Intel Core i5-4460 vs Intel Core i7-4790

Processor comparisons 17-03-2021

   For example there are difficulties with the choice of a processor, you will solve them by reading the comprehensive tests Intel Core i5-4460 vs Intel Core i7-4790 and understand which is better for games or normal use for programming, machine learning, video editing, streaming, rendering. Here you can find all information from different benchmarks or real video editing and streaming tests. A step-by-step analysis of all the technical characteristics, to make it easier to understand, is summarized in the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of joint testing in special testing software such as World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Blender, PCMark 10, SuperPi, 3DMark, PassMark, RealBench, VeraCrypt, WPrime, Prime95, Furmark, Handbrake, UserBenchmark, MATLAB, Blender, Dolphin Emulator, 7zip, AIDA64, Gears 5, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), GeekBench 6, 5.2.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

Red Dead Redemption 2
Call of Duty: Warzone and Modern Warfare
Death Stranding
Watch Dogs Legion
Fortnite
Valheim
Apex Legends
Fallout 76
World of Warcraft: Shadowlands
Halo Infinite
Valorant
Overwatch
Borderlands 3
DOOM: Eternal
Assassin's Creed Valhalla
Last Man Standing
Cyberpunk 2077
Rainbow Six Siege
Grand Theft Auto V

After looking at the data these benchmarks and videos, you can already make an informed decision about which CPU is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i7-4790 or Intel Core i5-4460.

Summary benchmark results

As a percentage of the maximum value based on a sample from the entire base of all processors
Processor Benchmark

Core i5-4460

51%

Core i7-4790

52%

This shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i7-4790 is 1% better than Core i5-4460. The data source is several popular tests. More detailed information of the benchmarks is below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i5-4460

51%

Core i7-4790

52%

The maximum result in this parameter is 100 percent, which is the performance of the most powerful processor at the moment. And it is clear that this is a server processor, on which no one will run games. Because the cost of this processor reaches several tens of thousands of dollars. Therefore, if you think that the selected CPU has a little game result, look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the summary table below.
List of less popular games in which CPU comparisons were performed: Microsoft Flight Simulator, Metro Exodus, Control, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Horizon Zero Dawn, Battlefield V, Hitman 3, NBA 2K20, DOTA 2A, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Forza Horizon 4, Ghostrunner, Monster Hunter World, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, League of Legends (LOL), Half-Life: Alyx.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	91.0	92.1
Valorant	103.4	104.7
Cyberpunk 2077	57.9	58.6
Apex Legends	97.2	98.4
Call of Duty Warzone	77.6	78.5
Overwatch	83.8	84.8
Red Dead Redemption 2	71.4	72.2
DOOM Eternal	51.7	52.3
Warzone	80.7	81.6
Assassin's Creed	86.9	87.9
Valheim	85.8	86.9

The numbers in this table indicate the maximum FPS that was received on the device with the corresponding processor. Depending on the configuration of the computer (RAM size and Video Card) and graphics quality settings (Ultra, Medium, Normal), the results may differ quite significantly. We recommend that you better study the results of the Cinebench, GeekBench and Passmark becnmarks.
The computers that were in the comparisons not only did they have different video cards and different amounts of RAM. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 4K, 2K or FullHD. So the game benchmark data is approximate. But all video cards met the average system requirements of games. To be sure exactly how much performance the processor will be in games, if you get acquainted with the benchmarks that are made with the same video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Core i5-4460

34%

Core i7-4790

31%

To make a final resolution on which processor is better, you should also consider the generation of its core. The newer the processor generation, the better its performance in games and benchmarks, as well as its energy efficiency. In this case the Core i5-4460 is more energy efficient than the Core i7-4790 as it consumes less power: 84W vs. 84W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, you need to know its TDP. You need to buy a cooler that has the TDP data specified in the specification was greater than the TDP of the compared processor.

Software benchmarks

For example you plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for programming, video rendering or video editing, machine learning, streaming, then first of all you need to pay attention to the performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to achieve maximum performance, the CPU includes all cores and threads that it has. You will learn this data from the benchmark tables below. Before using the data from these tests, be sure to check whether the program you are going to use on your computer supports multi-threaded mode. Because there are still many programs that can use only one core to work, and all the benefit of multi-core mode are unused.

Cinebench 23, 20 an 15
The results of this benchmark show Single-threaded and Multi-threaded CPU performance

	Intel Core i5-4460	Intel Core i7-4790
Cinbench 15 Single-core	132	145
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	477	728
Cinbench 20 Single-core	325	384
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	1177	1819
Cinbench 23 Single-core	714	974
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	2716	4564

Passmark
This popular benchmark displays Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	Intel Core i5-4460	Intel Core i7-4790
Single-Core	1877	2247
Multi-Core	4794	7177

GeekBench 6, 5.2
This benchmark shows Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	Intel Core i5-4460	Intel Core i7-4790
Single-Core	881	785
Multi-Core	2955	4018

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most useful will be the the possibility of overclocking it and release date of the processor. The later the processor is released, the longer it will last in your computer. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system in the future. The same benefits from the presence of overclocking. When the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS in the newest games. The savings are obvious! It turns out that there is no longer a need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	Intel Core i5-4460	Intel Core i7-4790
Announcement date	April 01, 2014	April 01, 2014
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	LGA1150	FCLGA1150
Core name	Haswell	Haswell
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	4	4
Turbo Frequency	3.4 MHz	4 MHz
Frequency	3.2 MHz	3.6 MHz
Cores	4	4
Threads	4	8
Bus rate	5 GT/s	5 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	22 nm	22 nm
Transistors count	2460 millions	1480 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	84 W	84 W
Memory type	DDR3-1333/1600, DDR3L-1333/1600 @ 1.5V	DDR3-1333/1600, DDR3L-1333/1600 @ 1.5V
Max. Memory	32 Gb	32 Gb
Memory Frequency
Memory bandwidth	25.6 GB/s	25.6 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache
L3 cache	6 MB	8 MB
Overclocking	Yes	Yes
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Core i7-4790 is 11% better than Core i5-4460 in terms of CPU frequency. Also keep in mind that high CPU frequency affects battery life through power consumption (relevant for laptops).

Result:
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i5-4460 is better: 2
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i7-4790 is better: 24
Although it should be understood that all the figures that you have looked at here do not mean that taking them into account you should fully trust a simple quantitative comparison. Better to watch the testing video and read the reviews of of people who bought Intel Core i5-4460 and Intel Core i7-4790 before making a decision which of the CPUs to buy for gaming.

• Intel Core i5-4460 specs and review.

• Intel Core i7-4790 specs and review.