CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-4200U vs Intel Core i5-5200U
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i5-4200U is a dual-core, ultra-low voltage mobile processor launched in mid-2013 as part of the 4th Generation Core (Haswell) lineup. With a 15-watt TDP, it became the quintessential processor for the era's Ultrabooks, striking a balance between power efficiency and everyday performance. It features two physical cores and four threads thanks to Intel's Hyper-Threading technology, allowing it to handle multitasking with relative ease. The base clock speed is set at 1.6 GHz, dynamically boosting up to 2.6 GHz via Intel Turbo Boost technology when demanding workloads require extra performance. The processor is equipped with 3 MB of SmartCache and integrates Intel HD Graphics 4400, offering smooth 1080p video playback and the ability to play light casual games. It was a defining chip for mainstream thin-and-light laptops, offering an excellent blend of battery life and productivity performance.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Noticeable lag with modern multitasking.
Sufficient for basic document editing and email but struggles with heavy spreadsheet workloads or multitasking.
Gaming
Handles only old or 2D indie games.
The HD 5500 integrated graphics can barely manage older or lightweight titles at low resolution and settings.
Virtualization
Can run one light VM.
Not suitable for virtualization due to limited cores and memory bandwidth.
Efficiency
Great battery life for its time.
The 14nm process was efficient for its era, though modern 10nm and 7nm chips far surpass it.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No AI acceleration hardware.
- No dedicated AI acceleration hardware
- Dual-core design makes AI inference impractical
- Not suitable for any machine learning workloads
Content Creation
Gaming
- HD 4400 is too weak for modern 3D games.
- HD 5500 with 24 EUs is insufficient for modern gaming
- Older titles like CS:GO and Minecraft run at playable frame rates at 720p low
- No support for modern graphics APIs beyond DirectX 11.2
- Shared memory architecture reduces GPU performance
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
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
Pros
- Low 15W TDP ideal for thin laptops
- Configurable TDP down to 7.5W for fanless designs
- First 14nm consumer processor generation
- Intel HD 5500 better than Haswell's HD 4400
- Hyper-Threading provides 4 logical threads
Cons
- Only 2 physical cores limit multi-threaded performance
- DDR3 memory support is outdated
- PCIe Gen 2 lanes are slow by modern standards
- No dedicated AI or hardware security features
- End-of-life with no security updates or support
- Integrated graphics inadequate for modern workloads
Competitors & Alternatives
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.
Intel Core i5-5200U
- AMD A8-7410Rival
Mobile Budget
- AMD A10-8700PRival
Mobile Budget
- Intel Core i3-5010URival
Mobile Ultrabook
- Intel Pentium 3805URival
Mobile Budget
- AMD FX-7500Rival
Mobile Mainstream
- Intel Core i5-6200UAlt
Skylake successor with DDR4 support, better GPU, and improved architecture.
- Intel Core i5-7200UAlt
Kaby Lake refresh with higher clocks and better efficiency.
- AMD Ryzen 3 3200UAlt
Modern dual-core with much better integrated graphics and DDR4 support.
10nm Ice Lake with significantly better GPU and modern features.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 3500UAlt
Four real cores with Vega graphics offering vastly superior performance.
Our Verdict on Each
A 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 reviewThe i5-5200U was a solid ultrabook chip in 2015 but is now thoroughly outdated for modern workloads, offering only basic computing capability by today's standards.
Best for: Purchasing a used ultrabook under $100 for basic web browsing and document editing
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i5-4200U or Intel Core i5-5200U?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i5-5200U 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, Intel Core i5-4200U or Intel Core i5-5200U?
For gaming, the Intel Core i5-4200U leads with a gaming performance score of 20/100 among Intel Core i5-4200U and Intel Core i5-5200U.
Do Intel Core i5-4200U and Intel Core i5-5200U use the same socket?
Yes — all of these CPUs use the Intel BGA 1168 socket, so they share compatible motherboards.
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Intel Core i5-4200U posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i5-4200U (3,000), Intel Core i5-5200U (2,550). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.