughly 2 to 7, reflecting the dual-core design with Hyper-Threading. The R23 single-core score of 241 is particularly low, suggesting the 2.0 GHz base clock has no boost headroom to draw upon.

The average benchmark score of 686 places the i3-5005U in the 17th percentile of all CPUs, meaning approximately 83% of tested processors outperform it. Against its nearest rivals, the deltas are all under 1%, so percentiles alone do not distinguish this chip from its immediate competition. The performance tier is defined by a dense cluster of similarly-scoring parts rather than any single standout characteristic.

FAQ

Q: How does the i3-5005U compare to the Core i3-3240?

A: Both processors have an identical average benchmark score of 686, giving a delta of 0%. They are performance-equal in aggregate testing.

Q: What is the processor's memory bandwidth and configuration?

A: It uses DDR3 memory in a dual-channel configuration, providing 25.6 GB/s of memory bandwidth. ECC memory is not supported.

Q: What integrated graphics does the i3-5005U include?

A: It features Intel HD 5500 integrated graphics. No discrete GPU benchmarks are included in the data.

Q: Is the multiplier unlocked for overclocking?

A: No, the multiplier is locked. Combined with a mobile platform, this makes overclocking impossible.

Q: How many cores and threads does the chip have?

A: It has 2 physical cores and 4 threads, enabled by Hyper-Threading technology.

Q: What is the release date and launch MSRP?

A: The processor was released on 2015-02-28 with a launch MSRP of $275.

Single-Thread vs Multi-Thread Behavior

The single-thread versus multi-thread split in the benchmark data reveals a processor designed for power efficiency rather than peak throughput. The Geekbench single-core score of 619 is roughly half the multi-core score of 1241, which aligns with the expected scaling from 2 cores with Hyper-Threading. The Cinebench R23 results show a different ratio: the 1709 multi-core score is approximately 7 times the 241 single-core score. This disparity stems from the rendering workload being highly parallelizable, allowing both cores and all four threads to be utilized effectively.

The R23 single-core score of 241 is exceptionally low, indicating that per-thread performance is a significant weakness. With a base clock of 2000 MHz and no boost clock, the chip cannot dynamically raise its frequency to improve single-thread responsiveness. This makes latency-sensitive workloads — such as application startup, spreadsheet calculations, or scripted web interactions — noticeably slower than on processors with higher peak clocks.

For real-world workloads, the dual-core design means that lightly-threaded tasks like web browsing or word processing will depend heavily on the 619 single-core Geekbench score, while multitasking across multiple applications can leverage the four threads. The 3 MB of shared L3 cache is modest, which may contribute to the lower scores in memory-intensive workloads. The data suggests the processor is best suited for workloads that are either lightly threaded but forgiving of low clocks, or heavily parallel but small enough to finish within reasonable timeframes given the 1709 R23 ceiling.

Platform and Compatibility

The i3-5005U uses the Intel BGA 1168 socket, making it a permanently soldered mobile processor rather than a socketed desktop part. This has significant implications for upgradeability — the CPU cannot be removed or replaced by the user. The platform is based on the Broadwell-U architecture, built on a 14 nm process with 1,300 million transistors on an 82 mm² die.

Memory support is limited to DDR3 in a dual-channel configuration. The 25.6 GB/s memory bandwidth is a reflection of the DDR3 standard rather than an unusual limitation. ECC memory is not supported, which rules out error-correcting memory configurations for reliability-sensitive workloads.

PCIe support is Gen 2 with 12 lanes available from the CPU. This older PCIe generation limits bandwidth for discrete GPUs and NVMe storage compared to newer standards. The upgrade path is essentially nonexistent at the CPU level due to the BGA socket, but the platform as a whole can still accommodate storage and memory changes within the DDR3 constraint. The production status is end-of-life, with the release date of 2015-02-28 marking the beginning of its availability window.

Power and Thermals

The i3-5005U carries a 15 W TDP, which classifies it firmly in the ultra-low-power mobile segment. This TDP figure is notable for enabling fanless or near-silent cooling solutions in thin and light laptops. The thermal implications are modest: a basic cooling solution can dissipate 15 W without difficulty, and the chip's power draw is unlikely to cause thermal throttling under normal use.

The absence of a boost clock means the processor runs at a constant 2000 MHz, which keeps power consumption predictable and flat under load. This is advantageous for system designers who need consistent thermal behavior. The 14 nm process contributes to the low power envelope; Broadwell-U was Intel's first mainstream 14 nm architecture, and the data shows the efficiency gains that process node delivered.

Cooling requirements are minimal, and the 15 W TDP suggests that even lightweight cooling solutions — thin heat pipes, small fans, or passive heatsinks — are more than adequate. The trade-off is that sustained performance is limited by the lack of turbo headroom, so the chip's power efficiency comes at the cost of peak throughput. For users prioritizing battery life and silent operation over performance, the 15 W TDP is a clear advantage; for those seeking responsiveness in demanding applications, the low power envelope is a binding constraint.