Intel Core i3-1000NG4 vs Intel Core i7-4500U Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i3-1000NG4 records an average benchmark score of 881, while the Intel Core i7-4500U scores 859. The i3-1000NG4 is ahead by approximately 2.6%, placing both chips at the 23rd percentile among all CPUs in the database.

Q: How do the two chips compare in single-core performance?

A: The i3-1000NG4 wins every recorded single-core test. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the i3 scores 177 versus 125 for the i7-4500U, a 29.4% advantage. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the i3 scores 422 versus 298, again a 29.4% lead.

Q: Are there any benchmark tests where the older i7-4500U wins?

A: No. Across the five head-to-head benchmark comparisons, the i3-1000NG4 wins all five tests. The i7-4500U records zero wins, while the i3-1000NG4 takes all five victories.

Q: What is the TDP difference between these two mobile processors?

A: The Intel Core i7-4500U has a TDP of 15 watts, while the Intel Core i3-1000NG4 has a TDP of 9 watts. The i3-1000NG4 delivers higher benchmark scores while operating at a lower thermal design power.

Q: How does the i3-1000NG4 compare to its nearest rivals in the database?

A: The i3-1000NG4's average score of 881 matches the AMD Phenom II X6 1035T and AMD Athlon Silver 7120U exactly (0% delta). It trails the Intel Core i7-930 by 0.1% and leads the AMD PRO A12-8870E by 0.1%.

Q: What are the architectural differences in cache layout?

A: The i7-4500U has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, while the i3-1000NG4 has 80 KB per core. Both share 256 KB of L2 per core and 4 MB of shared L3 cache.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear overall winner: the Intel Core i3-1000NG4 outperforms the Intel Core i7-4500U in every single recorded benchmark test. The i3-1000NG4 wins all five head-to-head comparisons, with deltas ranging from 29.3% to 29.6% in favor of the newer chip. This is a decisive sweep, not a marginal edge.

For users prioritizing raw compute performance in Cinebench workloads, the i3-1000NG4 is the obvious choice. It delivers 30% higher multicore scores in Cinebench R15 (301 versus 212) and maintains roughly the same advantage in Cinebench R20 multicore (1255 versus 887). The single-core advantage is equally consistent, with the i3 leading by 29.4% in both Cinebench R20 and R23 single-core tests.

The i7-4500U does have one mitigating factor: its higher base clock of 1800 MHz versus 1100 MHz for the i3. However, this does not translate into any benchmark win. The i3's boost clock of 3.20 GHz versus 3.00 GHz, combined with its newer architecture, overcomes the base clock deficit.

Power consumption is another point for the i3-1000NG4. It operates at 9 watts TDP versus 15 watts for the i7-4500U, meaning it achieves superior performance at two-thirds the thermal envelope. For thin-and-light mobile designs, this is a significant advantage.

The i7-4500U remains relevant only for scenarios where its specific platform attributes matter, such as DDR3 memory support or the Intel BGA 1168 socket. But from a pure performance standpoint, the data shows no reason to choose the older chip.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The i3-1000NG4 wins every recorded comparison, and the consistency of the deltas is striking. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i3 scores 301 against 212 for the i7-4500U, a 29.6% advantage. This is the largest delta in the head-to-head set.

Cinebench R20 multicore shows the i3 at 1255 versus 887 for the i7, a 29.3% lead. The pattern repeats in Cinebench R20 single-core: 177 versus 125, a 29.4% gap. Cinebench R23 multicore yields 2989 versus 2113, again a 29.3% difference. Cinebench R23 single-core closes the set with 422 versus 298, a 29.4% margin.

The narrowest delta is 29.3% (Cinebench R20 multicore and R23 multicore), while the widest is 29.6% (Cinebench R15 multicore). This tight clustering suggests the performance gap is architectural and consistent across workload types, not dependent on specific test conditions.

For context, the i3-1000NG4's average score of 881 places it alongside the AMD Phenom II X6 1035T and AMD Athlon Silver 7120U (both at 0% delta). The i7-4500U's average of 859 sits near the Intel Core i5-2500T (0.3% ahead) and Intel Core i5-5250U (0.4% ahead). The 22-point gap in average scores is modest in absolute terms, but the head-to-head deltas show a consistent 30% performance advantage for the i3.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several fundamental specifications. The i7-4500U has a base clock of 1800 MHz and a boost clock of 3.00 GHz. The i3-1000NG4 has a lower base clock of 1100 MHz but a higher boost clock of 3.20 GHz. This means the i3 can reach higher peak frequencies even though it idles at a lower clock.

TDP differs substantially: 15 watts for the i7-4500U versus 9 watts for the i3-1000NG4. The i3 achieves better performance at lower power consumption, a notable efficiency improvement.

Socket compatibility is different. The i7-4500U uses Intel BGA 1168, while the i3-1000NG4 uses Intel BGA 1044. These are not interchangeable platforms.

Memory support differs: the i7-4500U supports DDR3, while the i3-1000NG4 supports DDR4 with dual-channel configuration. The i3 also lists PCIe Gen 3 support, while the i7 does not specify PCIe capabilities in the database.

The i7-4500U has a die size of 118 mm² with 1,300 million transistors. The i3-1000NG4 has a slightly larger die at 123 mm², with no transistor count recorded. The process node differs significantly: 22 nm for the i7 versus 10 nm for the i3.

Release dates are far apart. The i7-4500U launched on 2013-06-03, while the i3-1000NG4 launched on 2020-03-17. The i3 is marked as end-of-life production status, while the i7 has no production status recorded.

Integrated graphics differ: the i7-4500U features Intel HD 4400, while the i3-1000NG4 features Iris Plus (48EU). Both processors have 2 cores and 4 threads, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

Architecture Differences

The i7-4500U is built on the Haswell architecture, specifically Haswell-ULT, and belongs to the Core i7 (Haswell) generation. The i3-1000NG4 uses the Ice Lake architecture, specifically Ice Lake-Y, from the Core i3 (Sunny Cove-Y) generation. This is a jump of roughly two architectural generations.

The process node is a major differentiator. The i7-4500U uses Intel's 22 nm process, while the i3-1000NG4 uses Intel's 10 nm process. This explains the efficiency gains: the i3 achieves higher performance at 9 watts TDP versus 15 watts for the i7.

Cache hierarchy shows some changes. L1 cache is 64 KB per core for the i7 and 80 KB per core for the i3, a 25% increase per core. L2 cache is identical at 256 KB per core. L3 cache is also identical at 4 MB shared. The larger L1 cache likely contributes to the i3's single-core performance advantage.

The core and thread counts are the same: 2 cores and 4 threads for both. However, the architectural improvements in Sunny Cove-Y deliver significantly higher instructions per clock, as evidenced by the 29.4% single-core advantage despite similar boost clocks (3.20 GHz versus 3.00 GHz).

Both processors lack ECC memory support and unlocked multipliers. The i3-1000NG4 lists a dual-channel memory bus and PCIe Gen 3 support, while the i7-4500U does not specify these features in the database.

The i3-1000NG4's integrated graphics, Iris Plus with 48 execution units, represents a substantial upgrade over the Intel HD 4400 in the i7-4500U. While no graphics benchmarks are recorded, the architectural leap from Haswell to Ice Lake includes significant GPU improvements.