Intel Core i5-5200U [Review] Mid-Tier Processor

The Intel Core i5-5200U is an important name in the world of notebook processors, since it is among the most popular chips. That’s understandable since it is a prime example of a mid-range CPU, widely used in numerous laptop configurations. The i5-5200U sits in the middle of the latest 5th Generation Intel Core “Broadwell” CPU range, between the i3-5010U and i7-5500U. Broadwell is known for its great power efficiency and better performance-per-watt ratio than on the previous Intel’s 4th Gen Core i5-4xx0U and similar parts by AMD.

The processor has two cores running at 2.2-2.7GHz. Alongside TurboBoost technology for clock speed increase depending on usage scenario, the i5-5200U supports HyperThreading, which allows two computing treads per core.
Intel Core i5-5200U Benchmark
The chip has a PassMark benchmark score of roughly 3,600 points. The result confirms the mid-range nature of the i5-5200U. In the real world use, it provides flawless and fast completion of the daily computing tasks of the home and office users. More demanding stuff like editing of high-resolution photography and Full HD movie creation can be done on the i5-5200U, but for these tasks the i7 parts are more optimal solution, especially the quad-core i7.

The chip has built-in Intel HD 5500-series integrated graphics, which can be used for occasional web games, MMORPGs, and select first person shooter and racing titles on low graphics settings. High-resolution video playback, including 1080p Full HD and 2160p Ultra HD 4K, is supported without taxing the CPU much.

Real World Use Test

For the Intel Core i5-5200U real world-use test, we used an Acer Aspire E5 notebook. Alongside the i5 CPU, it features 8GB of system memory, a lower-end SandDisk solid state drive which is nevertheless way faster than any traditional HDD, and Windows 8.1 operating system.

In the video below, you can see what working on a laptop with the i5-5200U looks like. Tasks that run flawlessly on the tested system are file browsing, Web browsing with many heavy web pages opened, editing of multiple Word and Excel documents simultaneously, large .pdf document reading, large .jpg image editing, and audio and video playback. On the other hand, Java-based Minecraft game and Microsoft’s free and popular Movie Maker video editing program loaded the CPU quite a bit. But, Minecraft, as same as many other games reviewed here, runs flawlessly on the i5-5200U and its Intel HD 5500 IGP. It’s worth noting the i5-5200U and many other Intel CPUs feature QuickSync technology for faster video editing and conversion, but Movie Maker isn’t on the list of programs supporting it.

 

Check out laptops with the i5-5200U.

Note: The benchmark scores of the listed processors are averages measured across various devices with these processors. The scores and real-world performance of the Intel Core i5-5200U and compared CPUs may vary depending on the notebooks' other components, settings, cooling, and other factors. However, the benchmark results are good indicators of the processors' performance.

Specifications of the Intel Core i5-5200U

Here are the most important specs of the Intel Core i5-5200U:

Processor Name

Intel Core i5-5200U

CPU Family

5th Generation Intel Core "Broadwell"

Number of Cores

Dual-core / 2 computing threads per core

CPU Clock Speed

2..2-2.7GHz

Cache Size

3MB

Memory Support

DDR3 (1600 MHz max. speed)

Integrated Graphics

Intel HD 5500

Power Consumption

15W

Production Technology

14-nanometer

Notable Technologies

Intel HyperThreading (enables two computing threads per physical processor core)
Intel QuickSync Video (speeds up conversion of video files)
Intel TurboBoost (dynamically boosts performance of cores, depending on power and thermal headroom)
VT-d virtualization
VT-x virtualization

Typical Use

Mainstream laptops & 2-in-1 PCs

User Benchmark Average CPU Score

39.3

Published on March 27, 2015

User Reviews and Q&A on the Intel Core i5-5200U

Below you can read and submit user reviews, questions, and answers about the processor. Thank you for your contribution.

Current rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  1. Question

    hmza

    can i play GTA V with my i5-5200u with 4 gb ram?

    • Dan

      I wasn’t able to make it playable on the lowest settings with 4GB RAM and a never Core i5 with its integrated Intel HD 620 graphics. I’m not a gamer, so I haven’t used any game mods. With the old 5th Gen i5 and old Intel graphics it’s even worse for sure. After upgrade to 8GB with dual-channel – 2 x 4GB you’ll maybe be able to run it, but performance would be very weak, you’ll hardly reach 20fps or so. Or, you can look for some game mods online, which can maybe make GTA 5 on your CPU possible.

  2. Question

    arafath

    I have Intel® Core™ i5-5200U Processor laptop.

    can i upgrade my laptop from SDD to SSD this model Samsung MZ-76E500BW 500GB SSD 860 EVO SATA III 2.5 inch ?

  3. Question

    Olufemi Isaac

    To Jo:
    Meaning changing the HDD to SSD Or an hybrid of the two. Which capacity of SSD will be ok?
    My laptop model is Lenovo E450- Thinkpad. Will it support it?

