Intel Core i5-4670 vs Intel Core i5-6400 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a remarkably consistent picture: the Intel Core i5-4670 wins every single benchmark in the comparison, and by nearly the same margin across the board. The Core i5-6400 does not take a single test. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the older Haswell part scores 469 against 364 for the Skylake chip, a deficit of 22.4%. The single-core R15 result follows the same pattern, with the i5-4670 posting 66 points versus 51 points, a 22.7% gap. That is the largest delta in the entire head-to-head set.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the i5-4670 scores 1957 in multicore while the i5-6400 manages 1517, again a 22.5% difference. In single-core R20, the numbers are 275 and 214, a 22.2% gap. The pattern holds in the newest Cinebench R23 tests as well: multicore shows 4660 for the i5-4670 against 3614 for the i5-6400, a 22.4% margin, and single-core shows 657 versus 510, also a 22.4% gap.

What is striking is the uniformity of the result. Every delta sits between 22.2% and 22.7%, which suggests a consistent clock-speed advantage rather than any workload-specific architectural edge. The i5-4670 runs a 3.40 GHz base clock and 3.80 GHz boost, while the i5-6400 runs at 2.70 GHz base and 3.30 GHz boost. That 0.70 GHz base clock gap and 0.50 GHz boost clock gap translate into roughly the same percentage advantage in every test, regardless of whether the workload is single-threaded or multi-threaded.

The overall average benchmark scores tell a similar story. The i5-4670 carries an average score of 1347, while the i5-6400 sits at 1307. The percentile rankings are nearly identical: the i5-4670 lands in the 36th percentile of all CPUs, and the i5-6400 in the 35th. For context, the i5-6400's nearest rivals in the database include the AMD Opteron 6328 at an average score of 1304 (0.2% behind) and the AMD Athlon Gold 7220U at 1311 (0.3% ahead), placing it in a tight cluster. The i5-4670's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-7400T at 1348 (0.1% ahead) and the Intel Xeon W-2104 at 1350 (0.2% ahead), a similarly tight grouping but at a slightly higher performance tier.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent different Intel generations and process nodes. The Core i5-6400 is built on the Skylake architecture using a 14 nm process node, while the Core i5-4670 uses the Haswell architecture on a 22 nm node. Both are manufactured by Intel and both use a 177 mm² die size. The transistor count is only listed for the Haswell part, which carries 1,400 million transistors.

Both chips feature 4 cores and 4 threads, so there is no difference in raw core count. Cache hierarchies are identical on paper: 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3. The memory support differs significantly. The i5-6400 uses DDR4 with dual-channel memory and a recorded memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s. The i5-4670 uses DDR3, also dual-channel, but no memory bandwidth figure is recorded in the database.

The sockets are different: the i5-6400 uses Intel Socket 1151, while the i5-4670 uses Intel Socket 1150. This means the two are not interchangeable in a motherboard. The integrated graphics also differ, with the i5-6400 featuring HD Graphics 530 and the i5-4670 featuring Intel HD 4600. PCIe support is Gen 3 for both, though the i5-6400 is specified with 16 lanes (CPU only) while the i5-4670 is simply listed as Gen 3.

Power draw is a point in favor of the newer chip. The i5-6400 has a 65 W TDP, while the i5-4670 draws 84 W. That is a 19 W difference in the thermal envelope, notable given that the i5-4670 is the faster chip in every measured test.

Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier. The i5-6400 was released in July 2015 and is marked as end-of-life, while the i5-4670 was released in June 2013 with no production status recorded. The launch MSRP for the i5-6400 was $182; no launch MSRP is recorded for the i5-4670.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: The Intel Core i5-4670 wins all multi-core tests. In Cinebench R23 multicore, it scores 4660 against 3614 for the i5-6400, a 22.4% advantage. The R20 multicore result shows 1957 versus 1517, also a 22.5% gap.

Q: Is the newer Skylake chip faster in single-core tests?

A: No. The data shows the opposite. The i5-4670 wins single-core tests by similar margins: Cinebench R15 single-core is 66 versus 51 (22.7% ahead), R20 single-core is 275 versus 214 (22.2% ahead), and R23 single-core is 657 versus 510 (22.4% ahead).

Q: How do their overall average benchmark scores compare?

A: The i5-4670 has an average benchmark score of 1347, placing it in the 36th percentile of all CPUs. The i5-6400 has an average score of 1307 and sits in the 35th percentile. The i5-6400's closest rival, the AMD Athlon Gold 7220U, scores 1311, just 0.3% higher.

Q: Do they use the same memory type?

A: No. The i5-6400 supports DDR4 memory with dual-channel configuration and a recorded bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s. The i5-4670 supports DDR3 memory in dual-channel configuration, with no bandwidth figure recorded.

Q: Are these processors compatible with the same motherboards?

A: No. The i5-6400 uses Intel Socket 1151, while the i5-4670 uses Intel Socket 1150. They cannot be swapped between the same boards.

Q: Which chip consumes less power?

A: The i5-6400 has a 65 W TDP, versus 84 W for the i5-4670. The newer 14 nm Skylake part draws less power despite being slower in every benchmark.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-6400 | Intel Core i5-4670 |

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

| Base clock | 2.70 GHz | 3.40 GHz |

| Boost clock | 3.30 GHz | 3.80 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 84 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1151 | Intel Socket 1150 |

| Architecture | Skylake | Haswell |

| Process node | 14 nm | 22 nm |

| Transistors | Not recorded | 1,400 million |

| Memory support | DDR4 | DDR3 |

| Memory bandwidth | 34.1 GB/s | Not recorded |

| Integrated graphics | HD Graphics 530 | Intel HD 4600 |

| Release date | July 2015 | June 2013 |

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

| Launch MSRP | $182 | Not recorded |

| Part number | SR2L7 | SR14D |

Fields that are identical between the two include core count (4), thread count (4), L1 cache (64 KB per core), L2 cache (256 KB per core), L3 cache (6 MB shared), memory bus (dual-channel), ECC support (false for both), PCIe generation (Gen 3), market segment (Desktop), and multiplier unlock status (false for both).

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i5-4670 is the faster processor in every recorded benchmark, and by a nearly constant margin of about 22%. Whether the workload is single-threaded or multi-threaded, the Haswell chip maintains its advantage across all three Cinebench versions. Its higher base and boost clocks, 3.40 GHz and 3.80 GHz respectively, give it a decisive edge over the i5-6400's 2.70 GHz and 3.30 GHz.

The i5-6400 does have genuine strengths in the specification sheet. It runs on a newer 14 nm process, supports DDR4 memory, draws 19 W less power (65 W versus 84 W), and integrates HD Graphics 530 instead of Intel HD 4600. For a user building a new system with a Socket 1151 board and DDR4 RAM, the i5-6400 offers a more modern platform with lower power draw.

However, from a pure performance standpoint, the choice is clear. The i5-4670 wins all six head-to-head benchmarks, holds a 1347 average score against 1307, and ranks in the 36th percentile versus the 35th. The only scenario where the i5-6400 makes sense is when platform-level features like DDR4 support, the newer socket, or the lower TDP are the priority. For raw compute, the older Haswell part is the stronger pick, and the consistency of the 22% margin suggests that no software update or driver change is likely to close that gap.