Intel Core i5-4460S

The Intel Core i5-4460S is a 4-core, 4-thread desktop processor from the Haswell generation, built on Intel's 22 nm process with a 65 W TDP. It operates at a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 3.40 GHz, and its benchmark results place it near the 36th percentile of all CPUs, indicating a modest standing in the broader performance landscape. Its average benchmark score of 1327 sits in a tight cluster with several rivals, making the comparison particularly revealing about how small architectural differences translate into real-world performance.

How It Compares

Against the Intel Core i5-4570R, the i5-4460S shows a negligible edge of 0.4% in average benchmark score (1327 vs 1322). This is essentially a tie, which is curious given that both share the Haswell architecture and similar core configurations. The data suggests that the 4460S's slightly lower clock speeds are offset by other factors, or that the 4570R's integrated graphics and different binning do not influence CPU-bound scores enough to create a meaningful gap. For most workloads, a user would not notice any difference between these two processors.

The Intel Atom x7425E is the only rival that edges out the i5-4460S, with a deltaPct of -0.4% (1333 vs 1327). This is a surprising result because the Atom is a low-power, efficiency-oriented line, while the i5 is a mainstream desktop part. The data implies that in the specific mix of benchmarks used to calculate the average, the Atom's newer architecture compensates for its lower per-core strength. However, the difference is within noise, and the i5-4460S likely retains advantages in sustained multi-threaded tasks that these aggregate scores may not fully capture.

The Intel Celeron G6900T and G6900E both trail the i5-4460S by 0.5% (1321 and 1320 vs 1327, respectively). These are budget-oriented dual-core parts, yet they come remarkably close to the i5 in average score. This suggests that the i5's four physical cores, while beneficial, are not overwhelmingly superior in the benchmark suite used here. The result hints that single-thread performance and memory latency play a larger role than raw core count in these particular tests, or that the Celerons benefit from higher boost clocks relative to their base.

Power and Thermals

The i5-4460S carries a 65 W TDP, which classifies it as a mainstream power envelope for a quad-core desktop processor. This TDP level implies that a capable air cooler with a modest heatsink and a standard 92 mm or 120 mm fan would be sufficient for most use cases. The 22 nm process node helps keep thermal density in check, and the 65 W figure is notably lower than what higher-clocked quad-cores of that era required, making it suitable for compact builds or office systems with limited airflow.

The 65 W TDP also suggests that the processor does not demand exotic cooling solutions or robust VRM designs on motherboards. For a system integrator or a user building a quiet PC, this is a favorable characteristic. The lack of an unlocked multiplier means overclocking is not an option, so the cooling requirement remains fixed by the stock specification. Under sustained load, the data does not indicate any thermal throttling concerns, but the boost clock of 3.40 GHz would likely be sustainable only within the thermal headroom provided by adequate case ventilation.

Benchmark Performance

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-4460S scores 397 points, while its single-core score is 55. The multi-core result is roughly 7.2 times the single-core figure, which aligns with a 4-core/4-thread design where scaling is not perfectly linear due to thermal and memory constraints. Compared to its closest rival, the i5-4570R, which has an average score of 1322, the 4460S's 1327 average represents a 0.4% advantage; translating that to Cinebench R15 multi-core, the 4460S would be approximately 2 points ahead, a negligible difference.

Cinebench R20 shows a multi-core score of 1655 and a single-core score of 233. The multi-core to single-core ratio here is about 7.1, consistent with the R15 results, indicating stable scaling across workload generations. The single-core score of 233 places it in a range where the 0.5% gap to the Celeron G6900T (avg 1321) would mean the Celeron might match or slightly exceed the i5 in lightly threaded tasks, despite having fewer cores. This is a key insight: for applications that rely heavily on single-thread performance, the i5-4460S does not offer a decisive edge over much cheaper rivals.

In Cinebench R23, the multi-core score is 3941, and the single-core score is 556. The multi-core figure is about 7.1 times the single-core, again confirming the 4-core scaling pattern. Geekbench results show a multi-core score of 2750 and a single-core score of 1026, which is a ratio of 2.68, far lower than Cinebench. This discrepancy suggests that Geekbench's workload mix is less parallelizable, or that memory bandwidth (25.6 GB/s dual-channel DDR3) becomes a bottleneck in multi-threaded tasks. The i5-4460S's average benchmark score of 1327, when compared to the Atom x7425E's 1333, means the Atom is 0.4% faster overall, but the i5 likely wins in sustained multi-core renders where the Atom's lower power limits may kick in.

FAQ

Q: What is the TDP of the Intel Core i5-4460S?

A: The TDP is 65 W, which is a mainstream figure for a quad-core processor, implying standard air cooling is adequate.

