Intel Core i3-7300T vs Intel Core i5-4460T Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The recorded benchmark data shows a clean sweep for the Intel Core i3-7300T across every shared test. All five head-to-head comparisons, from Cinebench R15 multicore through Cinebench R23 single-core, are won by the i3-7300T. The i5-4460T does not register a single victory in the overlapping benchmarks. This is notable because the i5-4460T brings four physical cores against the i3-7300T's two cores with Hyper-Threading. The expectation would be that more physical cores give the i5 an edge in multicore workloads, but the data contradicts that assumption.

The i3-7300T's wins are consistent in magnitude, with deltas ranging from 13.1% to 13.7% across all five tests. That consistency is striking: it suggests the advantage is systemic rather than workload-specific. The i5-4460T does have one additional data point in its favor, a Geekbench result (multicore score of 2170, single-core score of 809) that has no corresponding i3-7300T measurement in the database. That missing comparison means the i5-4460T's strongest showing cannot be directly contrasted with the i3-7300T, so the overall picture is incomplete. Still, for the tests where both CPUs were measured, the i3-7300T dominates.

Where might the i5-4460T hold an advantage? The database indicates it has four physical cores, double the i3-7300T's two. In theory, workloads that are heavily threaded and scale well with core count could favor the i5. Yet the Cinebench multicore results, which are precisely the tests that should exploit those extra cores, show the i3-7300T ahead by 13.1% to 13.2%. This implies the i3-7300T's higher clock speed and newer architecture overcome the core deficit. The i5-4460T's base clock is recorded as 1900.00 MHz with a boost of 2.70 GHz, while the i3-7300T runs at a fixed 3.50 GHz with no boost listed. That clock gap is substantial enough to explain the multicore results.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i3-7300T has an average benchmark score of 1211, while the Intel Core i5-4460T scores 1190. That is a 21-point gap, or roughly 1.8% higher for the i3-7300T.

Q: Does the i5-4460T's four physical cores give it a multicore advantage?

A: No, not in the measured tests. The i3-7300T wins Cinebench R15 multicore (354 vs 313), R20 multicore (1477 vs 1305), and R23 multicore (3519 vs 3109). Despite having two fewer physical cores, the i3-7300T is ahead by 13.1% to 13.2% in every multicore test.

Q: How do the single-core scores compare?

A: The i3-7300T wins single-core tests by similar margins. In Cinebench R20 single-core, it scores 208 against 183, a 13.7% lead. In R23 single-core, it scores 496 against 438, a 13.2% lead.

Q: What is the difference in memory support?

A: The i3-7300T supports DDR4 memory with a bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, while the i5-4460T supports DDR3 with a bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s. Both use dual-channel memory buses.

Q: Are both CPUs in production?

A: No. The i3-7300T is listed as Active, while the i5-4460T is marked End-of-life.

Q: How do their overall performance percentiles compare?

A: The i3-7300T sits at the 34th percentile of all CPUs in the database, while the i5-4460T sits at the 33rd percentile. The i3-7300T also has a higher average benchmark score (1211 vs 1190).

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most decisive separation appears in Cinebench R20 single-core, where the i3-7300T posts 208 against the i5-4460T's 183. That 13.7% delta is the largest margin of any shared test. Single-core performance is heavily dependent on clock speed and IPC, and the i3-7300T's 3.50 GHz fixed clock, combined with the newer Kaby Lake architecture, explains why it pulls ahead so clearly.

The multicore tests tell a more nuanced story. The i5-4460T has four physical cores, but they run at a modest 1900.00 MHz base and 2.70 GHz boost. The i3-7300T's two cores with Hyper-Threading run at 3.50 GHz continuously. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i3-7300T scores 354 versus 313, a 13.1% lead. The R20 multicore result is 1477 versus 1305, a 13.2% delta. The R23 multicore result is 3519 versus 3109, again a 13.2% delta. The near-identical percentages across all three multicore tests suggest a stable performance ratio between the two parts, regardless of the workload generation.

The Cinebench R23 single-core test echoes the R20 result: 496 for the i3-7300T, 438 for the i5-4460T, a 13.2% lead. Across all five shared benchmarks, the i3-7300T's advantage never dips below 13.1% and never exceeds 13.7%. That tight range implies the performance gap is consistent and predictable. The i5-4460T's additional Geekbench results (multicore 2170, single-core 809) cannot be compared directly, as the database has no corresponding i3-7300T Geekbench scores. This is a gap in the available data, but it does not affect the Cinebench comparisons.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs differ in almost every fundamental specification. The i3-7300T has 2 cores and 4 threads, while the i5-4460T has 4 cores and 4 threads. The i3-7300T runs at a base clock of 3.50 GHz with no boost clock listed, whereas the i5-4460T has a base clock of 1900.00 MHz and a boost clock of 2.70 GHz. Both have a TDP of 35 watts, making them equally power-efficient on paper.

