CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-4210U vs Intel Core i7-4712HQ
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i5-4210U is a dual-core mobile processor launched in early 2014 as a minor refresh within the 4th Generation Core (Haswell) family. Designed for thin-and-light laptops and Ultrabooks, it operates on a 15-watt thermal envelope, offering a balance of battery life and everyday productivity performance. It features two physical cores and four threads, utilizing Hyper-Threading to improve multitasking efficiency. The processor has a base clock of 1.7 GHz and can dynamically boost up to 2.7 GHz using Intel Turbo Boost technology, providing extra headroom for bursty workloads. It includes 3 MB of L3 cache and integrates Intel HD Graphics 4400, which is capable of handling 1080p media playback and basic graphics tasks. This refresh offered a marginal clock speed bump over the i5-4200U, aiming to keep the Haswell lineup competitive in the mobile market until the arrival of Broadwell.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Struggles with heavy multitasking.
Can handle basic office tasks but struggles with heavy multitasking.
Gaming
Only suitable for 2D or very old games.
Severely bottlenecked by modern standards; only suitable for very old or 2D games.
Virtualization
Basic VM support only.
Limited by 4 cores and older architecture for modern VMs.
Efficiency
Excellent battery life.
22nm process is highly inefficient compared to modern 10nm or 14nm chips.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No AI capabilities.
- No dedicated AI hardware
- Lacks modern instruction sets for AI inference
Content Creation
Gaming
- Not designed for gaming.
- Relies on HD 4600 or older discrete GPUs
- Cannot run modern AAA titles
- Suitable only for legacy games
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- Good battery life
- Decent turbo boost for 2014
- Hardware video decoding
- Low heat output
Cons
- Obsolete dual-core design
- Soldered BGA
- Slow modern web browsing
- No Windows 11 support
Pros
- Was a strong performer in 2014
- 4 physical cores
- Supports AVX2
- Includes VT-x for virtualization
Cons
- End-of-life and unsupported
- 22nm process is inefficient
- Soldered to motherboard
- Lacks Windows 11 official support
Competitors & Alternatives
Intel Core i5-4210U
- AMD A10-5745MRival
Mobile
- Intel Core i7-4510URival
Mobile
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-4200URival
Mobile
- Intel Core i3-4030URival
Mobile
- AMD A8-6410Rival
Mobile
Broadwell successor, slightly better.
Compare head-to-head- Intel Core i7-4600UAlt
More powerful Haswell chip.
- Intel Core i5-8250UAlt
Massive leap in performance with 4 cores.
- AMD Ryzen 3 3200UAlt
Modern budget alternative.
- Intel Core i3-8130UAlt
Faster modern dual-core.
Intel Core i7-4712HQ
- AMD A10-5750MRival
Mobile
- Intel Core i7-4700MQRival
Mobile
- AMD A8-5557MRival
Mobile
- Intel Core i5-4200MRival
Mobile
- AMD A10-5745MRival
Mobile
- Intel Core i7-1165G7Alt
Vastly superior efficiency and performance.
- AMD Ryzen 5 5500UAlt
Budget modern alternative with 6 cores.
Modern budget laptop chip.
Compare head-to-head- Alt
Unmatched battery life for basic use.
Compare head-to-head - AMD Ryzen 7 5700UAlt
Excellent multi-core performance for the price.
Our Verdict on Each
A 100MHz bump over the 4200U doesn't change the fact it's obsolete today.
Best for: Free or extremely cheap used laptop
Read the full reviewA reliable 4th Gen mobile CPU that was great for its time, but now shows its age in efficiency and single-core performance.
Best for: When considering the Core i7-4712HQ today, it is crucial to recognize its age. This processor should only be sought in the used market for extremely budget-conscious buyers. It remains capable of basic web browsing, document editing, and media consumption. However, its 22nm architecture and 37W TDP mean it runs warm and drains battery faster than modern alternatives. Avoid this CPU if you plan to do modern gaming, heavy video editing, or need long battery life. If you find a used laptop with this chip for a very low price, it can serve as a capable secondary machine for light tasks. But for any primary computing needs, investing in a newer platform is strongly recommended for better efficiency, security, and performance.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i5-4210U or Intel Core i7-4712HQ?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i7-4712HQ 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 uses less power?
The Intel Core i5-4210U has the lowest rated TDP. Power draw across these chips: Intel Core i5-4210U (15 W), Intel Core i7-4712HQ (37 W).
Do Intel Core i5-4210U and Intel Core i7-4712HQ use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Intel Core i5-4210U: Intel BGA 1168, Intel Core i7-4712HQ: Intel BGA 1364), so each needs a compatible motherboard.
Which has more cores?
The Intel Core i7-4712HQ has the most cores. Core counts: Intel Core i5-4210U (2 cores), Intel Core i7-4712HQ (4 cores).
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Intel Core i5-4210U posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i5-4210U (3,100). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.