Intel Core i5-3475S vs Intel Core i7-4600M Comparison

The Intel Core i7-4600M and Intel Core i5-3475S are two very different processors from different eras and market segments that happen to land at nearly the same average benchmark score. The i7-4600M is a mobile Haswell chip with a 37 W TDP, while the i5-3475S is a desktop Ivy Bridge part with a 65 W TDP. Despite the i5-3475S winning five of seven head-to-head benchmarks, the overall average scores are nearly identical: 1093 for the i7-4600M and 1091 for the i5-3475S, a delta of just 0.1%. The data suggests that the i7-4600M is the better choice for single-threaded responsiveness and Geekbench workloads, while the i5-3475S dominates in Cinebench multi-core and single-core tests. The i7-4600M is for users who need a capable mobile processor with lower power draw, while the i5-3475S is for desktop builders who prioritize raw multi-threaded rendering performance.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the benchmark data, the Intel Core i5-3475S is the superior processor for multi-threaded workloads. It wins the Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests by a consistent margin of approximately 25.9% over the i7-4600M. Its largest multi-core advantage appears in Cinebench R23, where it scores 3685 versus 2732 for the i7-4600M. The i5-3475S also dominates in single-core Cinebench tests, posting a 520 score in R23 single-core compared to 385 for the i7-4600M, a 26% advantage.

However, the Intel Core i7-4600M is not without its strengths. It wins the Geekbench multi-core test with a score of 1930 versus 1731 for the i5-3475S, an 11.5% lead. More striking is the Geekbench single-core result, where the i7-4600M scores 1018 against a mere 607 for the i5-3475S, a massive 67.7% advantage. This indicates that the mobile chip has a significantly stronger single-threaded architecture for certain workloads, despite having only 2 cores and 4 threads versus the i5-3475S's 4 cores and 4 threads.

For desktop users who run rendering applications like Cinebench, the i5-3475S is the clear winner. For mobile users or those who prioritize Geekbench-style single-thread performance, the i7-4600M is the better pick. The i7-4600M also offers the advantage of a lower 37 W TDP versus 65 W for the i5-3475S, making it more suitable for laptops and compact systems. The data shows both CPUs sit at the 30th percentile among all CPUs, indicating they are mid-pack performers in the broader market.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on different microarchitectures and target different sockets. The Intel Core i7-4600M uses the Haswell architecture on the Intel Socket G3, while the Intel Core i5-3475S uses the Ivy Bridge architecture on the Intel Socket 1155. Both are manufactured on the same 22 nm process node at Intel, but the similarities end there.

The i7-4600M packs 960 million transistors on a 131 mm² die, whereas the i5-3475S has 1,400 million transistors on a 160 mm² die. This difference in transistor count and die size explains why the i5-3475S can offer four physical cores, while the i7-4600M is limited to two cores with Hyper-Threading, giving it 4 threads. The i5-3475S has a larger 6 MB shared L3 cache, while the i7-4600M has a smaller 4 MB shared L3 cache. Both feature 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 cache per core.

Memory support is another differentiator. The i7-4600M supports dual-channel DDR3 with a memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s, while the i5-3475S also supports dual-channel DDR3 but has no listed memory bandwidth figure in the data. Both lack ECC memory support and offer PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The integrated graphics differ as well: the i7-4600M features Intel HD 4600, while the i5-3475S has Intel HD 4000.

The release dates place the i5-3475S in May 2012 and the i7-4600M in August 2013, making the i7-4600M the newer part by over a year. The i7-4600M is explicitly marked as end-of-life, while the production status for the i5-3475S is not listed. The i7-4600M has a launch MSRP of $346, while no MSRP is provided for the i5-3475S. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark results paint a clear picture of workload-specific advantages. The Intel Core i5-3475S wins in all Cinebench tests, which are heavily dependent on raw CPU rendering performance. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 371 versus 275 for the i7-4600M. The same 25.9% gap persists in Cinebench R20 multi-core (1547 vs 1147) and Cinebench R23 multi-core (3685 vs 2732). The i5-3475S also takes the single-core Cinebench tests, with a 218 score in R20 single-core versus 161 for the i7-4600M, and a 520 score in R23 single-core versus 385.

