Core i3-6157U vs Core i7-5500U
Core i3-6157U
Core i7-5500U
Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Core i3-6157U is positioned at rank 630 and the Core i7-5500U is on rank 733, so the Core i3-6157U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-6157U
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-5500U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-6157U | Core i7-5500U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Skylake (2015−2016) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Broadwell-U (2015) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-6157U | Core i7-5500U |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core i3-6157U and Core i7-5500U
Core i3-6157U
The Core i3-6157U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1356. Thermal design power (TDP): 28 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 2,782 points. Launch price was $304.
Core i7-5500U
The Core i7-5500U 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 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 4 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: 2,807 points. Launch price was $393.
Processing Power
Both the Core i3-6157U and Core i7-5500U share an identical 2-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.4 GHz on the Core i3-6157U versus 3 GHz on the Core i7-5500U — a 22.2% clock advantage for the Core i7-5500U (base: 2.4 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Core i3-6157U uses the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i7-5500U uses Broadwell-U (2015) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-6157U scores 2,782 against the Core i7-5500U's 2,807 — a 0.9% lead for the Core i7-5500U. L3 cache: 3 MB on the Core i3-6157U vs 4 MB (total) on the Core i7-5500U.
| Feature | Core i3-6157U | Core i7-5500U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.4 GHz | 3 GHz+25% |
| Base Clock | 2.4 GHz | 2.4 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB | 4 MB (total)+33% |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB+100% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Skylake (2015−2016) | Broadwell-U (2015) |
| PassMark | 2,782 | 2,807 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 956 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 1,933 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-6157U uses the BGA1356 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-5500U uses FCBGA1168 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2133 on the Core i3-6157U versus DDR3L-1600 / LPDDR3-1600 on the Core i7-5500U — the Core i3-6157U supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i3-6157U supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 16 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 12 PCIe lanes.
| Feature | Core i3-6157U | Core i7-5500U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1356 | FCBGA1168 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2133+33% | DDR3L-1600 / LPDDR3-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB+100% | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 12 | 12 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i3-6157U) vs VT-x / VT-d / EPT (Core i7-5500U). Both include integrated graphics — Iris Graphics 550 (Core i3-6157U) and Intel HD Graphics 5500 (Core i7-5500U) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-6157U targets Mobile, Core i7-5500U targets Ultrabook.
| Feature | Core i3-6157U | Core i7-5500U |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Iris Graphics 550 | Intel HD Graphics 5500 |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | VT-x / VT-d / EPT |
| Target Use | Mobile | Ultrabook |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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