Core i7-5550U vs Processor N250
Core i7-5550U
Processor N250
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. The Core i7-5550U is positioned at rank #485 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Lower cost-benefit for your build. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-5550U
Performance Per Dollar
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-5550U | Processor N250 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Broadwell-U (2015) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Twin Lake (2024−2025) / 10 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-5550U | Processor N250 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 i7-5550U and Processor N250
Core i7-5550U
The Core i7-5550U 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 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: 2,780 points. Launch price was $426.
Processor N250
The Processor N250 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 7 January 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Twin Lake (2024−2025) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 0.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (total). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1264. Thermal design power (TDP): 6 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 2,786 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
The Core i7-5550U packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Processor N250 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Processor N250 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3 GHz on the Core i7-5550U versus 3.8 GHz on the Processor N250 — a 23.5% clock advantage for the Processor N250 (base: 2 GHz vs 0.1 GHz). The Core i7-5550U uses the Broadwell-U (2015) architecture (14 nm), while the Processor N250 uses Twin Lake (2024−2025) (10 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-5550U scores 2,780 against the Processor N250's 2,786 — a 0.2% lead for the Processor N250. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Core i7-5550U vs 6 MB (total) on the Processor N250.
| Feature | Core i7-5550U | Processor N250 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3 GHz | 3.8 GHz+27% |
| Base Clock | 2 GHz+1900% | 0.1 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total) | 6 MB (total)+50% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 2 MB (total)+700% |
| Process | 14 nm | 10 nm-29% |
| Architecture | Broadwell-U (2015) | Twin Lake (2024−2025) |
| PassMark | 2,780 | 2,786 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-5550U uses the FCBGA1168 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Processor N250 uses FCBGA1264 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-5550U | Processor N250 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1168 | FCBGA1264 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 4.0+33% |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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