Intel Core i5-4440S vs Intel Core i7-2820QM Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data places the Intel Core i5-4440S and Intel Core i7-2820QM in a remarkably close contest across the Cinebench suite. The i5-4440S wins all six head-to-head comparisons, but the margins are consistently narrow, ranging from a tie in single-core R15 to a 0.9% advantage in multi-core R20 and R23. The largest single delta is 0.9%, which is statistically marginal but does indicate that the newer Haswell architecture holds a slight edge in every measured workload.

Starting with multi-core performance, the i5-4440S scores 375 in Cinebench R15 against 372 for the i7-2820QM, a 0.8% lead. In Cinebench R20, the gap widens to 0.9%, with the i5 at 1566 and the i7 at 1552. For Cinebench R23, the i5 posts 3729 versus 3697, again a 0.9% delta. These results are consistent: the i5-4440S wins by roughly one percent in every multi-threaded test, despite the i7-2820QM having twice the thread count (8 threads versus 4). This suggests the newer Haswell core design, with its higher base clock and more efficient pipeline, compensates for the older Sandy Bridge part having hyper-threading.

In single-core workloads, the story is almost identical. Cinebench R15 single-core shows a perfect tie at 52 points for both processors. Cinebench R20 single-core gives the i5-4440S a 220 to 219 win, a 0.5% delta. Cinebench R23 single-core has the i5 at 526 versus 522, a 0.8% edge. The i7-2820QM does have a slightly higher boost clock (3.40 GHz versus 3.30 GHz), but the i5-4440S still manages to win or tie in every single-threaded test. The data clearly indicates that per-core performance favors the i5-4440S, even if the absolute differences are tiny.

The average benchmark score further confirms the near-parity. The i5-4440S has an average score of 1078 across all recorded benchmarks, while the i7-2820QM sits at 1069. The i5 places in the 30th percentile of all CPUs in the database, the i7 in the 29th percentile, a one-point gap out of 100. That is a razor-thin margin, and the nearest rivals for each chip underscore the crowded mid-range field. For the i5-4440S, the AMD A12-9800 (average 1081, -0.2% delta) and Intel Pentium Gold G6505T (average 1082, -0.3% delta) are within a fraction of a percent. The i7-2820QM sits alongside the Intel Processor N95 (average 1070, -0.1% delta) and AMD Opteron 3380 (average 1071, -0.2% delta). Neither chip can claim a decisive performance victory in the database's measurements, but the i5-4440S does hold a slight, consistent advantage.

The i7-2820QM does have one additional benchmark result that the i5-4440S does not record: Geekbench. In that test, the i7 scores 1623 multi-core and 517 single-core. Since the i5-4440S lacks a Geekbench entry, there is no direct head-to-head data for that workload. The existing Cinebench suite, however, provides enough measurement points to draw a clear conclusion: the i5-4440S wins all six direct comparisons, albeit by margins so slim they would be imperceptible in real-world use.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher base clock speed?

A: The Intel Core i5-4440S has a base clock of 2.80 GHz, while the Intel Core i7-2820QM has a base clock of 2.30 GHz. The i5-4440S runs at a 0.50 GHz higher frequency at idle and under light load.

Q: Does the i7-2820QM have more threads than the i5-4440S?

A: Yes. The i7-2820QM supports 8 threads, while the i5-4440S supports 4 threads. The i7-2820QM has four physical cores and hyper-threading, whereas the i5-4440S has four physical cores without hyper-threading.

Q: What is the difference in their thermal design power (TDP)?

A: The i5-4440S has a TDP of 65 watts, while the i7-2820QM has a TDP of 45 watts. The mobile i7-2820QM is rated for lower power consumption despite its higher thread count.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The i7-2820QM has a larger L3 cache at 8 MB shared, while the i5-4440S has 6 MB shared. The i7-2820QM’s extra cache could benefit workloads that rely on large data sets, although the benchmark scores do not show a clear advantage.

