Intel Core i5-4460T vs Intel Core i7-2960XM Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark comparison between the Intel Core i5-4460T and the Intel Core i7-2960XM shows a clear split across test suites. The i7-2960XM wins five of the seven recorded head-to-head tests, while the i5-4460T wins two. The margin of victory for the i7 in Cinebench tests is substantial and consistent. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i7 scores 401 against the i5's 313, a delta of 21.9%. The Cinebench R20 multi-core test shows the i7 at 1674 versus 1305, a 22% difference. The single-core Cinebench R20 result follows the same pattern, with the i7 at 236 and the i5 at 183, a 22.5% gap. Cinebench R23 multi-core repeats the trend, 3988 for the i7 versus 3109 for the i5, again a 22% delta. The single-core Cinebench R23 test shows 563 for the i7 against 438 for the i5, a 22.2% difference.

The i5-4460T takes both Geekbench tests decisively. In Geekbench multi-core, the i5 scores 2170 while the i7 manages 1851, a 17.2% advantage for the i5. The Geekbench single-core result is even more lopsided, with the i5 at 809 and the i7 at 581, a 39.2% lead. This pattern suggests the two processors have fundamentally different strengths that emerge depending on the workload and benchmark methodology.

The average benchmark scores place the two very close overall. The i5-4460T has an average score of 1190, while the i7-2960XM sits at 1169. Both processors rank at the 33rd percentile among all CPUs in the database. The nearest rivals for the i5 include the AMD Opteron 6234 with an average score of 1191 and a delta of 0.1%, the Intel Core i7-8665UE at 1193 with a 0.2% delta, and the Intel Core i3-4170 also at 1193 with a 0.3% delta. The i5 also edges out the Intel Core i5-2400, which scores 1187, a 0.3% delta. For the i7-2960XM, the nearest rival is the Intel Core i5-3570S, matching at 1169 with a zero delta. The AMD Opteron 6220 scores 1168, a 0.1% delta, and the Intel Core i7-3635QM scores 1170, a 0.1% delta in the other direction. The Intel Core i5-3450 rounds out the group at 1166, a 0.2% delta.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel generations and manufacturing processes. The i5-4460T uses the Haswell architecture on a 22 nm process node, while the i7-2960XM uses Sandy Bridge on a 32 nm node. The Haswell chip packs 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die, whereas the Sandy Bridge part contains 1,160 million transistors on a larger 216 mm² die. Both are manufactured by Intel.

Core and thread counts differ. The i5-4460T has 4 cores and 4 threads, meaning no hyper-threading. The i7-2960XM has 4 cores and 8 threads, doubling the thread count via hyper-threading. This explains why the i7 dominates multi-threaded Cinebench tests despite being an older architecture. The cache hierarchy also differs. Both have 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 versus 8 MB on the i7.

Clock speeds favor the i7 substantially. The i5 has a base clock of 1900 MHz and a boost clock of 2700 MHz. The i7 starts at 2700 MHz and boosts to 3700 MHz. This clock advantage, combined with hyper-threading, drives the i7's Cinebench wins. However, the i5's newer Haswell architecture delivers better instructions per clock in certain workloads, which shows in the Geekbench results.

Memory support is identical in type and bus configuration: both use DDR3 with dual-channel memory and 25.6 GB/s bandwidth. Neither supports ECC memory. The PCIe implementation differs, with the i5 using Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the i7 uses Gen 2 with 16 lanes. Integrated graphics also differ, with the i5 featuring Intel HD 4600 and the i7 featuring Intel HD 3000.

The socket and market segment separate the two clearly. The i5 uses Intel Socket 1150 and is a desktop part, while the i7 uses Intel Socket G2 (988B) and is a mobile processor. The i7 has an unlocked multiplier, making it overclockable, while the i5 does not. Power consumption differs significantly, with the i5 rated at 35 watts TDP and the i7 at 55 watts. The release dates are roughly two and a half years apart, with the i5 launching in late February 2014 and the i7 in early September 2011.

Where Each One Wins

The i7-2960XM wins in all Cinebench tests, both multi-core and single-core. This includes Cinebench R15 multi-core, R20 multi-core, R20 single-core, R23 multi-core, and R23 single-core. The consistent 22% margin across these tests indicates the i7's higher clock speeds and hyper-threading give it a decisive edge in rendering workloads that scale with thread count and raw frequency. The i7 also has a higher base clock and boost clock, which helps in any workload that is not heavily dependent on architectural efficiency.

