Intel Core i5-8269U vs Intel Core i7-4860HQ Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a clean sweep for the Intel Core i5-8269U across every Cinebench iteration in the head-to-head comparison. There is no test in the database where the Intel Core i7-4860HQ takes the lead, and the margin is remarkably consistent.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-8269U scores 609 against 533 for the i7-4860HQ, a 14.3% advantage. The single-core version of the same test shows 85 versus 75, a 13.3% gap. Moving to Cinebench R20, the multi-core result is 2538 versus 2224 (14.1% ahead), and single-core is 358 versus 313 (14.4% ahead). Cinebench R23 follows the same pattern: 6044 versus 5297 in multi-core (14.1%) and 853 versus 747 in single-core (14.2%).

The consistency of the delta is noteworthy. Across six benchmarks, the percentage difference never drops below 13.3% and never exceeds 14.4%. This suggests the performance gap is systemic, not workload-specific. The i5-8269U does not just edge out the i7-4860HQ in one particular test; it maintains a nearly identical advantage regardless of whether the workload is heavily threaded or lightly threaded. That uniformity makes the result easier to interpret for practical purposes: if you are choosing between these two, the i5-8269U is the faster chip in every measured scenario.

The average benchmark score in the database reinforces this. The i5-8269U sits at 1748, while the i7-4860HQ sits at 1720. Both processors land in the 41st percentile of all CPUs tracked, which places them in the same broad performance tier. But within that tier, the newer part is clearly ahead. Looking at the nearest rivals for the i5-8269U, it trades blows with the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 3200GE (delta -0.1%), the Intel Core i7-980X (delta 0.1%), the Intel Core i5-6600 (delta 0.3%), and the AMD Ryzen 3 4300U (delta 0.4%). The i7-4860HQ, by contrast, sits near the AMD Athlon Gold PRO 3150GE (-0.1%), the Intel Core i7-4910MQ (0.3%), the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 2700U (0.3%), and the Intel Core i7-990X (0.4%). The i5-8269U is competitive with desktop parts from the same era, whereas the i7-4860HQ is closer to older enthusiast silicon.

Where Each One Wins

The i5-8269U wins everywhere in this comparison. That is the short answer. The longer answer is that the type of win matters for understanding why.

The largest single delta is in Cinebench R20 single-core, where the i5-8269U leads by 14.4%. The smallest delta is in Cinebench R15 single-core, at 13.3%. The multi-core deltas are all tightly clustered between 14.1% and 14.3%. This means the i5-8269U does not rely on having more cores or threads to win; both chips have 4 cores and 8 threads. The advantage is in how efficiently each core executes instructions. The i5-8269U's higher boost clock, 4.20 GHz versus 3.60 GHz, is part of that story, but the architectural improvements from Kaby Lake over Haswell also play a role.

For a user, this translates into a clear directive. If you are running any workload that benefits from single-thread performance, such as older games, spreadsheet calculations, or lightly threaded productivity apps, the i5-8269U is the pick. If you are running heavily threaded workloads like video encoding or 3D rendering, the i5-8269U still wins, and by roughly the same margin. There is no scenario in the database where the i7-4860HQ offers a compensatory advantage. The i7-4860HQ does have a higher TDP at 47 watts, but the benchmark data shows no performance benefit from that extra power draw.

The i7-4860HQ's only saving grace in this comparison is historical context. It was released in early 2014 and is now end-of-life. The i5-8269U was released in early 2018 and remains active. For someone with an existing system built around the i7-4860HQ, upgrading to the i5-8269U would require a new motherboard due to socket differences, but the performance uplift is substantial and consistent.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations and different process nodes. The i5-8269U is built on Kaby Lake, specifically the Kaby Lake-R refresh, using a 14 nm process. The i7-4860HQ is a Haswell part, codenamed Crystalwell, on a 22 nm process. The process node difference is significant: 14 nm versus 22 nm allows for denser transistors and lower power consumption at similar clock speeds.

The die size and transistor count tell the story of how each chip was designed. The i7-4860HQ has 1,400 million transistors on a 264 mm² die. The i5-8269U does not have a transistor count listed in the database, but its die size is 123 mm². That is less than half the physical area of the i7-4860HQ, which reflects both the newer process and the removal of certain features. The i7-4860HQ includes Intel HD 5200 integrated graphics, which was Iris Pro-class and occupied a substantial portion of the die. The i5-8269U has Iris Pro Plus graphics, which is a newer implementation on a smaller process.

Cache configurations are identical in structure: 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 6 MB shared L3. Both chips have 4 cores and 8 threads. The base clocks differ slightly, with the i5-8269U at 2.60 GHz and the i7-4860HQ at 2.40 GHz. The boost clocks differ more substantially, 4.20 GHz versus 3.60 GHz, which is a 16.7% higher peak for the i5-8269U. That clock advantage, combined with the newer architecture, explains the consistent benchmark deltas.

Memory support is another key divergence. The i5-8269U supports DDR4, while the i7-4860HQ supports DDR3. The i7-4860HQ has a dual-channel memory bus with a recorded bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s. The i5-8269U does not have a memory bus or bandwidth figure listed, but the shift to DDR4 is a generational upgrade. The i7-4860HQ also lists PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes on the CPU, while the i5-8269U does not have PCIe information recorded.

