CPU Comparison
Core i5-3427U vs Intel Core i5-4200U
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i5-3427U is an ultra-low voltage dual-core mobile processor introduced in June 2012, tailored for premium thin-and-light laptops and ultrabooks. As part of the Ivy Bridge family, it features a base clock of 1.8 GHz and can boost up to 2.8 GHz via Intel Turbo Boost technology 2.0. This slight frequency bump over the 3317U provides marginally better responsiveness in bursty workloads. With a strict 17-watt thermal design power, it prioritizes energy efficiency and thermal management, enabling the creation of extremely thin portable devices without severely compromising battery life. The processor handles four threads simultaneously via Hyper-Threading and features 3 MB of L3 cache. Integrated Intel HD Graphics 4000 handles everyday graphical tasks, from high-definition video playback to entry-level gaming. Packaged in a BGA 1023 socket, it is permanently soldered directly to the motherboard, ensuring a compact footprint and reliable operation in highly mobile environments.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Slightly better than the 3317U but still struggles with heavy multitasking.
Noticeable lag with modern multitasking.
Gaming
Handles very old games at low settings but fails at anything modern.
Handles only old or 2D indie games.
Virtualization
Supports VT-d, making it slightly better for lightweight VMs than the 3317U.
Can run one light VM.
Efficiency
Excellent efficiency for its time, enabling all-day battery life in ultrabooks.
Great battery life for its time.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No AI hardware
- Insufficient compute power
- No AI acceleration hardware.
Content Creation
Gaming
- Dual-core bottleneck
- HD 4000 insufficient for modern 3D
- Lacks AVX2
- HD 4400 is too weak for modern 3D games.
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- Low 17W TDP
- Slightly higher clocks than 3317U
- Supports VT-d virtualization
- Good battery life for 2012
- Hardware video decoding
Cons
- Soldered to motherboard
- Only 2 cores and 4 threads
- No Windows 11 support
- Struggles with modern web
- Outdated DDR3 memory
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 i5-3427U
- AMD A8-4555MRival
Mobile Ultra-Low Power
- Intel Core i5-3317URival
Mobile Ultra-Low Power
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i7-3517URival
Mobile Ultra-Low Power
- AMD A6-4455MRival
Mobile Ultra-Low Power
- Intel Core i3-3227URival
Mobile Ultra-Low Power
- Intel Core i3-3217UAlt
Cheaper, lower performance alternative.
- AMD A10-4655MAlt
Better integrated graphics in the same TDP class.
- Intel Celeron 1007UAlt
Budget ultrabook alternative.
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 slightly faster version of the 3317U, offering a small bump in clock speeds for premium ultrabooks, but equally obsolete today.
Best for: Repurposing an old premium ultrabook as a media server.
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 i5-3427U or Intel Core i5-4200U?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Core i5-3427U comes out ahead with a score of 6/10. 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 i5-3427U or Intel Core i5-4200U?
For gaming, the Intel Core i5-4200U leads with a gaming performance score of 20/100 among Core i5-3427U 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 i5-3427U (17 W), Intel Core i5-4200U (15 W).
Do Core i5-3427U and Intel Core i5-4200U use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Core i5-3427U: 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 i5-3427U (2,150), Intel Core i5-4200U (3,000). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.