Intel Core i5-5257U vs Intel Celeron J4125 vs Intel Celeron J4115

Intel Core i5-5257U

The Intel Core i5-5257U is a fast dual-core processor based on the Broadwell architecture, which has been launched in January 2015. With a TDP of 28 W, the CPU is suited for medium-sized ultrabooks and notebooks (MacBook Pro 13), whereas smaller devices will use more power efficient ULV models such as the Core i5-5200U (15 W TDP). In addition to two CPU cores with Hyper-Threading clocked at 2.7 - 3.1 GHz (2 Cores: 3.1 GHz as well), the chip also integrates an Iris Graphics 6100 GPU and a dual-channel LPDDR3-1866/DDR3L-1600 memory controller. The Core i5 is manufactured in a 14 nm process with FinFET transistors.

Architecture

Broadwell represents the "Tick" in Intel's Tick-Tock model, which means a shrink of its predecessor Haswell. The new 14 nm manufacturing process with three-dimensional FinFET transistors allows not only improvements in energy efficiency, but also a significantly smaller die size fit for more compact packages and devices.

Further advantages result from the revised microarchitecture of Broadwell. Due to its improved branch prediction, bigger buffer sizes (1500 instead of 1000 entries in the L2 TLB) and other tweaks, the performance per clock has been increased by more than 5 percent over its predecessor. There are also some new instruction set extensions designed for cryptographic applications.

Performance

Thanks to its improved architecture, the Core i5-5257U almost matches the slightly higher clocked predecessors Core i7-4558U and Core i5-4308U (Haswell, 28 W). Thus, the CPU has sufficient power even for demanding applications and multitasking.

Graphics

The integrated Iris Graphics 6100 offers 48 Execution Units (EUs) clocked at 300 - 1050 MHz. Similar to the CPU core, the GPU architecture (Intel Gen 8) has been thoroughly revised for improved performance-per-clock. In addition, the GPU benefits from faster memory speeds up to LPDDR3-1866 (Haswell: DDR3-1600). Overall, the Iris Graphics 6100 is about 20 - 25 percent faster than the former Iris Graphics 5100. Nevertheless, demanding games as of 2015 will be playable only in low or medium settings.

Broadwell is the first Intel chip to fully support DirectX 11.2 as well as OpenCL 1.3/2.0 and OpenGL 4.3. Video will output natively via DisplayPort 1.2 or HDMI 1.4a. However, the new HDMI 2.0 standard is not officially supported.

Power Consumption

The i5-5257U is rated at a TDP of 28 W including the graphics card, memory controller, VRMs and the integrated chipset. Therefore, the CPU is suited for medium-sized ultrabooks 13-inches or greater.

Intel Celeron J4125

The Intel Celeron J4125 is a quad-core SoC primarily for inexpensive mini PCs and was announced late 2019. It runs at 2-2.7 GHz (Single Core Burst) and is based on the Gemini Lake platform (2019 refresh). Compared to the predecessor, the refresh offers slightly higher clock speeds. Similar to the Apollo Lake predecessors, the chip is manufactured on a 14 nm process with FinFETs but offers slightly improved processor cores, double the amount of L2 cache, partial Wi-Fi 5 support, all in a smaller package. Besides four CPU cores, the chip also includes a DirectX 12 capable GPU as well as a DDR4/LPDDR4 memory controller (dual-channel, up to 2400 MHz). The processor is not replaceable as it is directly soldered to the mainboard.

Architecture

The processor architecture is still called Goldmont Plus. Compared to the older Goldmont cores in Apollo Lake, they feature an increased level 2 cache (to 4 MB). That means the per-clock-performance should be a bit better, but not near the Core CPUs like Kaby Lake Y.

Performance

The average J4125 in our database outguns the AMD 3050e just slightly, the latter being a dual-core, Zen-based, entry-level processor of nearly the same energy efficiency, as far as multi-thread benchmark scores are concerned. This means the Celeron is a very basic CPU that's good for basic day-to-day activities only.

The Beelink GK Mini is one of the fastest systems built around the J4125 that we know of. It can be roughly 70% faster in CPU-bound workloads than the slowest system featuring the same chip in our database, as of August 2023.

GPU Performance

The UHD Graphics 600 (Gemini Lake) is based on Intel's Gen9 architecture, which supports DirectX 12 and is also used for the Kaby Lake / Skylake / Apollo Lake graphics adapters (like HD Graphics 520). Equipped with 12 EUs and a clock of up to 750 MHz, the performance should be roughly on par with the older HD Graphics 500 (Apollo Lake).

The chip also includes an advanced video engine with hardware support for the playback of VP9 and H.265 material (8-bit color-depth).

Power consumption

Like most J-class Intel processors, the Celeron has a default TDP, also known as the long-term power limit, of 10 W. This is low enough, allowing laptop makers to ditch fans while building a passively cooled laptop, tablet or mini-PC around the chip.

The Intel Celeron J4125 is built with one of the old 14 nm Intel processes for poor, as of early 2023, energy efficiency.

Intel Celeron J4115

The Intel Celeron J4115 is a quad-core SoC primarily for inexpensive mini PCs and was announced late 2017. It runs at 1.8 GHz to 2.5 GHz (Single Core Burst) and is based on the Gemini Lake platform. Similar to the Apollo Lake predecessors, the chip is manufactured on a 14 nm process with FinFETs but offers slightly improved processor cores, double the amount of L2 cache, all in a smaller package. Partial Wi-Fi 5 support is baked into the chip. Besides four CPU cores, the chip also includes a DirectX 12 capable GPU as well as a DDR4/LPDDR4 memory controller (dual-channel, up to 2400 MHz). The processor is not replaceable as it is directly soldered to the mainboard.

Architecture

The processor architecture ist still called Goldmont Plus. Compared to the older Goldmont cores in Apollo Lake, they feature a larger L2 cache (now 4 MB). That means the per-clock-performance should be a bit better, but not anywhere near the Core CPUs like Kaby Lake Y.

Performance

The average J4115 in our database only just matches the Core i5-4260U, a somewhat more power-hungry SoC that saw the light of day in 2014, in multi-thread performance. This means the Celeron is a very basic CPU that isn't really ready to handle anything beyond the most basic tasks such as writing e-mails and listening to Spotify.

Graphics

The UHD Graphics 600 (Gemini Lake) is based on Intel's Generation 9 architecture, which supports DirectX 12 and is also used for the Kaby Lake / Skylake / Apollo Lake graphics adapters (like HD Graphics 520). Equipped with 12 EUs and a clock of up to 750 MHz, the performance should be roughly on par with the older HD Graphics 500 (Apollo Lake).

The chip also includes an advanced video engine with hardware support for the playback of VP9 and H.265 (8-bit color-depth).

Power consumption

Like most other J-class Intel processors, the Celeron has a default TDP (also known as the long-term power limit) of 10 W. This is low enough to allow laptop makers to build passively cooled laptops, mini-PCs, tablets and other gadgetry around the chip.

The Intel Celeron J4115 is built with one of the old 14 nm Intel processes for poor, as of early 2023, energy efficiency.