Intel Core i5-4440S vs Intel Core i7-4600M Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a consistent and substantial performance advantage for the Intel Core i5-4440S across every shared benchmark. In five head-to-head comparisons, the i5-4440S wins all five, with the i7-4600M failing to take a single test. The margin is remarkably uniform, hovering around 36% in every Cinebench workload. This suggests a fixed structural advantage rather than workload-specific behavior.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-4440S scores 375 against 275 for the i7-4600M, a delta of 36.4%. The single-core R15 result is less complete, as only the i5-4440S has a recorded score of 52; the i7-4600M lacks an R15 single-core entry in the database. Moving to Cinebench R20, the multi-core score for the i5-4440S is 1566 versus 1147 for the i7-4600M, a 36.5% gap. The R20 single-core test shows 220 versus 161, a 36.6% advantage. Cinebench R23 repeats the pattern: multi-core 3729 versus 2732 (36.5% delta), and single-core 526 versus 385 (36.6% delta).

The consistency of these deltas is notable. Across three Cinebench generations and both single- and multi-threaded workloads, the i5-4440S leads by 36.4% to 36.6%. This indicates that the performance difference is not related to scaling or thread utilization, but rather to a fundamental throughput advantage per clock and per core.

The i7-4600M does have an additional Geekbench entry that the i5-4440S lacks: a multi-core score of 1930 and a single-core score of 1018. These cannot be directly compared with the i5-4440S because the database does not contain matching Geekbench results for the desktop part. However, the average benchmark score for the i7-4600M is 1093, which is actually slightly higher than the i5-4440S average of 1078. This is due to the different test suites included in each average, not a contradiction of the head-to-head results.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in multi-core Cinebench tests?

A: The Intel Core i5-4440S wins every multi-core Cinebench test. In R15, it scores 375 versus 275 (36.4% ahead); in R20, 1566 versus 1147 (36.5% ahead); and in R23, 3729 versus 2732 (36.5% ahead).

Q: Does the i7-4600M have any single-core advantage?

A: No. The i5-4440S also wins all shared single-core tests. In Cinebench R20 single-core, it scores 220 versus 161, a 36.6% lead. In R23 single-core, it scores 526 versus 385, also 36.6% ahead. The i7-4600M does have a Geekbench single-core score of 1018, but the i5-4440S has no Geekbench result recorded for comparison.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The i7-4600M has a slightly higher average benchmark score of 1093, compared to 1078 for the i5-4440S. This reflects the different mix of tests in each processor's average, since the i7-4600M includes Geekbench results while the i5-4440S does not.

Q: Are both processors from the same architecture generation?

A: Yes. Both are built on the Haswell architecture, using a 22 nm process node from Intel. Both also feature Intel HD 4600 integrated graphics and support DDR3 memory in dual-channel configuration.

Q: What is the production status of each processor?

A: The i7-4600M is marked as end-of-life in the database. The i5-4440S has no production status recorded.

Q: How do these processors rank among all CPUs?

A: Both sit at the 30th percentile when compared against all CPUs in the database. Their nearest rivals cluster around the same average score, with the i5-4440S close to the AMD A12-9800 and Intel Pentium Gold G6505, and the i7-4600M near the Intel Core i7-4610M and Core i7-10510Y.

Architecture Differences

Both processors share the same Haswell architecture, manufactured on Intel's 22 nm process. The foundry is Intel for both, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. The integrated graphics are identical: Intel HD 4600 on both parts. Memory support is also the same in type and channel configuration, with DDR3 and dual-channel operation.

The core configuration differs significantly. The i5-4440S has 4 physical cores and 4 threads, while the i7-4600M has 2 physical cores and 4 threads. This means the desktop part does not rely on hyper-threading, whereas the mobile part uses simultaneous multi-threading to reach its thread count. The cache hierarchy reflects this difference. Each processor has 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 per core, but the shared L3 cache is 6 MB on the i5-4440S versus 4 MB on the i7-4600M. With two fewer cores, the i7-4600M also has fewer total transistors: 960 million versus 1,400 million. The die size is correspondingly smaller at 131 mm² versus 177 mm².

