Intel Celeron G6900T vs Intel Core i5-4460S Comparison

Intel Core i5-4460S vs Intel Celeron G6900T: the data shows a decisive split—the older Haswell quad-core wins six of seven benchmark head-to-heads, while the modern Celeron takes only a single-core Geekbench victory. Despite the i5-4460S being end-of-life and released in 2014, its four physical cores deliver consistently higher multi-threaded scores, with margins ranging from 11.8% to 27.2% across Cinebench and Geekbench. The Celeron G6900T, a 2022 Alder Lake part, counters with a 27.8% advantage in Geekbench single-core, but it cannot overcome the i5's core-count advantage in any other test. Average benchmark scores are nearly identical—1330 for the i5 versus 1321 for the Celeron—placing both at the 35th percentile of all CPUs, but the distribution of wins is lopsided.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core i5-4460S dominates the Cinebench suite. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i5 scores 3955 against the Celeron's 3117, a 26.9% lead. The single-core R23 test shows a nearly identical margin: 558 versus 440, a 26.8% advantage for the i5. This pattern repeats across older Cinebench versions. In R20 multi-core, the i5 posts 1661 versus 1309, a 26.9% delta, and in R20 single-core, it wins 234 to 184, a 27.2% margin. The R15 multi-core test shows 398 versus 314, a 26.8% gain. Across all five Cinebench tests, the i5-4460S leads by a remarkably consistent 26.8% to 27.2%, indicating that its advantage is structural—likely core count and thread scheduling—rather than workload-specific.

Geekbench tells a more nuanced story. In Geekbench multi-core, the i5-4460S wins 2750 to 2460, an 11.8% margin, which is smaller than its Cinebench leads but still comfortable. However, in Geekbench single-core, the Celeron G6900T flips the result entirely, scoring 1422 against the i5's 1026. That is a 27.8% victory for the Celeron—the largest margin in either direction across all benchmarks. The single-core Geekbench result is the only test the Celeron wins, and it wins it decisively, suggesting its newer architecture has a significant per-thread speed advantage that older Cinebench versions do not fully capture.

When looking at the aggregate, the i5-4460S wins 6 out of 7 head-to-head benchmarks. The average benchmark score difference is trivial—1330 versus 1321, a 0.7% gap in favor of the i5—but the per-test deltas are anything but trivial. The i5's multi-core wins are all above 11%, and its Cinebench wins are clustered near 27%. The Celeron's single-core Geekbench win is the outlier, but it is a large one, nearly matching the i5's Cinebench margins in reverse.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different eras and different design philosophies. The Intel Core i5-4460S uses the Haswell architecture on a 22 nm process node, with a die size of 177 mm² and 1,400 million transistors. It has 4 cores and 4 threads, with a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 3.40 GHz. Its cache hierarchy is per-core: 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, plus 6 MB of shared L3 cache. It supports DDR3 memory in dual-channel configuration, with a memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s, and it does not support ECC memory. The i5 uses PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU and integrates Intel HD 4600 graphics. It is a desktop part with a 65 W TDP and was released in 2014, now marked end-of-life.

The Intel Celeron G6900T is built on the Alder Lake architecture, specifically Alder Lake-S, using a 10 nm process node. It has only 2 cores and 2 threads, with a base clock of 2.80 GHz and no boost clock. Its cache is larger per core: 80 KB of L1 and 1.25 MB of L2 per core, but its shared L3 is smaller at 4 MB. The Celeron supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in dual-channel configuration, though its memory bandwidth is not listed. It also lacks ECC support. The Celeron uses PCIe Gen 5 and integrates UHD Graphics 710. It is a desktop part with a 35 W TDP—nearly half the i5's 65 W—and was released in 2022, still active in production.

The core count difference is the most consequential architectural gap. The i5's 4 cores versus the Celeron's 2 cores explains the multi-core benchmark results, while the Celeron's newer 10 nm process and Alder Lake IPC improvements explain its single-core Geekbench win. The memory support difference is also stark: the i5 is locked to DDR3, while the Celeron can use DDR4 or DDR5. The socket difference (1150 versus 1700) means these are not interchangeable in any platform. The i5 also has a higher TDP, reflecting its older process and additional cores. Neither CPU has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking is not a distinguishing factor.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-4460S wins in every multi-threaded scenario tested. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 3955 is 26.9% ahead of the Celeron's 3117, and its Geekbench multi-core score of 2750 is 11.8% ahead. This makes it the clear choice for any workload that can utilize four cores, such as compiling, rendering, or running multiple applications simultaneously. The i5 also wins single-core Cinebench tests by about 27%, meaning its advantage is not limited to multi-threaded tasks in the Cinebench suite. For users running older software that relies on Cinebench-style single-thread performance, the i5 remains competitive despite its age.

