Intel Core i5-2557M Mobile processor (AV8062701047204)

Intel Core i5-2557M is an ultra-low voltage (ULV) microprocessor for mid-class notebooks. The processor was launched in June 2011 along with one Celeron and two Core i7 ULV parts. The Core i5-2557M, built on 32 nm Sandy Bridge microarchitecture, combines several major components on a single die: two CPU cores with shared L3 cache, graphics processing unit (GPU), memory controller, next generation of Direct Media Interface, and PCI Express interface. The microprocessor runs at 1.7 GHz, which is 21% higher than the Core i5-2537M ULV model, introduced 5 months earlier. Core frequency of this CPU can go much higher, up to 2.7 GHz, in single-threaded applications with the help of Turbo Boost technology. The Intel i5-2557M has dedicated 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 caches per each core, and both cores share 3 MB L3 cache. The third level cache is also shared with the graphics processing unit. The GPU on this chip belongs to HD 3000 class, that is it's not only HD-capable, but it also supports 3D graphics acceleration, and several other video processing technologies, such as Quick Sync and InTru 3D. Integrated memory controller has two channels, and works with DDR3 memory with data rates up to 1333 MHz. The CPU cores support all instruction extensions, provided by Sandy Bridge microarchitecture, starting from MMX technology, and up to SSE4, AVX and AES instructions. The microprocessor incorporates all advanced technologies, such as Hyper Threading, Turbo Boost, and Vpro features.

One of the major selling points of the Core i5-2557M is an ultra low power consumption. The processor has 17 Watt Thermal Design Power, that is 2 times lower than mainstream Core i5 models. Low power consumption on this chip is achieved by using a number of techniques, from low-level power gating, and up to high-level technologies like low-power states and Enhanced SpeedStep. Low-power states can significantly reduce power dissipation when the one or both cores are idle. To save battery power in operational mode the chip employs SpeedStep technology.

The Core i5-2557M is produced in a BGA package, which is soldered directly on a motherboard, and cannot be replaced or upgraded.