Intel Core i3-8121U vs Intel Core i5-4460T Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i3-8121U wins all seven recorded head-to-head comparisons against the Intel Core i5-4460T. The largest margin comes in Geekbench single-core, where the i3-8121U scores 1149 against 809, a 42% advantage. That is a decisive gap for any workload that leans on single-threaded responsiveness, from legacy applications to lightly threaded productivity tasks.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i3-8121U scores 366 versus 313, a 16.9% lead. Cinebench R20 multi-core shows a similar pattern: 1527 against 1305, a 17% advantage. The R23 multi-core test repeats the result with 3637 versus 3109, again 17% ahead. What stands out is the consistency of the margin across all three Cinebench generations; the i3-8121U does not merely edge ahead in one version of the workload, it maintains roughly the same 17% gap regardless of the rendering engine.

Single-core Cinebench results follow the same trend. In R20 single-core, the i3-8121U scores 215 versus 183, a 17.5% lead. In R23 single-core, it scores 513 versus 438, a 17.1% lead. These numbers reinforce the Geekbench single-core result: the i3-8121U has a substantial IPC and clock advantage that translates directly into faster per-thread performance.

The closest contest is Geekbench multi-core, where the i3-8121U scores 2215 against 2170, only 2.1% ahead. This is the one metric where the i5-4460T's four physical cores nearly neutralize the i3-8121U's architectural edge. The i5-4460T has four cores to the i3-8121U's two, yet the i3-8121U still wins. That outcome speaks to how much efficiency the newer 10 nm process and newer microarchitecture deliver per core.

Overall, the i3-8121U records 7 wins and 0 losses against the i5-4460T. No benchmark in the database favors the i5-4460T. The average benchmark score for the i3-8121U is 1209, placing it at the 34th percentile of all CPUs. The i5-4460T averages 1190, at the 33rd percentile. Those aggregate scores are close, but the head-to-head tests show that the i3-8121U's wins are consistent across both single-core and multi-core workloads.

The Verdict

The data points to one conclusion: the Intel Core i3-8121U is the faster processor in every measured scenario. If the choice is purely about benchmark performance, the i3-8121U wins outright. It leads by 42% in Geekbench single-core, by roughly 17% across all Cinebench tests, and by 2.1% in Geekbench multi-core. A user selecting between these two CPUs based on recorded data should pick the i3-8121U.

That said, the i5-4460T is not without its own case. It offers four physical cores, which historically helps in heavily threaded workloads, yet the database shows it still loses multi-core tests to the two-core i3-8121U. The i5-4460T does have a larger shared L3 cache at 6 MB versus 4 MB, and it includes integrated graphics (Intel HD 4600) while the i3-8121U lists no integrated graphics. For a system that needs a CPU with built-in display output and no discrete GPU, the i5-4460T has a functional advantage that benchmarks do not capture.

However, strictly from the recorded benchmark numbers, the i3-8121U is the winner. It is also the more power-efficient part, with a 15 W TDP against 35 W, which matters for compact or thermally constrained systems. The i5-4460T belongs in a build where the socket, the integrated graphics, or the four-core topology are prerequisites. The i3-8121U belongs everywhere else.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different eras of Intel design. The i3-8121U is built on Cannon Lake, a 10 nm process, with a die size of 70.52 mm². The i5-4460T is Haswell on a 22 nm process, with a die size of 177 mm² and 1,400 million transistors. The process node gap is significant: 10 nm versus 22 nm, which explains much of the i3-8121U's efficiency and per-clock performance advantage.

Core counts differ as well. The i3-8121U has 2 cores and 4 threads, while the i5-4460T has 4 cores and 4 threads. Both support simultaneous multithreading on the i3 side, but the i5 does not, so the i5-4460T has no extra threads beyond its physical cores. The i3-8121U's 4 threads allow it to match the i5-4460T's thread count in software that uses hyper-threading effectively, despite having half the physical cores.

Cache hierarchies are similar in structure but differ in size. Both have 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core. The L3 cache is 4 MB shared on the i3-8121U and 6 MB shared on the i5-4460T. That 2 MB difference gives the i5-4460T more shared cache, but the benchmark results show it does not overcome the i3-8121U's other advantages.

