compare version using PHP_VERSION_ID

This continues the work started in #12497 on the `2.3` branch.
minor #12554 compare version using PHP_VERSION_ID (xabbuh)

This PR was merged into the 2.5 branch.

Discussion
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compare version using PHP_VERSION_ID

| Q             | A
| ------------- | ---
| Bug fix?      | no
| New feature?  | no
| BC breaks?    | no
| Deprecations? | no
| Tests pass?   | yes
| Fixed tickets |
| License       | MIT
| Doc PR        |

This continues the work started in #12497 on the `2.3` branch.

Commits
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d2f846b compare version using PHP_VERSION_ID