CPU Comparison
Core i7-4600U vs Intel Core i5-4350U
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
The 1.4 GHz base clock limits performance under sustained load, though turbo boost helps for short bursts.
Gaming
Struggles with most modern games; can only handle very old 2D or lightweight 3D indie titles.
Virtualization
Not recommended for virtualization due to dual-core limits and low base clock.
Efficiency
Excellent efficiency for its era, designed specifically to maximize laptop battery life.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
No data
- No AI hardware support
- Dual-core design makes AI inference extremely slow
Content Creation
No data
Gaming
No data
- HD 5000 is better than HD 4400 but still weak for 3D
- Low base clock can throttle gaming performance
- Suitable only for retro or extremely lightweight games
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- DDR3 memory is obsolete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
- Excellent power efficiency for battery life
- Good turbo boost frequency for short tasks
- HD 5000 graphics are capable for media playback
- Low heat output
Cons
- Very low 1.4 GHz base clock limits sustained performance
- Only 2 physical cores
- End-of-life and outdated
- Soldered to the motherboard
- Lacks modern security and instruction set support
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.
Intel Core i5-4350U
- AMD A4-5000Rival
Mobile APU
- Intel Core i3-4010URival
Mobile
- AMD A6-5200Rival
Mobile APU
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-4200URival
Mobile
- AMD E2-3800Rival
Mobile APU
- Intel Core i5-8250UAlt
A massive leap in performance with 4 cores, found in cheap used laptops.
- AMD Ryzen 3 2200UAlt
A budget dual-core with better Vega graphics and modern architecture.
- Intel Core i3-8130UAlt
A modern dual-core with much higher clock speeds and efficiency.
- Alt
If looking at older MacBooks, the M1 offers a massive leap in battery and speed.
Compare head-to-head - AMD Ryzen 5 3500UAlt
A budget quad-core mobile chip that vastly outperforms this i5.
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 reliable processor for its time that brought excellent battery life to ultrabooks, though its dual-core performance is severely outdated today.
Best for: Buying a heavily used, extremely cheap laptop for basic offline typing.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is faster for gaming, Core i7-4600U or Intel Core i5-4350U?
For gaming, the Intel Core i5-4350U leads with a gaming performance score of 35/100 among Core i7-4600U and Intel Core i5-4350U.
Do Core i7-4600U and Intel Core i5-4350U use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Core i7-4600U: BGA 1168, Intel Core i5-4350U: 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.