Intel Core i7-4558U vs Intel Core i7-5650U Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data splits these two mobile processors along a clear line: the Intel Core i7-4558U claims victory in Geekbench multicore, while the Intel Core i7-5650U takes every other recorded test. Out of seven head-to-head comparisons, the i7-5650U wins six, but the single loss is substantial enough to matter.

Looking at the full picture, the i7-4558U's Geekbench multicore score of 1,967 versus the i7-5650U's 1,854 represents a 6.1% advantage, the largest margin in either direction across all tests. This suggests the older Haswell chip maintains an edge in certain multithreaded workloads that Geekbench emphasizes, possibly due to its higher base and boost clocks.

The i7-5650U, meanwhile, wins every Cinebench iteration, from the older R15 through the more demanding R23, plus Geekbench single-core. Its Cinebench R23 multicore score of 2,542 edges out the i7-4558U's 2,532 by just 0.4%, while the single-core margin in R23 is similarly narrow at 0.3%. In single-threaded Geekbench, the i7-5650U posts 960 against 941, a 2% gap.

The practical takeaway: if a workload leans on Geekbench-style multicore performance, the i7-4558U holds the advantage. For nearly everything else in the recorded data, including all Cinebench tests and single-threaded Geekbench, the i7-5650U comes out ahead, albeit often by small margins.

Architecture Differences

These two processors come from different Intel generations and manufacturing nodes, which explains much of their behavioral divergence. The i7-4558U is built on the Haswell architecture using a 22 nm process, packing 1,300 million transistors into a 118 mm² die. The i7-5650U moves to Broadwell on a 14 nm node, with 1,900 million transistors across a 133 mm² die.

Both chips share the same core and thread configuration: 2 cores, 4 threads, with 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core. Their L3 caches are identical at 4 MB shared. Memory support is also the same on paper, with both accepting DDR3, and neither supports ECC memory.

The clock speeds tell a different story. The i7-4558U runs at a 2.80 GHz base clock and boosts to 3.30 GHz, while the i7-5650U starts lower at 2.20 GHz and boosts to 3.20 GHz. Despite the lower clocks, the i7-5650U often matches or exceeds its predecessor in benchmarks, proof of the architectural efficiency gains from the newer Broadwell design.

Thermal design power differs significantly: the i7-4558U carries a 28 W TDP, while the i7-5650U draws only 15 W. This makes the Broadwell chip substantially more power-efficient on paper, which is notable for mobile use cases. The i7-5650U also lists a dual-channel memory bus with 29.9 GB/s bandwidth, whereas the i7-4558U's memory bus details are not recorded. PCIe support also appears only for the i7-5650U, with Gen 2 and 12 lanes available from the CPU.

Integrated graphics differ as well: the i7-4558U includes Intel HD 5100, while the i7-5650U upgrades to Intel HD 6000. Both fit the same Intel BGA 1168 socket, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. The i7-5650U is marked as end-of-life in production status, while the i7-4558U's status is not recorded.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench results cluster tightly across both processors, making the i7-5650U's sweep of this suite a series of narrow margins rather than a dominant showing. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i7-5650U scores 256 against 255 for the i7-4558U, a 0.4% difference. Cinebench R20 multicore repeats the pattern: 1,067 versus 1,063, again 0.4%. The R20 single-core test shows 150 against 149, a 0.7% gap. Cinebench R23 multicore delivers 2,542 versus 2,532, another 0.4% margin, and R23 single-core sees 358 versus 357, a 0.3% edge.

Geekbench breaks the monotony. The multicore result heavily favors the i7-4558U at 1,967 versus 1,854, a 6.1% swing in the opposite direction. This is the only test where the i7-4558U wins, and the margin is the largest recorded between the two chips. Single-core Geekbench flips back to the i7-5650U with 960 versus 941, a 2% advantage.