Q: How does the i5-4460S compare to the Intel Atom x7425E in average benchmark score?

A: The Atom x7425E has an average score of 1333, which is 0.4% higher than the i5-4460S's 1327, making them statistically equivalent.

Q: What is the boost clock speed of the i5-4460S?

A: The boost clock is 3.40 GHz, while the base clock is 2.90 GHz.

Q: Does the i5-4460S support ECC memory?

A: No, ECC memory is not supported; the processor uses dual-channel DDR3 memory with a bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s.

Q: What is the Cinebench R23 multi-core score for the i5-4460S?

A: The Cinebench R23 multi-core score is 3941, with a single-core score of 556.

Q: What is the integrated graphics unit in the i5-4460S?

A: It has Intel HD 4600 integrated graphics, which is sufficient for basic display output but not for demanding gaming.

Who Should Consider It

For gaming, the i5-4460S's single-core score of 1026 in Geekbench and 556 in Cinebench R23 indicates that it can handle older games or esports titles at moderate settings, but modern AAA games that rely heavily on high single-thread performance may show stutter. The 0.5% gap to the Celeron G6900T (avg 1321) suggests that for pure gaming, a cheaper dual-core with a higher boost clock could offer similar frame rates in many scenarios, though the i5's four cores would help in games that utilize more threads. The data does not support a strong recommendation for high-refresh-rate gaming.

For content creation, the multi-core scores (397 in R15, 1655 in R20, 3941 in R23) show that the i5-4460S can handle light video editing or photo rendering, but it is far from a productivity powerhouse. The 4-core/4-thread configuration without hyper-threading means that heavily threaded workloads like 4K video encoding or complex 3D rendering would be slow, and the 0.4% delta to the i5-4570R indicates no meaningful advantage over its direct rival. Users with occasional rendering needs might find it acceptable, but those with regular creation workloads would see better results from higher-core-count alternatives.

For office and general use, the i5-4460S is well-suited. The 65 W TDP keeps system cooling simple, and the dual-channel DDR3 memory support (25.6 GB/s) is ample for spreadsheets, web browsing, and document editing. The single-core score of 233 in Cinebench R20 is more than enough for responsiveness in everyday applications, and the 36th percentile standing among all CPUs means it outperforms a majority of older or lower-end processors. The integrated HD 4600 graphics remove the need for a discrete GPU in basic office setups, further reducing system cost and complexity.

Platform and Compatibility

The i5-4460S uses the Intel Socket 1150, which is associated with the Haswell generation of processors. This socket supports DDR3 memory in a dual-channel configuration, with a maximum bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s. The processor provides 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes from the CPU, which is sufficient for a single discrete graphics card or a couple of NVMe drives with appropriate adapters, though the platform's age means PCIe 4.0 is not available. ECC memory is not supported, so this is not a platform for error-correcting workloads.

The production status is end-of-life, meaning new motherboards for Socket 1150 are scarce, and users would need to source used boards or complete systems. The architecture is Haswell, built on a 22 nm process with 1,400 million transistors and a die size of 177 mm². The processor's part number is SR1QQ, and it was released in May 2014 with a launch MSRP of $182. The upgrade path from this processor is limited to other Haswell or Broadwell parts on the same socket, but the end-of-life status means that any upgrade would also be from older stock. The lack of an unlocked multiplier prevents overclocking, further constraining performance improvements.

Single-Thread vs Multi-Thread Behavior

The i5-4460S exhibits a consistent multi-thread scaling factor of roughly 7.1 across Cinebench versions (R15: 397/55, R20: 1655/233, R23: 3941/556). This indicates that the four cores scale nearly linearly in rendering workloads, with minor overhead from memory latency and shared L3 cache (6 MB). However, Geekbench shows a much lower scaling factor of 2.68 (2750/1026), suggesting that Geekbench's workload is less parallel or more memory-bound. This divergence is critical: in Cinebench-style tasks, the i5-4460S leverages all cores effectively, while in Geekbench-style tasks, single-thread performance dominates.

The single-core score of 1026 in Geekbench is modest, and the 0.5% delta to the Celeron G6900T (avg 1321) implies that the i5's single-thread strength is not a differentiator. For real-world applications, this means that tasks like spreadsheet recalculations, web page rendering, or script execution—which are often single-thread-limited—will not see a major benefit from the i5 over cheaper rivals. Conversely, video encoding or batch photo processing that can utilize multiple threads will show the i5's 4-core advantage, though the lack of hyper-threading means it cannot match newer 4-core/8-thread parts. The data suggests that the i5-4460S is a balanced but aging processor, where multi-threaded workloads benefit from the core count, but single-threaded performance holds it back in modern, less parallel software.