Intel Core i5-5300U
Intel processor specifications and benchmark scores
Integrated GPUAt a Glance
IntelIntel Core i5-5300U Specifications
Core i5-5300U Core Configuration
Processing cores and threading
The Intel Core i5-5300U features 2 physical cores and 4 threads, which directly impacts multi-threaded performance in CPU benchmarks. More cores allow the processor to handle parallel workloads efficiently, improving performance in video editing, 3D rendering, and multitasking scenarios. Thread count determines how many simultaneous tasks the CPU can process, with higher thread counts benefiting productivity applications and content creation workflows.
i5-5300U Clock Speeds
Base and boost frequencies
Clock speed is a critical factor in Core i5-5300U benchmark performance, measured in GHz. The base clock represents the guaranteed operating frequency, while the boost clock indicates maximum single-core performance under optimal conditions. Higher clock speeds translate to faster single-threaded performance, which is essential for gaming and applications that don't fully utilize multiple cores. The Core i5-5300U by Intel can dynamically adjust its frequency based on workload and thermal headroom.
Intel's Core i5-5300U Cache Hierarchy
L1, L2, L3 cache sizes
Cache memory is ultra-fast storage built directly into the i5-5300U processor die. L1 cache provides the fastest access for frequently used data, while L2 and L3 caches offer progressively larger storage with slightly higher latency. Larger cache sizes significantly improve CPU benchmark scores by reducing memory access times. The Core i5-5300U's cache configuration is optimized for both gaming performance and productivity workloads, minimizing data fetch delays during intensive computations.
Broadwell Architecture & Process
Manufacturing and design details
The Intel Core i5-5300U is built on Intel's 14 nm manufacturing process, which determines power efficiency and thermal characteristics. Smaller process nodes allow for more transistors in the same space, enabling higher performance per watt. The architecture defines how the processor handles instructions and manages data flow, directly impacting benchmark results across different workload types. Modern CPU architectures like the one in i5-5300U incorporate advanced branch prediction and out-of-order execution for optimal performance.
Broadwell Instruction Set Features
Supported CPU instructions and extensions
The Core i5-5300U by Intel supports various instruction set extensions that enable optimized performance for specific workloads. SIMD instructions like SSE and AVX accelerate multimedia, scientific computing, and AI workloads by processing multiple data points simultaneously. Features like AES-NI provide hardware-accelerated encryption, while AVX-512 (if supported) enables advanced vector processing for data centers and high-performance computing. These instruction sets are critical for software compatibility and performance in modern applications.
i5-5300U Power & Thermal
TDP and power specifications
The Intel Core i5-5300U has a TDP (Thermal Design Power) of 15W, indicating the cooling solution required for sustained operation. TDP affects both system power consumption and the type of cooler needed. Lower TDP processors are ideal for compact builds and laptops, while higher TDP chips typically offer better sustained performance in demanding CPU benchmarks. Understanding power requirements helps ensure your system can deliver consistent performance without thermal throttling.
Intel BGA 1168 Platform & Socket
Compatibility information
The Core i5-5300U uses the Intel BGA 1168 socket, which determines motherboard compatibility. Choosing the right platform is essential for building a system around this processor. The socket type also influences available features like PCIe lanes, memory support, and upgrade paths. When comparing CPU benchmarks, ensure you're looking at processors compatible with your existing or planned motherboard to make informed purchasing decisions.
Intel BGA 1168 Memory Support
RAM compatibility and speeds
Memory support specifications for the i5-5300U define which RAM types and speeds are compatible. Faster memory can significantly improve CPU benchmark performance, especially in memory-intensive applications and gaming. The memory controller integrated into the Core i5-5300U determines maximum supported speeds and channels. Dual-channel or quad-channel memory configurations can double or quadruple memory bandwidth, providing noticeable performance gains in content creation and scientific workloads.
Intel's Core i5-5300U Integrated Graphics
Built-in GPU specifications
The Intel Core i5-5300U includes integrated graphics, eliminating the need for a dedicated GPU in basic computing scenarios. Integrated graphics are ideal for office productivity, video playback, and light gaming. While not designed for demanding GPU benchmarks, the iGPU in the i5-5300U provides hardware video encoding and decoding capabilities. This makes the processor suitable for compact builds, HTPCs, and systems where power efficiency is prioritized over gaming performance.