Sockets differ as well. The i5-8269U uses Intel BGA 1356, and the i7-4860HQ uses Intel BGA 1364. These are not compatible, so any comparison is purely academic for upgrades unless you are changing the entire platform. The i7-4860HQ has a part number of SR1BP, while the i5-8269U does not have one listed. Both chips have locked multipliers, so overclocking is not an option for either.

The production status also differs: the i5-8269U is active, while the i7-4860HQ is end-of-life. This has practical implications for availability and long-term support, though the database does not track pricing or supply.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core i5-8269U wins all three multi-core Cinebench tests. In R15 it scores 609 versus 533 (14.3% ahead), in R20 it scores 2538 versus 2224 (14.1% ahead), and in R23 it scores 6044 versus 5297 (14.1% ahead).

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i5-8269U has a boost clock of 4.20 GHz, compared to 3.60 GHz for the Intel Core i7-4860HQ. The i5-8269U also has a higher base clock at 2.60 GHz versus 2.40 GHz.

Q: Do both processors have the same core and thread count?

A: Yes, both have 4 cores and 8 threads. They also both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: What is the process node difference?

A: The Intel Core i5-8269U is built on a 14 nm process, while the Intel Core i7-4860HQ is built on a 22 nm process. The i7-4860HQ has 1,400 million transistors on a 264 mm² die, while the i5-8269U has a 123 mm² die.

Q: Which processor supports DDR4 memory?

A: The Intel Core i5-8269U supports DDR4. The Intel Core i7-4860HQ supports DDR3 and has a dual-channel memory bus with 25.6 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Are the sockets interchangeable?

A: No. The Intel Core i5-8269U uses Intel BGA 1356, and the Intel Core i7-4860HQ uses Intel BGA 1364. They are different sockets and require different motherboards.

Specification Differences

The following fields differ between the two processors in the database:

• Base clock: 2.60 GHz (i5-8269U) versus 2.40 GHz (i7-4860HQ)
• Boost clock: 4.20 GHz (i5-8269U) versus 3.60 GHz (i7-4860HQ)
• TDP: 28 watts (i5-8269U) versus 47 watts (i7-4860HQ)
• Socket: Intel BGA 1356 (i5-8269U) versus Intel BGA 1364 (i7-4860HQ)
• Architecture: Kaby Lake (i5-8269U) versus Haswell (i7-4860HQ)
• Codename: Kaby Lake-R (i5-8269U) versus Crystalwell (i7-4860HQ)
• Generation: Core i5 (Kaby Lake-U Refresh) versus Core i7 (Crystal Well)
• Process node: 14 nm (i5-8269U) versus 22 nm (i7-4860HQ)
• Die size: 123 mm² (i5-8269U) versus 264 mm² (i7-4860HQ)
• Transistors: not listed (i5-8269U) versus 1,400 million (i7-4860HQ)
• Memory support: DDR4 (i5-8269U) versus DDR3 (i7-4860HQ)
• Memory bus: not listed (i5-8269U) versus Dual-channel (i7-4860HQ)
• Memory bandwidth: not listed (i5-8269U) versus 25.6 GB/s (i7-4860HQ)
• PCIe: not listed (i5-8269U) versus Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) (i7-4860HQ)
• Integrated graphics: Iris Pro Plus (i5-8269U) versus Intel HD 5200 (i7-4860HQ)
• Production status: Active (i5-8269U) versus End-of-life (i7-4860HQ)
• Release date: 2018-04-04 (i5-8269U) versus 2014-01-31 (i7-4860HQ)
• Part number: not listed (i5-8269U) versus SR1BP (i7-4860HQ)
• Benchmark suite: the i7-4860HQ has Geekbench scores listed (3527 multi-core, 1045 single-core), while the i5-8269U does not

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous. The Intel Core i5-8269U outperforms the Intel Core i7-4860HQ in every benchmark recorded in the database. The margins range from 13.3% to 14.4%, which is a meaningful difference in real-world use. The i5-8269U achieves this while drawing less power, as indicated by its 28 watt TDP versus the i7-4860HQ's 47 watt TDP. It also uses a newer process node, supports DDR4 memory, and is still in active production.

The i7-4860HQ retains its place in the database as a capable part for its era. It has the same core and thread count as the i5-8269U, an identical cache hierarchy, and a higher TDP that might have suggested better sustained performance. The benchmarks do not support that suggestion. The i7-4860HQ is simply slower in every measured test.

For a buyer deciding between these two today, the choice is clear: the i5-8269U is the faster processor with a newer feature set and a longer production life. The only reason to consider the i7-4860HQ would be if you are locked into its socket and cannot replace the motherboard, but that is a platform constraint, not a performance argument. The database shows no scenario where the i7-4860HQ wins.

The percentile ranking for both is identical at 41, which places them in the same broad performance class. But within that class, the i5-8269U sits near the top of its peer group, matching or slightly exceeding desktop parts like the Intel Core i5-6600 and the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 3200GE. The i7-4860HQ sits near the AMD Athlon Gold PRO 3150GE and the Intel Core i7-4910MQ. The i5-8269U is the better purchase for anyone building a new system or upgrading from an older platform.