Intel Core i5-2450P vs Intel Core i7-4610M Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a clear split between these two processors, with the Intel Core i5-2450P winning five of the seven head-to-head tests, while the Intel Core i7-4610M takes two decisive victories. The most striking result is in Geekbench single-core, where the i7-4610M scores 1024 against the i5-2450P's 590, a 73.6% advantage. This is the largest delta in the entire comparison and indicates a fundamental difference in per-thread performance.

In multi-core workloads, the i5-2450P consistently leads by a similar margin across all Cinebench versions. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i5-2450P scores 366 versus 277 for the i7-4610M, a 24.3% deficit for the mobile chip. The same pattern repeats in Cinebench R20 multicore (1525 vs 1155, again 24.3%) and Cinebench R23 multicore (3632 vs 2750, also 24.3%). These identical deltas across versions suggest a consistent architectural throughput advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

Single-core Cinebench results tell a different story than Geekbench single-core. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the i5-2450P scores 215 against 162 for the i7-4610M, a 24.7% lead. Cinebench R23 single-core follows with 512 vs 388, a 24.2% advantage for the desktop part. This is notable because the i7-4610M has a higher boost clock (3.70 GHz vs 3.50 GHz), yet still loses these single-threaded tests by nearly a quarter. The Geekbench single-core result, however, flips the script entirely, with the i7-4610M dominating by 73.6%. The discrepancy between Cinebench and Geekbench single-core results suggests the two processors respond very differently to specific instruction patterns and memory latency characteristics.

The only multi-core test the i7-4610M wins is Geekbench multicore, where it scores 1903 against 1796, a 6% margin. This is a narrow win, especially when compared to the 24.3% losses in all three Cinebench multi-core tests. The Geekbench multicore result may reflect the i7-4610M's Hyper-Threading capability, which allows four threads to execute on two physical cores, whereas the i5-2450P has four physical cores but no Hyper-Threading. In the final tally, the i5-2450P wins five tests, the i7-4610M wins two.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel generations and process nodes. The i7-4610M is built on Haswell architecture using a 22 nm process, while the i5-2450P uses Sandy Bridge on a 32 nm node. This node difference partially explains the i7-4610M's much lower 37 W TDP compared to the i5-2450P's 95 W, though the mobile versus desktop market segments also factor in.

The core configurations differ substantially. The i7-4610M has 2 cores and 4 threads, while the i5-2450P has 4 cores and 4 threads. The i7-4610M compensates for fewer physical cores with simultaneous multithreading, whereas the i5-2450P relies purely on its four physical cores. The i7-4610M has a base clock of 3.00 GHz with a 3.70 GHz boost, while the i5-2450P starts at 3.20 GHz and boosts to 3.50 GHz. Despite the i7-4610M's higher boost ceiling, the i5-2450P's additional physical cores give it the edge in most multi-threaded benchmarks.

Cache hierarchies also differ. Both processors have 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, but the shared L3 cache is 4 MB on the i7-4610M versus 6 MB on the i5-2450P. The larger L3 on the i5-2450P likely contributes to its Cinebench dominance, as those workloads benefit from larger shared caches. The i7-4610M uses 960 million transistors on a 131 mm² die, while the i5-2450P packs 1,160 million transistors on a 216 mm² die, reflecting the older and less dense 32 nm process.

Memory support is DDR3 dual-channel for both, but the i7-4610M lists a memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s while the i5-2450P has no recorded bandwidth figure. Both use the same PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The i7-4610M includes integrated Intel HD 4600 graphics, while the i5-2450P has no integrated graphics at all, meaning it requires a discrete GPU. The sockets differ as well: the i7-4610M uses Intel Socket G3 (mobile), while the i5-2450P uses Intel Socket 1155 (desktop). The i7-4610M is marked as end-of-life production status, while no production status is recorded for the i5-2450P.

Where Each One Wins

The i5-2450P is the clear winner for multi-threaded rendering and compute workloads. Its 24.3% advantage across all Cinebench multicore tests makes this unambiguous. Any workload that scales across four physical cores, such as video encoding, 3D rendering, or scientific simulations, will favor the desktop part. The i5-2450P also wins single-core Cinebench tests by roughly 24%, so even lightly threaded Cinebench-style workloads prefer this chip.

