CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-4210U vs Core i7-660UM
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 lightweight office applications but will stutter under heavy load.
Gaming
Only suitable for 2D or very old games.
Inadequate for modern gaming; struggles with basic 2D games.
Virtualization
Basic VM support only.
Supports basic VT-x but lacks cores for effective virtualization.
Efficiency
Excellent battery life.
Good efficiency for 2010, but outperformed by modern chips.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No AI capabilities.
- No dedicated AI hardware
- Insufficient compute for AI workloads
Content Creation
Gaming
- Not designed for gaming.
- Only suitable for legacy games
- Weak integrated graphics
- No support for modern APIs
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
- Low 18W TDP
- Turbo Boost capability
- AES-NI support
- Hyper-Threading
Cons
- Obsolete performance
- BGA soldered package
- Weak integrated graphics
- Limited memory speed
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.
Core i7-660UM
- AMD Turion II Neo K625Rival
Mobile ULV
- Intel Core 2 Duo SU9600Rival
Mobile ULV
- AMD Athlon II Neo K325Rival
Mobile ULV
- Intel Core i5-430UMRival
Mobile ULV
- Intel Core i7-640UMRival
Mobile ULV
- Intel Core i5-520UMAlt
Similar performance at a lower price point for legacy systems.
- Intel Core i7-660UEAlt
Embedded variant with ECC support.
- Intel Core 2 Duo SL9600Alt
Older generation but comparable in power envelope.
- AMD Phenom II P920Alt
AMD alternative with more cores but higher power.
- Intel Core i5-470UMAlt
Slightly lower tier with similar architecture.
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 pioneering low-power chip for its time, but its performance is heavily outclassed by modern mobile processors.
Best for: Maintaining legacy hardware
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i5-4210U or Core i7-660UM?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Core i7-660UM 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 i5-4210U or Core i7-660UM?
For gaming, the Intel Core i5-4210U leads with a gaming performance score of 20/100 among Intel Core i5-4210U and Core i7-660UM.
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), Core i7-660UM (18 W).
Do Intel Core i5-4210U and Core i7-660UM use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Intel Core i5-4210U: Intel BGA 1168, Core i7-660UM: Intel BGA 1288), so each needs a compatible motherboard.
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.