Intel Core i5-4200U vs Intel Core i5-4250U Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher base clock speed?

A: The Intel Core i5-4200U starts at 1600.00 MHz, while the Intel Core i5-4250U starts lower at 1300.00 MHz. Both share the same 2.60 GHz boost clock.

Q: Are these CPUs built on the same architecture?

A: Yes, both are Haswell-generation mobile parts on a 22 nm process, with 1,400 million transistors and a 118 mm² die size. They also share the same Intel BGA 1168 socket and a 15 W TDP.

Q: How do they compare in multi-core rendering workloads?

A: The i5-4200U leads in every Cinebench multi-core test. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 1852 versus 1811 for the i5-4250U, a 2.2% advantage. The i5-4250U, however, wins Geekbench multi-core with 1434 against 1308, a 9.6% margin.

Q: Which chip has the better integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core i5-4250U integrates Intel HD 5000 graphics, while the i5-4200U comes with Intel HD 4400. This is a key differentiator for tasks relying on the iGPU.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory type?

A: Yes, both list DDR3 memory support. Neither supports ECC memory.

Q: What is the overall benchmark percentile for each?

A: Both sit at the 20th percentile versus all CPUs in the database. The i5-4250U has an average benchmark score of 756, and the i5-4200U averages 746.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are architectural twins in most respects. Both are Haswell parts from Intel, fabricated on the same 22 nm process at Intel's foundry, with identical transistor counts of 1,400 million and the same 118 mm² die size. The core configuration is identical: 2 cores and 4 threads. Cache hierarchy matches exactly, with 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 3 MB of shared L3 cache. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier, and both use the Intel BGA 1168 socket.

The meaningful divergence is in the integrated graphics. The i5-4250U packs Intel HD 5000, while the i5-4200U uses Intel HD 4400. That difference in GPU tier can affect light gaming or media acceleration scenarios, though neither is a discrete-class solution. The base clock also differs: the i5-4250U is rated at 1300.00 MHz, while the i5-4200U runs at 1600.00 MHz. Both boost to 2.60 GHz.

The part numbers differ as well: the i5-4250U is SR16M, and the i5-4200U is SR170. Both were released on the same date, June 3, 2013. No launch MSRP is recorded for either part. The market segment for both is mobile, and neither supports ECC memory. PCIe information is not recorded for either chip.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded benchmark data tells a split story. The i5-4200U takes five of the seven head-to-head tests, but the i5-4250U wins the two Geekbench results, and one of those wins is substantial.

Starting with Cinebench, the i5-4200U consistently edges ahead. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 186 against 182, a 2.2% lead. Cinebench R20 multi-core shows 777 versus 760, again 2.2% ahead. The single-core R20 test is closer: 109 to 107, a 1.8% gap. Cinebench R23 multi-core gives 1852 for the i5-4200U versus 1811 for the i5-4250U, another 2.2% margin. The R23 single-core test has the i5-4200U at 261 and the i5-4250U at 255, a 2.3% difference.

The Geekbench results flip the script. In Geekbench multi-core, the i5-4250U scores 1434, which is 9.6% higher than the i5-4200U's 1308. That is the largest delta in the entire comparison. Geekbench single-core also favors the i5-4250U, with 742 versus 728, a 1.9% edge.

The pattern suggests the i5-4200U has a slight advantage in sustained rendering workloads, likely tied to its higher base clock. The i5-4250U, despite the lower base clock, posts a commanding Geekbench multi-core result, which may reflect different workload characteristics or boost behavior in that test.

The Verdict

The data points to the Intel Core i5-4200U as the stronger overall performer in the majority of recorded benchmarks. It wins five out of seven tests, including all four Cinebench multi-core variants and both single-core Cinebench tests. The margins in those wins are small, between 1.8% and 2.3%, but they are consistent.

The Intel Core i5-4250U, however, has a clear claim in Geekbench. Its 9.6% multi-core lead is the single biggest performance gap in this comparison, and it also edges out the i5-4200U in Geekbench single-core by 1.9%. For anyone whose software relies more on Geekbench-style workloads, the i5-4250U is the better pick.

Both chips are 20th percentile parts in the global database, meaning they occupy the same performance tier. The average benchmark scores are close: 756 for the i5-4250U and 746 for the i5-4200U. The i5-4250U also brings Intel HD 5000 graphics, a step above the HD 4400 in the i5-4200U.

For pure CPU rendering, the i5-4200U is the safer choice. For a balanced mobile chip with a stronger iGPU and a notable Geekbench multi-core advantage, the i5-4250U justifies itself. Neither chip is a performance king, but the i5-4200U's consistent Cinebench wins give it the overall edge in the database's scoring.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs differ in only a few recorded fields. Base clock is the most obvious: the i5-4250U runs at 1300.00 MHz, while the i5-4200U runs at 1600.00 MHz. Boost clock is identical at 2.60 GHz. Integrated graphics differ, with the i5-4250U featuring Intel HD 5000 and the i5-4200U using Intel HD 4400.

The part numbers are different: SR16M for the i5-4250U and SR170 for the i5-4200U. All other core specifications match exactly: 2 cores, 4 threads, 15 W TDP, Intel BGA 1168 socket, Haswell architecture, 22 nm process, 1,400 million transistors, 118 mm² die size, and the same cache layout of 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 3 MB shared L3.

Memory support is identical: both use DDR3, neither supports ECC. PCIe information is absent for both. Release dates are the same, June 3, 2013. Neither has a recorded launch MSRP, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-4200U is the pick for rendering and compute workloads that resemble Cinebench. It wins every Cinebench test in the comparison: R15 multi-core, R20 multi-core, R20 single-core, R23 multi-core, and R23 single-core. The margins are tight, but they are uniform. If the workload is multi-threaded rendering or single-threaded rendering, the recorded data favors the i5-4200U.

The Intel Core i5-4250U takes the Geekbench side of the ledger. Its 9.6% multi-core win over the i5-4200U is the largest delta in the entire head-to-head set. Geekbench single-core also goes to the i5-4250U by 1.9%. For applications that follow Geekbench's mixed workload patterns, the i5-4250U is the stronger chip.

The i5-4250U also holds the integrated graphics advantage with Intel HD 5000 versus the HD 4400 in the i5-4200U. That makes the i5-4250U the better option for systems relying on the iGPU for display output or light media acceleration, even though the CPU-side rendering scores lag slightly.

The i5-4200U's higher base clock of 1600.00 MHz versus 1300.00 MHz likely explains its Cinebench consistency. The i5-4250U's Geekbench dominance suggests it can boost effectively in certain workloads despite the lower base.

In practical terms, a user running Cinebench-style renders should choose the i5-4200U. A user prioritizing Geekbench performance or integrated graphics capability should choose the i5-4250U. Both are 15 W mobile parts from the same generation, so power and thermal behavior are comparable. The verdict from the database is clear: the i5-4200U wins more tests, but the i5-4250U wins the biggest one.