CPU Comparison
Core i7-4610M vs Intel Core i5-4330M
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i7-4610M is a mainstream mobile processor launched in February 2014 as a minor refresh to the Haswell lineup. This 22nm dual-core CPU features Hyper-Threading, processing 4 threads concurrently. It operates at a high base frequency of 3.0 GHz and boosts up to 3.7 GHz, offering a slight frequency bump over the i7-4600M. With a 37W TDP, it targets standard laptop chassis with active cooling. The processor utilizes the Socket G3 (rPGA946B), making it one of the few socketed mobile CPUs of its era, allowing for potential upgrades. It includes 4MB of L3 cache and supports dual-channel DDR3-1600 memory. The integrated Intel HD Graphics 4600 handles display outputs and media decoding. The i7-4610M was designed for premium business laptops and budget gaming machines where raw single-threaded speed was prioritized over multi-core parallelism, providing excellent responsiveness for office applications and legacy software.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
The high 3.8 GHz turbo boost provides excellent single-threaded responsiveness for everyday tasks.
Gaming
HD 5000 graphics allow for playable framerates in older titles at 720p or 1080p on low settings.
Virtualization
Can run light VMs with VT-d support, but dual-core limits multitasking.
Efficiency
37W TDP is standard for mobile but runs warmer than modern 15W chips.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
No data
- No AI hardware acceleration
- Dual-core CPU limits inference performance
Content Creation
No data
Gaming
No data
- Comparable to an entry-level discrete mobile GPU
- Can handle older games like Bioshock Infinite at low settings
- Not suitable for modern AAA titles
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- High 3.0 GHz base clock
- Socketed design allows upgrades
- Excellent single-threaded performance
- Supports VT-d for virtualization
Cons
- Only 2 physical cores
- 37W TDP limits battery life
- Obsolete DDR3 memory support
- Hard to find on the used market
Pros
- High 3.8 GHz turbo boost for excellent single-threaded tasks
- Socketed design allows for upgrades
- HD 5000 graphics are capable for media
- Supports PCIe 3.0
Cons
- Only 2 physical cores
- 37W TDP runs warm
- End-of-life and outdated
- Locked multiplier
Competitors & Alternatives
Core i7-4610M
- AMD A10-5750MRival
Mainstream Mobile
- Intel Core i7-4600MRival
Mainstream Mobile
- AMD A8-5550MRival
Mainstream Mobile
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-4300MRival
Mainstream Mobile
- Intel Core i7-4702MQRival
High-Performance Mobile
- Intel Core i7-3540MAlt
Previous generation alternative if upgrading an Ivy Bridge laptop.
Intel Core i5-4330M
- AMD A10-5750MRival
Mobile APU
- Intel Core i7-4702MQRival
Mobile
- AMD A8-5550MRival
Mobile APU
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-3340MRival
Mobile
- AMD A6-5350MRival
Mobile APU
- Intel Core i7-4700MQAlt
A quad-core chip for the same Socket G3, offering a massive upgrade in multi-core performance.
- Intel Core i5-8250UAlt
A much faster 8th gen quad-core mobile chip that runs cooler and uses less power.
- AMD Ryzen 5 2500UAlt
A modern mobile quad-core with Vega graphics that vastly outperforms this chip.
A modern dual-core mobile chip that obliterates this i5 in performance.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 3 3200GAlt
A budget desktop alternative if moving away from old mobile platforms.
Our Verdict on Each
A fast dual-core mobile CPU offering excellent single-threaded burst performance, but its lack of physical cores limits modern multi-tasking.
Best for: Upgrading a Socket G3 laptop for cheap
Read the full reviewA solid step up from the 4300M, offering slightly higher clock speeds and strong single-core performance for its era, though obsolete by modern standards.
Best for: Upgrading an old Socket G3 laptop from a Celeron or Pentium to this i5 for cheap.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is faster for gaming, Core i7-4610M or Intel Core i5-4330M?
For gaming, the Intel Core i5-4330M leads with a gaming performance score of 46/100 among Core i7-4610M and Intel Core i5-4330M.
Do Core i7-4610M and Intel Core i5-4330M use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Core i7-4610M: Socket G3, Intel Core i5-4330M: Intel Socket G3), so each needs a compatible motherboard.
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Core i7-4610M posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Core i7-4610M (0). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.