Intel Core i3-5020U vs Intel Core i5-4200U Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-threaded workloads?

A: The Intel Core i3-5020U wins 6 of the 7 recorded head-to-head benchmarks. In Geekbench multi-core, it scores 1379 against 1308 for the Core i5-4200U, a 5.4% advantage. The Cinebench R23 multi-core result shows 1876 versus 1852, a 1.3% edge.

Q: Does the Core i5-4200U win any benchmark?

A: Yes. The Core i5-4200U wins Geekbench single-core with a score of 728 against 696 for the Core i3-5020U, a 4.4% margin. That is the only test where the Haswell part comes out ahead.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Core i3-5020U has an average benchmark score of 757, while the Core i5-4200U sits at 746. Both processors land in the 20th percentile of all CPUs in the database.

Q: What are the closest rivals for the Core i3-5020U?

A: The nearest rivals are the Intel Xeon E5450 (756 average score, 0.1% behind), the Intel Core i5-3210M (758, 0.1% ahead), the Intel Core i5-4250U (756, 0.2% behind), and the Intel Core i5-3230M (754, 0.3% behind).

Q: What are the closest rivals for the Core i5-4200U?

A: The nearest rivals are the AMD A10 PRO-7800B (746 average score, 0.1% ahead), the AMD FX-9800P (745, 0.1% ahead), the Intel Core i5-750 (747, 0.2% behind), and the Intel Xeon E5520 (742, 0.6% behind).

Q: Which processor has a higher base clock?

A: The Core i3-5020U has a base clock of 2.20 GHz. The Core i5-4200U has a base clock of 1600.00 MHz but adds a 2.60 GHz boost clock, while the Core i3-5020U has no boost clock listed.

Architecture Differences

The two processors belong to different Intel generations and manufacturing nodes. The Core i3-5020U is built on Broadwell-U using a 14 nm process, while the Core i5-4200U is a Haswell part on a 22 nm node. That node shrink gives the i3 a smaller die: 82 mm² versus 118 mm² for the i5. Transistor counts also differ, with the i3 carrying 1,300 million transistors against 1,400 million for the i5.

Both chips use the same Intel BGA 1168 socket, and both are dual-core parts with four threads. The cache layout is identical on paper: 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 3 MB of shared L3. The memory support is also the same, DDR3 with dual-channel capability on the i3, though the database does not record a memory bus or bandwidth figure for the i5.

The integrated graphics differ. The Core i3-5020U pairs with Intel HD 5500, while the Core i5-4200U uses Intel HD 4400. The i3 also lists PCIe Gen 2 with 12 lanes from the CPU; no PCIe information is recorded for the i5. The Core i3-5020U has a launch MSRP of $281; no launch MSRP is recorded for the Core i5-4200U.

Both parts are locked, with no unlocked multiplier, and neither supports ECC memory. The release dates are separated by roughly two years: the Core i5-4200U launched in 2013, and the Core i3-5020U in 2015. The i3 is marked as end-of-life in production status, while no production status is listed for the i5.

The Verdict

The recorded data paints a clear picture for multi-threaded work. The Core i3-5020U outperforms the Core i5-4200U in six of seven benchmarks, with the largest gap appearing in Geekbench multi-core at 5.4%. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i3 leads by 1.3%, and in Cinebench R15 multi-core it leads by 1.1%. For users running render workloads, compilation tasks, or any application that scales across threads, the Core i3-5020U is the stronger choice according to the measurements.

The Core i5-4200U has one distinct advantage: single-core performance. Its Geekbench single-core score of 728 beats the i3's 696 by 4.4%. That is the only benchmark where the i5 takes the win, and it suggests the older Haswell part retains an edge in lightly threaded, latency-sensitive tasks. The i5 also has a boost clock of 2.60 GHz, which likely explains that single-core result, while the i3 has no boost clock listed and relies entirely on its 2.20 GHz base frequency.

For buyers who prioritize multi-core throughput, the Core i3-5020U is the better pick based on the data. For users whose workloads depend on single-thread speed, the Core i5-4200U wins that specific category. Both parts sit at the 20th percentile of all CPUs, so neither is a high-performance part in absolute terms, but within this pairing, the i3 takes the overall crown.

Specification Differences

The table below shows only the fields where the two processors differ. Fields such as core count, thread count, L1 cache, L2 cache, L3 cache, memory type, ECC support, and multiplier lock are identical and therefore omitted.

| Field | Intel Core i3-5020U | Intel Core i5-4200U |

|-------|---------------------|---------------------|

| Architecture | Broadwell | Haswell |

| Codename | Broadwell-U | Haswell |

| Generation | Core i3 (Broadwell-U) | Core i5 (Haswell) |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 22 nm |

| Transistors | 1,300 million | 1,400 million |

| Die Size | 82 mm² | 118 mm² |

| Base Clock | 2.20 GHz | 1600.00 MHz |

| Boost Clock | None | 2.60 GHz |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Not recorded |

| Memory Bandwidth | 25.6 GB/s | Not recorded |

| PCIe | Gen 2, 12 Lanes (CPU only) | Not recorded |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 5500 | Intel HD 4400 |

| Production Status | End-of-life | Not recorded |

| Release Date | 2015-02-28 | 2013-06-03 |

| Launch MSRP | $281 | Not recorded |

| Part Number | SR240 | SR170 |

| Average Benchmark Score | 757 | 746 |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results break down into a near-sweep for the Core i3-5020U, with one notable exception. Starting with the multi-core tests, the i3 leads in every Cinebench variant. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i3 scores 188 against 186 for the i5, a 1.1% margin. Cinebench R20 multi-core shows 787 versus 777, a 1.3% edge. Cinebench R23 multi-core repeats that pattern with 1876 versus 1852, again a 1.3% lead. These are narrow margins, but they are consistent across three generations of the Cinebench test.

Single-core Cinebench results follow the same trend. The i3 wins Cinebench R20 single-core with 110 against 109, a 0.9% margin, and Cinebench R23 single-core with 264 against 261, a 1.1% margin. The wins are small, but they show the Broadwell chip does not cede single-thread ground in the Cinebench suite.

The largest multi-core gap appears in Geekbench. The i3 scores 1379 in Geekbench multi-core, while the i5 scores 1308, giving the i3 a 5.4% advantage. That is the biggest delta in either direction across all seven tests. The one reverse result is Geekbench single-core, where the i5 posts 728 against 696 for the i3, a 4.4% win for the Haswell part.

Interpreting the numbers, the Core i3-5020U is the better all-around performer in this pairing. It wins both Cinebench multi-core tests by identical 1.3% margins, suggesting its advantage scales with workload duration and thread count. The 5.4% Geekbench multi-core win is the standout result, showing that in some workloads the i3 pulls decisively ahead. The Core i5-4200U counters with a 4.4% single-core win in Geekbench, which may matter for older applications or single-threaded scripts, but it cannot overcome the i3's broader dominance.

The average benchmark scores reflect this overall balance: 757 for the i3 versus 746 for the i5, a roughly 1.5% gap in the i3's favor. Both chips sit at the 20th percentile of all CPUs, so neither is positioned as a performance leader in the database. In the rival context, the i3 trades blows with the Intel Core i5-3210M and Core i5-4250U, while the i5 sits alongside the AMD A10 PRO-7800B and AMD FX-9800P. The data indicates the Core i3-5020U delivers slightly better multi-core performance and a decisively better Geekbench multi-core result, while the Core i5-4200U holds a single-core advantage that keeps it competitive in specific scenarios.