Intel Core i5-4670K vs Intel Core i7-5850HQ Comparison
Intel Core i5-4670K
Core i7-5850HQ
PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS
Analysis: Intel Core i5-4670K vs Intel Core i7-5850HQ
FAQ
Q: Which processor has a higher core count?
A: Both processors have 4 physical cores. The Intel Core i7-5850HQ has 8 threads while the Intel Core i5-4670K has 4 threads, meaning the i7 supports simultaneous multithreading.
Q: What is the difference in base clock speed?
A: The Intel Core i5-4670K has a base clock of 3.40 GHz, while the Intel Core i7-5850HQ has a base clock of 2.70 GHz. The i5 also boosts higher at 3.80 GHz versus 3.60 GHz for the i7.
Q: Which processor is more power-efficient?
A: The Intel Core i7-5850HQ has a TDP of 47 watts, substantially lower than the 84-watt TDP of the Intel Core i5-4670K. The i7 also uses a 14 nm process node compared to the i5's 22 nm node.
Q: Which processor has better integrated graphics?
A: The Intel Core i7-5850HQ features Iris Pro Graphics 6200, while the Intel Core i5-4670K features Intel HD 4600. The i7's integrated graphics solution is the more capable of the two.
Q: Are both processors overclockable?
A: No. The Intel Core i5-4670K has an unlocked multiplier, making it overclockable. The Intel Core i7-5850HQ has a locked multiplier, so it cannot be overclocked.
Q: What is the memory bandwidth of each processor?
A: The Intel Core i7-5850HQ has a memory bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s. The database does not record a memory bandwidth figure for the Intel Core i5-4670K.
Where Each One Wins
The benchmark data is one-sided in favor of the Intel Core i7-5850HQ. Across all six recorded Cinebench tests, the i7 takes the win, with deltas ranging from 22.4% to 23.0%. There is no recorded benchmark where the Intel Core i5-4670K comes out ahead.
The i7-5850HQ wins in both single-core and multi-core workloads. Its advantages are consistent: in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, the i7 leads by roughly 23% in multi-core tests and by approximately 22.4% to 22.8% in single-core tests. This indicates that the i7's architectural advantages, including its newer process node and additional threads, translate into measurable performance gains across the board.
The Intel Core i5-4670K does have one distinct advantage: its unlocked multiplier. For users who prioritize manual overclocking, the i5 offers flexibility that the i7 lacks. However, the recorded benchmark scores do not reflect overclocked performance, so stock-to-stock comparison favors the i7.
In terms of market position, both processors sit at the 40th percentile among all CPUs in the database. The i7-5850HQ has an average benchmark score of 1688, while the i5-4670K has an average of 1656. The i7's nearest rival is the Intel Core i7-3770K with a matching average score of 1688, while the i5's nearest rival is the Intel Xeon E-2124 at 1658.
Architecture Differences
The Intel Core i7-5850HQ is built on the Broadwell architecture, specifically the Broadwell-H codename. It uses a 14 nm process node, a significant shrink from the 22 nm node of the older Haswell architecture found in the Intel Core i5-4670K. The die size of the i7 is 182 mm², while the i5 is slightly smaller at 177 mm².
The i7-5850HQ belongs to the Core i7 generation with the Broadwell-H codename, while the i5-4670K belongs to the Core i5 generation with the Haswell codename. The i7's transistor count is not recorded in the database, but the i5 lists 1,400 million transistors.
Both processors share the same L1 cache configuration of 64 KB per core and L2 cache of 256 KB per core. Both also have 6 MB of shared L3 cache. Memory support is DDR3 for both, with dual-channel memory buses.
The i7-5850HQ uses the Intel BGA 1364 socket, which is a ball-grid array package, while the i5-4670K uses the Intel Socket 1150, a land-grid array socket. This difference affects upgrade paths and motherboard compatibility.
The integrated graphics differ significantly. The i7 features Iris Pro Graphics 6200, a more advanced GPU solution, while the i5 has Intel HD 4600. The i7 also has a PCIe Gen 3 interface with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i5 lists PCIe Gen 3 without specifying lane counts.
The i7-5850HQ was released in June 2015, while the i5-4670K came out in June 2013. Both processors are now end-of-life in the case of the i7; the production status for the i5 is not recorded in the database.
Specification Differences
The key specification differences between the two processors are as follows:
- Threads: The i7-5850HQ has 8 threads, while the i5-4670K has 4 threads.
- Base clock: The i7 runs at 2.70 GHz, the i5 at 3.40 GHz.
- Boost clock: The i7 boosts to 3.60 GHz, the i5 to 3.80 GHz.
- TDP: The i7 is rated at 47 watts, the i5 at 84 watts.
- Socket: The i7 uses Intel BGA 1364, the i5 uses Intel Socket 1150.
- Process node: The i7 is 14 nm, the i5 is 22 nm.
- Transistors: The i5 has 1,400 million; the i7's count is not recorded.
- Die size: The i7 is 182 mm², the i5 is 177 mm².
- Memory bandwidth: The i7 is rated at 29.9 GB/s; the i5's figure is not recorded.
- Integrated graphics: The i7 has Iris Pro Graphics 6200, the i5 has Intel HD 4600.
- Multiplier: The i7 is locked, the i5 is unlocked.
- Launch MSRP: The i7 was listed at $434; no launch MSRP is recorded for the i5.
- Part number: The i7 is SR2BH, the i5 is SR14A.
Head-to-Head Benchmarks
The head-to-head benchmark results show a consistent pattern of the Intel Core i7-5850HQ outperforming the Intel Core i5-4670K in every recorded test.
In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i7 scores 588 against the i5's 478, a delta of 23%. This is the largest percentage gap in the comparison. The single-core R15 test shows the i7 at 82 versus 67 for the i5, a 22.4% advantage.
Moving to Cinebench R20, the i7 reaches 2451 in multi-core while the i5 scores 1995, a 22.9% lead. In single-core R20, the i7 scores 345 versus 281, a 22.8% delta.
Cinebench R23 results follow the same pattern. The i7 scores 5836 in multi-core compared to the i5's 4751, a 22.8% advantage. In single-core R23, the i7 scores 823 versus 670, again a 22.8% delta.
The i7's dominance is uniform across all six head-to-head tests, with the largest margin being 23% in R15 multi-core and the smallest being 22.4% in R15 single-core. This consistency suggests that the i7's advantage comes from its overall architecture and thread count rather than any single workload characteristic.
The database records the i7 with a total of 6 wins and the i5 with 0 wins in direct comparisons. The i5 also has additional Geekbench scores recorded (3700 multi-core, 1302 single-core), but no direct i7 comparison is available for those tests.
In terms of average benchmark score, the i7 sits at 1688, which is 1.9% higher than the i5's 1656. Both processors rank at the 40th percentile among all CPUs, indicating that while the i7 is faster in absolute terms, both occupy a similar performance tier relative to the broader market.