The i7-4610M wins in two specific scenarios. First, Geekbench single-core shows a 73.6% advantage, which is an enormous margin. Applications that resemble Geekbench's workload mix, which includes encryption, compression, and memory operations, will see substantial per-thread gains on the mobile chip. Second, the i7-4610M wins Geekbench multicore by 6%, indicating that its two cores with Hyper-Threading can outperform four physical cores in certain multi-threaded patterns. This suggests that workloads with high per-thread dependencies or those that benefit from four threads on a shared cache might run better on the i7-4610M.

For power-constrained environments, the i7-4610M has a 37 W TDP versus 95 W for the i5-2450P. This makes the mobile chip viable for laptops and compact systems where heat and power budgets are tight. The i7-4610M also includes integrated graphics, so it can run without a discrete GPU, which is not possible with the i5-2450P. The i5-2450P demands a separate graphics card, increasing system complexity and power requirements.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Core i5-2450P scores 3632 versus 2750 for the i7-4610M, a 24.3% advantage for the desktop chip.

Q: How large is the single-core performance gap in Geekbench?

A: The i7-4610M scores 1024 versus 590 for the i5-2450P, giving the mobile chip a 73.6% lead in that specific test.

Q: Does the i7-4610M have more cores than the i5-2450P?

A: No, the i7-4610M has 2 cores and 4 threads, while the i5-2450P has 4 cores and 4 threads. The i7-4610M uses Hyper-Threading to reach four threads.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The i7-4610M includes Intel HD 4600 graphics, while the i5-2450P has no integrated graphics and requires a discrete GPU.

Q: What is the power consumption difference?

A: The i7-4610M has a TDP of 37 W, while the i5-2450P is rated at 95 W.

Q: Which chip has more L3 cache?

A: The i5-2450P has 6 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i7-4610M has 4 MB.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-4610M | Intel Core i5-2450P |

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

| Cores | 2 | 4 |

| Threads | 4 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 3.00 GHz | 3.20 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.70 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 recorded |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 4600 | None |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

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

| Release Date | 2014-01-31 | 2012-01-29 |

| Launch MSRP | $346 | Not recorded |

The Verdict

The data directs different buyers to different chips. The Intel Core i5-2450P is the choice for anyone prioritizing raw multi-core throughput in desktop workloads. Its four physical cores deliver a consistent 24.3% advantage across all Cinebench multi-core tests, and it also wins single-core Cinebench by roughly 24%. The 6 MB L3 cache and 95 W TDP reflect a desktop-oriented design that assumes adequate cooling and a discrete GPU. This processor suits rendering, batch processing, and any workload that can spread across four cores.

The Intel Core i7-4610M is the pick for single-threaded performance in the Geekbench sense, where it leads by 73.6%. It also wins Geekbench multicore by 6%, showing that its two Hyper-Threaded cores can handle certain multi-threaded patterns better than four physical cores. The 37 W TDP and integrated Intel HD 4600 graphics make it suitable for mobile systems where power efficiency and compact size matter. The i7-4610M's 3.70 GHz boost clock and 22 nm Haswell architecture provide strong per-clock efficiency, though its 4 MB L3 cache and two physical cores limit sustained multi-core performance.

The benchmark results do not declare a universal winner. The i5-2450P wins five tests, the i7-4610M wins two. The i5-2450P dominates in Cinebench, while the i7-4610M dominates in Geekbench. Users should match the chip to their dominant workload: Cinebench-style rendering favors the i5-2450P, while Geekbench-style mixed workloads favor the i7-4610M. The i5-2450P also requires a discrete GPU, which the i7-4610M does not, so system-level cost and complexity differ beyond the CPU itself. Given the i5-2450P's larger cache, more physical cores, and higher average benchmark score of 1086 versus 1094 for the i7-4610M (a near tie), the choice hinges on whether the workload resembles Cinebench or Geekbench more closely.