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

The Intel Core i5-6400 and Intel Core i5-4670R are both 65W quad-core desktop processors, yet they represent different architectural eras for Intel. The i5-6400 is a Skylake part on the 14 nm node, while the i5-4670R is a Haswell part on the 22 nm node. Despite the newer process, benchmark data shows the older i5-4670R consistently outperforms the i5-6400 across every Cinebench workload, making it the clear performance leader in this comparison, although both land at the same 35th percentile of all CPUs.

FAQ

Q: Which processor delivers higher multi-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i5-4670R wins all multi-core benchmarks. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 4448 versus the i5-6400’s 3614, a margin of 18.7%. The gap is nearly identical in Cinebench R20 multi-core (1868 vs 1517) and Cinebench R15 multi-core (448 vs 364).

Q: How do the single-core scores compare between the two?

A: The i5-4670R also leads in single-core tests. It scores 627 in Cinebench R23 single-core against 510 for the i5-6400, and 263 versus 214 in Cinebench R20 single-core. Both represent roughly an 18-19% advantage for the Haswell chip.

Q: What are the architectural differences between the two CPUs?

A: The i5-6400 uses Intel’s Skylake architecture on a 14 nm process with a core i5 (Skylake) generation label. The i5-4670R uses Haswell on a 22 nm process with 1,400 million transistors. Both have 4 cores and 4 threads, but the i5-6400 has 6 MB of shared L3 cache while the i5-4670R has 4 MB.

Q: Which chip has higher clock speeds?

A: The i5-4670R has higher base and boost clocks. Its base clock is 3.00 GHz with a boost of 3.70 GHz, while the i5-6400 runs at 2.70 GHz base and 3.30 GHz boost. This clock advantage likely contributes to the i5-4670R’s benchmark lead.

Q: Are these processors compatible with the same motherboards?

A: No. The i5-6400 uses the Intel Socket 1151, while the i5-4670R uses the Intel BGA 1364. They also differ in memory support: the i5-6400 supports DDR4, whereas the i5-4670R supports DDR3.

Q: What is the production status and launch pricing for each?

A: The i5-6400 is marked as end-of-life with a launch MSRP of $182. The i5-4670R is listed as active in production and has no launch MSRP provided in the data.

The Verdict

The benchmark results are unambiguous: the Intel Core i5-4670R wins every single head-to-head test, taking 6 out of 6 wins. Its advantage hovers tightly between 18.6% and 19.0% across all Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 workloads, making it the superior choice for raw compute performance. The i5-6400 does not secure a single victory in any benchmark.

However, the verdict is not purely about speed. The i5-6400 offers a newer architecture (Skylake over Haswell) and a smaller 14 nm process node versus 22 nm. It also supports DDR4 memory and uses a socketed platform (Socket 1151) rather than the i5-4670R’s BGA 1364, which is typically soldered. For users building a new system, the i5-6400’s platform and memory support may be more relevant, but for pure application performance, the data points decisively to the i5-4670R.

The i5-4670R also carries an unlocked multiplier, allowing overclocking, whereas the i5-6400 is locked. Given that the i5-4670R is already faster out of the box and can be overclocked, it is the pick for users who prioritize compute throughput. The i5-6400 is the pick only for those who specifically need the Skylake platform features or DDR4 compatibility, accepting the performance deficit.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The performance gap between these two CPUs is remarkably consistent across all tested workloads. The largest single margin is in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the i5-4670R scores 63 against the i5-6400’s 51, a delta of 19.0%. The smallest margin is in Cinebench R20 single-core, with 263 versus 214, an 18.6% difference.

In multi-core tests, the i5-4670R’s lead is equally pronounced. Cinebench R15 multi-core shows 448 versus 364, an 18.7% advantage. Cinebench R20 multi-core shows 1868 versus 1517, an 18.8% gap. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows 4448 versus 3614, again 18.7%. Every single workload, whether single-threaded or multi-threaded, falls within a narrow 0.4 percentage point band, indicating that the i5-4670R’s advantage is fundamental to its higher clock speeds rather than workload-specific optimizations.

The i5-4670R’s base clock of 3.00 GHz and boost of 3.70 GHz directly outpace the i5-6400’s 2.70 GHz and 3.30 GHz. This clock advantage of 0.3 GHz at base and 0.4 GHz at boost translates into the consistent 18-19% performance lead observed. The i5-6400’s newer Skylake architecture and 14 nm process do not compensate for its lower clocks in these benchmarks.

For perspective, the i5-6400’s average benchmark score is 1307, placing it near rivals like the AMD Opteron 6328 (1304, 0.2% ahead) and the AMD Athlon Gold 7220U (1311, 0.3% behind). The i5-4670R’s average score is 1286, putting it dead even with the Intel Core i5-3570 and just 0.1% behind the AMD Opteron 6272. Both CPUs sit at the 35th percentile of all CPUs, indicating they are mid-pack performers despite the i5-4670R’s clear head-to-head superiority.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications. The i5-6400 has a base clock of 2.70 GHz and a boost clock of 3.30 GHz, while the i5-4670R runs at 3.00 GHz base and 3.70 GHz boost. Both have a 65W TDP, but their sockets are incompatible: the i5-6400 uses Intel Socket 1151, while the i5-4670R uses Intel BGA 1364.

Memory support diverges sharply. The i5-6400 supports DDR4 with a dual-channel memory bus and a memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s. The i5-4670R supports DDR3, with no memory bus or bandwidth figures listed. The i5-6400 also has PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i5-4670R has no PCIe data provided.

The i5-6400’s integrated graphics are HD Graphics 530, whereas the i5-4670R features Intel Iris Pro 5200. The i5-4670R has an unlocked multiplier, enabling overclocking, while the i5-6400 does not. Production status also differs: the i5-6400 is end-of-life, while the i5-4670R is active. The i5-6400 has a launch MSRP of $182; the i5-4670R has no launch MSRP listed.

Architecture Differences

The i5-6400 is built on Intel’s Skylake architecture using a 14 nm process node, with a die size of 177 mm². The i5-4670R uses the older Haswell architecture on a 22 nm process, also with a 177 mm² die size but containing 1,400 million transistors. The i5-6400 does not have a transistor count listed.

Cache configurations differ notably. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, but the i5-6400 has 6 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i5-4670R has only 4 MB. This gives the Skylake part a 50% larger last-level cache, though it does not translate to a performance win in the benchmark data.

The i5-4670R carries a generation label of Core i5 (Haswell), while the i5-6400 is labeled Core i5 (Skylake). The i5-6400’s release date is July 2015, whereas the i5-4670R launched earlier in June 2013. The i5-6400 has a part number SR2L7; the i5-4670R has no part number listed. Both are desktop market segment parts with 4 cores and 4 threads, and neither supports ECC memory.