Intel Core i5-2450P vs Intel Core i7-4600M Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data splits this comparison into two distinct narratives. In Cinebench workloads, the Intel Core i5-2450P dominates across every multi-core and single-core test, while the Intel Core i7-4600M takes both Geekbench tests. The overall win count favors the i5-2450P with 5 wins against 2 for the i7-4600M, but the margins tell a more nuanced story.

Starting with multi-core Cinebench results, the i5-2450P leads by roughly a quarter in every iteration. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-2450P scores 366 against 275 for the i7-4600M, a delta of -24.9% from the perspective of the i7-4600M. The pattern repeats in Cinebench R20 multi-core with 1525 versus 1147 (-24.8%) and in Cinebench R23 multi-core with 3632 versus 2732 (-24.8%). These are consistent, near-identical margins across three generations of the Cinebench suite, indicating a stable performance gap rather than workload-specific variance.

Single-core Cinebench results follow the same shape. The i5-2450P posts 215 in Cinebench R20 single-core versus 161 for the i7-4600M (-25.1%), and 512 versus 385 in Cinebench R23 single-core (-24.8%). The i5-2450P also holds a Cinebench R15 single-core score of 51, a figure the i7-4600M does not have recorded in the same test. This consistency suggests the i5-2450P's architectural advantage in raw execution throughput is not limited to multi-threaded scaling.

The Geekbench results flip the picture entirely. In Geekbench multi-core, the i7-4600M scores 1930 against 1796 for the i5-2450P, a 7.5% advantage. The single-core Geekbench gap is far larger: 1018 versus 590, a 72.5% margin in favor of the i7-4600M. This is the single biggest delta in the entire head-to-head set. The i7-4600M nearly doubles the i5-2450P in Geekbench single-core performance, which is remarkable given that the i5-2450P leads in all Cinebench single-core tests. The two benchmark suites are clearly measuring different aspects of processor behavior, and the data shows the i7-4600M has a substantial advantage in the workloads Geekbench emphasizes.

Average benchmark scores place the two processors very close. The i7-4600M has an average benchmark score of 1093, while the i5-2450P sits at 1086. Both occupy the 30th percentile among all CPUs in the database. Their nearest rivals reinforce this parity. The i7-4600M's closest competitor is the Intel Core i7-4610M at 1094 (-0.1%), followed by the Intel Core i7-10510Y and Intel Core i5-3475S both at 1092 (0.1%). The i5-2450P's nearest rival is the Intel Core i5-3350P at 1088 (-0.1%), with the Intel Core i3-6320 at 1085 (0.1%) and the AMD Athlon 220GE at 1088 (-0.2%). These delta percentages are all within a fraction of a percent, indicating that neither processor is significantly ahead of its direct competition in the database's aggregate scoring.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel microarchitectures separated by one major process node transition. The i7-4600M is built on Haswell architecture using a 22 nm process, while the i5-2450P uses Sandy Bridge architecture on a 32 nm node. The transistor counts reflect this difference: the i7-4600M packs 960 million transistors into a 131 mm² die, whereas the i5-2450P uses 1,160 million transistors across a 216 mm² die. The i5-2450P's larger die and higher transistor count are partly a consequence of the older, less dense process node.

Core configuration is a fundamental split. The i7-4600M has 2 cores with 4 threads, while the i5-2450P has 4 cores with 4 threads. This means the i7-4600M relies on Hyper-Threading to reach 4 threads, while the i5-2450P has four physical cores with no hyper-threading. That difference explains part of the Cinebench multi-core results: the i5-2450P has two additional physical cores, even though each of its cores is architecturally older.

Clock speeds are close but not identical. The i7-4600M has a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 3.60 GHz. The i5-2450P has a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost of 3.50 GHz. The i5-2450P starts higher but boosts to a slightly lower peak. The i7-4600M's higher boost clock, combined with its newer architecture, likely contributes to its Geekbench single-core advantage.

Cache hierarchy shows differences in the shared L3 only. Both have 64 KB of L1 per core and 256 KB of L2 per core. The i7-4600M has 4 MB of shared L3, while the i5-2450P has 6 MB of shared L3. The i5-2450P's larger L3 cache is consistent with its role as a desktop processor with more physical cores.

Memory support is identical in type and bus width: both support DDR3 with a dual-channel memory bus. The i7-4600M has a recorded memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s, while the i5-2450P has no memory bandwidth figure listed. Neither supports ECC memory.