The Intel Celeron G6900T wins only in Geekbench single-core, scoring 1422 versus 1026, a 27.8% margin. This suggests that for lightly threaded tasks that are sensitive to the Geekbench workload mix, the Celeron's modern architecture provides a substantial speed boost. Its lower 35 W TDP also makes it a more power-efficient option, which could be relevant for always-on systems or those with limited cooling. However, the data does not show any other test where the Celeron matches or exceeds the i5. In Cinebench single-core, it loses by 26.8%; in Cinebench multi-core, it loses by similar margins; in Geekbench multi-core, it loses by 11.8%.

The wins are asymmetric. The i5 wins by large margins in both single-core and multi-core Cinebench, while the Celeron wins by a large margin only in Geekbench single-core. The i5's multi-core wins are consistent across every multi-threaded test, while the Celeron's single-core win is isolated to one benchmark. This suggests that the i5 is the more versatile performer, while the Celeron has a specific strength in Geekbench-style single-threaded workloads that does not translate to Cinebench.

The Verdict

The data points to the Intel Core i5-4460S as the stronger overall processor. It wins six of seven head-to-head benchmarks, including all multi-core tests and all Cinebench tests, with margins between 11.8% and 27.2%. Its average benchmark score of 1330 edges out the Celeron's 1321, and both sit at the 35th percentile of all CPUs, but the i5's wins are more numerous and more consistent. The i5's 4 cores and 4 threads provide a clear advantage in any workload that can use them, and its higher boost clock of 3.40 GHz helps in single-threaded Cinebench tasks.

The Intel Celeron G6900T is the pick only if the primary workload is Geekbench single-core, where it leads by 27.8%. Its 2 cores and 2 threads are a limiting factor in multi-threaded tasks, where it trails by 11.8% to 26.9%. Its 35 W TDP is lower than the i5's 65 W, which could be a deciding factor for power-constrained builds, and its support for DDR4 and DDR5 memory is more modern than the i5's DDR3-only support. However, on raw performance, the i5-4460S is the winner in the vast majority of tests.

For a user prioritizing multi-threaded performance, legacy software compatibility, or maximum benchmark wins, the i5-4460S is the clear choice. For a user prioritizing single-core Geekbench performance, lower power consumption, or modern memory support, the Celeron G6900T has specific advantages. The data does not support the Celeron as a general-purpose replacement for the i5; it wins only one specific test, and its average score is lower. The i5-4460S, despite being from an older generation, delivers superior performance in most measurable scenarios.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmark tests?

A: The Intel Core i5-4460S wins 6 out of 7 head-to-head benchmarks. The Intel Celeron G6900T wins only 1, which is Geekbench single-core.

Q: What is the largest performance margin in either direction?

A: The largest margin is the Celeron G6900T's Geekbench single-core win, where it scores 1422 versus the i5-4460S's 1026, a 27.8% difference. The i5's largest win is 27.2% in Cinebench R20 single-core (234 versus 184).

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Intel Core i5-4460S has an average benchmark score of 1330, while the Intel Celeron G6900T has 1321. That is a 0.7% difference in favor of the i5.

Q: What is the core and thread count difference?

A: The Intel Core i5-4460S has 4 cores and 4 threads. The Intel Celeron G6900T has 2 cores and 2 threads.

Q: Which processor has a lower TDP?

A: The Intel Celeron G6900T has a TDP of 35 W, which is lower than the Intel Core i5-4460S's 65 W TDP.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: No. The Intel Core i5-4460S supports DDR3 only, while the Intel Celeron G6900T supports both DDR4 and DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory buses.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-4460S | Intel Celeron G6900T |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 4 | 2 |

| Threads | 4 | 2 |

| Base Clock | 2.90 GHz | 2.80 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.40 GHz | None |

| TDP | 65 W | 35 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1150 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Architecture | Haswell | Alder Lake |

| Process Node | 22 nm | 10 nm |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 80 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 256 KB (per core) | 1.25 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 6 MB (shared) | 4 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR3 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 25.6 GB/s | Not listed |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5 |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 4600 | UHD Graphics 710 |

| Release Date | 2014-05-10 | 2022-01-03 |

| Production Status | End-of-life | Active |

| Launch MSRP | $182 | $42 |