Core i5-5300U Product Information
Release and pricing details
The Intel Core i5-5300U is manufactured by Intel and represents their commitment to delivering competitive CPU performance. Understanding the release date and pricing helps contextualize benchmark comparisons with other processors from the same generation. Launch pricing provides a baseline for evaluating value, though street prices often differ. Whether you're building a new system or upgrading, the Core i5-5300U by Intel offers a specific balance of performance, features, and cost within Intel's product lineup.
Core i5-5300U Benchmark Scores
cinebench_cinebench_r15_multicoreSource
Cinebench R15 multi-core renders a complex 3D scene using all CPU threads simultaneously. This test reveals how Intel Core i5-5300U performs in parallel rendering workloads.
Top 5 Performers
Top 5 PerformersNearby Performers
Nearby Performerscinebench_cinebench_r20_multicoreSource
Cinebench R20 multi-core uses a scene requiring 4x more computational power than R15. This test better reflects modern CPU capabilities for professional rendering on Intel Core i5-5300U. The more demanding workload provides better differentiation between current-generation processors. Content creators and 3D artists use this benchmark to estimate real-world render performance.
Top 5 Performers
Nearby Performers
cinebench_cinebench_r20_singlecoreSource
Cinebench R20 single-core tests one thread against a more demanding scene than R15. This reveals the true single-thread rendering capability of Intel Core i5-5300U. The increased complexity provides more accurate performance differentiation between modern CPUs. Single-thread performance remains critical for gaming and applications with serial bottlenecks.
Top 5 Performers
Nearby Performers
cinebench_cinebench_r23_multicoreSource
Cinebench R23 multi-core is the current standard for CPU rendering benchmarks with a 10-minute minimum runtime. This extended test reveals sustained performance of Intel Core i5-5300U after thermal limits kick in. The longer duration exposes cooling limitations that shorter benchmarks miss. Professional users rely on R23 scores to predict real-world rendering performance under sustained workloads.
Top 5 Performers
Nearby Performers
cinebench_cinebench_r23_singlecoreSource
Cinebench R23 single-core measures sustained single-thread performance over 10 minutes. This reveals how Intel Core i5-5300U maintains boost clocks under continuous load. The extended runtime shows whether thermal throttling affects single-core performance. This score is particularly important for understanding real-world responsiveness beyond initial boost behavior.
Top 5 Performers
Nearby Performers
geekbench_multicoreSource
Geekbench multi-core tests Intel Core i5-5300U across real-world workloads including image processing, machine learning, and data compression. All available threads are utilized to measure parallel performance. Higher scores indicate better capability in multitasking and content creation. The cross-platform nature of Geekbench allows direct comparison with systems running different operating systems.
Top 5 Performers
Nearby Performers
geekbench_singlecoreSource
Geekbench single-core measures how fast one thread of Intel Core i5-5300U can process tasks like web browsing and document editing. This score correlates with how snappy the system feels during normal use. Many applications still depend primarily on single-thread performance. Gaming performance is also heavily influenced by single-core speed in CPU-limited scenarios.
Top 5 Performers
Nearby Performers
About Intel Core i5-5300U
The Intel Core i5-5300U is a dual-core mobile processor from the Broadwell-U generation, built on Intel's 14 nm process. It runs at a base clock of 2.30 GHz and a boost clock of 2.90 GHz, with a 15 W TDP that places it firmly in the low-power segment for thin-and-light laptops. Benchmark results show an average score of 911, which lands it in the 24th percentile of all CPUs—meaning three-quarters of processors in the database outperform it. Its nearest rivals, all within a 0.5% margin, confirm that this chip sits at the very bottom of the performance spectrum, but its specific workload characteristics still deserve a closer look.
Benchmark Performance
The i5-5300U delivers a Cinebench R15 multi-core score of 232, a Cinebench R20 multi-core score of 967, and a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 2304. Single-core results are 136 in R20 and 325 in R23. Geekbench scores are 1583 multi-core and 829 single-core. These numbers paint a clear picture: the processor is heavily limited by its two physical cores and four threads. The multi-core scores are roughly seven times the single-core scores in Cinebench R23, but the absolute values are low across the board. A single-core Geekbench score of 829 is sufficient for basic responsive tasks, but the multi-core score of 1583 reveals how quickly parallel workloads exhaust the available resources.