PCIe support is the same: Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The i7-4600M includes integrated graphics in the form of Intel HD 4600, while the i5-2450P has no integrated graphics listed. This is a notable feature split for a mobile processor versus a desktop one.

The i7-4600M uses Intel Socket G3 and is classified as a mobile processor, while the i5-2450P uses Intel Socket 1155 and is a desktop part. Power consumption differs substantially: the i7-4600M has a TDP of 37 watts, while the i5-2450P has a TDP of 95 watts. The i5-2450P draws significantly more power, which aligns with its desktop positioning and lack of integrated graphics.

Production status also differs. The i7-4600M is listed as end-of-life, while the i5-2450P has no production status recorded. Release dates are approximately 19 months apart: the i7-4600M was released in August 2013, and the i5-2450P in January 2012. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier. The i7-4600M has a launch MSRP of $346; no launch MSRP is recorded for the i5-2450P.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmark tests in the head-to-head comparison?

A: The Intel Core i5-2450P wins 5 of the 7 recorded head-to-head benchmarks. The Intel Core i7-4600M wins the remaining 2, both in Geekbench tests.

Q: Why does the i5-2450P lead so consistently in Cinebench multi-core tests?

A: The i5-2450P has 4 physical cores compared to the i7-4600M's 2 cores with 4 threads. The Cinebench multi-core scores reflect this: the i5-2450P leads by 24.8% to 24.9% across R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests.

Q: How large is the i7-4600M's advantage in Geekbench single-core?

A: The i7-4600M scores 1018 in Geekbench single-core versus 590 for the i5-2450P, a 72.5% advantage. This is the largest margin in any head-to-head benchmark between these two processors.

Q: Are these processors close in overall average performance?

A: Yes. The i7-4600M has an average benchmark score of 1093, and the i5-2450P has 1086. Both sit at the 30th percentile among all CPUs in the database.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each?

A: The i7-4600M has 2 cores and 4 threads. The i5-2450P has 4 cores and 4 threads. The i5-2450P uses four physical cores without hyper-threading, while the i7-4600M uses two physical cores with hyper-threading.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The i7-4600M includes Intel HD 4600 integrated graphics. The i5-2450P has no integrated graphics listed in the database.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear split by workload type. For Cinebench-based rendering and multi-threaded compute tasks, the i5-2450P is the stronger choice. Its 4 physical cores deliver a consistent 24.8% lead across all Cinebench multi-core tests, and it also wins every Cinebench single-core test by a similar margin. The i5-2450P's larger 6 MB L3 cache and higher base clock of 3.20 GHz support this advantage in sustained compute workloads.

For Geekbench-style workloads, the i7-4600M is decisively ahead. Its 72.5% single-core advantage and 7.5% multi-core advantage in Geekbench indicate that the Haswell architecture's IPC improvements and the higher 3.60 GHz boost clock matter more in these tests than additional physical cores. Users whose applications resemble Geekbench's execution patterns would see a substantial benefit from the i7-4600M.

The i7-4600M also brings integrated graphics and a much lower TDP of 37 watts versus 95 watts, making it suitable for mobile systems where power efficiency and iGPU output are required. The i5-2450P, with no integrated graphics and a desktop socket, is meant for systems with a discrete GPU and a higher power budget.

Neither processor is clearly superior in aggregate. The average benchmark scores differ by only 7 points out of roughly 1090, and both share the same 30th percentile ranking. The choice depends on whether the target workloads align with Cinebench's multi-core scaling or Geekbench's single-thread and memory-access patterns. For pure compute throughput as measured by Cinebench, the i5-2450P wins. For Geekbench-oriented tasks and mobile deployment, the i7-4600M wins.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-4600M | Intel Core i5-2450P |

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

| Cores | 2 | 4 |

| Threads | 4 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 2.90 GHz | 3.20 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.60 GHz | 3.50 GHz |

| TDP | 37 W | 95 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket G3 | Intel Socket 1155 |

| Architecture | Haswell | Sandy Bridge |

| Process Node | 22 nm | 32 nm |

| Transistors | 960 million | 1,160 million |

| Die Size | 131 mm² | 216 mm² |

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

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

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 4600 | None |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Production Status | End-of-life | Not listed |

| Release Date | 2013-08-31 | 2012-01-29 |

| Launch MSRP | $346 | Not listed |

| Part Number | SR1H7 | SR0G1 |