Intel Core i5-4460S vs Intel Core i7-3610QE Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results split sharply by benchmark family, with the Intel Core i7-3610QE dominating the Cinebench suite and the Intel Core i5-4460S taking a decisive lead in Geekbench. Across the eight recorded tests, the i7-3610QE wins six, while the i5-4460S wins two. That record alone suggests a clear overall winner, but the margin analysis tells a more nuanced story.

Starting with Cinebench, the i7-3610QE is consistently ahead in every single iteration of that test. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i7 scores 456 against the i5's 398, a delta of negative 12.7 percent for the i5, meaning the i7 leads by roughly that margin. The single-core R15 result repeats the pattern: 64 for the i7 versus 56 for the i5, a 12.5 percent gap. Moving to R20, the i7 posts 1903 multicore versus 1661 for the i5, again a 12.7 percent differential, and 268 single-core versus 234, another 12.7 percent gap. R23 shows the same story with 4533 against 3955 in multicore and 639 against 558 in single-core, deltas of 12.8 and 12.7 percent respectively.

The i5-4460S, however, turns the tables completely in Geekbench. Its multicore score of 2750 crushes the i7's 1954, a 40.7 percent advantage. The single-core result is even more lopsided: 1026 versus 560, an 83.2 percent lead for the i5. These are not small margins; they are dominant wins that outweigh the i7's consistent but modest Cinebench advantages.

Interpreting these numbers requires noting that the i7's victories are all clustered around the same 12.5 to 12.8 percent range, suggesting a uniform performance edge in that workload. The i5's Geekbench wins are far larger in percentage terms, particularly the single-core result, which nearly doubles the i7's score. The database's average benchmark score puts the i5 at 1330 and the i7 at 1297, a difference of about 2.5 percent in the i5's favor, though both sit at the 35th percentile among all CPUs.

Where Each One Wins

The workload split is clear: the i7-3610QE wins in Cinebench, and the i5-4460S wins in Geekbench. For users prioritizing rendering or CPU-bound tasks that resemble Cinebench's workload, the i7's 12.7 percent average advantage across all four versions of that test makes it the stronger choice. The i7's extra threads, four cores with eight threads versus the i5's four cores with four threads, likely contribute to its multicore Cinebench edge, though the single-core Cinebench results also favor the i7 by similar margins, which points to a per-core advantage in that specific workload.

For Geekbench-centric usage, the i5-4460S is the clear winner. Its 40.7 percent multicore lead and 83.2 percent single-core lead are decisive. The single-core number is particularly striking: 1026 versus 560 indicates the i5's Haswell architecture delivers far superior per-thread performance in this test, possibly due to higher clock speeds or architectural improvements over the older Ivy Bridge design.

The i5 also wins on memory bandwidth, with the database recording 25.6 GB/s for the i5 while the i7's memory bandwidth is not listed. Both support dual-channel memory, but the i5's specified bandwidth gives it a measurable advantage in memory-sensitive tasks. The i5 supports DDR3 memory, while the i7's memory support field is null in the database, so no direct comparison is possible there.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel generations and microarchitectures. The i5-4460S is a Haswell part, released in May 2014, built on a 22 nm process with a die size of 177 mm². The i7-3610QE is an Ivy Bridge part, released in April 2012, also on 22 nm but with a smaller die at 160 mm². Both pack 1,400 million transistors, so transistor density favors the i7's smaller die.

Cache configurations are identical in structure: 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3. This means the i7's performance advantage in Cinebench cannot be attributed to larger caches; the difference must come from thread count, clocks, or microarchitectural tuning.

Clock speeds differ notably. The i5-4460S has a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 3.40 GHz. The i7-3610QE runs at 2.30 GHz base and 3.30 GHz boost. The i5's higher base clock by 0.60 GHz and higher boost by 0.10 GHz should benefit single-threaded tasks, which aligns with its Geekbench single-core dominance. The i7, despite lower clocks, wins all Cinebench tests, suggesting its additional threads or Ivy Bridge-specific optimizations matter more in that workload.

The i5 uses the Intel Socket 1150 and targets the desktop market segment. The i7 uses the Intel Socket G2 (988B) and targets mobile. The i5's TDP is 65 watts, while the i7's is 45 watts, making the i7 more power-efficient despite being older. Integrated graphics also differ: the i5 features Intel HD 4600, the i7 has Intel HD 4000. The i5 supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i7's PCIe information is not recorded.

Both are locked processors with no unlocked multiplier. The i5 is marked as end-of-life in production status; the i7's production status is not recorded. The i5 has a launch MSRP of $182, while the i7's launch MSRP is not available in the database.

The Verdict

The data points to different winners depending on the workload, but the overall average benchmark score slightly favors the i5-4460S at 1330 versus 1297 for the i7-3610QE. That 2.5 percent edge, combined with the i5's massive Geekbench wins, suggests the i5 is the better general-purpose processor despite losing the Cinebench family.

For users whose primary workloads resemble Cinebench, the i7-3610QE is the pick. Its consistent 12.7 percent lead across all four Cinebench versions, both multicore and single-core, makes it reliable for rendering and CPU-heavy compute tasks. The i7 also offers eight threads versus four, which can help in threaded applications beyond what the benchmarks show.

For users focused on Geekbench-style tasks, the i5-4460S is unequivocally superior. The 83.2 percent single-core lead and 40.7 percent multicore lead are massive, and the higher base clock of 2.90 GHz versus 2.30 GHz supports real-world responsiveness. The i5 also offers higher memory bandwidth at 25.6 GB/s, a measurable advantage.

Given the database's average benchmark scores, the i5-4460S edges out the i7-3610QE overall. The i7's Cinebench wins are real but modest, while the i5's Geekbench wins are dominant. If a single recommendation is required, the i5-4460S is the safer choice for mixed workloads, with the caveat that the i7-3610QE remains the better option for Cinebench-heavy usage.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i5-4460S has an average benchmark score of 1330, while the Intel Core i7-3610QE scores 1297, a difference of about 2.5 percent in favor of the i5.

Q: How much faster is the i5-4460S in Geekbench single-core?

A: The i5 scores 1026 in Geekbench single-core versus 560 for the i7-3610QE, an 83.2 percent lead for the i5.

Q: Does the i7-3610QE win any benchmarks?

A: Yes, the i7 wins all four Cinebench tests (R15, R20, R23, both multicore and single-core) with deltas ranging from 12.5 to 12.8 percent over the i5.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The i5-4460S has 4 cores and 4 threads. The i7-3610QE has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: Which processor has a higher TDP?

A: The i5-4460S has a TDP of 65 watts, while the i7-3610QE has a TDP of 45 watts.

Q: How do their clock speeds compare?

A: The i5-4460S runs at 2.90 GHz base and 3.40 GHz boost. The i7-3610QE runs at 2.30 GHz base and 3.30 GHz boost.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-4460S | Intel Core i7-3610QE |

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

| Base Clock | 2.90 GHz | 2.30 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.40 GHz | 3.30 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 45 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1150 | Intel Socket G2 (988B) |

| Architecture | Haswell | Ivy Bridge |

| Generation | Core i5 (Haswell) | Core i7 (Ivy Bridge) |

| Die Size | 177 mm² | 160 mm² |

| Threads | 4 | 8 |

| Memory Support | DDR3 | Not recorded |

| Memory Bandwidth | 25.6 GB/s | Not recorded |

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

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 4600 | Intel HD 4000 |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Production Status | End-of-life | Not recorded |

| Release Date | 2014-05-10 | 2012-04-28 |

| Launch MSRP | $182 | Not recorded |

| Part Number | SR1QQ | SR0NP |