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Intel Core i5-6440HQ

Intel Core i5-6440HQ: Review of the 2016 Laptop Processor in the Reality of 2025

(Analysis of Relevance, Performance, and Use Cases in April 2025)

Introduction

The Intel Core i5-6440HQ processor, released in 2015, is part of the sixth generation of Intel Core processors (codenamed SkyLake). Despite its venerable age, these chips are still found in used laptops and entry-level budget models. By 2025, it can no longer compete with modern solutions, but it remains an interesting option for certain tasks. Let's explore who should consider it and who should opt for more recent alternatives.

Architecture and Process Technology: The Foundations of SkyLake

Cores, Threads, and Clock Speeds

The Core i5-6440HQ is a 4-core processor without Hyper-Threading support (4 threads). Its base clock speed is 2.6 GHz, and it can reach 3.5 GHz in Turbo Boost mode. This provides decent single-threaded performance for everyday tasks but limits capabilities in multi-threaded scenarios.

The chip is built on a 14 nm process, which was a breakthrough at the time, but by 2025 such standards are considered outdated (modern Intel and AMD processors use 5-7 nm, and Apple uses 3 nm).

Integrated Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 530

The integrated GPU HD 530 supports DirectX 12 and OpenGL 4.5, but its capabilities are modest:

- Maximum frequency — 950 MHz;

- Support for 4K displays via HDMI 1.4 or DisplayPort;

- Gaming performance: ~25-35 FPS in CS:GO on low settings (720p).

For modern projects in 2025 (such as "Cyberpunk 2077: Enhanced Edition"), this graphics performance is insufficient even at minimum settings.

Power Consumption and TDP: Balancing Power and Heat

The TDP of the processor is 45 W, which is typical for mid-range mobile CPUs. However, in 2025, this value appears excessive:

- Modern ultrabooks with Intel Core Ultra (Meteor Lake) processors or AMD Ryzen 5 8640U have a TDP of 15-28 W with comparable performance.

- The high TDP requires a massive cooling system, which increases the weight and thickness of the laptop.

Example: The Dell Inspiron 15 7559 (2016) with the i5-6440HQ weighed 2.6 kg and had a thickness of 25 mm. In contrast, the modern Acer Swift X 2025 (with Ryzen 5 8640U) has a thickness of 14 mm and demonstrates 40% better multi-threaded performance.

Performance: Real-World Task Tests

Office Work and Multimedia

- Google Chrome (20 tabs) + Zoom: The processor performs adequately, but there may be stutters when running a document editor simultaneously.

- 4K Video (H.265): Playback runs with a load of 70-80%, with possible stutters without hardware decoding.

- Adobe Photoshop (2025): Basic retouching works, but filters based on AI (e.g., Neural Filters) perform unacceptably slowly.

Gaming

- Older Games: Skyrim Special Edition (1080p, medium settings) — 45-50 FPS.

- Modern Projects: Valorant (720p, low settings) — 50-60 FPS, but with drops to 30 FPS during combat.

Turbo Boost Mode

Under load on 1-2 cores, the frequency rises to 3.5 GHz, enhancing system responsiveness. However, during prolonged tasks (such as video rendering), throttling occurs due to overheating, and the frequency drops to 2.8-3.0 GHz.

Use Cases: Who is Suitable for the i5-6440HQ in 2025?

1. Budget Laptops for Studying: Text work, presentations, online courses.

2. Office Tasks: Email, spreadsheets, video conferences (without processing large data).

3. Multimedia Centers: Connection to a TV for streaming Netflix (but not above Full HD).

Who it is Not Suitable For:

- Gamers (except indie game enthusiasts);

- Designers and video editors;

- Users of AI tools.

Battery Life: How Long Will the Battery Last?

Laptops with the i5-6440HQ rarely came with large batteries (typically 40-50 Wh). By 2025, even new devices on this platform (if any exist) will show modest results:

- Web Browsing: 4-5 hours;

- Video (1080p): 3.5-4 hours.

Power-Saving Technologies:

- Intel SpeedStep: Dynamic frequency adjustment;

- C-States: Disabling unused cores;

- Display Power Saving Technology: Reducing screen brightness.

However, these technologies are less efficient than modern counterparts in Apple M3 or Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite chips.