The i5-4460T wins in both Geekbench tests, with particularly strong single-core performance. The 39.2% lead in Geekbench single-core is striking, given that the i7 has a 1000 MHz higher base clock and a 1000 MHz higher boost clock. This indicates the Haswell architecture's per-core efficiency is far superior to Sandy Bridge in this particular benchmark. The Geekbench multi-core win of 17.2% is also notable because the i7 has twice the threads, yet the i5 still manages to win. This suggests the i5's architectural improvements more than compensate for its lack of hyper-threading in Geekbench's workload mix.

For real-world usage, the split suggests the i7 is better suited for multi-threaded content creation, rendering, and any task that can use more than four threads. The i5 is better for single-threaded applications, legacy software, and workloads where per-core performance matters more than thread count. The i5's lower TDP of 35 watts versus 55 watts also makes it more appropriate for compact desktops or systems with limited cooling, though the i7's mobile designation means it was designed for laptops where power delivery was a consideration.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-2960XM has 8 threads, while the Intel Core i5-4460T has 4 threads. Both have 4 physical cores.

Q: Why does the i7-2960XM win Cinebench tests but lose Geekbench tests?

A: The i7 has higher clock speeds (2700 MHz base, 3700 MHz boost) and hyper-threading, which helps in Cinebench's rendering workloads. The i5 uses the newer Haswell architecture with better per-core efficiency, which gives it a 39.2% lead in Geekbench single-core and a 17.2% lead in multi-core.

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

A: The i5-4460T has an average benchmark score of 1190, and the i7-2960XM has 1169. The i5's nearest rival, the AMD Opteron 6234, scores 1191, a 0.1% delta, while the i7's nearest rival, the Intel Core i5-3570S, scores 1169 with a 0% delta.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory?

A: Yes, both support DDR3 memory with dual-channel configuration and 25.6 GB/s bandwidth. Neither supports ECC memory.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The i7-2960XM has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i5-4460T has 6 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: Are these processors from the same Intel generation?

A: No, the i5-4460T is from the Haswell generation on a 22 nm process, while the i7-2960XM is from the Sandy Bridge generation on a 32 nm process.

Specification Differences

The core specifications show several key differences. The i5-4460T has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the i7-2960XM has 4 cores and 8 threads. Base clock speeds are 1900 MHz for the i5 and 2700 MHz for the i7. Boost clocks are 2700 MHz and 3700 MHz respectively. TDP ratings are 35 watts for the i5 and 55 watts for the i7. The i5 uses Intel Socket 1150, while the i7 uses Intel Socket G2 (988B). Architecture differs, with Haswell for the i5 and Sandy Bridge for the i7. Process nodes are 22 nm and 32 nm respectively.

Transistor counts differ, with the i5 at 1,400 million and the i7 at 1,160 million. Die sizes are 177 mm² for the i5 and 216 mm² for the i7. L3 cache is 6 MB shared on the i5 versus 8 MB shared on the i7. PCIe generation differs, with Gen 3 on the i5 and Gen 2 on the i7. Integrated graphics are Intel HD 4600 on the i5 and Intel HD 3000 on the i7. Market segments are Desktop for the i5 and Mobile for the i7. The i7 has an unlocked multiplier, while the i5 does not. Release dates are February 2014 for the i5 and September 2011 for the i7. The i7 has a launch MSRP of $1096.

The Verdict

The data points to two distinct use cases. The Intel Core i7-2960XM is the choice for workloads that benefit from higher thread counts and clock speeds, particularly Cinebench-style rendering tasks where it holds a consistent 22% advantage. Its 8 threads, 3700 MHz boost clock, and 8 MB L3 cache make it the stronger processor for multi-threaded content creation, video encoding, and 3D rendering. The 55 watt TDP and mobile socket reflect its original laptop positioning, but the unlocked multiplier gives overclocking headroom for users willing to manage higher power draw.

The Intel Core i5-4460T is the better option for single-threaded performance and general desktop responsiveness. Its 39.2% lead in Geekbench single-core is the largest margin in the entire comparison, and it also wins Geekbench multi-core by 17.2% despite having half the threads. The Haswell architecture on 22 nm delivers better per-core efficiency, and the 35 watt TDP makes it suitable for lower-power desktop builds. The PCIe Gen 3 support also provides a modern interface for current expansion cards.

For users prioritizing raw multi-threaded throughput, the i7-2960XM is the clear winner based on the recorded Cinebench scores. For users prioritizing single-thread performance, power efficiency, and newer architectural features, the i5-4460T is the better fit. Both processors sit at the 33rd percentile in the overall CPU ranking, and their average benchmark scores are within 2% of each other, so the choice comes down to workload specifics rather than overall capability.