Q: Are both processors from the same architecture generation?

A: No. The i5-4440S is based on Haswell architecture (22 nm process node, 1,400 million transistors), while the i7-2820QM is based on Sandy Bridge architecture (32 nm process node, 1,160 million transistors). The i5-4440S is a desktop part, the i7-2820QM is a mobile part.

Q: What is the best recorded single-core score for each chip?

A: In Cinebench R23 single-core, the i5-4440S scores 526 and the i7-2820QM scores 522. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the i5 scores 220 and the i7 scores 219. In Cinebench R15 single-core, both score 52.

Architecture Differences

The architecture gap between the two processors is substantial. The i5-4440S uses the Haswell architecture, built on a 22 nm process node at Intel's foundry, with 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die. The i7-2820QM uses the Sandy Bridge architecture, built on a 32 nm process node with 1,160 million transistors on a larger 216 mm² die. The smaller process node gives the i5-4440S a manufacturing advantage, allowing for more transistors in a smaller area, which typically translates to better performance per watt and lower heat output under similar loads.

The memory support also differs. The i5-4440S supports DDR3 memory, while the i7-2820QM's memory support field is not recorded in the database. Both use dual-channel memory buses, so the bandwidth topology is the same, but the i5-4440S has a clear specification for DDR3, whereas the i7-2820QM's memory type is not specified.

The integrated graphics present a noticeable difference. The i5-4440S comes with the Intel HD 4600, while the i7-2820QM includes the Intel HD 3000. The HD 4600 is a newer generation of integrated graphics with improved execution units and media capabilities. While the database does not record graphics benchmarks, the generation difference matters for users who rely on the iGPU for basic display output or light media tasks.

The sockets are entirely different. The i5-4440S uses the Intel Socket 1150, a desktop platform, while the i7-2820QM uses the Intel Socket G2 (988B), a mobile socket. This means they are not interchangeable at the platform level. The i5-4440S belongs to the desktop market segment, the i7-2820QM belongs to the mobile segment. The i5-4440S supports PCIe Gen 3, while the i7-2820QM's PCIe support is not recorded.

The release dates and production status also differ. The i5-4440S was released on August 31, 2013, while the i7-2820QM was released on January 3, 2011. The i7-2820QM is listed as end-of-life, while the i5-4440S has no production status recorded. The i7-2820QM is thus an older part that has been discontinued, while the i5-4440S's availability status is not specified.

The cores and threads are a critical difference. Both have four cores, but the i7-2820QM has eight threads due to hyper-threading, while the i5-4440S has four threads. The i7-2820QM also has a higher boost clock at 3.40 GHz versus 3.30 GHz for the i5-4440S, but the i5-4440S has a higher base clock at 2.80 GHz versus 2.30 GHz.

Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, and both have the same L1 and L2 cache sizes (64 KB per core and 256 KB per core, respectively). The only cache difference is the L3, where the i7-2820QM leads with 8 MB shared against the i5-4440S's 6 MB shared.

The Verdict

The recorded data points to a narrow but consistent victory for the Intel Core i5-4440S. It wins all six head-to-head comparisons in the database, albeit by margins of 0.5% to 0.9% in most tests and a 0% tie in Cinebench R15 single-core. The i5-4440S also has a slightly higher average benchmark score (1078 versus 1069) and a higher percentile rank (30th versus 29th). If the goal is to maximize raw Cinebench scores, the i5-4440S is the better choice.

However, the i7-2820QM has its own advantages. It offers double the thread count (8 versus 4), which can be beneficial in heavily threaded applications that scale with thread count, even if the Cinebench results do not show a corresponding advantage. It also has a larger L3 cache (8 MB versus 6 MB), a lower TDP (45 watts versus 65 watts), and a higher boost clock (3.40 GHz versus 3.30 GHz). The i7-2820QM is a mobile part, so it is designed for systems where the lower thermal envelope and power draw are more important than peak performance.