The overall pattern suggests that while the i7-5650U is more consistently ahead, the i7-4558U's higher clock speeds can produce a meaningful spike in certain multicore scenarios. The 6.1% Geekbench multicore win is notable because it dwarfs the sub-1% margins seen throughout Cinebench. This raises a question about what Geekbench's multicore test measures differently, likely a mix of memory access patterns and instruction-level parallelism where the older architecture's higher frequency gives it an edge.

Average benchmark scores across all tests reinforce the near-parity: the i7-4558U averages 1,038, while the i7-5650U averages 1,027, a difference of roughly 1%. Both sit at the 28th percentile among all CPUs in the database, placing them in identical competitive territory despite their internal differences.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear but nuanced recommendation. The Intel Core i7-5650U wins six of seven benchmarks and does so while consuming nearly half the power, 15 W versus 28 W. For any mobile system where battery life and thermal headroom matter, the i7-5650U is the obvious choice based on the recorded measurements. Its wins in all Cinebench tests and single-core Geekbench show it handles the broader range of workloads better.

The Intel Core i7-4558U, however, should not be dismissed. Its Geekbench multicore victory by 6.1% indicates that certain multithreaded applications may run faster on the older chip. If a user's primary software relies on the specific performance characteristics that Geekbench multicore measures, the i7-4558U's higher clocks could translate into real-world advantages.

The i7-5650U also carries newer architectural features: a 14 nm process, a larger transistor count, and Intel HD 6000 graphics. It supports dual-channel memory with a listed 29.9 GB/s bandwidth, and its PCIe Gen 2 implementation with 12 lanes is documented, while the i7-4558U lacks these recorded specifications. For a system builder prioritizing efficiency and modern features, the i7-5650U aligns more closely with those goals.

The i7-5650U's launch MSRP was $426, which provides a reference point for its positioning, though the i7-4558U has no recorded launch price. In the end, the i7-5650U is the more rounded processor per the data, while the i7-4558U is a niche pick for specific multicore workloads.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher clock speed?

A: The Intel Core i7-4558U runs at a 2.80 GHz base clock and boosts to 3.30 GHz, while the Intel Core i7-5650U has a 2.20 GHz base and a 3.20 GHz boost.

Q: What is the power consumption difference?

A: The i7-4558U has a 28 W TDP, while the i7-5650U is rated at 15 W, making the Broadwell chip significantly more power-efficient.

Q: How do they compare in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The i7-5650U scores 2,542 versus 2,532 for the i7-4558U, a 0.4% advantage for the newer chip.

Q: Where does the i7-4558U win?

A: The i7-4558U wins only Geekbench multicore, scoring 1,967 against 1,854, a 6.1% margin in its favor.

Q: Do they share the same core configuration?

A: Yes, both have 2 cores and 4 threads, with 64 KB L1 cache per core, 256 KB L2 cache per core, and 4 MB shared L3 cache.

Q: What integrated graphics do they use?

A: The i7-4558U includes Intel HD 5100, while the i7-5650U features Intel HD 6000.

Specification Differences

| Field | Intel Core i7-4558U | Intel Core i7-5650U |

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

| Architecture | Haswell | Broadwell |

| Codename | Haswell-ULT | Broadwell-U |

| Generation | Core i7 (Haswell) | Core i7 (Broadwell-U) |

| Process Node | 22 nm | 14 nm |

| Transistors | 1,300 million | 1,900 million |

| Die Size | 118 mm² | 133 mm² |

| Base Clock | 2.80 GHz | 2.20 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.30 GHz | 3.20 GHz |

| TDP | 28 W | 15 W |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 5100 | Intel HD 6000 |

| Memory Bus | Not recorded | Dual-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not recorded | 29.9 GB/s |

| PCIe | Not recorded | Gen 2, 12 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Part Number | SR188 | SR267 |

| Release Date | 2013-06-03 | 2015-02-28 |

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

| Launch MSRP | Not recorded | $426 |