Comparison with Competitors

AMD Ryzen 5 5500U (2021)

- Ryzen Advantages: 6 cores/12 threads, TDP 15 W, Vega 7 graphics (60% faster than HD 530).

- Laptop Prices: $500-600 (new models from 2023-2024).

Apple M1 (2020)

- Performance: Geekbench 6 Multi Core — 7500 (compared to 2868 for i5-6440HQ);

- Battery Life: Up to 18 hours.

Intel Core i5-13420H (2024)

- New Generation: 10 nm process, 8 cores (4P+4E), TDP 45 W.

- Laptop Prices: Starting from $700.

Pros and Cons of the Core i5-6440HQ

Strengths:

- Sufficient performance for basic tasks;

- Support for up to 64 GB of DDR4 RAM;

- Low cost of used devices ($150-250).

Weaknesses:

- Lack of Hyper-Threading;

- High power consumption;

- Outdated graphics.

Recommendations for Laptop Selection

If considering a new laptop with the i5-6440HQ in 2025 (which is unlikely), pay attention to:

1. RAM Volume: Minimum 8 GB, preferably 16 GB.

2. Type of Storage: SSD is essential (NVMe preferred over SATA).

3. Cooling System: Two fans and copper heat pipes.

4. Display: Full HD IPS (avoid TN panels).

Examples of Relevant Models in the Budget Segment for 2025:

- HP 15s-eq2056ur: Ryzen 5 7520U, 8 GB, 512 GB SSD — $450;

- Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15IAU7: Intel Core i3-1315U, 8 GB, 256 GB SSD — $400.

Final Conclusion: Who is Suitable for the i5-6440HQ in 2025?

This processor should only be considered in two cases:

1. You are buying a used laptop for $150-200 and want to work comfortably with office applications at a minimum.

2. You need a cheap multimedia center for the dacha or kitchen.

For all other scenarios (gaming, editing, programming), it is better to choose modern processors: Intel Core Ultra 5, AMD Ryzen 5 8640U, or Apple M2. Their energy efficiency, performance, and support for new technologies (AI accelerators, Wi-Fi 7) will justify the price difference.

Key Benefit of the i5-6440HQ in 2025: Extremely low cost while maintaining basic functionality. In all other respects, it represents an example of outdated yet still functioning "hardware."

Basic

Label Name

Intel

Platform

Mobile

Launch Date

July 2015

Model Name

The Intel processor number is just one of several factors - along with processor brand, system configurations, and system-level benchmarks - to be considered when choosing the right processor for your computing needs.

i5-6440HQ

Code Name

SkyLake

CPU Specifications

Total Cores

Cores is a hardware term that describes the number of independent central processing units in a single computing component (die or chip).

Total Threads

Where applicable, Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology is only available on Performance-cores.

Basic Frequency

2.60 GHz

Max Turbo Frequency

Max Turbo Frequency is the maximum single-core frequency at which the processor is capable of operating using Intel® Turbo Boost Technology and, if present, Intel® Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 and Intel® Thermal Velocity Boost. Frequency is typically measured in gigahertz (GHz), or billion cycles per second.

3.50 GHz

Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 Frequency

3.50 GHz

Intel Turbo Boost Technology

Intel® Turbo Boost Technology dynamically increases the processor's frequency as needed by taking advantage of thermal and power headroom to give you a burst of speed when you need it, and increased energy efficiency when you don’t.

2.0

Intel Hyper-Threading Technology

Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology (Intel® HT Technology) delivers two processing threads per physical core. Highly threaded applications can get more work done in parallel, completing tasks sooner.

CPU Socket

The socket is the component that provides the mechanical and electrical connections between the processor and motherboard.

FCBGA1440

Technology

Lithography refers to the semiconductor technology used to manufacture an integrated circuit, and is reported in nanometer (nm), indicative of the size of features built on the semiconductor.

14 nm

TDP

45 W

Max. Operating Temperature

Junction Temperature is the maximum temperature allowed at the processor die.

100°C

PCI Express Version

PCI Express Revision is the supported version of the PCI Express standard. Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (or PCIe) is a high-speed serial computer expansion bus standard for attaching hardware devices to a computer. The different PCI Express versions support different data rates.

