Intel Core i5-4460 vs Intel Core i7-3840QM Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins the majority of head-to-head benchmarks?

A: The Intel Core i7-3840QM wins 6 of the 8 head-to-head tests, taking every Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multithreaded and single-threaded test. The Intel Core i5-4460 wins only the two Geekbench tests (multicore and singlecore).

Q: How large is the i7-3840QM's Cinebench advantage?

A: The i7-3840QM leads by 18.1% to 18.6% across all six Cinebench tests. Its margins are nearly uniform: 18.3% in R15 multicore, 18.6% in R15 singlecore, 18.3% in R20 multicore, 18.1% in R20 singlecore, 18.2% in R23 multicore, and 18.3% in R23 singlecore.

Q: Does the i5-4460 win any benchmark by a significant margin?

A: Yes. In Geekbench multicore, the i5-4460 scores 3035 versus the i7-3840QM's 2111, a 30.4% lead. In Geekbench singlecore, it scores 1018 versus 628, a 38.3% lead. These are the i5's only wins, but they are decisive.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each processor?

A: The i7-3840QM has an average benchmark score of 1416, while the i5-4460 has an average score of 1415. The difference is just 0.1%, placing both at the 37th percentile among all CPUs.

Q: Do these two processors share the same process node?

A: Yes, both are built on Intel's 22 nm process. However, the i7-3840QM uses the Ivy Bridge architecture with a die size of 160 mm², while the i5-4460 uses the Haswell architecture with a die size of 177 mm².

Q: What are the memory bandwidth specifications for each chip?

A: The i5-4460 has a specified memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s. The i7-3840QM's memory bandwidth is not listed in the data, but both support dual-channel DDR3 memory.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i7-3840QM and Intel Core i5-4460 represent two distinct Intel architectures separated by roughly two years of design evolution. The i7-3840QM is built on Ivy Bridge, while the i5-4460 uses Haswell. Both are manufactured on the same 22 nm process at Intel's own foundry, and both pack 1,400 million transistors. The die sizes differ slightly: the i7-3840QM measures 160 mm², while the i5-4460 is larger at 177 mm², reflecting the added integrated graphics and memory controller changes in Haswell.

The most significant architectural divergence is in thread handling. The i7-3840QM is a 4-core, 8-thread part with Hyper-Threading enabled, while the i5-4460 is a 4-core, 4-thread processor without it. This doubles the logical thread count of the mobile chip, which directly explains its consistent Cinebench victories. The i7-3840QM also carries 8 MB of shared L3 cache, compared to the i5-4460's 6 MB. Both share the same per-core L1 (64 KB) and L2 (256 KB) cache layout.

The integrated graphics differ as well. The i7-3840QM ships with Intel HD 4000, while the i5-4460 includes Intel HD 4600. The i5's newer graphics architecture is not benchmarked in this data, but the iGPU generation is a functional difference for systems without discrete graphics.

Socket and market positioning further separate the two. The i7-3840QM uses Intel BGA 1224 and targets the mobile segment, being soldered to the motherboard. The i5-4460 uses Intel Socket 1150 and is a desktop part, with a production status marked as end-of-life. The i7-3840QM has no production status listed. Both are locked multipliers, so neither supports overclocking via multiplier adjustment.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

Looking at the numbers, the i7-3840QM dominates the Cinebench suite, but the i5-4460 strikes back hard in Geekbench. The most striking result is the Geekbench singlecore test, where the i5-4460 scores 1018 against the i7-3840QM's 628. That is a 38.3% gap in favor of the desktop chip, a massive swing that shows the architectural efficiency of Haswell's single-thread execution. The Geekbench multicore test tells a similar story: the i5-4460 scores 3035 versus 2111, a 30.4% advantage.

The Cinebench results invert the picture entirely. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i7-3840QM scores 498 against the i5-4460's 421, an 18.3% lead. The singlecore R15 test shows 70 versus 59, an 18.6% margin. Moving to R20, the i7-3840QM posts 2079 multicore and 293 singlecore, while the i5-4460 manages 1758 and 248 respectively — identical 18.3% and 18.1% deltas. The R23 results continue the pattern: 4952 versus 4188 in multicore (18.2%) and 699 versus 591 in singlecore (18.3%).

The consistency of the Cinebench margins is notable. Across all six tests, the i7-3840QM's advantage hovers between 18.1% and 18.6%, never straying far from 18%. This suggests a fixed architectural multiplier — likely the extra threads and larger L3 cache — rather than a workload-specific quirk. In contrast, the Geekbench wins for the i5-4460 are far larger in percentage terms, especially in singlecore, where the 38.3% delta indicates a fundamental per-clock advantage for Haswell in that benchmark's workload.