The socket and market segment separate these parts entirely. The i5-4440S uses Intel Socket 1150 and is classified as a desktop processor. The i7-4600M uses Intel Socket G3 and is a mobile processor. The i7-4600M records a memory bandwidth figure of 25.6 GB/s, while the i5-4440S has no memory bandwidth value listed. PCI Express support is Gen 3 for both, but the i7-4600M specifies 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i5-4440S simply lists Gen 3. Neither processor supports ECC memory.

Clock speeds also differ. The i5-4440S has a base clock of 2.80 GHz and a boost clock of 3.30 GHz. The i7-4600M has a higher base clock of 2.90 GHz and a higher boost clock of 3.60 GHz. Despite the clock disadvantage, the i5-4440S wins all benchmarks, indicating that the two additional physical cores and the larger L3 cache outweigh the clock speed deficit.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several recorded specifications. The core count is 4 for the i5-4440S versus 2 for the i7-4600M. Thread count is 4 for both, which means the i5-4440S has one thread per core while the i7-4600M has two threads per core. Base clock is 2.80 GHz on the i5-4440S and 2.90 GHz on the i7-4600M. Boost clock is 3.30 GHz versus 3.60 GHz. Thermal design power is 65 watts for the i5-4440S and 37 watts for the i7-4600M, reflecting the mobile target of the latter.

The socket differs: Intel Socket 1150 for the desktop part, Intel Socket G3 for the mobile part. Transistor count is 1,400 million versus 960 million, and die size is 177 mm² versus 131 mm². The L3 cache is 6 MB shared on the i5-4440S and 4 MB shared on the i7-4600M. The i7-4600M lists a memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s; the i5-4440S does not have this field populated. The i7-4600M also specifies its PCIe configuration as Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i5-4440S only records Gen 3.

Market segment is desktop for the i5-4440S and mobile for the i7-4600M. The i7-4600M is marked end-of-life, while the i5-4440S has no production status. The i7-4600M has a launch MSRP of $346, which can be stated once as a reference point. The part numbers differ: SR14L for the i5-4440S and SR1H7 for the i7-4600M. The i7-4600M has Geekbench scores (1930 multi-core, 1018 single-core) that the i5-4440S does not have, and the i5-4440S has a Cinebench R15 single-core score of 52 that the i7-4600M lacks.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-4440S wins in every scenario where the two share a benchmark. All five head-to-head Cinebench tests go to the desktop part, with deltas between 36.4% and 36.6%. This makes the i5-4440S the clear choice for any workload that relies on CPU compute throughput, whether single-threaded or multi-threaded. The four physical cores and 6 MB of L3 cache provide a decisive advantage in rendering tasks like Cinebench R15, R20, and R23.

The i7-4600M does not win any shared benchmark, but it occupies a different usage space. Its 37 watt TDP, compared to 65 watts for the i5-4440S, makes it suited for mobile systems where thermal and power constraints are tighter. The Socket G3 interface targets laptops and compact mobile platforms, whereas the Socket 1150 i5-4440S requires a desktop motherboard. For users building or upgrading a desktop system with Socket 1150, the i5-4440S is the stronger performer. For users working with a mobile platform with Socket G3, the i7-4600M is the relevant option, even if its performance ceiling is lower.

The i7-4600M also has a higher launch MSRP of $346, the only price-related figure recorded for these parts.

In terms of raw performance per benchmark scores, the i5-4440S is close to the AMD A12-9800 and Intel Pentium Gold G6505T in the database, with delta percentages of -0.2% in its average score compared to those rivals. The i7-4600M is similarly close to the Intel Core i7-4610M and Core i7-10510Y, with deltas of -0.1% and 0.1% respectively. Both processors rank at the 30th percentile among all CPUs, indicating they are mid-range performers in the broader database context. The i5-4440S has an average benchmark score of 1078, and the i7-4600M has an average of 1093, but that average includes Geekbench results for the i7-4600M that are not present for the i5-4440S, so the head-to-head tests remain the more direct comparison.

For users prioritizing multi-threaded rendering, the i5-4440S is unequivocally superior in the shared tests. For users comparing mobile processors with the same 22 nm Haswell generation, the i7-4600M offers higher clocks and lower power consumption, making it the better fit for battery-powered operation, though it sacrifices performance in every measured Cinebench workload. The data does not show any benchmark category where the i7-4600M outpaces the i5-4440S. The wins are exclusively one-sided, and the margin is consistent enough to be described as a generational and structural gap rather than a tuning difference.