Intel Core i5-2400 vs Intel Core i5-4460T Comparison

The Intel Core i5-4460T and Intel Core i5-2400 are both four-core, four-thread desktop processors from Intel, but they represent different architectural eras and power targets. The data shows a clear split: the older i5-2400 wins the majority of Cinebench tests, while the newer i5-4460T takes a decisive lead in Geekbench, particularly in single-core performance. With the i5-4460T achieving an average benchmark score of 1190 against the i5-2400’s 1187, the overall performance difference is marginal, yet the distribution of wins reveals distinct strengths.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results show the Intel Core i5-2400 leading in five of seven tests, but the margins are narrow. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-2400 scores 329 against the i5-4460T’s 313, a 4.9% advantage. This pattern repeats in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the i5-2400 posts 1374 versus 1305, a 5% lead, and in Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i5-2400’s 3272 beats the i5-4460T’s 3109 by 5%. Single-core Cinebench results follow the same trend: the i5-2400 wins R20 single-core with 194 against 183 (5.7% ahead) and R23 single-core with 462 against 438 (5.2% ahead). These consistent Cinebench victories suggest the i5-2400’s higher base and boost clocks provide a steady advantage in rendering workloads.

The Intel Core i5-4460T, however, flips the script in Geekbench. In Geekbench multi-core, it scores 2170 against the i5-2400’s 2011, a 7.9% victory. The single-core gap is even more pronounced: the i5-4460T posts 809 versus 666, a 21.5% lead. This dramatic swing indicates that the newer Haswell architecture excels in tasks measured by Geekbench, likely due to architectural efficiency improvements despite lower clock speeds. The i5-4460T’s average benchmark score of 1190 is 0.3% higher than the i5-2400’s 1187, and in the nearestRivals data, the i5-4460T is 0.3% ahead of the i5-2400, while the i5-2400 is 0.2% behind the i5-4460T. Both chips sit at the 33rd percentile among all CPUs, placing them in the same performance tier overall.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide is stark. The Intel Core i5-4460T is built on the Haswell architecture using a 22 nm process node, while the Intel Core i5-2400 uses the Sandy Bridge architecture on a 32 nm node. This process shrink allows the i5-4460T to pack 1,400 million transistors into a 177 mm² die, compared to the i5-2400’s 1,160 million transistors on a 216 mm² die. The i5-4460T’s smaller die with more transistors indicates a denser, more efficient design. Both processors feature 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, but they share a 6 MB L3 cache. Memory support is identical in type: both use DDR3 with a dual-channel memory bus, though the i5-4460T lists a memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s while the i5-2400’s memory bandwidth is not specified in the data.

Clock speeds differ significantly. The i5-4460T has a base clock of 1900 MHz and a boost clock of 2700 MHz, while the i5-2400 runs at 3100 MHz base and 3400 MHz boost. This 1200 MHz base clock gap and 700 MHz boost clock gap explain the i5-2400’s Cinebench wins, as higher clocks directly benefit rendering benchmarks. The i5-4460T compensates with a much lower TDP: 35 watts against the i5-2400’s 95 watts. This 60-watt difference highlights the i5-4460T’s focus on power efficiency, a hallmark of the Haswell generation’s low-power variants. Both chips use Intel Socket 1150 and 1155 respectively, with PCIe Gen 3, 16 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics differ: the i5-4460T includes Intel HD 4600, while the i5-2400 has Intel HD 2000. Neither processor supports ECC memory, and both have locked multipliers.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-2400 is the clear winner in Cinebench workloads, taking all four multi-core and single-core Cinebench tests. Its higher clocks give it a 4.9% to 5.7% edge across R15, R20, and R23 variants. For users running CPU-bound rendering tasks, video encoding, or any software that scales with raw clock speed, the i5-2400’s data suggests it is the better choice. The consistency of the Cinebench results—every single test showing a similar 5% deficit for the i5-4460T—indicates a stable performance gap in this benchmark suite.

The Intel Core i5-4460T wins decisively in Geekbench, particularly in single-core performance where its 21.5% lead is the largest margin in the entire head-to-head set. This suggests that Haswell’s architectural improvements, such as better instruction handling and memory latency, deliver tangible benefits in general-purpose computing tasks that Geekbench measures. The i5-4460T’s Geekbench multi-core win of 7.9% also shows that despite lower clocks, it can outperform the i5-2400 in certain multi-threaded scenarios. This makes the i5-4460T preferable for everyday productivity, web browsing, office applications, and other mixed workloads where Geekbench scores are more indicative of real-world responsiveness. Additionally, the i5-4460T’s 35-watt TDP makes it the logical pick for compact or low-power builds, where the 95-watt i5-2400 would strain cooling and power delivery.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i5-4460T has an average benchmark score of 1190, while the Intel Core i5-2400 scores 1187, giving the i5-4460T a 0.3% lead.

Q: How large is the single-core Geekbench gap between the two?

A: The i5-4460T scores 809 in Geekbench single-core, which is 21.5% ahead of the i5-2400’s 666.

Q: What is the TDP difference between these processors?

A: The i5-4460T has a TDP of 35 watts, while the i5-2400 has a TDP of 95 watts, a difference of 60 watts.

Q: Do both CPUs have the same cache configuration?

A: Yes, both have 64 KB L1 cache per core, 256 KB L2 cache per core, and 6 MB shared L3 cache.

Q: Which processor wins the most head-to-head benchmarks?

A: The Intel Core i5-2400 wins 5 of the 7 head-to-head benchmarks, while the i5-4460T wins 2.

Q: Are the process nodes different?

A: Yes, the i5-4460T uses a 22 nm process node, while the i5-2400 uses a 32 nm process node.

The Verdict

The data presents a nuanced picture. The Intel Core i5-2400 is the superior choice for Cinebench-centric workloads, winning all four Cinebench tests with margins between 4.9% and 5.7%. Its higher base and boost clocks—3100 MHz and 3400 MHz versus 1900 MHz and 2700 MHz—directly drive these results. Users whose primary software relies on the rendering patterns in Cinebench should favor the i5-2400, as it consistently delivers more throughput in those tests.

The Intel Core i5-4460T, however, is the better all-rounder for modern general-purpose use. Its 21.5% single-core Geekbench victory and 7.9% multi-core Geekbench lead indicate that Haswell’s efficiency gains translate into faster everyday performance. The 35-watt TDP makes it dramatically easier to cool and power, which is a critical advantage for small form factor systems or silent builds. Given that the average benchmark scores are nearly identical (1190 vs 1187), the i5-4460T’s architectural improvements and power efficiency tip the balance for most users, despite losing the Cinebench suite. The i5-2400 only makes sense for workloads that specifically mirror Cinebench’s multi-core rendering, while the i5-4460T offers a better blend of responsiveness, efficiency, and near-parity in overall scores.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-4460T | Intel Core i5-2400 |

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

| Base Clock | 1900 MHz | 3100 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 2700 MHz | 3400 MHz |

| TDP | 35 W | 95 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1150 | Intel Socket 1155 |

| Architecture | Haswell | Sandy Bridge |

| Process Node | 22 nm | 32 nm |

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

| Die Size | 177 mm² | 216 mm² |

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

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

| Release Date | 2014-02-28 | 2011-01-08 |

| Part Number | SR1S7 | SR00Q |