Core i5-4260U vs Core i7-860S
Core i5-4260U
Core i7-860S
Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Core i5-4260U is positioned at rank 296 and the Core i7-860S is on rank 1033, so the Core i5-4260U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-4260U
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-860S
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-4260U | Core i7-860S |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($96) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Lynnfield (2009−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-4260U | Core i7-860S |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($96) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-4260U and Core i7-860S
Core i5-4260U
The Core i5-4260U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 April 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.4 GHz, with boost up to 2.7 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1168. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,311 points. Launch price was $325.
Core i7-860S
The Core i7-860S is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 7 January 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Lynnfield (2009−2010) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.53 GHz, with boost up to 3.46 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1156. Thermal design power (TDP): 82 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,324 points. Launch price was $422.
Processing Power
The Core i5-4260U packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i7-860S offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Core i7-860S has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.7 GHz on the Core i5-4260U versus 3.46 GHz on the Core i7-860S — a 24.7% clock advantage for the Core i7-860S (base: 1.4 GHz vs 2.53 GHz). The Core i5-4260U uses the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Core i7-860S uses Lynnfield (2009−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-4260U scores 2,311 against the Core i7-860S's 2,324 — a 0.6% lead for the Core i7-860S. L3 cache: 3 MB on the Core i5-4260U vs 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-860S.
| Feature | Core i5-4260U | Core i7-860S |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 8+100% |
| Boost Clock | 2.7 GHz | 3.46 GHz+28% |
| Base Clock | 1.4 GHz | 2.53 GHz+81% |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB | 8 MB (total)+167% |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB+100% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 22 nm-51% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Haswell (2013−2015) | Lynnfield (2009−2010) |
| PassMark | 2,311 | 2,324 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 451 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 1,332 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-4260U uses the FCBGA1168 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-860S uses LGA1156 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i5-4260U | Core i7-860S |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1168 | LGA1156 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Core i5-4260U) / Yes (Core i7-860S).
| Feature | Core i5-4260U | Core i7-860S |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | Yes |
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