Intel Core i5-5350U

Intel Core i5-5350U is a 15-watt dual-core mobile processor from the Broadwell-U generation, built on Intel's 14 nm process. It sits at the 23rd percentile of all CPUs in the database, meaning roughly three-quarters of processors outperform it. Its average benchmark score of 904 places it in a tight cluster with several rivals, all within 0.6% of each other, so the performance picture is one of parity rather than dominance. The CPU is end-of-life, launched in early 2015 with a launch MSRP of $315.

Benchmark Performance

The Core i5-5350U delivers an average benchmark score of 904, which is statistically indistinguishable from its nearest rivals. Against the AMD A10-7860K, the delta is exactly 0%, meaning the two chips land on the same average score. The Intel Pentium Gold G6405T trails by a mere 0.1%, while the Core i5-4258U is 0.2% behind. The largest gap in this group is the Xeon W3540, which leads by 0.6%. These differences are negligible in real-world use, so buyers should treat this processor as functionally equivalent to all four rivals in overall throughput.

Looking at individual workloads, the Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 2203 shows the chip's practical ceiling for heavily threaded tasks. The single-core score of 311 in the same test is far less impressive, reflecting the modest 2.90 GHz boost clock and dual-core design. In Geekbench, the multi-core score of 1671 and single-core score of 868 tell the same story: this is a chip that handles light parallel work adequately but struggles with demanding single-threaded applications. The Cinebench R20 results reinforce this, with 925 multi-core and 130 single-core. The older Cinebench R15 multi-core score of 222 completes the picture of a low-power processor that trades absolute speed for efficiency.

The 23rd percentile ranking puts the i5-5350U in the lower quarter of all CPUs. That is not a condemnation for its intended segment, as it is a 15-watt mobile part, but it does mean that any modern desktop processor, even budget offerings, will outperform it by a wide margin. The nearest rivals are all similarly positioned, so there is no sleeper hit here. What the data shows is a processor that competes evenly with a 2015-era AMD APU and a low-end Pentium, which accurately reflects its place in the market.

Power and Thermals

The TDP of 15 watts defines this chip's entire thermal and power profile. This is an ultra-low-voltage part designed for thin-and-light laptops, not desktop towers. A 15-watt TDP means a basic passive cooler or a small, low-profile fan can handle the heat, and the system builder does not need to worry about bulky heatsinks or elaborate airflow. The 14 nm process node helps keep power draw modest, and the 1,900 million transistors on a 133 mm² die are packed efficiently enough for this class.

For cooling, any capable air cooler designed for ultra-portable notebooks will suffice. There is no headroom for overclocking, as the multiplier is locked, so the thermal solution only needs to manage the stock 2.90 GHz boost clock. In practice, this chip will run cool and quiet, and the main thermal challenge is likely to be the laptop chassis itself rather than the CPU. The dual-core design with four threads generates far less heat than a high-core-count desktop part, so sustained loads like video encoding will push temperatures up but not to dangerous levels. Battery life, which is not directly benchmarked, should benefit from the low TDP, but the data only confirms the thermal ceiling.

Who Should Consider It

This processor is suitable for basic office productivity and light web browsing, but the benchmark scores show it is not a gaming or content-creation part. The Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 2203 means it can handle spreadsheet work, email, and document editing without complaint, but video editing, 3D rendering, or compiling code will be slow. The single-core score of 311 in R23 is particularly telling: many modern web pages with heavy JavaScript will cause noticeable lag, and any application that relies on a single thread will not feel snappy.

For gaming, the integrated Intel HD 6000 graphics and the low multi-core scores make this unsuitable for anything beyond casual titles or older games at low settings. The Geekbench multi-core score of 1671 suggests that even light multitasking with several browser tabs plus a word processor could strain the chip. The AMD A10-7860K, which matches its average score, is a desktop part, so the i5-5350U's mobile nature means it should only be considered if portability is the primary requirement. Users who need occasional burst performance for spreadsheets or presentations will find it adequate, but anyone expecting responsive application switching or modern game performance should look elsewhere.

Platform and Compatibility

The i5-5350U uses the Intel BGA 1168 socket, which means it is soldered to the motherboard and cannot be upgraded. This is a critical limitation: the CPU is permanently attached, so the laptop's entire platform is fixed for its lifespan. The architecture is Broadwell-U, part of the Broadwell generation, and the process node is 14 nm. Memory support is limited to DDR3, running on a dual-channel bus with a bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s. ECC memory is not supported, which rules out any workstation or server use.

PCIe connectivity is Gen 2 with 12 lanes from the CPU, which is adequate for a single SSD and a wireless card but not for high-end discrete graphics. The integrated graphics is Intel HD 6000, which is the only graphics option unless the laptop manufacturer added a separate GPU. Since the part is end-of-life and the socket is BGA, there is no upgrade path whatsoever. A user cannot swap in a faster CPU later; the platform is a dead end. The DDR3 memory standard also limits maximum capacity and speed compared to modern DDR4 or DDR5 systems, so even a memory upgrade is constrained by what the motherboard supports.

FAQ

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-5350U good for gaming?

A: No. The Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 2203 and single-core score of 311 are too low for modern games, and the integrated Intel HD 6000 graphics is not designed for 3D workloads. Casual titles from the early 2010s may run at low settings, but it is not a gaming processor.

Q: Can I upgrade this CPU in my laptop?

A: No. It uses the Intel BGA 1168 socket, which is a soldered, ball-grid-array connection. The processor is permanently attached to the motherboard, so there is no upgrade path.

Q: How does it compare to the AMD A10-7860K?

A: The average benchmark scores are identical at 904, with a delta of 0%. In practical terms, the two chips perform the same in overall throughput, but the i5-5350U is a mobile part while the A10-7860K is a desktop chip.

Q: What memory does it support?

A: DDR3 memory on a dual-channel bus, with a bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s. ECC memory is not supported.

Q: Is the multiplier unlocked for overclocking?

A: No, the multiplier is locked. The boost clock of 2.90 GHz is the maximum speed, and there is no overclocking headroom.

Q: When was this processor released and what did it cost?

A: It was released in early 2015 with a launch MSRP of $315. It is now end-of-life and no longer in production.

Single-Thread vs Multi-Thread Behavior

The split between single-thread and multi-thread performance is stark and defines the user experience. In Cinebench R23, the multi-core score of 2203 is roughly seven times the single-core score of 311, which seems like a strong scaling result for a dual-core chip. However, that ratio is misleading because the absolute numbers are low. The single-core score of 311 is far below what even entry-level desktop processors achieve today, so any task that cannot use multiple threads will feel sluggish. The boost clock of 2.90 GHz is the main driver here, and it is simply not enough for modern single-threaded demands.

The multi-core behavior is better, thanks to four threads, but the 15-watt TDP limits sustained performance. In Geekbench, the multi-core score of 1671 versus single-core 868 shows a similar pattern: the chip can double its throughput when all threads are active, but that throughput is still modest. For real workloads, this means that a user can run a few light apps simultaneously without major slowdowns, but a single heavy application like a browser with many tabs or a video player plus background updates will cause stuttering. The Cinebench R20 scores of 925 multi-core and 130 single-core reinforce the message: this is a chip for bursty, light tasks, not sustained heavy loads. The Xeon W3540, which leads by 0.6% in average score, is a much older desktop part, so the i5-5350U's only real advantage is its low power draw, not its speed. Users should treat this as a basic productivity processor where multi-threaded efficiency matters more than raw single-core speed.