Intel Core i5-4460T vs Intel Core i7-8665UE Comparison

The Intel Core i7-8665UE and Intel Core i5-4460T are both end-of-life quad-core processors, but the data shows they serve entirely different performance tiers. Benchmark results indicate a decisive victory for the i7-8665UE across every common workload, with wins in all five head-to-head tests and margins consistently above 32%. The i5-4460T, despite being a desktop part with a higher base clock, cannot match the newer mobile chip's architectural efficiency and multithreading advantage. The average benchmark scores are nearly identical — 1193 for the i7-8665UE versus 1190 for the i5-4460T — but this masks a clear generational gap; the i7 wins every single comparison, making it the superior choice for any task that can leverage its extra threads or higher boost frequency.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-8665UE wins in every measurable category. In multi-core workloads, it dominates the i5-4460T by 32.6% in Cinebench R15 (415 vs 313), 32.7% in Cinebench R20 (1732 vs 1305), and 32.6% in Cinebench R23 (4124 vs 3109). Single-core performance follows the same pattern: the i7 leads by 33.3% in Cinebench R20 (244 vs 183) and 32.9% in Cinebench R23 (582 vs 438). The i5-4460T has no benchmark win, with its best showing being a 2170 score in Geekbench multicore, a test not run on the i7.

The i5-4460T's only potential advantage lies in its base clock speed — 1900 MHz versus 1700 MHz — but this is irrelevant under load, as the i7's 4.40 GHz boost clock far exceeds the i5's 2.70 GHz. For single-threaded responsiveness, the i7 is the clear winner. For heavily threaded workloads like rendering or video encoding, the i7's 8 threads versus 4 threads provide a structural advantage that shows in the 32%+ deltas. The i5's higher TDP (35W) and desktop socket do not translate into any performance benefit in these benchmarks.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are separated by three generations of Intel architecture. The i7-8665UE uses the Whiskey Lake architecture on a 14 nm process node, while the i5-4460T is based on the older Haswell architecture built on 22 nm. This process node shrink is a primary driver of the i7's efficiency: it delivers significantly higher performance while consuming only 15W TDP compared to the i5's 35W TDP. The i7 is a mobile part (Intel BGA 1528 socket), whereas the i5 is a desktop chip (Intel Socket 1150).

Core counts are identical at 4 physical cores, but the i7 doubles the thread count with Hyper-Threading (8 threads vs 4 threads). Cache configurations differ notably: both have 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, but the i7's shared L3 cache is 8 MB versus the i5's 6 MB. Memory support also diverges: the i7 supports both DDR3 and DDR4 with a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, while the i5 is limited to DDR3 with 25.6 GB/s bandwidth. Integrated graphics differ as well — the i7 features UHD Graphics 620, while the i5 has Intel HD 4600. The i7's transistor count and die size are not listed, but the i5 has 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die.

Other differences include release timing: the i7 was released on 2018-09-30, while the i5 came out on 2014-02-28. Both are end-of-life and locked multipliers. The i7 has a part number of SRF9W, the i5 is SR1S7. Both use PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), and neither supports ECC memory.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i7-8665UE is the better processor in every benchmark test recorded. It outperforms the i5-4460T by 32.6% to 33.3% across all Cinebench tests, with the largest lead in single-core R20 (33.3%) and the smallest in multi-core R15 (32.6%). For users prioritizing raw performance, the i7 is the only logical choice. Its 4.40 GHz boost clock and 8 threads make it significantly more capable for both single-threaded and multithreaded applications.

The i5-4460T's only justification would be if the user has a legacy Socket 1150 motherboard and cannot upgrade platforms, but even then, its 2.70 GHz boost and 4 threads place it well behind the i7. The i5 does have a higher base clock (1900 MHz vs 1700 MHz), which could theoretically help in idle or lightly loaded scenarios, but this advantage evaporates under any real workload. The i7's newer architecture and larger L3 cache (8 MB vs 6 MB) provide a structural edge that the i5 cannot overcome.

