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Intel Core i5-6200U

Intel Core i5-6200U in 2025: Is it Worth Considering an Outdated Processor?

Structural Analysis for Practical Choices

Architecture and Manufacturing Process: SkyLake and Modest Capabilities

The Intel Core i5-6200U processor, released in 2015, is based on the SkyLake microarchitecture and a 14nm manufacturing process. It was a step forward compared to the previous Broadwell generation, but by 2025, its capabilities appear modest.

- Cores and Threads: 2 cores, 4 threads enabled by Hyper-Threading. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with a turbo mode boosting it to 2.8 GHz (for single core). This is insufficient for multi-threaded tasks: modern applications require at least 4 physical cores.

- Integrated Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 520 with 24 execution units (EUs). Supports DirectX 12, 4K video via HDMI 1.4 or DisplayPort. In gaming for 2025 — only older titles at low settings (for example, CS:GO at 30–40 FPS in 720p).

- SkyLake Features: Improved IPC (instructions per clock), support for DDR4-2133 MHz, and NVMe SSDs. However, the lack of AVX-512 support and limited cache (3 MB) reduce competitive edge.

Power Consumption and TDP: Balance for Ultrabooks

A TDP of 15 Watts is a key feature of the i5-6200U. This allows the processor to be used in thin laptops without active cooling or with compact coolers.

- Heat Dissipation: Even under load, the chip rarely exceeds 70–75°C, which is important for device longevity.

- Energy Efficiency: SpeedStep and Dynamic Power Coordination technologies regulate frequency and voltage in real-time. In idle mode, the frequency drops to 800 MHz, reducing power consumption to 2–3 Watts.

Performance: Realities of 2025

Office Tasks:

- Working with documents (Word, Excel), browsing (10–15 tabs) — comfortable, but scenarios like video calls + open Google Docs may cause slowdowns.

- Running Windows 11 or lightweight Linux distributions (e.g., Ubuntu) — acceptable, but OS updates and background processes consume resources.

Multimedia:

- Watching 4K videos (YouTube, local files) — possible thanks to decoding by the iGPU.

- Editing photos in Lightroom — basic edits (cropping, filters) will take 2–3 seconds for processing.

Gaming:

- 2010s games: Skyrim (30 FPS on medium), Minecraft (45–60 FPS).

- Modern titles: even indie games like Hades require the resolution reduced to 720p.

Turbo Boost: This mode temporarily (15–20 seconds) raises the frequency, speeding up application launches. However, for prolonged tasks (PDF rendering), the processor returns to base frequency due to overheating.

Usage Scenarios: Who Is the i5-6200U Suitable for in 2025?

- Students: For lectures, writing essays, Zoom conferences.

- Office Workers: Working with email, Excel spreadsheets, ERP systems.

- Casual Users: Social media, music streaming, online shopping.

Not Suitable For:

- Gamers (except for retro games).

- Designers, programmers (compiling code in Android Studio will take 3–4 times longer than on modern CPUs).

Battery Life: How Long Will the Battery Last?

Laptops with the i5-6200U were equipped with 40–50 Wh batteries. In 2025, such devices (if new) will offer:

- 6–8 hours under moderate load (brightness 50%, Wi-Fi, office tasks).

- 3–4 hours when watching videos or working in Chrome.

Energy-Saving Technologies:

- Panel Self Refresh: Reduces screen refresh rate when displaying a static image.

- Adaptix™ Display Technology: Dynamically adjusts contrast for energy savings.

Comparison with Competitors: What to Choose Instead of i5-6200U?

- AMD Ryzen 3 7320U (2023): 4 cores/8 threads, RDNA 2 graphics, TDP 15 Watts. Twice as fast in multi-threaded tasks. Laptops starting at $400.

- Apple M1 (2020): Power efficiency is 3–4 times higher, but macOS limits compatibility. Used MacBook Airs from $500, new equivalents are not relevant.

- Intel Core i3-1215U (2022): 6 cores (2P+4E), 8 threads. Single-threaded performance is 40% higher. Ultrabooks from $450.