  4. Question

    Olufemi Isaac

    My laptop specs are Intel(R) corei5 5200u, 2.2ghz, 500hd, 4g RAM, windows 10 version of 1909. I bought it for the purpose of pictures editing (photography). I wanna know if it will serve this purpose. Thanks in advance for your prompt response

    • Jo

      Upgrade the Ram and HDD to SSD and you’re good.

    • Olufemi Isaac

      Meaning changing the HDD to SSD. Or an hybrid of the two. Which capacity of SSD will be ok?

  5. Question

    tuiga

    why does it say here that this CPU has 2 cores but on my laptop, it says I have 4 cores but I have the exact same CPU as this I don’t understand

    • Dan

      Hi, if you saw that in some kind of software, it’s most likely because the processor supports two computing thread per core. So, some hardware monitoring programs can show that dual-core processor as a quad-core because of the total of 4 computing threads.

  6. 5 out of 5 RAM Upgradation

    Rush

    I am having Intel® Core™ i5-5200U Processor laptop.
    Already Kingston 4GB 1Rx8 PC3L-12800S-11-12-B3 RAM in laptop.
    I want to upgrade another 8GB.
    Can I add 8GB 2Rx8 PC3L RAM with existing 4GB 1RxL RAM or not ? If not then Can I add another company Samsung 8GB 1Rx8 RAM alone in my system ?

    • Dan

      Hi, the i5-5200U processor supports dual RAM slots, but it depends on the laptop whether it has one or two RAM slots and whether RAM is upgradeable at all (as opposed to soldered onto the motherboard and therefore not upgradeable). What’s your laptop model?

    • Rush

      My Laptop model is Inspiron 15 3000 series having Intel® Core™ i5-5200U Processor and 4GB 1Rx8 PC3L-12800S-11-12-B3 RAM Kingston.
      I want to upgrade another 8GB.
      Can I add 8GB 2Rx8 PC3L RAM with existing 4GB 1RxL RAM or not ?
      Is it any problem occur if I use 2Rx8 RAM ?
      If not then Can I add another company Samsung 8GB 1Rx8 RAM alone in my system ?

  7. Auff

    I don’t understand. Why my utilization is always 50% even when I am only using chrome. I know this is an old processor but what can I do.I am in a third world country. Can anyone help me out?

  8. ahmad

    How would this processor fair with music production/real time audio?

    • Danijel Z

      I use the same CPU for Ableton Live. Usually I have around 8 to 10 tracks of audio and midi combined and CPU usage is around 35 % (Ableton alone), so there’s enough headroom for my audio work. The only problem I noticed are occasional crackling sounds when using multiple instances of Diva VST synth plugin, but that’s probably solvable with buffer settings. Wav file exports are decently fast (I think less than 30 seconds for a 5-6 minute song export to wav 44100 Hz / 16 bit), but of course with a quad-core i5 or i7 it would be noticeably faster.

  9. Gyula Gál

    I am about to buy an HP Probook and I have 2 options:

    or the Probook G3 (newer model) with i5-6200U (with integrated 520HD)

    or (the older version) G2 with i5-5200U (with integrated 5500HD)

    The rest specs are all the same: 12GB (8+4) RAM, 128 GB SSD

    Is the 6200U version worth more with 150 € as this is the price difference between them?!?! (The ram type is DDR3 in both cases so the DDR4 handling advantage of the 6200U will not play here at all.)

    The main purpose of this laptop will be working with Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator but only with images (no videos, no 3D) that is why I will not go with dedicated GPU, but only with the integrated Intel ones.

    THX for replying me.

    • Danijel Z

      right now i’m using the 5200u for similar purposes plus video editing. also used the 6200u for a couple of weeks (you can read the review on this site) and didn’t notice any big difference. so i would get the 5200u and save &150.

    • Gyula Gal

      Thx for the fast reply

  10. Nathan H

    Assuming that you had at least an Nvidia GT 840 2gb, how well would this perform in FPS shooters?

  11. Swaps

    I don’t have much knowledge about this,so can you tell me that the processor itself contains Intel HD 520 graphics????

    • Danijel Z

      The i5-5200U contains the Intel HD 5500.

      The HD 520 is integrated in the recently released i5-6200U.

  12. Peter

    Is 70 C temperature while gaming normal for this processor?

    • Danijel Z

      I would say yes. The reason we didn’t include temperature test in the review is that it varies depending on laptop model it is used in. On our Acer E5-771G review unit, which has a relatively small vent and vent hole and cramped (thin) body, the temp reached around 70 degrees Celsius in gaming. During light use web use it was around 50 C.

    • 3 out of 5

      Theresa

      That’s really thinking at an imseipsrve level

    • JustMe

      hello my laptop is a 17 in chdell inspiration 5749 on normal my cpu(i use the integ video card is ,45-48°c when gaming for about 52-55°c is good?

    • Dan

      @JustMe: Your CPU temperatures seem to be quite normal. They can go much higher than yours when gaming, I assume you’re running some light game.

  13. 4 out of 5

    Danijel Z

    Because of its performance, described under the Description section of this page, it gets four stars.

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