3.0

Number of PCI Express Lanes

A PCI Express (PCIe) lane consists of two differential signaling pairs, one for receiving data, one for transmitting data, and is the basic unit of the PCIe bus. Max # of PCI Express Lanes is the total number of supported lanes.

Intel 64

Intel® 64 architecture delivers 64-bit computing on server, workstation, desktop and mobile platforms when combined with supporting software.¹ Intel 64 architecture improves performance by allowing systems to address more than 4 GB of both virtual and physical memory.

Yes

Instruction Set

The instruction set is a hard program stored inside the CPU that guides and optimizes CPU operations. With these instruction sets, the CPU can run more efficiently. There are many manufacturers that design CPUs, which results in different instruction sets, such as the 8086 instruction set for the Intel camp and the RISC instruction set for the ARM camp. x86, ARM v8, and MIPS are all codes for instruction sets. Instruction sets can be extended; for example, x86 added 64-bit support to create x86-64. Manufacturers developing CPUs that are compatible with a certain instruction set need authorization from the instruction set patent holder. A typical example is Intel authorizing AMD, enabling the latter to develop CPUs compatible with the x86 instruction set.

64-bit

PCI Express Configurations

PCI Express (PCIe) Configurations describe the available PCIe lane configurations that can be used to link to PCIe devices.

Up to 1x16 | 2x8 | 1x8+2x4

Memory Specifications

Memory Type

Intel® processors come in four different types: Single Channel, Dual Channel, Triple Channel, and Flex Mode. Maximum supported memory speed may be lower when populating multiple DIMMs per channel on products that support multiple memory channels.

DDR4-2133 | LPDDR3-1866 | DDR3L-1600

Max Memory Size

Max memory size refers to the maximum memory capacity supported by the processor.

64 GB

Memory Channels

The number of memory channels refers to the bandwidth operation for real world application.

Bus Speed

8 GT/s

Max Memory Bandwidth

Max Memory bandwidth is the maximum rate at which data can be read from or stored into a semiconductor memory by the processor (in GB/s).

34.1 GB/s

ECC Memory Supported

ECC Memory Supported indicates processor support for Error-Correcting Code memory. ECC memory is a type of system memory that can detect and correct common kinds of internal data corruption. Note that ECC memory support requires both processor and chipset support.

GPU Specifications

Integrated Graphics Model

An integrated GPU refers to the graphics core that is integrated into the CPU processor. Leveraging the processor's powerful computational capabilities and intelligent power efficiency management, it delivers outstanding graphics performance and a smooth application experience at a lower power consumption.

Intel® HD Graphics 530

Graphics Base Frequency

Graphics Base frequency refers to the rated/guaranteed graphics render clock frequency in MHz.

350 MHz

Graphics Frequency

Graphics max dynamic frequency refers to the maximum opportunistic graphics render clock frequency (in MHz) that can be supported using Intel® HD Graphics with Dynamic Frequency feature.

950 MHz

Graphics Video Max Memory

64 GB

4K Support

Yes | at 60Hz

DirectX Support

DirectX* Support indicates support for a specific version of Microsoft’s collection of APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) for handling multimedia compute tasks.

Max Resolution (HDMI)

Max Resolution (HDMI) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor via the HDMI interface (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your system.

4096x2304@24Hz

Max Resolution (DP)

Max Resolution (DP) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor via the DP interface (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your system.

4096x2304@60Hz

Max Resolution (eDP - Integrated Flat Panel)

Max Resolution (Integrated Flat Panel) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor for a device with an integrated flat panel (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your device.

4096x2304@60Hz

Max Resolution (VGA)

N/A

Number of Displays Supported

Graphics Output

Graphics Output defines the interfaces available to communicate with display devices.

eDP/DP/HDMI/DVI

Miscellaneous

Intel Virtualization Technology (VT-x)

Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x) allows one hardware platform to function as multiple “virtual” platforms. It offers improved manageability by limiting downtime and maintaining productivity by isolating computing activities into separate partitions.

Yes

Intel Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)

Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d) continues from the existing support for IA-32 (VT-x) and Itanium® processor (VT-i) virtualization adding new support for I/O-device virtualization. Intel VT-d can help end users improve security and reliability of the systems and also improve performance of I/O devices in virtualized environments.

Yes

Intel Standard Manageability (ISM)

Intel® Standard Manageability is the manageability solution for Intel vPro® Essentials platforms and is a subset of Intel® AMT with out-of-band management over Ethernet and Wi-Fi, but no KVM or new life cycle management features.