The Intel Core i7-4600M wins exclusively in the Geekbench suite. Its Geekbench multi-core score of 1930 beats the i5-3475S's 1731 by 11.5%. The Geekbench single-core result is even more lopsided: 1018 for the i7-4600M versus 607 for the i5-3475S, a 67.7% advantage. This suggests that the Haswell architecture's per-core efficiency is substantially better in Geekbench's workload model, even though it falls behind in Cinebench's rendering tasks.

For users running Cinebench-style rendering or similar multi-threaded CPU workloads, the i5-3475S is the definitive winner. For users running Geekbench-style general-purpose tasks, particularly single-threaded applications, the i7-4600M offers a significant edge. The i7-4600M's lower 37 W TDP also makes it the practical choice for mobile or low-power desktop systems, while the i5-3475S's 65 W TDP is more suited to traditional desktop towers with adequate cooling.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i7-4600M has an average benchmark score of 1093, while the Intel Core i5-3475S has an average score of 1091. The difference is just 0.1%, making them effectively tied in overall performance.

Q: How big is the multi-core performance gap in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core i5-3475S scores 3685 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, which is 25.9% higher than the Intel Core i7-4600M's score of 2732.

Q: Does the Intel Core i7-4600M win any benchmark tests?

A: Yes, the i7-4600M wins both Geekbench tests. It scores 1930 in Geekbench multi-core versus 1731 for the i5-3475S, and 1018 in Geekbench single-core versus 607 for the i5-3475S.

Q: What is the difference in transistor count between the two CPUs?

A: The Intel Core i5-3475S has 1,400 million transistors on a 160 mm² die, while the Intel Core i7-4600M has 960 million transistors on a 131 mm² die.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i5-3475S has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the Intel Core i7-4600M has 2 cores and 4 threads due to Hyper-Threading.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two processors?

A: The Intel Core i7-4600M has a TDP of 37 W, while the Intel Core i5-3475S has a TDP of 65 W, making the i7-4600M significantly more power-efficient.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data reveals a stark split between Cinebench and Geekbench results. The Intel Core i5-3475S wins five of the seven benchmark tests, but the Intel Core i7-4600M wins the two most lopsided contests.

The i5-3475S's Cinebench dominance is consistent across all versions. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-3475S scores 371 against 275 for the i7-4600M, a 25.9% margin. The same exact delta of 25.9% appears in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the scores are 1547 and 1147 respectively. Cinebench R23 multi-core follows the same pattern: 3685 versus 2732, again a 25.9% difference. The single-core Cinebench tests show a similar story, with the i5-3475S leading by 26.1% in R20 single-core (218 vs 161) and 26% in R23 single-core (520 vs 385).

The i7-4600M's victories are concentrated in Geekbench, but they are substantial. In Geekbench multi-core, the i7-4600M scores 1930 versus 1731 for the i5-3475S, an 11.5% lead. The Geekbench single-core test is the most dramatic result in the entire comparison: the i7-4600M scores 1018, which is 67.7% higher than the i5-3475S's 607. This single result suggests that the Haswell architecture's single-thread execution is vastly superior in Geekbench's specific workload, even though it loses to Ivy Bridge in Cinebench's rendering tasks.

The overall wins tally favors the i5-3475S at 5 wins versus 2 for the i7-4600M. However, the magnitude of the i7-4600M's Geekbench single-core victory is so large that it nearly offsets the i5-3475S's consistent Cinebench advantages in terms of average score. The average benchmark scores of 1093 and 1091 confirm this near parity, with the i7-4600M holding a razor-thin 0.1% edge. Both processors find comparable rivals: the i7-4600M's nearest rival is the Intel Core i7-4610M at 1094 average score, while the i5-3475S's nearest rival is the Intel Pentium Gold G5400 at 1091.