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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →It can help in some CPU-sensitive game workloads, but the available evidence does not establish a general FPS boost or guarantee smooth 144Hz or 240Hz gaming. The i7-5775C’s unusual 128MB eDRAM L4 cache is accessible to the CPU even when a discrete graphics card is installed. Older results show that performance varies by game and test conditions; they do not isolate the cache’s effect or predict how the chip performs in current games.
What the i7-5775C’s L4 cache does
The Core i7-5775C is a 2015 Broadwell desktop processor with four cores, eight threads, a 3.3GHz base frequency, up to 3.7GHz Turbo, 6MB of L3 cache, and 128MB of L4 eDRAM. Tom’s Hardware lists its TDP as 65W and its integrated graphics as Iris Pro Graphics 6200. These are historical specifications, not a recommendation that the processor is a suitable upgrade today. Tom’s Hardware’s 2015 review covers the chip and its specifications.
TechSpot reported that the eDRAM runs at 1.8GHz and provides over 57GB/s of additional bidirectional throughput, or 114GB/s in aggregate. The cache can serve CPU requests as well as the graphics engine. With a discrete GPU, TechSpot says the eDRAM focuses on caching CPU requests; it is not simply an iGPU framebuffer. Nor does its 128MB capacity mean that a whole game, or all of its active data, fits in the cache. TechSpot’s 2015 review explains the architecture.
What the gaming tests show
Iris Pro results are not high-refresh CPU results
Tom’s Hardware tested the Iris Pro Graphics 6200 in games at 1920×1080. In BioShock Infinite at Ultra settings, its two Broadwell samples recorded 22 and 21 FPS; at Medium, they recorded 44 and 41 FPS. The review attributed the limitation in that test to the integrated graphics engine rather than the CPU. Those numbers describe an older game running on the built-in GPU, not the frame rate a 5775C will deliver with a modern discrete graphics card.
#1 Best Overall
- Game Without Compromise. Play harder and work smarter with Intel Core 14th Gen processors
- 20 cores (8 P-cores plus 12 E-cores) and 28 threads. Integrated Intel UHD Graphics 770 included
- Up to 5.6 GHz with Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 gives you smooth game play, high frame rates, and rapid responsiveness
- Compatible with Intel 600-series (with potential BIOS update) or 700-series chipset-based motherboards
- DDR4 and DDR5 platform support cuts your load times and gives you the space to run the most demanding games
In the review’s GTA V testing, pairing a faster graphics card with the i7-5775C raised the minimum frame rate to 45 FPS, while the average did not rise much compared with the AMD CPU setup. That result illustrates why averages and minimums can tell different stories, but it is not a cache-only comparison or a modern high-refresh benchmark. Tom’s Hardware’s Iris Pro gaming results are tied to its specific games, settings, and hardware.
Older CPU and chart comparisons vary by workload
PC Gamer compared the i7-5775C with the i7-4790K using a test setup that included an Nvidia GTX Titan X configuration. The 5775C was around 9% slower than the 4790K in the review’s CPU test average after PCMark 8 was excluded; PCMark 8 itself favored the Broadwell chip. This contrast shows that some workloads can behave differently from clock-focused expectations, but PCMark results are system benchmarks, not evidence of a modern gaming uplift. PC Gamer’s 2015 review reports the comparison.
Rank #2
- Game Without Compromise. Play harder and work smarter with Intel Core 14th Gen processors
- 20 cores (8 P-cores plus 12 E-cores) and 28 threads. Discrete graphics required
- Up to 5.6 GHz with Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 gives you smooth game play, high frame rates, and rapid responsiveness
- Compatible with Intel 600-series (with potential BIOS update) or 700-series chipset-based motherboards
- DDR4 and DDR5 platform support cuts your load times and gives you the space to run the most demanding games
An AnandTech Forums thread started on October 19, 2020, interprets AnandTech Bench charts as showing the 5775C ahead of the i7-4790K in some games, including Civilization VI and Strange Brigade, and behind in Final Fantasy XV and Borderlands 3. The post’s author explicitly describes the sample as small. These are a forum user’s readings of charts, not a controlled test of the cache’s causal effect and not a survey of current games. The discussion thread provides that context.
Why a cache advantage does not guarantee high refresh
A large cache can help when a game’s CPU-side work makes useful requests that the eDRAM can serve. But a game’s frame rate depends on the whole system and workload. If the GPU is the limiting component, additional CPU-side cache may not raise frame rates. If the CPU is limiting performance, cache behavior is only one factor alongside the game engine, CPU clocks, memory configuration, power settings, and other parts of the processor.
Rank #3
- 4 Cores / 8 Threads
- 3.60 GHz up to 4.20 GHz Max Turbo Frequency / 8 MB Cache. Sockets Supported: FCLGA1151, Max Memory Size: 64 GB, Memory Types: DDR4-2133/2400, DDR3L-1333/1600 at 1.35V
- Compatible only with Motherboards based on Intel 100 or 200 Series Chipsets
- Intel Optane Memory Supported
- Intel UHD Graphics 630
High-refresh gaming makes CPU limits more visible when the GPU has enough headroom, but the examined results do not hold game version, GPU, memory, clocks, and settings constant while isolating the L4 cache. They therefore cannot support a generic FPS or frame-time uplift at 144Hz, 240Hz, or another refresh target. Resolution and graphics settings can shift the bottleneck; the 2015 Iris Pro tests, for example, were limited by integrated graphics in BioShock Infinite.
How to judge a 5775C benchmark for your setup
Compare results only when the test conditions are relevant to your intended build. For useful context, look for:
Rank #4
- Next‑Gen Platform Support: Compatible with Intel 800 Series Chipset‑based motherboards with LGA1851 Socket enabling PCIe 5.0/4.0 and high‑speed DDR5 memory (up to 7200 MT/s).
- High‑Performance Core Configuration: Features up to 24 cores (8 P‑cores + 16 E‑cores) for demanding gaming and creator
- Ultra‑Fast Boost Clocks: Reaches up to 5.5 GHz max turbo frequency for top‑tier responsiveness and performance
- Built for Enthusiasts: Unlocked for performance tuning when paired with Intel Z‑series chipsets, making it ideal for overclockers and power users.
- Robust Power & Thermal Design: Engineered with 125W base power and 250W max turbo power to sustain high‑intensity
- Game and version: Game updates can change performance, so identify the tested title and build when available.
- Frame data: Average FPS alone may conceal dips; check percentile results or frame-time data when the test provides them.
- Resolution and settings: These affect whether the CPU or GPU is more likely to limit performance.
- Graphics hardware: Distinguish Iris Pro Graphics 6200 results from tests using a discrete GPU, and record the exact GPU model.
- System configuration: Check memory configuration, CPU clocks, and power settings before treating two results as comparable.
- Bottleneck: Determine whether the tested scene was CPU-limited or GPU-limited; a CPU-side cache is less likely to change a GPU-bound result.
Do not combine the cited reviews into a single ranking: they test different games and hardware paths. To assess a particular build, seek a benchmark using the same game, comparable settings, and a similar GPU, with frame-time or percentile data as well as averages.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Is the i7-5775C worth considering for an LGA1150 system?
The 5775C may be interesting as a legacy-platform upgrade when its cache behavior suits a particular workload, but the cited evidence does not establish that it is a broadly superior gaming CPU or a dependable route to high-refresh performance. Before buying a used or refurbished processor, verify that the specific motherboard supports it with the installed BIOS and check the component’s condition. No current price or listing is established here, so the evidence does not support a value comparison against newer hardware.
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