Core i7-5500U vs Core i5-4278U
Core i7-5500U
Core i5-4278U
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 i7-5500U is positioned at rank 733 and the Core i5-4278U is on rank 726, so the Core i5-4278U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-5500U
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-4278U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-5500U | Core i5-4278U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Broadwell-U (2015) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-5500U | Core i5-4278U |
|---|---|---|
| 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 i7-5500U and Core i5-4278U
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.
Core i5-4278U
The Core i5-4278U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 21 July 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.1 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1168. Thermal design power (TDP): 28 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,826 points. Launch price was $315.
Processing Power
Both the Core i7-5500U and Core i5-4278U share an identical 2-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3 GHz on the Core i7-5500U versus 3.1 GHz on the Core i5-4278U — a 3.3% clock advantage for the Core i5-4278U (base: 2.4 GHz vs 2.6 GHz). The Core i7-5500U uses the Broadwell-U (2015) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i5-4278U uses Haswell (2013−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-5500U scores 2,807 against the Core i5-4278U's 2,826 — a 0.7% lead for the Core i5-4278U. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 956 vs 889, a 7.3% lead for the Core i7-5500U that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 1,933 vs 1,860 (3.8% advantage for the Core i7-5500U). L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Core i7-5500U vs 3 MB on the Core i5-4278U.
| Feature | Core i7-5500U | Core i5-4278U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3 GHz | 3.1 GHz+3% |
| Base Clock | 2.4 GHz | 2.6 GHz+8% |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total)+33% | 3 MB |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 512 kB+100% |
| Process | 14 nm-36% | 22 nm |
| Architecture | Broadwell-U (2015) | Haswell (2013−2015) |
| PassMark | 2,807 | 2,826 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 1,688 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 956+8% | 889 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,933+4% | 1,860 |
Memory & Platform
Both processors use the FCBGA1168 socket with PCIe 3.0. Both support up to DDR3L-1600 / LPDDR3-1600 memory speed. Both support up to 16 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 12 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: Broadwell-U SoC (Core i7-5500U) and Intel HM86,Intel HM87,Intel QM87 (Core i5-4278U).
| Feature | Core i7-5500U | Core i5-4278U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1168 | FCBGA1168 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3L-1600 / LPDDR3-1600 | DDR3L-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 12 | 12 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization support: VT-x / VT-d / EPT (Core i7-5500U) vs true (Core i5-4278U). Both include integrated graphics — Intel HD Graphics 5500 (Core i7-5500U) and Intel Iris Graphics 5100 (Core i5-4278U) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-5500U targets Ultrabook.
| Feature | Core i7-5500U | Core i5-4278U |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics 5500 | Intel Iris Graphics 5100 |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x / VT-d / EPT | true |
| Target Use | Ultrabook | — |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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