Intel Core i5-2557M vs Intel Core 2 Duo SU7300 vs Intel Core 2 Duo SP9600
Intel Core i5-2557M
► remove from comparisonThe Intel Core i5-2557M is power efficient ULV (Ultra Low Voltage) processor for thin and light laptops. The base frequency of 1.7 GHz is relatively low, but due to Turbo Boost 2.0, the CPU may clock up to 2.7 GHz (on core loaded, 2.4 GHz with both cores loaded). However, this is depending on the cooling and power consumption of the laptop. Due to HyperThreading, the i5-2557M is able to handle 4 threads in parallel. Compared to the Core i7-2657M, the i5 offers less cache but a higher base clock speed and faster graphics turbo boost.
Sandy Bridge is the evolutionary successor of the Arrandale architecture. The most noteable improvements is the improved Turbo 2.0 and the integration of the graphics card into the 32nm CPU core.
The integrated Intel HD Graphics 3000 clocked at 350 or 1200MHz (Turbo Boost). Due to the slower clock rate, compared to HD Graphics 3000 in 35W and 45W processors (usually clocked at 650-1100/1300MHz in non LV processors), the performance should be noticeable lower.
The performance of the CPU should be a bit higher than a similar clocked Arrandale Core i5. In our benchmarks (see below), the similar 2657M ULV processor was as fast as a Core i3-2310M due to the high Turbo Boost frequencies. However, the laptop cooling system has to keep the processor relatively cool for the Turbo Boost to work often.
The TDP of 17W (includes the integrated GPU and memory controller) allows the use of the 2557M CPU in small subnotebooks.
Intel Core 2 Duo SU7300
► remove from comparisonThe Intel Core 2 Duo SU7300 is a CULV laptop processor for small and light laptops. Due to the small clock speed, the CPU is specified with a TDP of only 10 Watt. For non demanding tasks, the performance of both cores is sufficient. Many laptops with the SU7300 feature an overclocking option to run the CPU at higher clock rates (e.g. 1.7 GHz in the Asus UL series). Compared to the Atom series, the SU7300 is signifantly faster.
Intel Core 2 Duo SP9600
► remove from comparison
The Intel Core 2 Duo SP9600 is a upper middle class dual core CPU for laptops, at the time of introduction. The SP9600 is basically a Core 2 Duo P9500 produced in a BGA Package for direct soldering on the mainboard. The package of the chip is therefore smaller and more suited for thin laptops. The power consumption is similar to the P9500.
Due to the relatively high clock speed and 6MB Level 2 cache, the SP9600 offers enough performance for most demanding games (in 2009) and applications.
The SP9600 uses a Penryn (Montevina Update) core that features 2 integer units, 1 floating point unit, 1 load unit, and 1 store unit in a 14-stages long pipeline. Due to the Wide Dynamic Execution Technology, the core is able to simultaneously execute up to four instructions.
The integrated Enhanced Speedstep is able to downclock the core dynamically to save power (in idle mode).
| Model | Intel Core i5-2557M | Intel Core 2 Duo SU7300 | Intel Core 2 Duo SP9600 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Codename | Sandy Bridge | Penryn | Penryn | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Series | Intel Core i5 | Intel Core 2 Duo | Intel Core 2 Duo | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Series: Core 2 Duo Penryn |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Clock | 1700 - 2700 MHz | 1300 MHz | 2530 MHz | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| L1 Cache | 128 KB | 128 KB | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| L2 Cache | 512 KB | 3 MB | 6 MB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| L3 Cache | 3 MB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| TDP | 17 Watt | 10 Watt | 25 Watt | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Transistors | 624 Million | 410 Million | 410 Million | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Technology | 32 nm | 45 nm | 45 nm | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Die Size | 149 mm2 | 107 mm2 | 107 mm2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| max. Temp. | 100 °C | 105 °C | 105 °C | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Socket | BGA1023 | BGA956 | BGA956 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Features | Turbo Boost 2.0, VPro, Hyper-Threading, Virtualization VT-x, Virtualization for Directed I/O (VT-d), Trusted Execution, AES, Intel 64, Anti-Theft, My WiFi, Idle States, Enhanced SpeedStep, Thermal Monitorin, Execute Disable Bit | Enhanced Speedstep, VT-x, TXT | Virtualization Technology (VT-x), Trusted Execution Technology, Intel 64, Enhanced Speedstep, Execute Disable Bit | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| iGPU | Intel HD Graphics 3000 (350 - 1200 MHz) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Architecture | x86 | x86 | x86 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $250 U.S. | $316 U.S. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Announced | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Manufacturer | ark.intel.com | ark.intel.com | ark.intel.com | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FSB | 800 | 1066 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Voltage | 1.05-1.15V V |
Benchmarks
Average Benchmarks Intel Core i5-2557M → 100% n=10
Average Benchmarks Intel Core 2 Duo SU7300 → 37% n=10
Average Benchmarks Intel Core 2 Duo SP9600 → 69% n=10
- Average benchmark values for this graphics card* Smaller numbers mean a higher performance
1 This benchmark is not used for the average calculation
