Intel Core i5-2400 vs Intel Core i5-4440 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a clear and consistent picture: the Intel Core i5-4440 wins every single head-to-head comparison in the FACT PACK, taking all 5 recorded victories. The i5-2400 does not win a single benchmark test. This is not a marginal victory; the deltas are remarkably uniform across all workloads, hovering near 19.5-19.8% in favor of the i5-4440.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-4440 scores 410 against the i5-2400's 329, a delta of -19.8% (negative indicating the i5-2400's deficit). Moving to Cinebench R20 multi-core, the i5-4440 posts 1712 while the i5-2400 manages 1374, a -19.7% gap. The single-core tests tell the same story: Cinebench R20 single-core shows 241 for the i5-4440 versus 194 for the i5-2400, again -19.5%. Cinebench R23 multi-core repeats the pattern with 4077 against 3272 (-19.7%), and R23 single-core comes in at 575 versus 462 (-19.7%).

What stands out is the consistency. The performance advantage does not fluctuate by workload type or core count sensitivity. Whether the test is single-threaded or fully multi-threaded, the i5-4440 holds a nearly identical ~19.7% edge. This suggests a fundamental per-clock efficiency advantage rather than a scaling benefit from additional resources. The i5-2400's average benchmark score of 1187 versus the i5-4440's 1179 is a notable anomaly — the averages place the i5-2400 slightly ahead by 0.7% — but this is driven by the i5-4440's inclusion of a Cinebench R15 single-core score of 57, which appears to be an outlier or incomplete measurement that drags its average down. In the direct head-to-head tests, there is no ambiguity.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations, and the data reflects a significant IPC (instructions per clock) leap. The i5-2400 is built on Sandy Bridge, released in January 2011, while the i5-4440 uses Haswell, released in August 2013. The process node shrinks from 32 nm to 22 nm, which is the primary enabler for the efficiency and performance gains.

Transistor counts differ substantially: the i5-2400 packs 1,160 million transistors on a 216 mm² die, while the i5-4440 crams 1,400 million transistors onto a smaller 177 mm² die. That represents roughly 20% more transistors in an 18% smaller area, a direct consequence of the denser 22 nm process. The smaller die with more transistors typically allows for more complex execution logic, which explains the per-clock performance advantage seen in benchmarks.

Both processors share the same core and thread configuration: 4 cores, 4 threads, no Hyper-Threading. Cache hierarchies are identical in structure and capacity: 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 6 MB shared L3. The base clock is identical at 3.10 GHz, but the boost clock differs slightly — 3.40 GHz for the i5-2400 versus 3.30 GHz for the i5-4440. Despite the i5-2400 having a 100 MHz boost advantage, it still loses by ~19.7% in every test, underscoring that architectural efficiency, not raw clock speed, drives the outcome.

The integrated graphics differ: the i5-2400 ships with Intel HD 2000, while the i5-4440 has Intel HD 4600. The i5-4440 also consumes less power at 84 W TDP versus 95 W for the i5-2400, despite delivering higher performance. Socket compatibility diverges as well — the i5-2400 uses Intel Socket 1155, the i5-4440 uses Intel Socket 1150. Memory support is DDR3 dual-channel for both, with no ECC support on either. PCIe is Gen 3 for both, though the i5-2400 lists 16 lanes (CPU only) while the i5-4440 does not specify lane count.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: The Intel Core i5-4440 is consistently faster. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 4077 versus the i5-2400's 3272, a 19.7% advantage. The same pattern holds in Cinebench R15 (410 vs 329) and Cinebench R20 (1712 vs 1374).

Q: Is the single-core performance gap the same as the multi-core gap?

A: Yes, the gap is nearly identical. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the i5-4440 scores 575 versus 462 for the i5-2400, a 19.7% difference. Cinebench R20 single-core shows 241 versus 194, a 19.5% gap. This uniformity suggests the i5-4440's advantage is per-core efficiency, not scaling.

Q: Why does the i5-2400 have a higher boost clock but lose every benchmark?

A: The i5-2400 boosts to 3.40 GHz while the i5-4440 tops out at 3.30 GHz. Despite the 100 MHz clock disadvantage, the i5-4440 wins all head-to-head tests by about 19.7%. This is attributable to the architectural leap from Sandy Bridge to Haswell, which delivers higher instructions per clock on a 22 nm process versus 32 nm.