Conclusion: The i5-6200U lags behind even budget CPUs from 2022–2023. It should only be considered if the budget is under $300.

Pros and Cons: Is It Worth Buying?

Pros:

- Low price of laptops (new models — $250–$350).

- Sufficient for basic tasks.

- Reliability (tried and tested platform).

Cons:

- No support for Wi-Fi 6, Thunderbolt 4.

- Maximum 32 GB DDR4 (but budget laptops often come with 8–16 GB slots).

- Outdated graphics.

Recommendations for Choosing a Laptop

If you still decide to buy a device with the i5-6200U in 2025:

1. Type of Device: Ultrabook with a 13–14 inch screen (for example, used Dell XPS 13 9350).

2. Mandatory Specifications:

- SSD NVMe (at least 256 GB).

- 8 GB RAM (preferably with upgrade options).

- Full HD screen (IPS panel).

3. Avoid: Laptops with HDDs, TN screens, and 4 GB RAM.

Alternatives: For $400–500, you can find models with Intel Core i5-1235U or Ryzen 5 7530U — they will last longer.

Final Conclusion: Who Is the i5-6200U Suitable For?

This processor is an option for those who need a very cheap laptop for simple tasks. Its advantages are price and proven stability. However, in 2025, even budget newcomers offer better performance for a small additional cost.

Buy a laptop with i5-6200U if:

- Your budget is strictly limited ($250–$300).

- You need a "typewriter" for writing texts and browsing.

- Weight is important (ultrabooks with this CPU are often lighter than 1.5 kg).

Spend more if: You plan to use the laptop for more than 2–3 years or want to work comfortably in a multitasking environment.

Basic

Label Name

Intel

Platform

Mobile

Launch Date

July 2015

Model Name

The Intel processor number is just one of several factors - along with processor brand, system configurations, and system-level benchmarks - to be considered when choosing the right processor for your computing needs.

i5-6200U

Code Name

SkyLake

CPU Specifications

Total Cores

Cores is a hardware term that describes the number of independent central processing units in a single computing component (die or chip).

Total Threads

Where applicable, Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology is only available on Performance-cores.

Basic Frequency

2.30 GHz

Max Turbo Frequency

Max Turbo Frequency is the maximum single-core frequency at which the processor is capable of operating using Intel® Turbo Boost Technology and, if present, Intel® Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 and Intel® Thermal Velocity Boost. Frequency is typically measured in gigahertz (GHz), or billion cycles per second.

2.80 GHz

Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 Frequency

2.80 GHz

Intel Turbo Boost Technology

Intel® Turbo Boost Technology dynamically increases the processor's frequency as needed by taking advantage of thermal and power headroom to give you a burst of speed when you need it, and increased energy efficiency when you don’t.

2.0

Intel Hyper-Threading Technology

Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology (Intel® HT Technology) delivers two processing threads per physical core. Highly threaded applications can get more work done in parallel, completing tasks sooner.

Yes

CPU Socket

The socket is the component that provides the mechanical and electrical connections between the processor and motherboard.

FCBGA1356

Technology

Lithography refers to the semiconductor technology used to manufacture an integrated circuit, and is reported in nanometer (nm), indicative of the size of features built on the semiconductor.

14 nm

TDP

15 W

Max. Operating Temperature

Junction Temperature is the maximum temperature allowed at the processor die.

100°C

PCI Express Version

PCI Express Revision is the supported version of the PCI Express standard. Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (or PCIe) is a high-speed serial computer expansion bus standard for attaching hardware devices to a computer. The different PCI Express versions support different data rates.

3.0

Number of PCI Express Lanes

A PCI Express (PCIe) lane consists of two differential signaling pairs, one for receiving data, one for transmitting data, and is the basic unit of the PCIe bus. Max # of PCI Express Lanes is the total number of supported lanes.

Intel 64

Intel® 64 architecture delivers 64-bit computing on server, workstation, desktop and mobile platforms when combined with supporting software.¹ Intel 64 architecture improves performance by allowing systems to address more than 4 GB of both virtual and physical memory.

