Intel Core i5-4460 vs Intel Core i7-4712HQ Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data reveals a clear split: the Intel Core i7-4712HQ dominates the Cinebench suite, while the Intel Core i5-4460 takes both Geekbench tests. The i7 wins six of the eight comparisons, but the i5’s two victories are substantial enough to matter for certain workloads.

Starting with Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i7-4712HQ scores 454 against the i5-4460’s 421, a 7.8% advantage. The single-core R15 result is even more lopsided in percentage terms: 64 versus 59, an 8.5% lead for the i7. This pattern repeats across newer Cinebench versions. In R20 multi-core, the i7 posts 1895 versus 1758, again 7.8% ahead. The R20 single-core gap is 7.7% (267 versus 248). R23 multi-core shows 4512 versus 4188, a 7.7% edge, and R23 single-core lands at 637 versus 591, another 7.8% margin. The consistency is striking: the i7-4712HQ maintains roughly a 7.7% to 8.5% lead across every Cinebench iteration, whether single-threaded or multi-threaded.

The i5-4460’s counterattack comes in Geekbench. In multi-core, it scores 3035 against the i7’s 2734, a 9.9% advantage. The single-core Geekbench test shows 1018 versus 923, a 9.3% margin for the i5. These are the only two tests where the i5 wins, but they are not minor victories. The Geekbench multi-core delta of -9.9% is the largest percentage gap in the entire head-to-head set, bigger than any of the i7’s Cinebench wins.

What does this mean in practice? The i7-4712HQ is the stronger chip for rendering and CPU-bound content creation, as measured by Cinebench. The i5-4460, despite having fewer threads, posts higher Geekbench scores, which often correlate with general-purpose responsiveness and certain productivity tasks. The i7’s win count of 6 versus 2 suggests overall superiority, but the i5’s Geekbench performance is a legitimate counterpoint, not an outlier.

The average benchmark scores tell a similar story. The i7-4712HQ averages 1436 across all recorded tests, while the i5-4460 averages 1415. That is a 1.5% overall difference, far smaller than the individual test deltas. Both chips sit at the 37th percentile against all CPUs in the database, meaning they are statistically peers in overall performance distribution despite their divergent test-by-test results.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more head-to-head benchmarks?

A: The Intel Core i7-4712HQ wins 6 of the 8 recorded head-to-head tests. The Intel Core i5-4460 wins the remaining 2, both in Geekbench.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two?

A: The largest gap favors the i5-4460 in Geekbench multi-core, where it scores 3035 versus the i7’s 2734, a 9.9% difference. The largest i7 margin is 8.5% in Cinebench R15 single-core (64 versus 59).

Q: Do both processors have the same average benchmark score?

A: No. The i7-4712HQ has an average benchmark score of 1436, while the i5-4460 averages 1415. The i7 is ahead by roughly 1.5%, but both are at the 37th percentile of all CPUs.

Q: How do the nearest rivals compare to each chip?

A: The i7-4712HQ’s nearest rival is the AMD Ryzen 5 2400G, which scores 1439, just 0.2% higher. The i5-4460’s nearest rivals are the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2314 and AMD Ryzen 7 2700U, both scoring 1415, exactly matching the i5’s average.

Q: Which chip has higher clock speeds?

A: The i5-4460 has a higher base clock of 3.20 GHz versus the i7-4712HQ’s 2.30 GHz. The boost clocks are closer: 3.40 GHz for the i5 and 3.30 GHz for the i7.

Q: Is there a difference in thread count?

A: Yes. The i7-4712HQ has 8 threads, while the i5-4460 has 4 threads. Both have 4 physical cores.

The Verdict

The data points to distinct use cases for each processor. The Intel Core i7-4712HQ is the choice for multi-threaded rendering workloads. Its consistent 7.7% to 8.5% advantage across all three Cinebench versions (R15, R20, R23), in both single and multi-core tests, makes it the stronger option for video encoding, 3D rendering, and other heavily threaded tasks. The 8 threads versus 4 threads is the obvious driver, and the benchmark results confirm the expected scaling.