The average benchmark scores reflect this split almost perfectly. The i7-3840QM averages 1416, and the i5-4460 averages 1415. The two chips are statistically tied in overall performance, which is why the nearestRivals data shows a deltaPct of only 0.1% between them, with the i7-3840QM holding a razor-thin edge. Both sit at the 37th percentile among all CPUs, and both are closely matched with the AMD Ryzen 7 2700U and AMD Ryzen Embedded R2314, which also average 1415.

Specification Differences

The two processors diverge on several key specification fields. The i7-3840QM has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the i5-4460 has 4 cores and 4 threads — a direct result of Hyper-Threading on the former. Base clocks differ significantly: the i7-3840QM runs at 2.80 GHz base and 3.80 GHz boost, while the i5-4460 runs at 3.20 GHz base and 3.40 GHz boost. The desktop chip has a higher base clock, but the mobile chip has a much higher boost ceiling.

Thermal design power is a major differentiator. The i7-3840QM is rated at 45 W TDP, while the i5-4460 draws 84 W. This makes the i7-3840QM far more power-efficient for its performance class, though it reflects the mobile design target. The sockets are incompatible: Intel BGA 1224 for the i7-3840QM versus Intel Socket 1150 for the i5-4460.

L3 cache differs by 2 MB, with the i7-3840QM offering 8 MB shared versus the i5-4460's 6 MB shared. Both have identical L1 and L2 cache per core. Memory support is DDR3 on both, dual-channel on both, and neither supports ECC memory. The i5-4460 lists a memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s, while the i7-3840QM's is not specified. PCIe support is only listed for the i5-4460: Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only).

Integrated graphics differ as noted: Intel HD 4000 on the i7-3840QM, Intel HD 4600 on the i5-4460. Release dates are separated by about 20 months, with the i7-3840QM launching in September 2012 and the i5-4460 in May 2014. The i5-4460 has a launch MSRP of $187; the i7-3840QM has no listed launch MSRP. The i5-4460 is marked end-of-life, while the i7-3840QM has no production status. Part numbers are SR0UU for the i7-3840QM and SR1QK for the i5-4460.

The Verdict

The data paints a clear split-personality picture. If your workload relies on Cinebench-style rendering — heavily threaded, cache-sensitive compute — the Intel Core i7-3840QM is the pick, winning all six Cinebench tests by roughly 18%. The extra threads and 2 MB of additional L3 cache deliver a consistent edge that the i5-4460 cannot overcome in those benchmarks.

If your workload resembles Geekbench — shorter bursts, mixed integer and floating point, strong single-thread dependency — the Intel Core i5-4460 is the better processor. Its 38.3% singlecore and 30.4% multicore Geekbench wins are far larger than the i7-3840QM's Cinebench margins. The higher base clock of 3.20 GHz and the more advanced Haswell architecture give it a decisive advantage in that test suite.

For practical purposes, the average benchmark scores are identical: 1416 versus 1415. Neither chip is meaningfully faster overall. The choice comes down to which benchmark suite you trust more for your use case. The i7-3840QM also brings a massive power efficiency advantage at 45 W versus 84 W, which matters for mobile deployments. The i5-4460, meanwhile, offers a desktop socket, higher memory bandwidth, and a newer iGPU.

Where Each One Wins

Intel Core i7-3840QM wins in: All Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 tests (multicore and singlecore). Its best margins are in R15 singlecore (18.6%) and R15 multicore (18.3%). The 8-thread configuration and 8 MB L3 cache make it the stronger choice for sustained rendering workloads, 3D modeling, and video encoding tasks that scale with thread count. The 45 W TDP also gives it a place in power-constrained systems where the i5-4460's 84 W draw would be prohibitive.

Intel Core i5-4460 wins in: Geekbench multicore (3035 versus 2111, a 30.4% lead) and Geekbench singlecore (1018 versus 628, a 38.3% lead). These are the largest margins in the entire comparison. The Haswell architecture's per-clock efficiency, combined with a 3.20 GHz base clock, makes this the better option for everyday desktop tasks, application launches, spreadsheet work, and any software that relies heavily on single-threaded responsiveness. The 25.6 GB/s memory bandwidth and 16-lane PCIe Gen 3 support also favor desktop expansion and memory-heavy workloads.