Intel Core i5-4250U vs Intel Pentium G4400 Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark split is decisively lopsided in raw count, but the actual use-case story is more nuanced than the 6-1 win tally suggests. The Intel Pentium G4400 takes six of the seven recorded head-to-head tests, including every Cinebench iteration and the single-core Geekbench test. The Intel Core i5-4250U wins only one test, but that single victory is the largest margin in the entire comparison: a 20.3% lead in Geekbench multicore.

That Geekbench result points to the i5-4250U's real strength: multi-threaded workloads that scale with additional logical threads. The i5-4250U has 2 cores and 4 threads, while the Pentium G4400 has 2 cores and 2 threads. In Geekbench's multicore test, the i5-4250U scores 1434 against 1192 for the Pentium. This is not a marginal edge; it is a clear 20.3% advantage, the single largest delta in the dataset.

The Pentium G4400, by contrast, wins every Cinebench test, but by a narrow and consistent margin. Across Cinebench R15 multicore, R20 multicore, R20 singlecore, R23 multicore, and R23 singlecore, the Pentium leads by exactly 2.7% in each case. It also wins Geekbench singlecore by 5.4%. These are modest advantages, suggesting the Pentium's higher base clock (3.30 GHz versus 1.30 GHz) gives it an edge in lightly threaded and burst-oriented tasks, but not a dominant one.

For a user prioritizing sustained multi-threaded throughput as measured by Geekbench, the i5-4250U is the clear choice. For anyone running Cinebench-style rendering workloads or single-threaded applications, the Pentium G4400 holds a consistent, if small, lead. The data does not support a universal winner; it supports a workload-dependent decision.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel architectural generations and target different market segments. The i5-4250U is a Haswell part, built on a 22 nm process, and belongs to the mobile segment. The Pentium G4400 is a Skylake part, built on a 14 nm process, and belongs to the desktop segment. Both use the same 1,400 million transistor count, but the die sizes differ: the i5-4250U measures 118 mm² while the Pentium G4400 is larger at 150 mm².

The core configurations differ in threading only. Both have 2 physical cores, but the i5-4250U supports Hyper-Threading with 4 threads, while the Pentium G4400 is limited to 2 threads. Cache hierarchies are similar in the first two levels: each core has 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2. The shared L3 cache differs, with the i5-4250U having 3 MB and the Pentium G4400 having 4 MB.

Clock speeds are a major differentiator. The i5-4250U has a base clock of 1300 MHz and a boost clock of 2.60 GHz. The Pentium G4400 has a base clock of 3.30 GHz and no boost clock listed. The Pentium runs at a fixed, high frequency, while the i5 relies on turbo boosting to reach its maximum. This explains the Pentium's consistent single-core wins.

Memory support also diverges. The i5-4250U supports only DDR3. The Pentium G4400 supports both DDR3 and DDR4, with a dual-channel memory bus and a recorded memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s. The Pentium also has PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i5 has no PCIe lane data in the database.

Integrated graphics differ as well. The i5-4250U carries Intel HD 5000, while the Pentium G4400 carries Intel HD 510. The i5 is a mobile part on Intel BGA 1168, while the Pentium is a desktop part on Intel Socket 1151. The i5 has a thermal design power of 15 watts, while the Pentium draws 51 watts. The Pentium is listed as Active in production status, while the i5's production status is not recorded.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Pentium G4400 wins six of seven head-to-head tests, but the margins tell a clear story of consistency versus one big outlier.

In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Pentium scores 187 against the i5's 182, a 2.7% lead. The same 2.7% delta repeats in Cinebench R20 multicore (781 versus 760), Cinebench R20 singlecore (110 versus 107), Cinebench R23 multicore (1861 versus 1811), and Cinebench R23 singlecore (262 versus 255). Five tests, five identical 2.7% deltas. This is a systematic advantage, not a noise-level fluctuation. The Pentium's higher clock speed sustains a small but repeatable edge across both single-core and multi-core Cinebench workloads.

Geekbench singlecore also goes to the Pentium, but with a larger margin. The Pentium scores 784 against the i5's 742, a 5.4% lead. This is the second-largest delta in the comparison and reinforces the Pentium's strength in single-threaded performance.

