CPU Comparison
Core i5-3317U vs Intel Core i5-4200U
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i5-3317U is an ultra-low voltage dual-core mobile processor launched in June 2012, specifically engineered for the burgeoning ultrabook market. Built on the Ivy Bridge architecture, it operates at a base frequency of 1.7 GHz and can dynamically boost up to 2.6 GHz using Intel Turbo Boost 2.0. With a remarkably low thermal design power of just 17 watts, it prioritizes battery longevity and thermal efficiency, enabling fanless designs and extremely thin laptop profiles. The processor supports Hyper-Threading, managing four threads across its two physical cores to ensure competent multitasking. It includes 3 MB of L3 cache and integrates Intel HD Graphics 4000, delivering sufficient graphical performance for high-definition media playback and casual gaming. Designed for the BGA 1023 socket, it is permanently soldered, emphasizing its role in highly integrated, space-constrained mobile computing devices where thickness must be minimized.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Struggles with heavy multitasking but fine for single-app usage.
Noticeable lag with modern multitasking.
Gaming
Cannot run modern 3D games; restricted to very light 2D indie titles.
Handles only old or 2D indie games.
Virtualization
Lacks VT-d support and core count for effective virtualization.
Can run one light VM.
Efficiency
Good efficiency for 2012, though modern 7W chips are vastly faster.
Great battery life for its time.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No AI hardware
- Insufficient compute for modern AI tasks
- No AI acceleration hardware.
Content Creation
Gaming
- HD 4000 maxes out at 1050 MHz
- Dual-core bottleneck
- Lacks AVX2
- HD 4400 is too weak for modern 3D games.
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- Very low 17W TDP
- Enabled thin ultrabook designs
- Good battery life for its era
- Decent burst performance
- Hardware video decoding
Cons
- Soldered to motherboard, no upgrades
- Severely underpowered for modern web
- No Windows 11 support
- Lacks VT-d virtualization
- Only 2 cores and 4 threads
Pros
- Excellent efficiency for 2013
- Good turbo boost frequency
- Hardware video encoding
- Wide adoption
Cons
- Only 2 cores
- BGA soldered
- Struggles with modern web
- No Windows 11 support
Competitors & Alternatives
Core i5-3317U
- AMD A8-4555MRival
Mobile Ultra-Low Power
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i7-3517URival
Mobile Ultra-Low Power
- Intel Core i3-3217URival
Mobile Ultra-Low Power
- AMD A6-4455MRival
Mobile Ultra-Low Power
- Intel Core i5-3427URival
Mobile Ultra-Low Power
- AMD A10-4655MAlt
Better integrated graphics in the same TDP class.
- Intel Pentium 987Alt
Lower performance, cheaper alternative for basic tasks.
Intel Core i5-4200U
- AMD A10-5745MRival
Mobile
- AMD A8-5545MRival
Mobile
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i7-4500URival
Mobile
- Intel Core i3-4010URival
Mobile
- Intel Core i5-3317URival
Mobile
Slightly faster refresh model.
Compare head-to-head- Intel Core i7-4600UAlt
Higher clocks and better graphics.
Broadwell successor with better efficiency.
Compare head-to-head- Intel Core i3-8130UAlt
Much faster modern budget chip.
- AMD Ryzen 3 2200UAlt
Superior modern alternative.
Our Verdict on Each
A pioneering ultra-low voltage CPU that enabled the ultrabook era, but its dual-core performance is severely lacking by modern standards.
Best for: Using an old ultrabook as a lightweight Linux terminal.
Read the full reviewA legendary battery-life champion in its day, but obsolete for modern multitasking.
Best for: Extremely cheap used laptop for basic text editing
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Core i5-3317U or Intel Core i5-4200U?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Core i5-3317U comes out ahead with a score of 5.5/10. That said, the best choice depends on your workload — check the spec and performance breakdown above for gaming, productivity and efficiency differences.
Which is faster for gaming, Core i5-3317U or Intel Core i5-4200U?
For gaming, the Intel Core i5-4200U leads with a gaming performance score of 20/100 among Core i5-3317U and Intel Core i5-4200U.
Which uses less power?
The Intel Core i5-4200U has the lowest rated TDP. Power draw across these chips: Core i5-3317U (17 W), Intel Core i5-4200U (15 W).
Do Core i5-3317U and Intel Core i5-4200U use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Core i5-3317U: Intel BGA 1023, Intel Core i5-4200U: Intel BGA 1168), so each needs a compatible motherboard.
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Intel Core i5-4200U posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Core i5-3317U (2,000), Intel Core i5-4200U (3,000). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.