Core 2 Duo P7550 vs Core i5-5250U

PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Core 2 Duo P7550 vs Core i5-5250U FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Core 2 Duo P7550 vs Core i5-5250U: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Core 2 Duo P7550

2009

Why buy it

✅Draws 3W instead of 512W, a 509W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-5250U across 49 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (2,439 vs 2,450).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-5250U can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i5-5250U

2015

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +3.8% higher average FPS across 49 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (12 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel HD Graphics 6000, while Core 2 Duo P7550 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌16966.7% higher power demand at 512W vs 3W.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-5250U better than Core 2 Duo P7550?

Yes. Core i5-5250U is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 3.8% average FPS lead across 49 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.5% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i5-5250U is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 3.8% more average FPS across 49 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-5250U is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.5% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 4 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core i5-5250U still makes the most sense overall. Core i5-5250U comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 3.8% average FPS lead across 49 shared CPU game tests in our data.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core i5-5250U makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2015 vs 2009) and more multi-core headroom with 2 cores / 4 threads instead of 2/2. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Core 2 Duo P7550 vs Core i5-5250U Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Core 2 Duo P7550

The Core 2 Duo P7550 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2008-01-01. It is based on the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.26 GHz, with boost up to 2.26 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB L2 Cache. L2 cache: 3 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: PGA478. Thermal design power (TDP): 25 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 2,439 points. Launch price was $249.

Core i5-5250U

The Core i5-5250U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 March 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Broadwell-U (2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.6 GHz, with boost up to 2.7 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1168. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,450 points. Launch price was $315.

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Processing Power

The Core 2 Duo P7550 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i5-5250U's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.26 GHz on the Core 2 Duo P7550 versus 2.7 GHz on the Core i5-5250U — a 17.7% clock advantage for the Core i5-5250U (base: 2.26 GHz vs 1.6 GHz). The Core 2 Duo P7550 uses the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i5-5250U uses Broadwell-U (2015) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo P7550 scores 2,439 against the Core i5-5250U's 2,450 — a 0.4% lead for the Core i5-5250U. L3 cache: 3 MB L2 Cache on the Core 2 Duo P7550 vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i5-5250U.

Feature	Core 2 Duo P7550	Core i5-5250U
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	2 / 4
Boost Clock	2.26 GHz	2.7 GHz+19%
Base Clock	2.26 GHz+41%	1.6 GHz
L3 Cache	3 MB L2 Cache	3 MB (total)
L2 Cache	3 MB	256K (per core)+8433%
Process	45 nm	14 nm-69%
Architecture	Penryn (2008−2011)	Broadwell-U (2015)
PassMark	2,439	2,450

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Memory & Platform

The Core 2 Duo P7550 uses the PGA478 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Core i5-5250U uses FCBGA1168 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core 2 Duo P7550	Core i5-5250U
Socket	PGA478	FCBGA1168
PCIe Generation	PCIe 1.1	PCIe 3.0+173%
Max RAM Speed	—	1866
Max RAM Capacity	—	16
RAM Channels	—	2
ECC Support	—	No
PCIe Lanes	—	12

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Core 2 Duo P7550) / true (Core i5-5250U). The Core i5-5250U includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 6000), while the Core 2 Duo P7550 requires a dedicated GPU.