Yes

Instruction Set

The instruction set is a hard program stored inside the CPU that guides and optimizes CPU operations. With these instruction sets, the CPU can run more efficiently. There are many manufacturers that design CPUs, which results in different instruction sets, such as the 8086 instruction set for the Intel camp and the RISC instruction set for the ARM camp. x86, ARM v8, and MIPS are all codes for instruction sets. Instruction sets can be extended; for example, x86 added 64-bit support to create x86-64. Manufacturers developing CPUs that are compatible with a certain instruction set need authorization from the instruction set patent holder. A typical example is Intel authorizing AMD, enabling the latter to develop CPUs compatible with the x86 instruction set.

64-bit

PCI Express Configurations

PCI Express (PCIe) Configurations describe the available PCIe lane configurations that can be used to link to PCIe devices.

1x4 | 2x2 | 1x2+2x1 and 4x1

Memory Specifications

Memory Type

Intel® processors come in four different types: Single Channel, Dual Channel, Triple Channel, and Flex Mode. Maximum supported memory speed may be lower when populating multiple DIMMs per channel on products that support multiple memory channels.

DDR4-2133 | LPDDR3-1866 | DDR3L-1600

Max Memory Size

Max memory size refers to the maximum memory capacity supported by the processor.

32 GB

Memory Channels

The number of memory channels refers to the bandwidth operation for real world application.

Bus Speed

4 GT/s

Max Memory Bandwidth

Max Memory bandwidth is the maximum rate at which data can be read from or stored into a semiconductor memory by the processor (in GB/s).

34.1 GB/s

ECC Memory Supported

ECC Memory Supported indicates processor support for Error-Correcting Code memory. ECC memory is a type of system memory that can detect and correct common kinds of internal data corruption. Note that ECC memory support requires both processor and chipset support.

GPU Specifications

Integrated Graphics Model

An integrated GPU refers to the graphics core that is integrated into the CPU processor. Leveraging the processor's powerful computational capabilities and intelligent power efficiency management, it delivers outstanding graphics performance and a smooth application experience at a lower power consumption.

Intel® HD Graphics 520

Graphics Base Frequency

Graphics Base frequency refers to the rated/guaranteed graphics render clock frequency in MHz.

300 MHz

Graphics Frequency

Graphics max dynamic frequency refers to the maximum opportunistic graphics render clock frequency (in MHz) that can be supported using Intel® HD Graphics with Dynamic Frequency feature.

1.00 GHz

Graphics Video Max Memory

32 GB

4K Support

Yes | at 60Hz

DirectX Support

DirectX* Support indicates support for a specific version of Microsoft’s collection of APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) for handling multimedia compute tasks.

Max Resolution (HDMI)

Max Resolution (HDMI) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor via the HDMI interface (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your system.

4096x2304@24Hz

Max Resolution (DP)

Max Resolution (DP) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor via the DP interface (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your system.

4096x2304@60Hz

Max Resolution (eDP - Integrated Flat Panel)

Max Resolution (Integrated Flat Panel) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor for a device with an integrated flat panel (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your device.

4096x2304@60Hz

Max Resolution (VGA)

N/A

Number of Displays Supported

Graphics Output

Graphics Output defines the interfaces available to communicate with display devices.

eDP/DP/HDMI/DVI

Miscellaneous

Intel Virtualization Technology (VT-x)

Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x) allows one hardware platform to function as multiple “virtual” platforms. It offers improved manageability by limiting downtime and maintaining productivity by isolating computing activities into separate partitions.

Yes

Intel Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)

Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d) continues from the existing support for IA-32 (VT-x) and Itanium® processor (VT-i) virtualization adding new support for I/O-device virtualization. Intel VT-d can help end users improve security and reliability of the systems and also improve performance of I/O devices in virtualized environments.

Yes

Intel Standard Manageability (ISM)

Intel® Standard Manageability is the manageability solution for Intel vPro® Essentials platforms and is a subset of Intel® AMT with out-of-band management over Ethernet and Wi-Fi, but no KVM or new life cycle management features.

