CPU Comparison
Core i7-4600U vs Core i7-5600U
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i7-4600U is an ultra-low voltage mobile processor launched in September 2013 as part of the 4th Generation Haswell lineup. Designed specifically for thin-and-light ultrabooks, this dual-core CPU features Hyper-Threading to handle 4 threads simultaneously. Operating at a base frequency of 2.1 GHz and boosting up to 3.3 GHz, it delivered strong single-threaded performance for its 15W thermal envelope. The processor is built on Intel's 22nm process and utilizes the BGA 1168 socket, meaning it is soldered directly to the motherboard. One of its standout features is the inclusion of Intel HD Graphics 5000, which offers significantly more execution units than standard HD 4600, providing better integrated graphics performance for light gaming and media workloads. With 4MB of L3 cache and support for DDR3 memory, the i7-4600U was a premium choice for business ultrabooks where battery life and compact dimensions were prioritized over raw multi-core horsepower.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Good for office tasks, but dual-core limits heavy multitasking.
Gaming
HD 5500 is only suitable for very old or 2D games.
Virtualization
vPro helps, but dual-core limits running multiple VMs.
Efficiency
Excellent efficiency for 2015 business laptops.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
No data
- No AI hardware
- Dual-core limits inference
Content Creation
No data
Gaming
No data
- Not designed for gaming
- HD 5500 is very weak
- Only for basic 2D applications
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- Excellent power efficiency for 2013
- HD 5000 graphics offer decent legacy media playback
- Good single-core burst performance
- Enabled thinner laptop designs
Cons
- Only 2 physical cores
- Soldered to motherboard (BGA)
- Lacks official Windows 11 support
- DDR3 memory is obsolete
Pros
- Intel vPro for enterprise management
- Excellent battery life for its era
- Good for office productivity
- Low 15W TDP
Cons
- Only 2 cores
- Outdated DDR3 memory
- Weak integrated graphics
- Soldered to motherboard
- Struggles with modern multitasking
Competitors & Alternatives
Core i7-4600U
- AMD A10-5745MRival
Ultra-Low Power Mobile
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i7-4500URival
Ultra-Low Power Mobile
- AMD A8-5557MRival
Ultra-Low Power Mobile
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-4200URival
Ultra-Low Power Mobile
- AMD A6-5357MRival
Ultra-Low Power Mobile
- Intel Core i7-5600UAlt
Broadwell successor with better efficiency and performance.
- Intel Core i5-4300UAlt
Similar performance for a lower price point.
Previous generation Ivy Bridge alternative.
Compare head-to-head- Intel Core i7-4650UAlt
Slightly lower base clock but otherwise nearly identical.
Core i7-5600U
- AMD A8-7100Rival
Mobile APU
- Intel Core i7-5500URival
Mobile Thin & Light
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-5300URival
Mobile Business
- Intel Core i7-6600UAlt
Skylake successor with DDR4 and vPro.
Modern quad-core vPro alternative with massive performance gains.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 4500UAlt
Modern 6-core alternative for business laptops.
Modern 10nm alternative with better efficiency and graphics.
Compare head-to-head- Alt
Revolutionary efficiency and performance for mobile work.
Compare head-to-head
Our Verdict on Each
A capable ultrabook chip for 2013 that offered great battery life and improved graphics, but its dual-core design is severely outdated for modern workloads.
Best for: Purchasing a cheap used laptop for basic Linux computing
Read the full reviewA solid Broadwell-U chip tailored for enterprise environments with vPro, offering good efficiency and adequate performance for office work.
Best for: Buying a refurbished ThinkPad or Latitude for basic typing.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Core i7-4600U or Core i7-5600U?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Core i7-5600U comes out ahead with a score of 6.5/10. That said, the best choice depends on your workload — check the spec and performance breakdown above for gaming, productivity and efficiency differences.
Which is faster for gaming, Core i7-4600U or Core i7-5600U?
For gaming, the Core i7-5600U leads with a gaming performance score of 20/100 among Core i7-4600U and Core i7-5600U.
Do Core i7-4600U and Core i7-5600U use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Core i7-4600U: BGA 1168, Core i7-5600U: Intel BGA 1168), so each needs a compatible motherboard.
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Core i7-4600U posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Core i7-4600U (0). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.