Both processors sit at the 33rd percentile among all CPUs, meaning neither is a high-performance part by modern standards. However, within this comparison, the i7-8665UE is categorically superior. Its lower TDP (15W vs 35W) also makes it more suitable for compact or fanless designs, though the i5's desktop form factor may offer more robust cooling options in practice. For any new build or upgrade, the i7-8665UE is the recommended choice based purely on benchmark data.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i7-8665UE has a boost clock of 4.40 GHz, compared to 2.70 GHz for the i5-4460T. This gives the i7 a massive single-thread advantage, reflected in its 32.9-33.3% lead in single-core Cinebench tests.

Q: How many threads does each processor support?

A: The i7-8665UE supports 8 threads (4 cores with Hyper-Threading), while the i5-4460T supports only 4 threads (4 cores without Hyper-Threading). This doubles the i7's multithreading capacity, contributing to its 32.6-32.7% lead in multi-core benchmarks.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The i7-8665UE has a TDP of 15W, while the i5-4460T has a TDP of 35W. The i7 delivers significantly higher performance while consuming less than half the power budget, demonstrating the efficiency gains from its 14 nm process node versus the i5's 22 nm node.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: The i7-8665UE has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i5-4460T has 6 MB. This 33% larger cache helps the i7 maintain higher performance in cache-sensitive workloads.

Q: Do both CPUs support DDR4 memory?

A: No. The i7-8665UE supports both DDR3 and DDR4 with a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The i5-4460T supports only DDR3 with a bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s. This gives the i7 a memory bandwidth advantage of 50%.

Q: What is the release date difference?

A: The i7-8665UE was released on 2018-09-30, while the i5-4460T was released on 2014-02-28 — a gap of over four years. This explains the architectural advancements in the i7, including the newer Whiskey Lake design and improved integrated graphics.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The i7-8665UE wins all five head-to-head benchmark comparisons, with margins ranging from 32.6% to 33.3%. The largest single win is in Cinebench R20 single-core, where the i7 scores 244 against the i5's 183 — a 33.3% advantage. This test highlights the i7's boost clock advantage (4.40 GHz vs 2.70 GHz) and architectural improvements. The smallest margin is in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where the i7 leads 415 to 313, a 32.6% gap.

In multi-core tests, the i7's thread advantage is clear. Cinebench R20 multi-core shows the i7 at 1732 versus 1305 for the i5, a 32.7% lead. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows a nearly identical pattern: 4124 versus 3109, also 32.6% ahead. Single-core results in Cinebench R23 show the i7 at 582 versus 438 for the i5, a 32.9% margin. These consistent deltas across different Cinebench versions indicate that the performance gap is stable and not specific to one test methodology.

The i5-4460T's best performance comes in Geekbench tests (2170 multi-core, 809 single-core), but these have no corresponding i7 scores, so they cannot be compared directly. The absence of a Geekbench result for the i7 means the only comparable data is Cinebench, where the i7 is categorically superior. The i5's 1900 MHz base clock does not help it in any benchmark, as all tests leverage boost frequencies or sustained load where the i7's 4.40 GHz boost dominates.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification except core count and PCIe configuration. The i7-8665UE uses 4 cores and 8 threads, whereas the i5-4460T uses 4 cores and 4 threads. Base clocks differ: 1700 MHz for the i7 versus 1900 MHz for the i5, but boost clocks reverse this with 4.40 GHz versus 2.70 GHz. TDP is a major differentiator: 15W for the i7 versus 35W for the i5.

Socket and market segment diverge completely: the i7 uses Intel BGA 1528 and is a mobile part, while the i5 uses Intel Socket 1150 and is a desktop part. Architecture and process node: Whiskey Lake on 14 nm for the i7, Haswell on 22 nm for the i5. L3 cache: 8 MB for the i7 versus 6 MB for the i5. Memory support: the i7 handles DDR3 and DDR4 with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth, while the i5 only supports DDR3 at 25.6 GB/s.

Integrated graphics: UHD Graphics 620 on the i7, Intel HD 4600 on the i5. Release dates: 2018-09-30 for the i7, 2014-02-28 for the i5. Transistors and die size are listed only for the i5 (1,400 million transistors, 177 mm²). The i7 has a launch MSRP of $409, while the i5 has no listed launch MSRP. Both are end-of-life, have locked multipliers, and use PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only). Neither supports ECC memory. Part numbers are SRF9W for the i7 and SR1S7 for the i5.