Intel Core i5 4200U is a processor from a California manufacturer for mobile platforms, in particular tablets. In this article, we will consider all its advantages and disadvantages, as well as conduct performance tests.
Core i5 Family
This processor family was born in 2009 and is still being produced in the form of the sixth generation, which is currently the last. I5 processors are average in terms of characteristics and cost in the general model range of the company. Intel is a leading manufacturer of processors for personal computers. Only AMD can compete on their products.
A special index system has been created for the Core i5 family. The prefix M denotes the processors belonging to the mobile architecture, which is used in laptops. The name of the processor with the prefix U (as in our case - Intel Core i5 4200U) means belonging to an ultra-mobile platform. This branch is designed specifically for ordinary tablets, tablet computers, netbooks and ultrabooks. For stationary computers, only a numerical index or the prefix K is used, which indicates an improved and overclocked version of the processor. Now we turn directly to the culprit of the review.
Intel Core i5 4200U: specs
The processor is built on Haswell architecture and has two full-fledged cores, despite the modest size created specifically for tablet computers. The technology allows parallel processing of four process flows. Also, the processor has its own chip. It lies in the fact that both cores are able to accelerate their frequency depending on the load. In normal mode, the processor operates at a frequency of 1.6 GHz for each core. Under load, the frequency increases to 2.3 GHz if both cores are active. With the activity of one core, the frequency accelerates to 2.6 GHz.
The fourth generation Intel Graphics is integrated in this device. In terms of performance, the board is rather faded and mediocre, but it copes with basic everyday tasks and even allows you to run games that are quite demanding on a graphics accelerator. It also supports displaying images on three screens and all modern interfaces.
Due to a good start to sales and stable performance, a quad-core version of Intel Core i5 4200U soon appeared, which is installed even in some ultrabooks. For example, from the famous manufacturer Acer. The maximum operating temperature of the processor can reach 100 degrees Celsius. The cache is 3 MB. Energy consumption, according to the manufacturer, is not more than 15 watts.
External structure
The Intel Core i5 4200U processor is built on an ultra-thin architecture that allows you to use it even in the thinnest tablets or ultrabooks. Unlike most processors, this chip has a rectangular shape. The 22 Hm process technology delivers impressive performance results.
Testing
For testing, an inexpensive ultrabook from Acer was taken as a basis. The characteristics of the computer are quite budget: an Intel Core i5 4200U processor, a GeForce 820M graphics card with 2 GB of video memory, 4 GB of RAM and a 500 GB hard drive. The maximum screen resolution standard for most laptops is 1366 by 768. The cost of this configuration with a screen diagonal of 15 inches starts at 25 thousand rubles.
We will compare with another ultrabook, which is equipped with an AMD A10-5745M processor - a direct competitor to our experimental subject.
The first test for processors is transcoding audio files. The device from Intel coped with the task much faster - 82 seconds versus 136 seconds from the AMD processor. Next, tests were conducted in one of the most demanding graphics processing programs - Adobe Photoshop. And here again, the processor from Intel showed itself better.
The Intel Core i5 4200U does its job perfectly. Within the framework of the devices for which it was developed, the processor is fully justified. Now let's try to test the built-in Intel Graphics in some games.
The first test is 3Dmark. And again, Core i5 overtakes a competitor from AMD - 49 thousand points against 45 thousand. Now let's go through the games. Most of the game projects relevant at the time of release can be launched on both integrated video cards, except for Crysis 3.
And here, the integrated graphics in the Intel Core i5 4200U processor bypasses the head of the competitor. In the Bioshock Infinite game, which is very demanding on hardware, it produces as many as 50 frames per second against 30 on the AMD processor. In the game Deus Ex, released in 2012, the culprit of the review is gaining about 70 frames per second against 40 from AMD. At the maximum settings, not a single game produced acceptable 25-30 frames per second, so it makes no sense to paint the results. It is understandable - these models were not developed specifically for games, but for everyday tasks, watching videos, movies and surfing the Internet. Also, this processor model is perfect for most online and network projects. In terms of performance, the Intel device is located between two Core i7 chips of version M for full-fledged laptops.
Verdict
If you need a device to run modern games and at the same time compact and lightweight, then a computer based on the Intel Core i5 4200U platform will definitely not suit you. The review showed that this processor copes better with the daily load distributed across the cores.