Intel® SSE4.1 | Intel® SSE4.2 | Intel® AVX2

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology is an advanced means of enabling high performance while meeting the power-conservation needs of mobile systems. Conventional Intel SpeedStep® Technology switches both voltage and frequency in tandem between high and low levels in response to processor load. Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology builds upon that architecture using design strategies such as Separation between Voltage and Frequency Changes, and Clock Partitioning and Recovery.

Yes

Execute Disable Bit

Execute Disable Bit is a hardware-based security feature that can reduce exposure to viruses and malicious-code attacks and prevent harmful software from executing and propagating on the server or network.

Yes

Cache

CPU Cache is an area of fast memory located on the processor. Intel® Smart Cache refers to the architecture that allows all cores to dynamically share access to the last level cache.

6 MB Intel® Smart Cache

Intel AES New Instructions

Intel® AES New Instructions (Intel® AES-NI) are a set of instructions that enable fast and secure data encryption and decryption. AES-NI are valuable for a wide range of cryptographic applications, for example: applications that perform bulk encryption/decryption, authentication, random number generation, and authenticated encryption.

Yes

Intel Clear Video HD Technology

Intel® Clear Video HD Technology, like its predecessor, Intel® Clear Video Technology, is a suite of image decode and processing technologies built into the integrated processor graphics that improve video playback, delivering cleaner, sharper images, more natural, accurate, and vivid colors, and a clear and stable video picture. Intel® Clear Video HD Technology adds video quality enhancements for richer color and more realistic skin tones.

Yes

Intel Clear Video Technology

Yes

Intel VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)

Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT), also known as Second Level Address Translation (SLAT), provides acceleration for memory intensive virtualized applications. Extended Page Tables in Intel® Virtualization Technology platforms reduces the memory and power overhead costs and increases battery life through hardware optimization of page table management.

Yes

Intel InTru 3D Technology

Yes

Intel Flex Memory Access

Yes

Intel OS Guard

Yes

OpenGL Support

OpenGL (Open Graphics Library) is a cross-language, multi-platform API (Application Programming Interface) for rendering 2D and 3D vector graphics.

4.5

Intel Quick Sync Video

Intel® Quick Sync Video delivers fast conversion of video for portable media players, online sharing, and video editing and authoring.

Yes

Benchmarks

Geekbench 6

Single Core Score

1078

Geekbench 6

Multi Core Score

2868

Geekbench 5

Single Core Score

824

Geekbench 5

Multi Core Score

2600

Passmark CPU

Single Core Score

1981

Passmark CPU

Multi Core Score

5095

Compared to Other CPU

Geekbench 6 Single Core

Ryzen 3 7320C

1150 +6.7%

Xeon Gold 6130T

1113 +3.2%

Core i5-6440HQ

1078

Xeon W-11555MRE

1031 -4.4%

Xeon E5-2680 v3

978 -9.3%

Geekbench 6 Multi Core

Xeon D-2183IT

3296 +14.9%

Ryzen 3 3200G

3049 +6.3%

Core i5-6440HQ

2868

Xeon E3-1245 v2

2578 -10.1%

Core i3-7101TE

2368 -17.4%

Geekbench 5 Single Core

Xeon Gold 6230N

859 +4.2%

Ryzen 7 3700U

840 +1.9%

Core i5-6440HQ

824

Xeon Silver 4215

807 -2.1%

Xeon Platinum 8156

788 -4.4%

Geekbench 5 Multi Core

Xeon E5-2609 v2

2846 +9.5%

Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U

2716 +4.5%

Core i5-6440HQ

2600

Core i7-4710HQ

2450 -5.8%

Xeon E3-1235

2299 -11.6%

Passmark CPU Single Core

EPYC 7262

2036 +2.8%

Pentium G4520

2008 +1.4%

Core i5-6440HQ

1981

Ryzen 3 3350U

1953 -1.4%

Core i7-7500U

1929 -2.6%

Passmark CPU Multi Core

Xeon E5649

5686 +11.6%

Core i5-6440EQ

5419 +6.4%

Core i5-6440HQ

5095

Core i5-6500TE

4724 -7.3%

Athlon 3000G

4486 -12%