The Intel Core i5-4460, on the other hand, takes the Geekbench crown. Its 9.9% multi-core and 9.3% single-core leads suggest that for general desktop responsiveness, office workloads, and lighter productivity apps, the i5 may feel snappier. The higher base clock of 3.20 GHz compared to 2.30 GHz likely contributes here, even though boost clocks are nearly identical (3.40 GHz versus 3.30 GHz).

For a user who prioritizes rendering and content creation, the i7-4712HQ is the clear winner. For someone whose primary metric is Geekbench-style performance, the i5-4460 offers a meaningful edge. The overall average scores are close (1436 versus 1415), and both sit at the 37th percentile, so neither chip is a dominant force in the broader CPU landscape. The decision ultimately hinges on which benchmark suite matters more to the intended workload.

The i7-4712HQ also comes with a higher launch MSRP of $378, while the i5-4460 launched at $187. However, both are end-of-life products, so current market pricing is not reflected in the database.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specification fields. The most obvious is thread count: the i7-4712HQ has 8 threads, the i5-4460 has 4. Base clocks differ significantly, with the i5 running at 3.20 GHz versus the i7’s 2.30 GHz. Boost clocks are closer but still different: 3.40 GHz for the i5, 3.30 GHz for the i7.

Thermal design power (TDP) is a major divergence. The i7-4712HQ is rated at 37 watts, while the i5-4460 draws 84 watts. This reflects their different market segments: the i7 is a mobile processor with a BGA 1364 socket, while the i5 is a desktop chip on Socket 1150. The i7’s lower TDP is a direct consequence of its mobile design, which trades power for portability.

The market segment field confirms this: the i7-4712HQ is listed as Mobile, the i5-4460 as Desktop. Both use the Haswell architecture, a 22 nm process node, and have identical transistor counts (1,400 million) and die sizes (177 mm²). Cache configurations are also identical: 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 6 MB shared L3. Memory support matches as well, with DDR3, dual-channel bus, and 25.6 GB/s bandwidth. Both lack ECC memory support and have their multipliers locked.

The integrated graphics are the same: Intel HD 4600. PCIe support is identical: Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. Release dates are close, with the i7-4712HQ launching on 2014-03-31 and the i5-4460 on 2014-05-10. The part numbers differ (SR1PZ versus SR1QK), and the launch MSRP differs as noted above.

Architecture Differences

Both chips are built on Intel’s Haswell architecture and share the same 22 nm process node, manufactured by Intel. The transistor count (1,400 million) and die size (177 mm²) are identical, which indicates the same underlying silicon design. The cache hierarchy is also unchanged: 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 6 MB shared L3.

The architectural distinction lies in how the silicon is configured. The i7-4712HQ enables Hyper-Threading, doubling its 4 physical cores to 8 logical threads. The i5-4460 does not, remaining at 4 threads. This is the defining architectural difference between the two parts, and it explains the Cinebench results where the i7 consistently outperforms the i5 despite having a lower base clock.

The mobile versus desktop split is another architectural consequence. The i7-4712HQ’s 37 watt TDP is far below the i5-4460’s 84 watts, allowing it to fit in thinner laptops and portable workstations. This power envelope forces a lower base clock (2.30 GHz), but the boost clock of 3.30 GHz is only 0.10 GHz below the i5’s 3.40 GHz, suggesting the i7 can reach near-desktop frequencies when thermals permit.

The socket difference (BGA 1364 versus Socket 1150) is physical and non-negotiable. The i7 is soldered to its board, while the i5 is socketed and replaceable. Both are end-of-life products, and neither has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking is not an option in either case.

The integrated GPU is identical (HD 4600), and both use the same Gen 3 PCIe configuration with 16 CPU lanes. Memory architecture is also the same: dual-channel DDR3 with 25.6 GB/s bandwidth. The production status for both is end-of-life, meaning no further updates or availability from Intel.

In summary, the architecture differences are less about the silicon itself and more about configuration and packaging. The i7-4712HQ is a lower-power, hyper-threaded mobile variant; the i5-4460 is a higher-power, non-hyper-threaded desktop part. The benchmarks show that hyper-threading wins in Cinebench, while the desktop’s higher clocks win in Geekbench.