Intel Core i5-5675C vs Intel Core i7-4860HQ Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data presents a clear split: the Intel Core i7-4860HQ dominates in Cinebench workloads, while the Intel Core i5-5675C wins decisively in Geekbench tests. For users prioritizing multi-threaded rendering tasks, the i7-4860HQ is the stronger choice, leading by roughly 7% across all Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 tests. Conversely, the i5-5675C shows a commanding advantage in Geekbench, with a 32.8% lead in single-core and a 17.9% lead in multi-core performance. The i7-4860HQ is a mobile-oriented processor with 8 threads and a lower 47 W TDP, while the i5-5675C is a desktop chip with 4 threads and a 65 W TDP. The data suggests that the i7-4860HQ is better suited for sustained multi-threaded compute, whereas the i5-5675C excels in latency-sensitive and single-threaded applications. Neither processor reaches a high overall percentile, both sitting at the 41st percentile among all CPUs, indicating mid-range positioning. The i7-4860HQ is end-of-life, while the i5-5675C remains active in production, a factor that may influence long-term availability. The i5-5675C also carries a launch MSRP of $276, the only pricing information recorded in the database.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations and process nodes. The i5-5675C uses the Broadwell architecture on a 14 nm process, while the i7-4860HQ uses the Haswell architecture, codenamed Crystalwell, on a 22 nm process. This node difference is significant: the 14 nm process allows for a smaller die size of 182 mm² for the i5-5675C, compared to the 264 mm² die of the i7-4860HQ. The i7-4860HQ also carries 1,400 million transistors, a figure not listed for the i5-5675C. Cache configurations diverge as well: the i5-5675C has 4 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i7-4860HQ has 6 MB of shared L3 cache. Both share the same L1 and L2 cache sizes, 64 KB per core and 256 KB per core respectively. The integrated graphics differ, with the i5-5675C featuring Iris Pro Graphics 6200 and the i7-4860HQ featuring Intel HD 5200. The i5-5675C has an unlocked multiplier, indicating overclocking capability, while the i7-4860HQ does not. The socket types are distinct: the i5-5675C uses Intel Socket 1150, a desktop platform, while the i7-4860HQ uses Intel BGA 1364, a mobile soldered package. Both support DDR3 memory with dual-channel configuration and identical memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s, and both offer PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded head-to-head results show a consistent pattern across all eight benchmark tests. The i7-4860HQ wins six of the eight comparisons, while the i5-5675C wins the remaining two. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i7-4860HQ scores 533 against the i5-5675C's 495, a 7.1% advantage. The single-core R15 test shows a similar margin: 75 versus 69, an 8% lead for the i7-4860HQ. Moving to Cinebench R20, the i7-4860HQ again takes multicore with 2224 versus 2063, a 7.2% edge, and single-core with 313 versus 291, a 7% lead. In Cinebench R23, the multicore result is 5297 versus 4912, a 7.3% difference, and single-core is 747 versus 693, a 7.2% difference. These Cinebench results are remarkably consistent, with the i7-4860HQ holding roughly a 7 to 8% advantage across all tests. The Geekbench results flip the narrative entirely. In Geekbench multicore, the i5-5675C scores 4159 against 3527, a 17.9% lead. In Geekbench single-core, the i5-5675C scores 1388 against 1045, a substantial 32.8% lead. The magnitude of the Geekbench wins for the i5-5675C far exceeds the Cinebench wins for the i7-4860HQ, suggesting that the i5-5675C has a significantly stronger per-core performance in that benchmark suite, while the i7-4860HQ benefits from its additional threads in the Cinebench suite.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts differ directly: the i5-5675C has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the i7-4860HQ has 4 cores and 8 threads. The base clock speeds are different as well, with the i5-5675C running at 3.10 GHz and the i7-4860HQ at 2.40 GHz. Both boost to 3.60 GHz. The thermal design power differs substantially: the i5-5675C is rated at 65 W, while the i7-4860HQ is rated at 47 W, reflecting the mobile nature of the latter. The socket is a critical distinction: the i5-5675C is for Intel Socket 1150, while the i7-4860HQ is for Intel BGA 1364, making the i5-5675C a drop-in desktop part and the i7-4860HQ a soldered mobile component. The architecture and process node are listed as Broadwell on 14 nm for the i5-5675C and Haswell on 22 nm for the i7-4860HQ. The L3 cache differs, with 4 MB for the i5-5675C and 6 MB for the i7-4860HQ. The integrated graphics are not identical, as the i5-5675C uses Iris Pro Graphics 6200 and the i7-4860HQ uses Intel HD 5200. The i5-5675C has an unlocked multiplier, while the i7-4860HQ is locked. The production status differs: the i5-5675C is listed as active, while the i7-4860HQ is end-of-life. The release dates are different, with the i5-5675C launching in 2015 and the i7-4860HQ in 2014. The market segment differs as well, with the i5-5675C being a desktop processor and the i7-4860HQ being a mobile processor. The launch MSRP is recorded only for the i5-5675C at $276, while the i7-4860HQ has no recorded launch MSRP.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has better single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i5-5675C wins in Geekbench single-core with a score of 1388 against 1045, a 32.8% lead. However, in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 single-core tests, the Intel Core i7-4860HQ leads by 7 to 8%.

Q: Which processor is better for multi-threaded rendering?

A: The Intel Core i7-4860HQ consistently outperforms the i5-5675C in Cinebench multicore tests, with a 7.1% lead in R15, a 7.2% lead in R20, and a 7.3% lead in R23.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory type?

A: Yes, both support DDR3 memory with dual-channel configuration and the same memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core i7-4860HQ has 6 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Intel Core i5-5675C has 4 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: Can the Intel Core i5-5675C be overclocked?

A: The database shows that the i5-5675C has an unlocked multiplier, indicating overclocking support. The i7-4860HQ does not have an unlocked multiplier.

Q: Which processor is still in production?

A: The Intel Core i5-5675C is listed as active in production, while the Intel Core i7-4860HQ is listed as end-of-life.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-4860HQ wins in Cinebench workloads across the board. In all three versions of Cinebench, R15, R20, and R23, the i7-4860HQ takes both single-core and multi-core tests with margins between 7% and 8%. This consistency suggests that the i7-4860HQ is better optimized for the Cinebench rendering engine, likely due to its 8 threads versus the i5-5675C's 4 threads. The i7-4860HQ also has a lower TDP of 47 W, making it a more power-efficient option for sustained workloads, though it is a mobile part soldered to a BGA 1364 socket. Users with workloads that mirror Cinebench, such as 3D rendering or other multi-threaded compute tasks, should favor the i7-4860HQ based on the recorded data.

The Intel Core i5-5675C wins in Geekbench, with a 17.9% lead in multi-core and a 32.8% lead in single-core. These are large margins, particularly in single-core performance, which indicates that the i5-5675C has superior per-core throughput in the Geekbench test suite. The i5-5675C also benefits from a higher base clock of 3.10 GHz compared to 2.40 GHz, which likely contributes to its Geekbench advantage. For applications that are latency-sensitive or heavily reliant on single-threaded performance, such as certain productivity tasks or legacy software, the i5-5675C is the better choice. Additionally, the i5-5675C is an active desktop part on Socket 1150 with an unlocked multiplier, offering upgradeability and overclocking potential that the i7-4860HQ lacks. The i5-5675C also has a smaller die size of 182 mm², reflecting its more modern 14 nm process, which may offer efficiency benefits in desktop environments.