Intel Core i5-1245U vs Intel Core2 Duo E6550

The Intel Core i5-1245U, based on the Alder Lake U architecture, and the Intel Core2 Duo E6550 from the Conroe generation target different user groups.

While the former model was designed for mobile systems, the latter is a classic desktop processor. The Intel Core i5-1245U is manufactured using the 10 nm process and features ten cores and twelve threads. In contrast, the Intel Core2 Duo E6550 uses the 65 nm process with only two cores and two threads.

In benchmarks, the Intel Core i5-1245U shows significantly higher single-core and multi-core performance. The memory bandwidth of 83 GB/s and 12 MB Level 3 cache support complex calculations, while the Intel Core2 Duo E6550 is significantly limited with 21 GB/s bandwidth and no Level 3 cache. In gaming scenarios, the integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics 80 (Alder Lake) of the Intel Core i5-1245U allows for playing simpler titles, whereas the Intel Core2 Duo E6550 requires a dedicated graphics card and is insufficient for high demands.

The thermal design power of the Intel Core i5-1245U is designed for high efficiency, leading to low power consumption. The Intel Core2 Duo E6550, on the other hand, shows an unfavorable ratio between power consumption and computing capacity. Price-wise, the Intel Core i5-1245U is usually part of complete systems, while the Intel Core2 Duo E6550 is only available cheaply on the used market.

For productive tasks, the Intel Core i5-1245U is the clear recommendation, while the Intel Core2 Duo E6550 only serves simple maintenance purposes in legacy systems.