CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-4200U vs Intel Core i3-1115G4 (IPU)
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.
The 2 cores are adequate for light office tasks. The IPU helps keep the system responsive during video calls, but heavy multitasking will still cause slowdowns.
Gaming
Handles only old or 2D indie games.
Identical to the non-IPU 1115G4. The Iris Xe G4 graphics are not viable for modern gaming.
Virtualization
Can run one light VM.
2 cores and 4 threads are fundamentally insufficient for any practical virtualization use.
Efficiency
Great battery life for its time.
The IPU significantly improves efficiency during its target workload (video calls), making this chip very battery-friendly for remote workers.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No AI acceleration hardware.
- IPU 6.0 provides excellent dedicated AI for video and imaging
- General CPU AI inference is limited by 2 cores and 15W TDP
- AVX-512 instructions are present
Content Creation
Gaming
- HD 4400 is too weak for modern 3D games.
- 2 cores and G4 tier graphics preclude gaming
- Identical graphical limitations as the standard 1115G4
- No improvement in frame rates over the non-IPU variant
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
- IPU 6.0 enables smooth AI video features on a budget chip
- High 4.1 GHz boost for snappy single-task performance
- Excellent battery life during video calls due to IPU offload
- Low 15W configurable TDP
- Modern 10nm SuperFin process
Cons
- Only 2 cores and 4 threads severely bottleneck multitasking
- 6MB L3 cache is very small
- Only 4 CPU PCIe 4.0 lanes
- The IPU is useless if you don't use video conferencing
- Same price as the 4-core 1125G4 (IPU) at launch
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 i3-1115G4 (IPU)
- AMD Ryzen 3 5300URival
Mobile
- AMD Ryzen 3 3250URival
Mobile
- Compare head-to-headApple M1Rival
Mobile
- MediaTek Kompanio 500TRival
Mobile
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 7cRival
Mobile
Same price at launch but doubles the cores to 4, vastly improving multitasking while keeping the IPU.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 5500UAlt
6 cores provide a completely different tier of usability for not much more money.
Superior CPU and GPU performance if you can stretch the budget.
Compare head-to-head12th-gen hybrid architecture offers much better background task handling.
Compare head-to-head
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 reviewA niche 2-core processor that offloads webcam AI tasks to the IPU 6.0, but the severe core count limitation makes it a poor choice for anyone doing more than light office work and video calls.
Best for: Buying a highly discounted laptop specifically for remote work and video conferencing where battery life during calls is the top priority.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i5-4200U or Intel Core i3-1115G4 (IPU)?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i5-4200U comes out ahead with a score of 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, Intel Core i5-4200U or Intel Core i3-1115G4 (IPU)?
For gaming, the Intel Core i5-4200U leads with a gaming performance score of 20/100 among Intel Core i5-4200U and Intel Core i3-1115G4 (IPU).
Do Intel Core i5-4200U and Intel Core i3-1115G4 (IPU) use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Intel Core i5-4200U: Intel BGA 1168, Intel Core i3-1115G4 (IPU): BGA 1449), 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: Intel Core i5-4200U (3,000). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.