Intel Core M-5Y31

The Intel Core M-5Y31 is a 14 nm Broadwell-Y mobile processor with two cores and four threads. It runs at a 900.00 MHz base clock and a 2.40 GHz boost clock, with a shared 4 MB L3 cache. The processor is packaged in Intel BGA 1234 and carries a 5 W TDP. Its benchmark profile places it at the 11th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 554.

Benchmark Performance

Benchmark results place the M-5Y31 in a tight group at the low end of the database. The chip's average benchmark score is 554. The AMD A8-5557M, the closest rival in the nearestRivals list, has an average score of 555 and a deltaPct of -0.1. The Intel Pentium G3450T follows at 556 with a deltaPct of -0.4. The Intel Celeron G1850 and Intel Xeon E5507 both score 557, with deltaPct values of -0.5. In all four nearest-rival pairings, the deltaPct values are negative, meaning the comparison data groups the M-5Y31 with processors whose average scores are slightly higher.

The nearest-rival cluster is notable for its compactness. The AMD A8-5557M is the only listed rival with a deltaPct of -0.1. The Pentium G3450T has an average score of 556, while the Celeron G1850 and Xeon E5507 have average scores of 557. The largest deltaPct magnitude in this group is 0.5, and the smallest is 0.1. From an average-score perspective, the M-5Y31 is not separated from these processors by a meaningful gap; all five chips occupy the same broad performance neighborhood.

Individual Cinebench runs reinforce this placement. The M-5Y31 records 162 in Cinebench R15 multi-core, 676 in Cinebench R20 multi-core, and 1,611 in Cinebench R23 multi-core. Single-core Cinebench results are 95 in R20 and 227 in R23. These scores all point to the same conclusion: the M-5Y31 is a low-throughput processor by the database's full range, and the nearest rivals shown in the comparison set are separated by very small deltaPct values.

The 11th percentile standing among all CPUs is the clearest summary of overall position. It means the chip ranks below the large majority of processors in the database. The average benchmark score of 554 gives a single reference point for comparing the M-5Y31 against the nearestRivals list, and that reference point is lower than every listed rival's average score.

Single-Thread vs Multi-Thread Behavior

The M-5Y31 has two physical cores and four threads. Its base clock of 900.00 MHz is very low, while the boost clock of 2.40 GHz provides the headroom for single-thread bursts. In Cinebench R23, the single-core score is 227 and the multi-core score is 1,611. In Cinebench R20, the single-core score is 95 and the multi-core score is 676. The multi-core results are larger than the single-core results, which shows that the second core and the additional threads are being used by the Cinebench workload.

This split has a practical meaning. For a task that heavily uses one thread, the processor can rely on the 2.40 GHz boost clock, but the absolute single-core numbers remain low in the context of the benchmark database. For a task that can spread itself across all four threads, the multi-core results are better, but the overall 11th percentile placement still limits the processor to light or short-duration workloads.

The cache layout is consistent with a small dual-core design. The L1 cache is 64 KB per core, the L2 cache is 256 KB per core, and the L3 cache is 4 MB shared. The 4 MB shared L3 cache is available to both cores, but cache size alone does not change the low-frequency behavior of the chip. The low 900.00 MHz base clock means sustained all-core operation is not going to deliver high throughput; the 2.40 GHz boost clock can help shorter, bursty tasks.

The Cinebench R15 multi-core score of 162 is in line with the newer multi-core results. The R20 multi-core score of 676 and R23 multi-core score of 1,611 come from different workload generations, but all three reinforce the same behavior: the processor can produce more work when all threads are active, yet the absolute amount of work remains modest.

Power and Thermals

The defining power figure is the 5 W TDP. That number places the M-5Y31 in the ultra-low-power mobile class. The processor is built on Intel's 14 nm process with a 50 mm² die size, both of which help keep the thermal envelope small. It is a mobile part in Intel BGA 1234, so system cooling is designed around a compact board and chassis.

A 5 W TDP means the cooling solution does not need to move a large amount of heat. The 900.00 MHz base clock is clearly selected to stay inside that envelope, while the 2.40 GHz boost clock is available for periodic bursts. The memory support of DDR4 and the integrated Intel HD 5300 graphics sit alongside these low-power characteristics, reinforcing the chip's role in systems where low heat output is a primary requirement.

The 14 nm process is a central part of the power story. Combined with the small 50 mm² die size, it allows the two-core design to operate within a very tight thermal budget. The socket type, Intel BGA 1234, is a mobile package rather than a desktop socket, which further emphasizes the intended form factor. In practical terms, the cooling tier implied by a 5 W TDP is extremely minimal: the processor is designed to fit into thin, light, thermally constrained mobile devices.

Because the processor has a marked difference between base and boost clocks, thermals will also shape performance behavior. A 5 W TDP leaves little room for sustained boost under load. The benchmark scores reflect that design trade-off: short single-thread bursts benefit from 2.40 GHz, but workloads that push all cores for extended periods will be governed by the low-power envelope.

Who Should Consider It

The Core M-5Y31 is not a processor for sustained high-throughput workloads. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 1,611 and its 11th percentile standing show that heavy rendering, complex video work, or other long multi-threaded jobs will be constrained. For office use, the two cores and four threads are enough for ordinary multitasking, and DDR4 memory support allows the platform to use contemporary system memory. The integrated Intel HD 5300 can produce display output and handle basic graphics tasks.

Users who need low power draw over peak CPU throughput will find the 5 W TDP attractive. The production status is Active, meaning the chip is still listed in the current product stack. The nearest rivals all have average scores between 555 and 557, so users moving to another part in this performance neighborhood should not expect a major change in average benchmark outcome.

Gaming workloads are outside the intended class. The CPU-level percentile of 11 is low, and there is no benchmark data in the pack to suggest high-end graphics capability. The processor is better suited to ultra-light mobile designs where heat and power draw are more important than raw CPU speed.

For content creation, the Cinebench results are the most relevant data. The R23 multi-core score of 1,611 and the R20 multi-core score of 676 place the chip well below the kind of multi-threaded performance required for demanding rendering tasks. Office productivity, web-based workloads, and lightweight multitasking are more realistic use cases. The 2.40 GHz boost clock and 4 MB shared L3 cache provide enough responsiveness for short, interactive tasks.

FAQ

Q: What is the average benchmark score of the Core M-5Y31?

A: The average benchmark score is 554.

Q: How close is the AMD A8-5557M in performance?

A: The AMD A8-5557M has an average score of 555, and the deltaPct in the nearestRivals list is -0.1.

Q: What Cinebench R23 scores does it achieve?

A: It achieves 1,611 in multi-core and 227 in single-core.

Q: What is the TDP and process node?

A: The TDP is 5 W and the process node is 14 nm.

Q: Does it support DDR4 memory?

A: Yes, its memory support is DDR4.

Q: What integrated graphics does it include?

A: It includes Intel HD 5300.