The decisive counterpoint is Geekbench multicore. Here the i5-4250U scores 1434 against the Pentium's 1192, a 20.3% lead. This is the only test where the i5 wins, and it wins by a wide margin. The i5's extra two threads (4 threads versus 2) allow it to leverage parallel workloads far more effectively than the Pentium, which cannot scale beyond its two physical cores.

The pattern is clear: the Pentium G4400 is consistently ahead in every Cinebench test and in single-core Geekbench, but the i5-4250U delivers a decisive multicore victory in Geekbench that no other test replicates. Users should note that the two benchmark suites may weight threading differently, and Geekbench's multicore result likely reflects the i5's Hyper-Threading advantage more strongly than Cinebench does.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more threads?

A: The Intel Core i5-4250U has 4 threads across 2 cores, while the Intel Pentium G4400 has 2 threads across 2 cores.

Q: Which processor wins in Geekbench multicore?

A: The i5-4250U wins Geekbench multicore with a score of 1434 versus 1192 for the Pentium G4400, a 20.3% lead.

Q: Does the Pentium G4400 win any single-core tests?

A: Yes, the Pentium G4400 wins Geekbench singlecore with 784 against 742 for the i5-4250U, a 5.4% lead. It also wins every Cinebench single-core test by 2.7%.

Q: What is the thermal design power difference?

A: The i5-4250U has a 15 watt TDP, while the Pentium G4400 has a 51 watt TDP.

Q: Which processor supports DDR4 memory?

A: The Pentium G4400 supports both DDR3 and DDR4, while the i5-4250U supports only DDR3.

Q: What are the process nodes for each?

A: The i5-4250U is built on a 22 nm process (Haswell), and the Pentium G4400 is built on a 14 nm process (Skylake).

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-4250U | Intel Pentium G4400 |

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

| Cores | 2 | 2 |

| Threads | 4 | 2 |

| Base Clock | 1300 MHz | 3.30 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 2.60 GHz | None recorded |

| TDP | 15 W | 51 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1168 | Intel Socket 1151 |

| Architecture | Haswell | Skylake |

| Process Node | 22 nm | 14 nm |

| Die Size | 118 mm² | 150 mm² |

| L3 Cache | 3 MB (shared) | 4 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR3 | DDR3, DDR4 |

| Memory Bus | Not recorded | Dual-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not recorded | 34.1 GB/s |

| PCIe | Not recorded | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 5000 | Intel HD 510 |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Production Status | Not recorded | Active |

| Release Date | 2013-06-03 | 2015-08-31 |

| Part Number | SR16M | SR2DC |

The Verdict

The data supports a clear split decision based on workload type. For users running multi-threaded applications that respond to additional logical threads, the Intel Core i5-4250U is the stronger choice. Its 20.3% Geekbench multicore lead over the Pentium G4400 is the single largest performance delta in this entire comparison, and it stems from the i5's 4 threads versus the Pentium's 2 threads.

For users running Cinebench-style rendering workloads or single-threaded applications, the Intel Pentium G4400 is consistently ahead. It wins every Cinebench test by 2.7% and Geekbench singlecore by 5.4%. Its fixed 3.30 GHz base clock, versus the i5's 1300 MHz base with a 2.60 GHz boost, gives it a reliable edge in lightly threaded tasks without depending on turbo behavior.

The Pentium also offers more modern platform features: a 14 nm process, DDR4 support with a dual-channel bus and 34.1 GB/s bandwidth, and PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes. The i5 counters with a far lower 15 watt TDP, making it the appropriate pick for mobile or power-constrained designs, and its 4-thread capability gives it a distinct multicore advantage in Geekbench.

In terms of overall benchmark averages, the two are nearly identical. The i5-4250U has an average benchmark score of 756 against the Pentium's 740, and both sit at the 20th percentile among all CPUs. The nearest rivals for each reinforce this parity: the i5 sits within 0.2% of the Core i5-3230M and within 0.2% of the Core i5-3210M, while the Pentium sits within 0.2% of the Xeon E5520 and within 0.1% of the Core i5-670.

The verdict is straightforward. Pick the i5-4250U if your workload leverages 4 threads and you need a low-power mobile part. Pick the Pentium G4400 if you want consistent single-core and Cinebench performance with a fixed high clock, and if you need modern memory and PCIe support on a desktop platform. Neither processor dominates the other across all metrics, and the recorded data shows the decision should be made on thread scaling and platform requirements, not on raw aggregate scores.