Intel Core i5-5200U vs Intel Core i7-4500U Comparison

# Intel Core i7-4500U vs Intel Core i5-5200U

The Intel Core i7-4500U and Intel Core i5-5200U are two dual-core mobile processors from consecutive generations. The i7-4500U is a Haswell-ULT part, while the i5-5200U belongs to the Broadwell-U family. The recorded data shows a clear split: the newer i5 wins the majority of head-to-head tests, while the older i7 holds a decisive lead in the remaining two. This analysis breaks down where each chip holds an advantage and what the underlying silicon differences suggest.

Where Each One Wins - use-case split based on benchmark wins

Out of the seven head-to-head benchmark comparisons in the database, the Intel Core i5-5200U wins five, the Intel Core i7-4500U wins two. The i5's victories are not narrow: in Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 214 against 212 for the i7, a 0.9% edge. The gap widens in the Cinebench R20 multi-core test, where the i5 posts 892 versus 887, a 0.6% advantage. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the i5 again leads, 126 to 125, a 0.8% margin. The Cinebench R23 results continue the trend: multi-core 2125 to 2113 (a 0.6% lead) and single-core 300 to 298 (0.7% lead). These are consistent, if small, margins across different Cinebench versions.

The i7-4500U takes both Geekbench wins. In Geekbench multi-core, the i7 scores 1562 against 1464, a 6.7% advantage. The single-core result is more pronounced: 818 versus 742, a 10.2% lead. These are the largest deltas in the entire set.

Architecture Differences

The two chips differ in architecture generation and in several on-paper specifications. The i7-4500U is built on the Haswell architecture with the Haswell-ULT codename, while the i5-5200U uses Broadwell with the Broadwell-U codename. Both use a 22 nm and a 14 nm process respectively, and both are from Intel's own foundry. The i7 packs in 1,300 million transistors on a 118 mm² die; the i5 has 1,300 million transistors on an 82 mm² die. The i7 has a larger physical footprint.

Cache layouts also differ. The i7-4500U has 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, plus 4 MB of shared L3. The i5-5200U also has 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, but its L3 is 3 MB shared. Both are dual-core, quad-thread parts. The i7 has a 1.80 GHz base and 3.00 GHz boost, while the i5 has a 2.20 GHz base and 2.70 GHz boost. So the i7 has a higher boost ceiling, while the i5 has a higher base clock.

Memory support is another divider: the i7 supports DDR3, the i5 also supports DDR3, but the i5 memory bus is dual-channel with 25.6 GB/s bandwidth. The i7 memory bus type is not listed. On the integrated graphics side, the i7 comes with an Intel HD 4400, the i5 with an Intel HD 5500.

The processors are in the same mobile market segment. The i7 was released on 2013-06-03, the i5 on 2015-02-28. The i7 part number is SR16Z, the i5 is SR23Y. The i7 lists a production status, the i5 is listed as end-of-life. The i7 socket is Intel BGA 1168, the i5 uses Intel BGA 1168. Another difference: the i7 has an unlocked multiplier, the i5 does not.

The Verdict

The benchmark data suggests a split decision. The Core i5-5200U is the pick for synthetic Cinebench workloads across every version, single and multi-core. The deltas are modest but consistent: 0.6% to 0.9% in the i5's favor. The Core i7-4500U is the pick for Geekbench workloads, and here the margins are not modest: 6.7% in multi-core and 10.2% in single-core. The i7 also carries a larger L3 cache (4 MB vs 3 MB) and a higher boost clock (3.00 GHz vs 2.70 GHz), which likely explains that Geekbench advantage. If the target software relies primarily on Cinebench-style rendering, the i5-5200U is the better choice. For general Geekbench-style workloads mixing many integer and floating-point tasks, the i7-4500U has the lead. The i5 does have a higher base clock (2.20 GHz vs 1.80 GHz) and a newer process node, but the recorded data does not show an overall performance crown.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Core i5-5200U scores 2125 versus 2113 for the Intel Core i7-4500U, a 0.6% lead for the i5.

Q: Where does the Core i7-4500U win?

A: In Geekbench. It beats the i5-5200U by 6.7% in multi-core (1562 versus 1464) and 10.2% in single-core (818 versus 742).

Q: Do both processors have the same core/thread count?

A: Yes. Both are 2-core, 4-thread processors. Their cache structures differ: the i7 has 4 MB of L3, the i5 has 3 MB.

Q: Which chip has a higher boost clock?

A: The Core i7-4500U. It boosts to 3.00 GHz, the i5-5200U boosts to 2.70 GHz. The i5 starts from a higher base clock of 2.20 GHz versus 1.80 GHz.

Q: Which of these uses a newer manufacturing process?

A: The i5-5200U. It uses a 14 nm process, the i7-4500U uses a 22 nm process.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded head-to-head tests show one processor winning the high-level suite, the other the legacy suite. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Core i5-5200U scores 214 against 212 for the i7-4500U, a 0.9% margin. Cinebench R20 multi-core repeats that result: 892 for the i5, 887 for the i7, a 0.6% edge. Cinebench R20 single-core shows 126 to 125, a 0.8% margin, and Cinebench R23 multi-core shows 2125 to 2113, a 0.6% margin. Single-core R23 shows 300 to 298, a 0.7% edge. All five Cinebench runs land in the i5's favor.

GeekBench goes to the i7. The multi-core result is 1562 versus 1464, a 6.7% lead. The single-core result is even larger: 818 versus 742, 10.2%. The i7 has a larger L3 (4 MB vs 3 MB) and a higher boost clock, which the data suggests helps the Geekbench-style integer and floating point workload.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several recorded fields. Both are dual-core, quad-thread mobile parts. The i7-4500U is based on the Haswell architecture (codename Haswell-ULT), the i5-5200U on Broadwell (codename Broadwell-U). Process nodes are 22 nm and 14 nm, respectively. Transistor count is 1,300 million on both, but the die size is 118 mm² for the i7 and 82 mm² for the i5. The i7 has 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, plus 4 MB shared L3. The i5 matches the L1/L2 per-core figures but has 3 MB L3.

Clock behavior differs: the i7 has a 1.80 GHz base and 3.60 GHz boost, the i5 has a 2.20 GHz base and 2.70 GHz boost. So the i5 runs a higher idle clock, the i7 has a much higher boost. Memory support is DDR3 for both. The i5 memory bus is dual-channel at 25.6 GB/s; the i7 memory bus is not specified. Integrated graphics: Intel HD 4400 for the i7, Intel HD 5500 for the i5. Both belong to the Mobile market segment. The i7 was released on the 3rd of June 2013, the i5 on the 28th of February 2015. The i7 part number is SR16Z, the i5 is SR23Y. The i7 multiplier is unlocked, the i5 is locked. The i7 socket is Intel BGA 1168, the i5 is Intel BGA 144. The i7 has a production status listed, the i5 is marked end-of-life.