Clock speeds are not directly comparable due to different boost behavior, but the recorded base and boost figures show the i3-8121U runs at 2.20 GHz base and 3.20 GHz boost, while the i5-4460T runs at 1900.00 MHz base and 2.70 GHz boost. The i3-8121U has both a higher base and higher boost clock, which contributes to its single-core dominance.

Memory support differs by generation. The i3-8121U supports DDR4 with dual-channel memory and a bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The i5-4460T supports DDR3 with dual-channel memory and 25.6 GB/s bandwidth. The i3-8121U's memory bandwidth is 50% higher, which benefits memory-intensive workloads.

The i3-8121U uses Intel BGA 1440, a mobile socket, and is classified as a mobile part. The i5-4460T uses Intel Socket 1150 and is a desktop part. Both have PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. Neither supports ECC memory, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

The i5-4460T includes integrated graphics (Intel HD 4600). The i3-8121U lists no integrated graphics in the database, which is a meaningful difference for systems that rely on the CPU for display output. The i5-4460T was released in 2014, while the i3-8121U was released in 2018. Both are end-of-life parts.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i3-8121U wins every single-core benchmark. It leads by 42% in Geekbench single-core (1149 versus 809), by 17.5% in Cinebench R20 single-core (215 versus 183), and by 17.1% in Cinebench R23 single-core (513 versus 438).

Q: Does the i5-4460T win any benchmark?

A: No. The head-to-head results show 7 wins for the i3-8121U and 0 wins for the i5-4460T. The closest result is Geekbench multi-core, where the i3-8121U leads by only 2.1% (2215 versus 2170).

Q: How much cache does each CPU have?

A: Both have 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core. The i3-8121U has 4 MB shared L3, while the i5-4460T has 6 MB shared L3.

Q: What are the power requirements?

A: The i3-8121U has a 15 W TDP. The i5-4460T has a 35 W TDP. The i3-8121U is the lower-power part.

Q: Do these CPUs support ECC memory?

A: No, neither the i3-8121U nor the i5-4460T supports ECC memory.

Q: Which CPU has integrated graphics?

A: The i5-4460T includes Intel HD 4600. The i3-8121U lists no integrated graphics in the database.

Where Each One Wins

The i3-8121U wins in raw performance across every benchmark category. It is the pick for applications that stress single-threaded speed, where its 42% Geekbench single-core lead and 17% Cinebench single-core leads are decisive. It also wins multi-core tests by roughly 17% despite having fewer physical cores, so it is the better choice for rendering workloads like Cinebench R15, R20, and R23. Its 15 W TDP makes it suitable for low-power or thermally limited systems, and its DDR4 support with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth gives it an edge in memory-heavy tasks.

The i5-4460T wins in specific hardware scenarios rather than benchmark scenarios. It has four physical cores, which may be preferable in software that does not benefit from hyper-threading and scales strictly with core count. It has a larger 6 MB L3 cache, which can help in workloads with high cache reuse. It includes Intel HD 4600 integrated graphics, so it can drive a display without a discrete GPU. It uses DDR3 memory and Socket 1150, which may match an existing motherboard or memory kit.

For a new build with no legacy constraints, the i3-8121U is the faster processor. For an upgrade into an existing Socket 1150 platform, or a system that requires integrated graphics, the i5-4460T has a practical role. The benchmark data does not favor the i5-4460T in any test, but its platform features give it use cases that scores alone do not capture.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i3-8121U | Intel Core i5-4460T |

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

| Cores | 2 | 4 |

| Threads | 4 | 4 |

| Base clock | 2.20 GHz | 1900.00 MHz |

| Boost clock | 3.20 GHz | 2.70 GHz |

| TDP | 15 W | 35 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1440 | Intel Socket 1150 |

| Architecture | Cannon Lake | Haswell |

| Process node | 10 nm | 22 nm |

| Die size | 70.52 mm² | 177 mm² |

| Transistors | Not listed | 1,400 million |

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

| Memory support | DDR4 | DDR3 |

| Memory bandwidth | 38.4 GB/s | 25.6 GB/s |

| Integrated graphics | Not listed | Intel HD 4600 |

| Market segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Release date | 2018-05-04 | 2014-02-28 |