The choice between the two processors depends on the platform and the user's priorities. If the user is building or upgrading a desktop system with an Intel Socket LHS0 motherboard, the i5-4440S is the only compatible option and it delivers the better benchmark scores. The i7-2820QM, being a mobile chip on Socket G2 (988B), is intended for laptops or specialized mobile systems where the 45 watt TDP and integrated graphics are valued. For a mobile user who needs multi-threaded performance from a low-power chip, the i7-2820QM is the viable choice. For a desktop user who wants the best Cinebench numbers from the data, the i5-4440S is the superior pick.

The single-core results are effectively even, with the i5-4440S winning by a hair in R20 and R23, and tying in R15. The multi-core results are nearly as close, but the i5-4440S always edges ahead. No processor has a decisive margin, and the database's nearest rivals show that both chips sit in the same performance band as several other processors. The i5-4440S sits within 0.4% of the AMD A12-9800, the Intel Pentium Gold G6505T, the Intel Pentium Gold G6505, and the Intel Core i5-3335S. The i7-2820QM sits within 0.3% of the Intel Processor N95, the AMD Opteron 3380, the AMD Athlon X4 880K, and the Intel Core i5-5287U.

The verdict is straightforward: the i5-4440S is the better performer in every recorded benchmark, but the i7-2820QM is the better choice for mobile systems with its lower TDP, higher thread count, and larger cache. The data does not support a claim of superiority for the i7-2820QM in Cinebench, but it does provide a distinct feature set that may be more valuable in specific use cases.

Specification Differences

The following table lists only the specification fields where the two processors differ, based on the database:

• Base Clock: Intel Core i5-4440S: 2.80 GHz; Intel Core i7-2820QM: 2.30 GHz
• Boost Clock: Intel Core i5-4440S: 3.30 GHz; Intel Core i7-2820QM: 3.40 GHz
• TDP: Intel Core i5-4440S: 65 W; Intel Core i7-2820QM: 45 W
• Socket: Intel Core i5-4440S: Intel Socket 1150; Intel Core i7-2820QM: Intel Socket G2 (988B)
• Architecture: Intel Core i5-4440S: Haswell; Intel Core i7-2820QM: Sandy Bridge
• Process Node: Intel Core i5-4440S: 22 nm; Intel Core i7-2820QM: 32 nm
• Transistors: Intel Core i5-4440S: 1,400 million; Intel Core i7-2820QM: 1,160 million
• Die Size: Intel Core i5-4440S: 177 mm²; Intel Core i7-2820QM: 216 mm²
• L3 Cache: Intel Core i5-4440S: 6 MB (shared); Intel Core i7-2820QM: 8 MB (shared)
• Memory Type: Intel Core i5-4440S: DDR3; Intel Core i7-2820QM: Not specified
• PCIe Support: Intel Core i5-4440S: Gen 3; Intel Core i7-2820QM: Not specified
• Integrated Graphics: Intel Core i5-4440S: Intel HD 4600; Intel Core i7-2820QM: Intel HD 3000
• Market Segment: Intel Core i5-4440S: Desktop; Intel Core i7-2820QM: Mobile
• Production Status: Intel Core i5-4440S: Not recorded; Intel Core i7-2820QM: End-of-life
• Release Date: Intel Core i5-4440S: 2013-08-31; Intel Core i7-2820QM: 2011-01-02
• Threads: Intel Core i5-4440S: 4; Intel Core i7-2820QM: 8

The two chips share the same core count (4), L1 cache size (64 KB per core), L2 cache size (256 KB per core), dual-channel memory bus, lack of ECC support, and locked multiplier. The i5-4440S has the advantage in process node, transistor count, and base clock. The i7-2820QM has the advantage in thread count, L3 cache, boost clock, and power efficiency. The i5-4440S also has a newer integrated graphics solution and PCIe Gen 3 support, while the i7-2820QM's PCIe support is not specified.