Intel Core i5-4460

The Intel Core i5-4460 is a desktop processor from Intel built on the Haswell architecture using a 22 nm process, with 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die. It has 4 cores and 4 threads, a base clock of 3.20 GHz, a boost clock of 3.40 GHz, and a cache layout of 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core plus 6 MB shared L3. It supports DDR3 memory in dual-channel mode with 25.6 GB/s bandwidth and includes Intel HD 4600 integrated graphics. Its launch MSRP was $187. The average benchmark score is 1207, placing it at the 34th percentile among all CPUs.

How It Compares

The nearest rival list begins with the Intel Core i3-8145UE. The i5-4460's average score of 1207 is 0.1% higher than that processor's 1206 average. In the aggregate benchmark data, the two are effectively tied, with the i5-4460 holding a marginal edge.

Against the Intel Xeon D-1520, the i5-4460 trails by 0.1%. The Xeon's average score is 1209, above the i5's 1207, and the deltaPct is -0.1. That places the i5-4460 just behind this rival in the nearest-rival table.

The Intel Core i3-6100 posts an average score of 1205, and the i5-4460 sits 0.2% ahead. That is the largest positive delta in the nearest-rival group, though the two processors remain very close in overall benchmark output.

The Intel Core i7-3612QE is the farthest ahead of the i5-4460 among the listed rivals. Its average score of 1211 yields a deltaPct of -0.4, meaning the i5-4460 trails by 0.4%. Across all 4 nearest rivals, the entire spread runs from 1205 to 1211, so the i5-4460 is surrounded by a tightly clustered set of Intel processors.

Who Should Consider It

The i5-4460 is a 4-core, 4-thread desktop chip, so workloads that fit it best are those that do not demand large thread counts. The Cinebench R23 multicore score of 4175 and the single-core score of 589 give a useful reference: it can bring all cores together for parallel work, but the absolute result is capped by having only 4 threads.

For gaming, the single-thread scores are the more relevant reference. Cinebench R23 single-core 589 and Cinebench R20 single-core 247 reflect how the processor behaves when a workload depends on a single core. The 3.40 GHz boost clock helps keep that lightly threaded work responsive, and the dual-channel DDR3 memory support with 25.6 GB/s bandwidth provides a workable memory subsystem for mainstream desktop use.

For creation workloads, the multicore scores matter more. Cinebench R15 multicore 420, Cinebench R20 multicore 1753, and Cinebench R23 multicore 4175 all represent the output of 4 threads working together. Rendering, encoding, and other highly threaded tasks will reach a ceiling quickly because there are only 4 threads available. The 34th percentile ranking reinforces this: the i5-4460 sits below a majority of CPUs in the database.

For office and general productivity, the combination of 4 cores, 4 threads, and 6 MB shared L3 is enough for typical desktop responsiveness. The integrated Intel HD 4600 provides graphics output without requiring a separate graphics board. The TDP of 84 makes it a straightforward desktop part to power, and the end-of-life production status means it is not a candidate for new high-performance builds; it is more plausible as a practical desktop processor for everyday use.

Single-Thread vs Multi-Thread Behavior

The Cinebench results show the single-thread versus multi-thread split clearly. In Cinebench R15, the i5-4460 scores 59 in single-core and 420 in multicore. In Cinebench R20, the corresponding scores are 247 and 1753. In Cinebench R23, they are 589 and 4175. In each test, the multicore score is substantially higher than the single-core score, because the benchmark can engage all 4 cores.

Single-thread performance is set by the Haswell core and the 3.40 GHz boost clock. A Cinebench R23 single-core score of 589 is the reference for workloads with a single active thread, such as many user-interface tasks, scripting, and lightly threaded applications. The base clock of 3.20 GHz provides the sustained operating point when boost is not engaged.

Multicore performance comes from all 4 cores running together. Because the core count equals the thread count, the i5-4460 has no extra logical threads to fill idle execution resources. Applications with parallel work can use 4 threads, but workloads that want more than 4 threads will see scaling stop at the 4 physical cores.

This split matters for real workloads. Single-thread-bound applications will perform near the single-core Cinebench values, while applications that spread work across 4 threads will move closer to the multicore figures. Anything beyond 4 threads will not gain additional throughput from this processor.

FAQ

Q: What socket does the Intel Core i5-4460 use?

A: It uses Intel Socket 1150.

Q: Does it support ECC memory?

A: No. It supports DDR3 memory in dual-channel mode, and ECC memory support is false.

Q: Can the multiplier be adjusted for overclocking?

A: No. The multiplier is not unlocked; multiplierUnlocked is false.

Q: What integrated graphics does the processor include?

A: It includes Intel HD 4600.

Q: What is the PCIe configuration?

A: The CPU provides PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only).

Q: What is the production status?

A: The production status is end-of-life, with a release date of 2014-05-10.

Benchmark Performance

The i5-4460's average benchmark score is 1207. In the nearest-rival data, that places it 0.1% ahead of the Intel Core i3-8145UE, which averages 1206; 0.2% ahead of the Intel Core i3-6100, which averages 1205; 0.1% behind the Intel Xeon D-1520, which averages 1209; and 0.4% behind the Intel Core i7-3612QE, which averages 1211. The four rivals span only from 1205 to 1211, so the i5-4460 sits in a tight cluster. None of the 4 deltas exceeds 0.4%.

In Cinebench R15, the i5-4460 scores 420 multicore and 59 single-core. In Cinebench R20, it scores 1753 multicore and 247 single-core. In Cinebench R23, it scores 4175 multicore and 589 single-core. These figures are the detailed performance references behind the 1207 average score.

The 34th percentile among all CPUs indicates that the i5-4460 sits below a majority of processors in the database. Yet the nearest-rival comparison shows that its average score is within 0.4% of 4 other Intel processors. Together, these data points describe a desktop CPU whose aggregate score is bracketed by a narrow group of Intel rivals, with Cinebench multicore results demonstrating a clear 4-thread ceiling.