Intel Core i5-4460T vs Intel Core i7-3632QM Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a fascinating split between these two Intel processors. The Intel Core i7-3632QM, a mobile chip from the Ivy Bridge generation, dominates the multi-threaded and single-threaded Cinebench workloads with decisive margins. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i7-3632QM scores 406 against the i5-4460T's 313, a 29.7% advantage. That same 29.7% delta repeats in Cinebench R20 multicore, where the i7-3632QM posts 1693 and the i5-4460T trails at 1305. Cinebench R23 multicore follows the pattern: 4033 for the i7-3632QM versus 3109 for the i5-4460T, again a 29.7% gap. These are not marginal differences; the i7-3632QM consistently outperforms the i5-4460T by nearly a third in every Cinebench multicore test recorded.

Single-core Cinebench results tell a similar story. The i7-3632QM scores 57 in Cinebench R15 single-core versus 57? No, the data shows 57 for the i7-3632QM and the i5-4460T does not have a recorded Cinebench R15 single-core score in the database. However, in Cinebench R20 single-core, the i7-3632QM scores 238 against the i5-4460T's 183, a 30.1% lead. Cinebench R23 single-core shows the i7-3632QM at 569 and the i5-4460T at 438, a 29.9% edge. Across all five Cinebench tests where both processors have scores, the i7-3632QM wins every time with margins ranging from 29.7% to 30.1%. The consistency of these deltas is striking and suggests the performance gap is structural rather than workload-specific.

The narrative flips dramatically when examining Geekbench scores. In Geekbench multicore, the i5-4460T edges out the i7-3632QM with a score of 2170 versus 2142, a 1.3% difference. That is a narrow victory, but the single-core Geekbench result is not close at all. The i5-4460T scores 809 while the i7-3632QM only manages 613, a 24.2% deficit for the older mobile part. This is the largest single delta in the entire head-to-head dataset, and it reveals a fundamental divergence in how these chips handle different benchmark suites. The i7-3632QM wins 5 of the 7 recorded head-to-head benchmarks, but the two Geekbench wins for the i5-4460T carry outsized weight in single-core performance.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two processors is significant. The i7-3632QM uses the Ivy Bridge architecture on a 22 nm process node, with 1,480 million transistors packed into a 160 mm² die. The i5-4460T uses the Haswell architecture, also on a 22 nm node, but with 1,400 million transistors spread across a larger 177 mm² die. Both share the same 22 nm process from Intel, but the Haswell design has fewer transistors despite the larger die size, indicating a different internal layout and feature distribution.

Core and thread counts create the primary performance differentiation. The i7-3632QM has 4 cores and 8 threads, using Hyper-Threading to double its logical processing capacity. The i5-4460T also has 4 cores but only 4 threads, lacking Hyper-Threading entirely. This explains the consistent 29.7% Cinebench multicore advantage for the i7-3632QM: it processes twice the thread count, and even with per-thread efficiency differences, the i7-3632QM's 8 threads overwhelm the i5-4460T's 4 threads in heavily threaded workloads.

Clock speeds tell a complementary story. The i7-3632QM has a base clock of 2.20 GHz and a boost clock of 3.20 GHz. The i5-4460T has a base clock of 1900.00 GHz? No, the data records the i5-4460T's base clock as 1900.00, which is clearly a formatting artifact for 1.90 GHz, and a boost clock of 2.70 GHz. The i7-3632QM enjoys a 0.50 GHz boost clock advantage, which helps explain its Cinebench single-core wins despite being an older architecture. The i5-4460T's lower clocks hurt it in Cinebench, but its Haswell architecture appears to execute instructions more efficiently per clock, as evidenced by the Geekbench results.

Cache configurations are identical in structure: 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 6 MB shared L3. This parity means cache size does not explain the performance differences. The i5-4460T has a higher memory bandwidth rating of 25.6 GB/s, while the i7-3632QM does not have a recorded memory bandwidth figure. Both use dual-channel memory buses. The i5-4460T explicitly supports DDR3 memory, while the i7-3632QM's memory support is not listed in the database.

Integrated graphics differ: the i7-3632QM carries Intel HD 4000, while the i5-4460T has Intel HD 4600. The i5-4460T also has a PCIe Gen 3 implementation with 16 lanes (CPU only), whereas the i7-3632QM's PCIe configuration is not recorded. Sockets differ as expected: the i7-3632QM uses Intel Socket G2 (988B) for mobile systems, while the i5-4460T uses Intel Socket 1150 for desktop platforms. The i7-3632QM targets the mobile market segment, the i5-4460T targets desktop. The i5-4460T is marked as end-of-life production status, while the i7-3632QM's status is not specified.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark results indicate a clear workload-dependent split. The i7-3632QM wins every Cinebench test, both multicore and single-core, with margins between 29.7% and 30.1%. Cinebench is a rendering workload that heavily exercises both multi-threading and single-thread performance across different test modes. The i7-3632QM's 8 threads give it a massive advantage in Cinebench multicore, but its higher boost clock of 3.20 GHz also carries it to victory in single-core Cinebench despite having a lower base clock than the i5-4460T's boost clock of 2.70 GHz.

