
Core i5-4260U vs Pentium J4205

Core i5-4260U

Pentium J4205
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 Pentium J4205 is on rank 910, 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 Pentium J4205
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-4260U | Pentium J4205 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($161) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Goldmont (2016−2017) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-4260U | Pentium J4205 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($161) |
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 Pentium J4205

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.

Pentium J4205
The Pentium J4205 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 August 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Goldmont (2016−2017) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.5 GHz, with boost up to 2.6 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1296. Thermal design power (TDP): 10 Watt. Memory support: DDR3L/LPDDR3 up to 1866 MT/s; LPDDR4 up to 2400 MT/s. Passmark benchmark score: 2,315 points. Launch price was $161.
Processing Power
The Core i5-4260U packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Pentium J4205 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Pentium J4205 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.7 GHz on the Core i5-4260U versus 2.6 GHz on the Pentium J4205 — a 3.8% clock advantage for the Core i5-4260U (base: 1.4 GHz vs 1.5 GHz). The Core i5-4260U uses the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Pentium J4205 uses Goldmont (2016−2017) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-4260U scores 2,311 against the Pentium J4205's 2,315 — a 0.2% lead for the Pentium J4205. L3 cache: 3 MB on the Core i5-4260U vs 0 kB on the Pentium J4205.
| Feature | Core i5-4260U | Pentium J4205 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 2.7 GHz+4% | 2.6 GHz |
| Base Clock | 1.4 GHz | 1.5 GHz+7% |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB | 2 MB+300% |
| Process | 22 nm | 14 nm-36% |
| Architecture | Haswell (2013−2015) | Goldmont (2016−2017) |
| PassMark | 2,311 | 2,315 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-4260U uses the FCBGA1168 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Pentium J4205 uses FCBGA1296 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i5-4260U | Pentium J4205 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1168 | FCBGA1296 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
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