The average benchmark score of 911 places the i5-5300U in a virtual tie with three of its nearest rivals. It is 0.1% ahead of the AMD PRO A12-9800E (average 910) and 0.1% ahead of the Intel Core i3-4330T (average 910). It edges out the Intel Xeon W3540 (average 909) by 0.2%, and it trails the Intel Pentium Silver J5005 (average 916) by 0.5%. These deltas are negligible—less than one percent in every case—so the i5-5300U is effectively performance-equivalent to those four parts. The 24th percentile ranking further underscores that this is a low-end chip, but the tight clustering among rivals suggests that for its intended mobile use case, the performance differences are not meaningful.
Power and Thermals
The 15 W TDP is the defining thermal characteristic of this processor. Built on a 14 nm process with 1,300 million transistors on an 82 mm² die, the i5-5300U is designed to operate within a very tight power envelope. This TDP class typically allows for a low-profile fan or even a passive cooler in some chassis, though most laptops will employ a small fan to manage sustained loads. The integrated Intel HD 5500 graphics share the same power budget, so the CPU and GPU must compete for the 15 W allocation. For a dual-core part, this is a reasonable trade-off: it prioritizes energy efficiency over raw performance. The lack of an unlocked multiplier (multiplierUnlocked: false) means no overclocking headroom, which aligns with the low-power design philosophy.
Who Should Consider It
Given the benchmark data, the i5-5300U is best suited for everyday productivity tasks. Office applications, web browsing, email, and document editing will run without issue, as the single-core Geekbench score of 829 is adequate for responsive user interfaces. Light photo editing is possible, but the multi-core Cinebench R23 score of 2304 suggests that batch processing or heavy filters will be slow. The 2-core/4-thread configuration is a bottleneck for video encoding, 3D rendering, or any multi-threaded creation workload; those tasks will show significant lag. Gaming is not a strong suit—the integrated HD 5500 has no benchmark scores in this pack, but the CPU's low multi-core performance and the absence of a discrete GPU option (as indicated by the integrated graphics) make it unsuitable for anything beyond casual or older titles. For users who need a lightweight, battery-conscious machine for basic computing, the i5-5300U is adequate. For anyone requiring sustained performance in parallel tasks, this processor will disappoint.
FAQ
Q: What socket does the Intel Core i5-5300U use?
A: It uses the Intel BGA 1168 socket.
Q: How much L3 cache does it have?
A: It has 3 MB of shared L3 cache.
Q: What memory type and bandwidth does it support?
A: It supports DDR3 memory in dual-channel mode, with a maximum bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s.
Q: What is the TDP of this processor?
A: The TDP is 15 W.
Q: When was it released?
A: It was released on 2015-02-28.
Q: What is the process node?
A: It is built on Intel's 14 nm process.
How It Compares
The AMD PRO A12-9800E is the closest rival, with an average score of 910 versus the i5-5300U's 911—a delta of 0.1%. This means the two processors are statistically indistinguishable in aggregate performance. The Intel Core i3-4330T also scores 910, again a 0.1% difference, so it too is a dead heat. The Intel Xeon W3540, despite being a desktop-class part from an older era, scores 909, placing the i5-5300U just 0.2% ahead. Finally, the Intel Pentium Silver J5005 scores 916, making it 0.5% faster than the i5-5300U. In all cases, the differences are so small that they would be imperceptible in real-world use. The i5-5300U's 24th percentile ranking is consistent with this cluster of low-end processors.
Platform and Compatibility
The i5-5300U is a mobile processor (market segment: Mobile) with a socket of Intel BGA 1168, which indicates a soldered, non-upgradeable installation. It supports DDR3 memory in a dual-channel configuration, delivering 25.6 GB/s of bandwidth. The CPU provides 12 PCIe Gen 2 lanes, which is typical for a low-power mobile part. Integrated graphics are handled by the Intel HD 5500, and ECC memory is not supported. The processor is end-of-life, with a release date of 2015-02-28. Its launch MSRP was $315. The part number is SR23X. Because the CPU is soldered to the motherboard, there is no upgrade path—users are locked into the original configuration. The platform is therefore best suited for users who plan to use the laptop as-is for its entire lifespan, without expecting to swap out the processor for a faster model.
The AMD Equivalent of Core i5-5300U
Looking for a similar processor from AMD? The AMD Ryzen 5 1400 offers comparable performance and features in the AMD lineup.
Popular Intel Core i5-5300U Comparisons
See how the Core i5-5300U stacks up against similar processors from the same generation and competing brands.
Compare Core i5-5300U with Other CPUs
Select another CPU to compare specifications and benchmarks side-by-side.
Browse CPUs