Core i5-5200U vs Core i7-4500U

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 i5-5200U vs Core i7-4500U 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 i5-5200U vs Core i7-4500U: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Core i5-5200U

2015

Why buy it

✅+0.5% higher PassMark.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (3 MB vs 4 MB).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-4500U can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i7-4500U

2013

Why buy it

✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (4 MB vs 3 MB).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (12 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel HD Graphics 4400, while Core i5-5200U needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (2,490 vs 2,503).
❌Launch MSRP is still $398 MSRP, while Core i5-5200U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-5200U better than Core i7-4500U?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Core i7-4500U is ahead with a 0.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-5200U pulls ahead with 0.5% better PassMark. Core i7-4500U also has the bigger cache pool with 33.3% larger total L3 cache (4 MB vs 3 MB).

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-5200U is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.5% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 4 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core i5-5200U is the easy recommendation for a fresh desktop build. Core i5-5200U comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $398 MSRP, and it still gives you 0.5% better PassMark. Core i7-4500U only looks good on raw value math because it is a cheap legacy laptop chip, not because it is a real desktop gaming recommendation. It simply does not keep up in modern games, especially when the gap is already 0.9% in the shared gaming data.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core i5-5200U makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2015 vs 2013) and more multi-core headroom with 2 cores / 4 threads instead of 2/4. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Core i5-5200U vs Core i7-4500U Technical Specifications

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

Core i5-5200U

The Core i5-5200U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 March 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Broadwell-U (2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 2.7 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1168. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,503 points. Launch price was $281.

Core i7-4500U

The Core i7-4500U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 June 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Haswell-ULT (2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.8 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 4 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: 2,490 points. Launch price was $69.

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Processing Power

Both the Core i5-5200U and Core i7-4500U share an identical 2-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.7 GHz on the Core i5-5200U versus 3 GHz on the Core i7-4500U — a 10.5% clock advantage for the Core i7-4500U (base: 2.2 GHz vs 1.8 GHz). The Core i5-5200U uses the Broadwell-U (2015) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i7-4500U uses Haswell-ULT (2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-5200U scores 2,503 against the Core i7-4500U's 2,490 — a 0.5% lead for the Core i5-5200U. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i5-5200U vs 4 MB (total) on the Core i7-4500U.

Feature	Core i5-5200U	Core i7-4500U
Cores / Threads	2 / 4	2 / 4
Boost Clock	2.7 GHz	3 GHz+11%
Base Clock	2.2 GHz+22%	1.8 GHz
L3 Cache	3 MB (total)	4 MB (total)+33%
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	256K (per core)
Process	14 nm-36%	22 nm
Architecture	Broadwell-U (2015)	Haswell-ULT (2013)
PassMark	2,503	2,490

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Memory & Platform

Both processors use the FCBGA1168 socket with PCIe 3.0.

Feature	Core i5-5200U	Core i7-4500U
Socket	FCBGA1168	FCBGA1168
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	—	1600
Max RAM Capacity	—	16
RAM Channels	—	2
ECC Support	—	No
PCIe Lanes	—	12

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Core i5-5200U) / true (Core i7-4500U). The Core i7-4500U includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 4400), while the Core i5-5200U requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-4500U targets Mobile.