i9-10900K vs i5-4260U

Aggregate performance score

Core i5-4260U
2014
2 cores / 4 threads, 15 Watt
1.48
Core i9-10900K
2020
10 cores / 20 threads, 125 Watt
14.61
+887%

Core i9-10900K outperforms Core i5-4260U by a whopping 887% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i5-4260U and Core i9-10900K processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking2169500
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluationno data15.05
Market segmentLaptopDesktop processor
SeriesIntel Core i5no data
Power efficiency9.1610.86
Architecture codenameHaswell (2013−2015)Comet Lake (2020)
Release date14 April 2014 (10 years ago)30 April 2020 (4 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$325$488

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

no data

Detailed specifications

Core i5-4260U and Core i9-10900K basic parameters such as number of cores, number of threads, base frequency and turbo boost clock, lithography, cache size and multiplier lock state. These parameters indirectly say of CPU speed, though for more precise assessment you have to consider their test results.

Physical cores2 (Dual-core)10 (Deca-Core)
Threads420
Base clock speed1.4 GHz3.7 GHz
Boost clock speed2.7 GHz5.2 GHz
Bus rate5 GT/s8 GT/s
L1 cache128 KB64 KB (per core)
L2 cache512 KB256 KB (per core)
L3 cache3 MB20 MB (shared)
Chip lithography22 nm14 nm
Die size181 mm2206 mm2
Maximum core temperature100 °C100 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)no data72 °C
Number of transistors1300 Millionno data
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility-+
Unlocked multiplier-+

Compatibility

Information on Core i5-4260U and Core i9-10900K compatibility with other computer components: motherboard (look for socket type), power supply unit (look for power consumption) etc. Useful when planning a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. Note that power consumption of some processors can well exceed their nominal TDP, even without overclocking. Some can even double their declared thermals given that the motherboard allows to tune the CPU power parameters.

Number of CPUs in a configuration11
SocketFCBGA1168FCLGA1200
Power consumption (TDP)15 Watt125 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i5-4260U and Core i9-10900K. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
AES-NI++
FMA-+
AVX++
vProno data+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
Turbo Boost Technology2.02.0
Hyper-Threading Technology++
Idle States++
Thermal Monitoring++
SIPP-+
GPIO+no data
Smart Connect+no data
Turbo Boost Max 3.0no data+
FDI-no data
AMT9.5no data
Matrix Storage-no data
HD Audio+no data
RST+no data

Security technologies

Core i5-4260U and Core i9-10900K technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT-+
EDB++
Secure Key++
Identity Protection++
SGXno dataYes with Intel® ME
OS Guardno data+
Anti-Theft+no data

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i5-4260U and Core i9-10900K are enumerated here.

AMD-V+-
VT-d++
VT-x++
EPT++

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i5-4260U and Core i9-10900K. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR3DDR4
Maximum memory size16 GB128 GB
Max memory channels22
Maximum memory bandwidth25.6 GB/s45.8 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card
Compare
Intel HD Graphics 5000Intel UHD Graphics 630
Max video memory2 GB64 GB
Quick Sync Video++
Clear Videono data+
Clear Video HD++
Graphics max frequency1 GHz1.2 GHz
InTru 3D++

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i5-4260U and Core i9-10900K integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported33
eDP+no data
DisplayPort+-
HDMI+-

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i5-4260U and Core i9-10900K integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

4K resolution supportno data+
Max resolution over HDMI 1.43280x2000@60Hz4096 x 2160@30Hz
Max resolution over eDPno data4096 x 2304@60Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPort3200x2000@60Hz4096 x 2304@60Hz

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i5-4260U and Core i9-10900K integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectX11.2/1212
OpenGL4.34.5

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i5-4260U and Core i9-10900K.

PCIe version2.03.0
PCI Express lanes1216
PCI support-no data
USB revision3.0no data
Total number of SATA ports4no data
Max number of SATA 6 Gb/s Ports4no data
Integrated IDE-no data
Number of USB ports4no data
Integrated LAN-no data
UART+no data

Synthetic benchmark performance

Various benchmark results of the processors in comparison. Overall score is measured in points in 0-100 range, higher is better.


Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark performance rating. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

i5-4260U 1.48
i9-10900K 14.61
+887%

Passmark

Passmark CPU Mark is a widespread benchmark, consisting of 8 different types of workload, including integer and floating point math, extended instructions, compression, encryption and physics calculation. There is also one separate single-threaded scenario measuring single-core performance.

i5-4260U 2302
i9-10900K 22766
+889%

GeekBench 5 Single-Core

GeekBench 5 Single-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses only a single CPU core.

i5-4260U 755
i9-10900K 1774
+135%

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses all available CPU cores.

i5-4260U 1434
i9-10900K 9062
+532%

Cinebench 10 32-bit single-core

Cinebench R10 is an ancient ray tracing benchmark for processors by Maxon, authors of Cinema 4D. Its single core version uses just one CPU thread to render a futuristic looking motorcycle.

i5-4260U 3951
i9-10900K 8127
+106%

Cinebench 10 32-bit multi-core

Cinebench Release 10 Multi Core is a variant of Cinebench R10 using all the processor threads. Possible number of threads is limited by 16 in this version.

i5-4260U 7913
i9-10900K 59368
+650%

Cinebench 11.5 64-bit multi-core

Cinebench Release 11.5 Multi Core is a variant of Cinebench R11.5 which uses all the processor threads. A maximum of 64 threads is supported in this version.

i5-4260U 3
i9-10900K 29
+1004%

Cinebench 15 64-bit multi-core

Cinebench Release 15 Multi Core is a variant of Cinebench R15 which uses all the processor threads.

i5-4260U 239
i9-10900K 2533
+960%

Cinebench 15 64-bit single-core

Cinebench R15 (standing for Release 15) is a benchmark made by Maxon, authors of Cinema 4D. It was superseded by later versions of Cinebench, which use more modern variants of Cinema 4D engine. The Single Core version (sometimes called Single-Thread) only uses a single processor thread to render a room full of reflective spheres and light sources.

i5-4260U 105
i9-10900K 217
+107%

Cinebench 11.5 64-bit single-core

Cinebench R11.5 is an old benchmark by Maxon, authors of Cinema 4D. It was superseded by later versions of Cinebench, which use more modern variants of Cinema 4D engine. The Single Core version loads a single thread with ray tracing to render a glossy room full of crystal spheres and light sources.

i5-4260U 1.2
i9-10900K 2.56
+113%

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 1.48 14.61
Integrated graphics card 1.52 3.09
Recency 14 April 2014 30 April 2020
Physical cores 2 10
Threads 4 20
Chip lithography 22 nm 14 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 15 Watt 125 Watt

i5-4260U has 733.3% lower power consumption.

i9-10900K, on the other hand, has a 887.2% higher aggregate performance score, 103.3% faster integrated GPU, an age advantage of 6 years, 400% more physical cores and 400% more threads, and a 57.1% more advanced lithography process.

The Core i9-10900K is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i5-4260U in performance tests.

Be aware that Core i5-4260U is a notebook processor while Core i9-10900K is a desktop one.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i5-4260U and Core i9-10900K, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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Intel Core i5-4260U
Core i5-4260U
Intel Core i9-10900K
Core i9-10900K

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Community ratings

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Questions & comments

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