The sockets are different: the i3-7300T uses Intel Socket 1151, while the i5-4460T uses Intel Socket 1150. The i3-7300T is built on a 14 nm process, the i5-4460T on a 22 nm process. The i5-4460T has recorded transistor and die measurements: 1,400 million transistors and a die size of 177 mm². No such figures are available for the i3-7300T.

Cache configurations also differ. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, but the L3 cache is larger on the i5-4460T: 6 MB shared versus 4 MB shared on the i3-7300T. Memory support splits along generation lines: the i3-7300T uses DDR4 with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth, while the i5-4460T uses DDR3 with 25.6 GB/s bandwidth. Both are dual-channel and both lack ECC support.

The integrated graphics differ as well. The i3-7300T carries Intel HD 630, while the i5-4460T carries Intel HD 4600. Both have PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, neither has an unlocked multiplier, and both are desktop parts. The i3-7300T was released on 2017-01-02, the i5-4460T on 2014-02-28. The i3-7300T remains Active in production, while the i5-4460T is End-of-life.

Architecture Differences

The i3-7300T is built on Kaby Lake, the i5-4460T on Haswell. This is a generational gap of three architecture revisions, which shows up directly in the benchmark deltas. Kaby Lake is fabricated on a 14 nm process, whereas Haswell uses 22 nm. The smaller process node allows higher clock speeds at the same power envelope, which is why the i3-7300T can sustain 3.50 GHz at 35 watts while the i5-4460T's four cores top out at 2.70 GHz boost.

The i5-4460T's Haswell design includes 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die. No transistor or die data is recorded for the i3-7300T, but the 14 nm process implies a denser implementation. The i3-7300T's L3 cache is 4 MB shared, while the i5-4460T has 6 MB shared, a 2 MB advantage for the older chip. Despite that extra cache, the i5-4460T still loses every shared benchmark. This indicates that the i3-7300T's clock speed and architectural efficiency outweigh the i5-4460T's cache capacity.

Memory architecture is another clear split. The i3-7300T supports DDR4 at 38.4 GB/s, while the i5-4460T supports DDR3 at 25.6 GB/s. That 12.8 GB/s bandwidth difference is substantial and affects memory-sensitive workloads. The i3-7300T also ships with Intel HD 630 graphics, a newer iGPU generation than the i5-4460T's HD 4600. Both CPUs support PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, so expansion capability is equivalent.

The i5-4460T's four physical cores without Hyper-Threading are its one structural advantage, but the recorded data shows that advantage is not realized in practice. The i3-7300T's two cores with Hyper-Threading, running at a much higher clock, deliver better results across the board. The architecture differences, process node, memory generation, and clock speed all favor the i3-7300T, and the benchmarks confirm that alignment.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear winner in direct comparisons: the Intel Core i3-7300T. It wins all five shared benchmarks, posts a higher average score (1211 vs 1190), and sits at a higher percentile (34th vs 33rd). The i3-7300T is also the only one of the two still marked Active in production, while the i5-4460T is End-of-life.

The i3-7300T is the better choice for anyone prioritizing raw performance in the tested workloads. Its 13.1% to 13.7% lead across Cinebench tests is consistent and substantial. It also brings newer memory support (DDR4 at 38.4 GB/s), a smaller process node (14 nm vs 22 nm), and a higher base clock (3.50 GHz vs 1900.00 MHz). The i5-4460T's only structural advantages are its four physical cores and larger 6 MB L3 cache, but those do not translate into benchmark wins.

The i5-4460T might still appeal to a user with a Socket 1150 platform who cannot change motherboards, since the i3-7300T requires Socket 1151. But for a new build, the data supports the i3-7300T without qualification. Its average benchmark score is higher, its multicore and single-core performance is better in every measured test, and its production status is active. The i5-4460T's Geekbench scores, which have no i3-7300T counterpart in the database, are the only unresolved data point, but they cannot offset five consecutive head-to-head losses.

A user who values newer features should also favor the i3-7300T: DDR4 support, a more recent integrated GPU (HD 630 vs HD 4600), and a 14 nm process. A user who already owns a Haswell-era Socket 1150 motherboard and wants a low-power 35-watt quad-core might consider the i5-4460T, but the benchmark evidence suggests that even then, the i3-7300T delivers more performance per measured test. The verdict from the recorded data is unambiguous: the i3-7300T is the stronger CPU in every direct comparison available.