Core i5-4200U vs Turion II P540

Intel

Core i5-4200U

2 Cores4 Thrd512 WWMax: 2.6 GHz2013
VS
AMD

Turion II P540

2 Cores2 Thrd2 WWMax: 2.4 GHz2010

Core i5-4200U vs Turion II P540 Performance Spectrum

About PassMark

PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Core i5-4200U vs Turion II P540 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Core i5-4200U vs Turion II P540: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Core i5-4200U

2013

Why buy it

  • βœ…100+% more PCIe lanes (12 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
  • βœ…Integrated graphics onboard with HD Graphics 4400, while Turion II P540 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

  • ❌25500% higher power demand at 512W vs 2W.

Turion II P540

2010

Why buy it

  • βœ…Draws 2W instead of 512W, a 510W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • ❌Lower PassMark (2,160 vs 2,176).
  • ❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-4200U can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-4200U better than Turion II P540?
Yes. Core i5-4200U is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 1.5% average FPS lead across 29 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.7% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.
Which one is better for gaming?
If gaming is the priority, Core i5-4200U is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 1.5% more average FPS across 29 shared CPU game tests.
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-4200U is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.7% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 4 threads.
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Core i5-4200U still makes the most sense overall. Core i5-4200U comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 1.5% average FPS lead across 29 shared CPU game tests in our data.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Core i5-4200U makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2013 vs 2010) and more multi-core headroom with 2 cores / 4 threads instead of 2/2. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Core i5-4200U vs Turion II P540 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Intel

Core i5-4200U

The Core i5-4200U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 June 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013βˆ’2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.6 GHz, with boost up to 2.6 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1168. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,176 points. Launch price was $69.

AMD

Turion II P540

The Turion II P540 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Champlain (2010βˆ’2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2.4 GHz. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: S1g4. Thermal design power (TDP): 2 MB. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,160 points. Launch price was $69.

⚑

Processing Power

The Core i5-4200U packs 2 cores / 4 threads, matching the Turion II P540's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.6 GHz on the Core i5-4200U versus 2.4 GHz on the Turion II P540 β€” a 8% clock advantage for the Core i5-4200U. The Core i5-4200U uses the Haswell (2013βˆ’2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Turion II P540 uses Champlain (2010βˆ’2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-4200U scores 2,176 against the Turion II P540's 2,160 β€” a 0.7% lead for the Core i5-4200U.

FeatureCore i5-4200UTurion II P540
Cores / Threads
2 / 4
2 / 2
Boost Clock
2.6 GHz+8%
2.4 GHz
Base Clock
1.6 GHz
β€”
L3 Cache
3 MB (total)
β€”
L2 Cache
256K (per core)+12700%
2 MB
Process
22 nm-51%
45 nm
Architecture
Haswell (2013βˆ’2015)
Champlain (2010βˆ’2011)
PassMark
2,176
2,160
Geekbench 6 Single
733
β€”
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-4200U uses the FCBGA1168 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Turion II P540 uses S1g4 (PCIe 2.0) β€” making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

FeatureCore i5-4200UTurion II P540
Socket
FCBGA1168
S1g4
PCIe Generation
PCIe 3.0+50%
PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed
DDR3L-1600
β€”
Max RAM Capacity
16 GB
β€”
RAM Channels
2
β€”
ECC Support
No
β€”
PCIe Lanes
12
β€”
πŸ”§

Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-4200U) / not specified (Turion II P540). The Core i5-4200U includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 4400), while the Turion II P540 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-4200U targets Thin & Light Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i5-4200U rivals A6-5350M.

FeatureCore i5-4200UTurion II P540
Integrated GPU
Yes
β€”
IGPU Model
HD Graphics 4400
β€”
Unlocked
No
β€”
AVX-512
No
β€”
Virtualization
VT-x, VT-d, EPT
β€”
Target Use
Thin & Light Laptop
β€”