Intel® SSE4.1 | Intel® SSE4.2 | Intel® AVX2

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology is an advanced means of enabling high performance while meeting the power-conservation needs of mobile systems. Conventional Intel SpeedStep® Technology switches both voltage and frequency in tandem between high and low levels in response to processor load. Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology builds upon that architecture using design strategies such as Separation between Voltage and Frequency Changes, and Clock Partitioning and Recovery.

Yes

Execute Disable Bit

Execute Disable Bit is a hardware-based security feature that can reduce exposure to viruses and malicious-code attacks and prevent harmful software from executing and propagating on the server or network.

Yes

Cache

CPU Cache is an area of fast memory located on the processor. Intel® Smart Cache refers to the architecture that allows all cores to dynamically share access to the last level cache.

3 MB Intel® Smart Cache

Intel AES New Instructions

Intel® AES New Instructions (Intel® AES-NI) are a set of instructions that enable fast and secure data encryption and decryption. AES-NI are valuable for a wide range of cryptographic applications, for example: applications that perform bulk encryption/decryption, authentication, random number generation, and authenticated encryption.

Yes

Intel Clear Video HD Technology

Intel® Clear Video HD Technology, like its predecessor, Intel® Clear Video Technology, is a suite of image decode and processing technologies built into the integrated processor graphics that improve video playback, delivering cleaner, sharper images, more natural, accurate, and vivid colors, and a clear and stable video picture. Intel® Clear Video HD Technology adds video quality enhancements for richer color and more realistic skin tones.

Yes

Intel Clear Video Technology

Yes

Intel VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)

Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT), also known as Second Level Address Translation (SLAT), provides acceleration for memory intensive virtualized applications. Extended Page Tables in Intel® Virtualization Technology platforms reduces the memory and power overhead costs and increases battery life through hardware optimization of page table management.

Yes

Intel InTru 3D Technology

Yes

Intel Flex Memory Access

Yes

Intel OS Guard

Yes

OpenGL Support

OpenGL (Open Graphics Library) is a cross-language, multi-platform API (Application Programming Interface) for rendering 2D and 3D vector graphics.

4.5

Intel Quick Sync Video

Intel® Quick Sync Video delivers fast conversion of video for portable media players, online sharing, and video editing and authoring.

Yes

Benchmarks

Geekbench 6

Single Core Score

896

Geekbench 6

Multi Core Score

1656

Geekbench 5

Single Core Score

675

Geekbench 5

Multi Core Score

1486

Passmark CPU

Single Core Score

1561

Passmark CPU

Multi Core Score

3000

Compared to Other CPU

Geekbench 6 Single Core

Xeon E5-2640 v4

998 +11.4%

Xeon E5-2678 v3

945 +5.5%

Core i5-6200U

896

Xeon E7-8880 v3

849 -5.2%

Core i5-5200U

778 -13.2%

Geekbench 6 Multi Core

Core i7-6560U

1976 +19.3%

Core i3-4350

1827 +10.3%

Core i5-6200U

1656

Pentium Gold G5420

1515 -8.5%

PRO A10-9700E

1354 -18.2%

Geekbench 5 Single Core

Xeon Gold 6238L

718 +6.4%

Xeon E5-2670 v3

693 +2.7%

Core i5-6200U

675

Core i5-2380P

655 -3%

EPYC 7251

630 -6.7%

Geekbench 5 Multi Core

Core i3-4370

1677 +12.9%

Athlon X4 870K

1581 +6.4%

Core i5-6200U

1486

Core i7-3540M

1415 -4.8%

Phenom II X4 980 BE

1352 -9%

Passmark CPU Single Core

Xeon E5-2620 v4

1619 +3.7%

Xeon E5-2658 v4

1583 +1.4%

Core i5-6200U

1561

Athlon X4 760K

1527 -2.2%

A8-6500

1490 -4.5%

Passmark CPU Multi Core

A8-9600

3298 +9.9%

Core i3-6100TE

3152 +5.1%

Core i5-6200U

3000

A8-6500B

2855 -4.8%

Core i3-3250T

2650 -11.7%