CPU
GPU
Core i5-2557M
A4-6250J
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 i5-2557M is positioned at rank 36 and the A4-6250J is on rank 643, so the Core i5-2557M offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-2557M
Performance Per Dollar A4-6250J
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-2557M | A4-6250J |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Beema (2014) / 28 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-2557M | A4-6250J |
|---|---|---|
| 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 i5-2557M and A4-6250J
Core i5-2557M
The Core i5-2557M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 June 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.7 GHz, with boost up to 2.7 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1023. Thermal design power (TDP): 17 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,618 points. Launch price was $250.
A4-6250J
The A4-6250J is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Beema (2014) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Max frequency: 2 GHz. L2 cache: 2 MB (total). Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: FT3. Thermal design power (TDP): 25 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,619 points. Launch price was $50.
Processing Power
The Core i5-2557M packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the A4-6250J offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the A4-6250J has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.7 GHz on the Core i5-2557M versus 2 GHz on the A4-6250J — a 29.8% clock advantage for the Core i5-2557M. The Core i5-2557M uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the A4-6250J uses Beema (2014) (28 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-2557M scores 1,618 against the A4-6250J's 1,619 — a 0.1% lead for the A4-6250J. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 521 vs 208, a 85.9% lead for the Core i5-2557M that directly translates to higher frame rates.
| Feature | Core i5-2557M | A4-6250J |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 2.7 GHz+35% | 2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 1.7 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | — |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 2 MB (total)+700% |
| Process | 32 nm | 28 nm-13% |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Beema (2014) |
| PassMark | 1,618 | 1,619 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 521+150% | 208 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 882 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-2557M uses the BGA1023 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the A4-6250J uses FT3 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1333 memory speed. The A4-6250J supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i5-2557M) vs 1 (A4-6250J). PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i5-2557M) vs 8 (A4-6250J) — the Core i5-2557M offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.
| Feature | Core i5-2557M | A4-6250J |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1023 | FT3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | DDR3-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB | 16 GB+100% |
| RAM Channels | 2+100% | 1 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16+100% | 8 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-2557M) vs AMD-V (A4-6250J). Both include integrated graphics — HD Graphics 3000 (Core i5-2557M) and Radeon R3 (A4-6250J) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-2557M targets Budget, A4-6250J targets Entry Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i5-2557M rivals Ryzen 3 3200U; A4-6250J rivals Pentium J2900.
| Feature | Core i5-2557M | A4-6250J |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 3000 | Radeon R3 |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | AMD-V |
| Target Use | Budget | Entry Desktop |
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