The i5-4460T wins both Geekbench tests. In Geekbench multicore, the margin is a razor-thin 1.3%, suggesting that Geekbench's multicore workload does not scale as effectively with thread count as Cinebench does. The i5-4460T's 4 threads nearly match the i7-3632QM's 8 threads in this test, which indicates that Haswell's per-core efficiency is substantially higher than Ivy Bridge's. The Geekbench single-core result is even more decisive: a 24.2% win for the i5-4460T. This is the clearest evidence that Haswell's architecture delivers significantly better instructions-per-clock performance than Ivy Bridge.

The dual nature of these wins suggests the i7-3632QM is better suited for sustained multi-threaded rendering workloads where Hyper-Threading can be fully utilized. The i5-4460T excels in workloads that are more dependent on per-core efficiency and lower-latency single-thread execution. The data implies that the i7-3632QM would be the better choice for video rendering, 3D modeling, and other content creation tasks that use many threads. The i5-4460T would be preferable for applications with lighter thread counts, older software that relies on single-thread performance, or tasks where power efficiency per unit of work is prioritized.

Both processors share a 35 W TDP, which is notable for such different market segments. The i7-3632QM achieves its 8-thread performance within the same power envelope as the 4-thread i5-4460T, which confirms the efficiency of its design, or alternatively, a clue that the i5-4460T could have been clocked higher within the same thermal budget.

The Verdict

The data points to a nuanced conclusion. The i7-3632QM is the stronger processor for multi-threaded workloads, winning all three Cinebench multicore tests by 29.7% each. It is also faster in Cinebench single-core tests, winning by 30.1% in R20 and 29.9% in R23. Users whose primary applications resemble Cinebench's rendering workload should choose the i7-3632QM based on this data alone.

However, the i5-4460T demonstrates superior per-core efficiency. Its 24.2% Geekbench single-core victory is the largest margin in the entire comparison, and its 1.3% Geekbench multicore win shows that Haswell's architecture can nearly match 8 threads with only 4 threads in certain workloads. The i5-4460T also has the advantage of a desktop socket (Intel Socket 1150) versus the mobile socket (Intel Socket G2 988B), and it supports DDR3 memory with a recorded 25.6 GB/s bandwidth, while the i7-3632QM's memory support is unlisted.

The production status also differs: the i5-4460T is end-of-life, while the i7-3632QM's status is not recorded. This is a practical consideration for long-term system planning. The i5-4460T belongs to the desktop market segment, the i7-3632QM to mobile, which means the choice is also a platform decision. For a desktop system where single-thread responsiveness and modern memory support matter, the i5-4460T is the data-backed pick. For a mobile system or a workload that is heavily multi-threaded, the i7-3632QM is the clear winner.

The percentile rankings are nearly identical, with the i7-3632QM at the 34th percentile versus the i5-4460T at the 33rd percentile of all CPUs. The average benchmark scores are also close, 1219 for the i7-3632QM and 1190 for the i5-4460T, a 2.4% overall difference. This suggests that in mixed workloads, the two chips are roughly equivalent, with the i7-3632QM holding a slight overall edge. The i7-3632QM's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-2500 with an average score of 1220 and a delta of -0.1%, and the Intel Pentium Silver N6005 at 1218 with a 0.1% delta. The i5-4460T's nearest rivals include the AMD Opteron 6234 at 1191 with a -0.1% delta and the Intel Core i7-8665UE at 1193 with a -0.2% delta. These rival comparisons reinforce that both processors sit in a similar performance tier.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core i7-3632QM wins 5 of the 7 recorded head-to-head benchmarks, including all five Cinebench tests. The Intel Core i5-4460T wins the remaining two Geekbench tests.

Q: How much faster is the i7-3632QM in Cinebench R20 multicore?

A: The i7-3632QM scores 1693 in Cinebench R20 multicore, while the i5-4460T scores 1305. This is a 29.7% advantage for the i7-3632QM.

Q: What is the largest performance difference in the entire comparison?

A: The largest single delta is in Geekbench single-core, where the i5-4460T scores 809 against the i7-3632QM's 613, a 24.2% advantage for the i5-4460T.

Q: Do both processors have the same number of cores?

A: Yes, both have 4 cores. However, the i7-3632QM has 8 threads due to Hyper-Threading, while the i5-4460T has only 4 threads.

Q: What is the TDP of both processors?

A: Both the i7-3632QM and the i5-4460T have a TDP of 35 W.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The i7-3632QM has a boost clock of 3.20 GHz, which is higher than the i5-4460T's boost clock of 2.70 GHz.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-3632QM | Intel Core i5-4460T |

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

| Threads | 8 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 2.20 GHz | 1.90 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.20 GHz | 2.70 GHz |

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

| Architecture | Ivy Bridge | Haswell |

| Codename | Ivy Bridge | Haswell |

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

| Transistors | 1,480 million | 1,400 million |

| Die Size | 160 mm² | 177 mm² |

| Memory Support | Not listed | DDR3 |

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

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

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

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

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

| Release Date | 2012-10-18 | 2014-02-28 |

| Part Number | Not listed | SR1S7 |

| Geekbench Single-core | 613 | 809 |

| Geekbench Multicore | 2142 | 2170 |