Q: Do both processors have the same core and cache configuration?

A: Yes. Both have 4 cores, 4 threads, 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 6 MB shared L3. The differences are in the microarchitecture, process node, transistor count (1,160 million vs 1,400 million), and die size (216 mm² vs 177 mm²).

Q: Which processor is more power-efficient?

A: The i5-4440 has a TDP of 84 W, while the i5-2400 has a TDP of 95 W. Since the i5-4440 also delivers roughly 19.7% higher performance across all tested benchmarks, its performance-per-watt is substantially better.

Q: Are these processors still relevant for modern builds?

A: Both are end-of-life desktop parts. The i5-2400 is explicitly marked as end-of-life; the i5-4440 has no production status listed. Both use DDR3 memory and older sockets (1155 and 1150 respectively), which limits upgrade paths. Their benchmark percentiles place both at the 33rd percentile of all CPUs.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-2400 | Intel Core i5-4440 |

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

| Architecture | Sandy Bridge | Haswell |

| Process Node | 32 nm | 22 nm |

| Transistors | 1,160 million | 1,400 million |

| Die Size | 216 mm² | 177 mm² |

| Boost Clock | 3.40 GHz | 3.30 GHz |

| TDP | 95 W | 84 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1155 | Intel Socket 1150 |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 2000 | Intel HD 4600 |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 3 (no lane count specified) |

| Release Date | 2011-01-08 | 2013-08-31 |

| Part Number | SR00Q | SR14F |

Fields that are identical and therefore not listed: cores (4), threads (4), base clock (3.10 GHz), L1 cache (64 KB per core), L2 cache (256 KB per core), L3 cache (6 MB shared), memory support (DDR3), memory bus (dual-channel), ECC support (false), multiplier unlocked (false), manufacturer (Intel), market segment (Desktop), foundry (Intel).

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-4440 wins in every benchmark category recorded. Multi-core rendering tasks show a decisive edge: Cinebench R15 multi-core (410 vs 329, +19.8% relative to the i5-2400), Cinebench R20 multi-core (1712 vs 1374, +19.7%), and Cinebench R23 multi-core (4077 vs 3272, +19.7%). For single-threaded workloads, the i5-4440 also dominates: Cinebench R20 single-core (241 vs 194, +19.5%) and Cinebench R23 single-core (575 vs 462, +19.7%).

The i5-2400 has no benchmark wins in the head-to-head data. Its only statistical advantage is in the average benchmark score (1187 vs 1179), but this is an artifact of the i5-4440's incomplete benchmark set, which includes a Cinebench R15 single-core score of 57 that appears anomalous when compared to its other scores. The i5-2400 does have a higher boost clock (3.40 GHz vs 3.30 GHz) and a lower transistor count, but neither translates into a performance win.

For use-case planning, the i5-4440 is the clear choice for any workload represented in the benchmarks — CPU rendering, multi-threaded productivity, or single-threaded responsiveness. The i5-2400's only practical advantages are its lower transistor density (which is irrelevant to end users) and its slightly higher boost clock (which does not help in real tests). The i5-4440 also offers better integrated graphics (HD 4600 vs HD 2000) and lower power consumption (84 W vs 95 W).

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i5-4440 is the superior processor in every measured dimension. It delivers a consistent ~19.7% performance advantage across all five head-to-head benchmarks, spanning both single-core and multi-core workloads. This uniformity indicates that the Haswell architecture's efficiency gains are not workload-specific but fundamental to its design.

Users upgrading from a Sandy Bridge system should choose the i5-4440 if socket compatibility (1150 vs 1155) is not a constraint. The i5-4440 offers higher performance with 11 W less power draw, better integrated graphics, and a smaller, denser die. The only reason to select the i5-2400 would be if the motherboard is already Socket 1155 and the user cannot change platforms — but even then, the data shows the i5-2400 sits at the same 33rd percentile as the i5-4440, meaning neither is a high-performance part by modern standards.

The i5-4440's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-3550 (avg score 1178, delta +0.1%) and the Intel Core i3-7320 (avg score 1173, delta +0.5%), placing it in a tight cluster of mid-range processors. The i5-2400's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-4460T (avg score 1190, delta -0.2%) and the AMD Opteron 6234 (avg score 1191, delta -0.3%). Both chips are effectively peers in the broader CPU landscape, but within this direct comparison, the i5-4440 is the definitive winner on every benchmark that matters.