CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-4200U vs Intel Core i5-5300U
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.
Slightly better than the i5-5200U due to higher clocks but the improvement is barely noticeable in everyday use.
Gaming
Handles only old or 2D indie games.
HD 5500 graphics are identical to the i5-5200U and insufficient for any modern gaming.
Virtualization
Can run one light VM.
Dual-core design is not suitable for virtualization workloads.
Efficiency
Great battery life for its time.
Reasonable efficiency for 2015, though modern processors deliver far more performance per watt.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No AI acceleration hardware.
- No AI acceleration hardware
- Dual-core design cannot handle AI workloads
- Not applicable for this processor class or era
Content Creation
Gaming
- HD 4400 is too weak for modern 3D games.
- HD 5500 identical to i5-5200U
- Only the lightest casual games are playable at 720p low
- No eDRAM means limited GPU memory bandwidth
- Not suitable for any modern gaming
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
- Slightly higher clocks than i5-5200U
- Same 15W TDP with 7.5W cTDP option
- Cost-effective smaller die
- Good for basic computing tasks
- Adequate HD video playback
Cons
- Barely faster than i5-5200U in real-world use
- Only 2 physical cores with dual-core limitation
- HD 5500 without eDRAM is weak for GPU tasks
- DDR3 memory is obsolete
- Not compatible with Windows 11
- Same price as much better Iris-equipped variants
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 i5-5300U
- AMD A10-8700PRival
Mobile Budget
- AMD FX-7500Rival
Mobile Mainstream
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-5200URival
Mobile Ultrabook
- Intel Core i3-5010URival
Mobile Ultrabook
- AMD A8-7410Rival
Mobile Budget
- Intel Core i5-6300UAlt
Skylake successor with DDR4, improved architecture, and similar power profile.
- Intel Core i5-8250UAlt
Four cores at 15W for dramatically better multi-threaded performance.
- AMD Ryzen 3 3200UAlt
Budget dual-core with Vega graphics and DDR4 support.
Modern dual-core with Iris Xe graphics and 10nm process.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 5500UAlt
Six cores with Vega 7 graphics in a 15W envelope, vastly outperforming this chip.
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 i5-5300U offers a small clock speed bump over the i5-5200U but remains in the same dual-core performance class, making it equally outdated for modern computing needs.
Best for: Buying a used business laptop for under $80 for basic web browsing and email
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i5-4200U or Intel Core i5-5300U?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i5-5300U comes out ahead with a score of 6.1/10. 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 i5-5300U?
For gaming, the Intel Core i5-4200U leads with a gaming performance score of 20/100 among Intel Core i5-4200U and Intel Core i5-5300U.
Do Intel Core i5-4200U and Intel Core i5-5300U 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 i5-5300U (2,700). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.