Intel Core i3-1000NG4 vs Intel Pentium G4560T Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data paints a consistent picture: the Intel Core i3-1000NG4 wins every single head-to-head matchup, taking all five recorded comparisons. The Pentium G4560T does not secure a single victory in any tested workload. This is not a case of one chip excelling in some areas while lagging in others—the i3-1000NG4’s advantage is uniform across both single-threaded and multi-threaded tests.

Looking at the Cinebench R15 multicore test, the i3-1000NG4 scores 301 points against the Pentium’s 256, a delta of -15% from the Pentium’s perspective. That translates to roughly an 18% advantage for the i3 in raw terms. The margin tightens slightly in Cinebench R20 multicore, where the i3 posts 1255 versus 1068, a -14.9% delta. The same -14.9% delta appears again in Cinebench R23 multicore, with scores of 2989 and 2544 respectively. Consistency like this across three different Cinebench versions suggests the performance gap is structural rather than test-specific.

Single-core results follow the same pattern. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the i3-1000NG4 scores 177 against the Pentium’s 150, a -15.3% delta. Cinebench R23 single-core shows the i3 at 422 versus 359, again -14.9%. These single-threaded margins are nearly identical to the multi-threaded ones, indicating that the i3’s advantage comes from per-core efficiency rather than any scaling benefit from additional resources—both chips have the same 2-core/4-thread configuration.

The Geekbench results, though not part of the head-to-head table, reinforce this narrative. The Pentium G4560T scores 1237 in Geekbench multicore and 594 in single-core. The i3-1000NG4 does not have Geekbench scores listed, so a direct comparison there is not possible from the data. However, the average benchmark score tells a similar story: the Pentium averages 887, while the i3 averages 881. This near-parity in average score is curious given the consistent Cinebench deltas, but it likely reflects the different test suites included in each chip’s benchmark set—the Pentium’s Geekbench numbers pull its average up, while the i3’s lack of Geekbench data means its average is driven entirely by Cinebench results.

In percentile terms, the two chips are essentially peers. The Pentium sits at the 24th percentile of all CPUs, while the i3 sits at the 23rd. The nearest rivals for the Pentium include the AMD PRO A8-8650B at an identical average score of 887, the Intel Xeon X5550 at 888 (-0.1%), the Intel Core i7-860 at 886 (+0.1%), and the Intel Core i3-6100 at 888 (-0.2%). For the i3, the rivals are the AMD Phenom II X6 1035T at 881, the AMD Athlon Silver 7120U at 881, the Intel Core i7-930 at 882 (-0.1%), and the AMD PRO A12-8870E at 880 (+0.1%). These rival clusters show that both chips occupy a similar performance tier overall, even though the i3 wins every direct head-to-head test.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmark comparisons?

A: The Intel Core i3-1000NG4 wins all five head-to-head benchmark comparisons listed. The Intel Pentium G4560T wins zero. The i3’s victories span Cinebench R15 multicore, R20 multicore, R20 single-core, R23 multicore, and R23 single-core.

Q: How large is the performance gap in multi-threaded workloads?

A: In Cinebench R23 multicore, the i3-1000NG4 scores 2989 versus the Pentium G4560T’s 2544, a delta of -14.9% from the Pentium’s perspective. The R15 and R20 multicore tests show similar deltas of -15% and -14.9% respectively.

Q: Is the single-core advantage different from the multi-core advantage?

A: No, the single-core deltas are nearly identical to the multi-core ones. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the i3 leads by -15.3%; in R23 single-core, by -14.9%. This consistency suggests the i3’s per-core performance advantage carries directly into multi-threaded workloads.

Q: What do the average benchmark scores say about these two chips?

A: The Pentium G4560T has an average benchmark score of 887, while the i3-1000NG4 averages 881. Despite the i3 winning every head-to-head, the overall averages are within 6 points—a difference of less than 1%. This is because the Pentium’s Geekbench scores (1237 multicore, 594 single-core) are included in its average, while the i3 has no Geekbench data.

Q: How do these chips rank against all other CPUs?

A: The Pentium G4560T sits at the 24th percentile of all CPUs, while the i3-1000NG4 sits at the 23rd percentile. These are effectively adjacent rankings, placing both chips in the lower quarter of the CPU performance distribution.

Q: Which chip has a higher boost clock?

A: The i3-1000NG4 has a boost clock of 3.20 GHz. The Pentium G4560T has no boost clock listed in the data, with a base clock of 2.90 GHz.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural eras and target different market segments. The Pentium G4560T uses the Kaby Lake architecture on a 14 nm process node, built by Intel. It is a desktop part with an Intel Socket 1151 interface. The i3-1000NG4, by contrast, uses the Ice Lake architecture on a 10 nm process node, also built by Intel, but it is a mobile part with an Intel BGA 1044 socket. The codenames differ as well: the Pentium is simply "Kaby Lake," while the i3 is "Ice Lake-Y," indicating it belongs to the low-power Y-series mobile lineup.

Cache configurations differ noticeably. The Pentium has 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, with 3 MB of shared L3 cache. The i3 has 80 KB of L1 per core, the same 256 KB of L2 per core, but a larger 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The i3 also lists a die size of 123 mm², while the Pentium does not report a die size or transistor count.

Memory support is DDR4 for both, and both use dual-channel memory buses. However, the Pentium lists a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, while the i3 does not report a memory bandwidth figure. PCIe support also differs: the Pentium specifies Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i3 simply lists "Gen 3" without a lane count.

Integrated graphics are a major differentiator. The Pentium uses Intel HD 610, while the i3 uses Iris Plus (48EU). This represents a significant GPU capability gap, with the i3’s Iris Plus being a substantially more capable integrated solution than the entry-level HD 610. Neither chip supports ECC memory, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

Specification Differences

The most dramatic specification difference is TDP. The Pentium G4560T has a TDP of 35 watts, while the i3-1000NG4 draws only 9 watts. That is a 26-watt gap, making the i3 nearly four times more power-efficient in terms of rated thermal design power. This aligns with their market segments: the Pentium is a desktop part, while the i3 is a mobile part designed for thin-and-light systems.

Base clocks differ substantially. The Pentium runs at 2.90 GHz base with no boost clock listed. The i3 has a base clock of 1100.00 MHz (1.10 GHz) but boosts to 3.20 GHz. This means the i3’s base clock is significantly lower than the Pentium’s, but its boost clock is higher. The effective operating range tells the story: the Pentium runs at a fixed 2.90 GHz, while the i3 scales from 1.10 GHz up to 3.20 GHz depending on workload and thermal headroom.

Production status differs as well. The Pentium is listed as "Active," meaning it is still in production. The i3 is listed as "End-of-life," indicating it has been discontinued. Release dates also diverge: the Pentium was released on 2017-01-02, while the i3 came later on 2020-03-17. The part numbers are SR35T for the Pentium and SRGM9 for the i3.

Socket differences are fundamental: the Pentium uses Intel Socket 1151, a desktop socket, while the i3 uses Intel BGA 1044, a ball-grid-array socket that is soldered to the motherboard and not upgradeable. Cache totals differ as noted: the i3 has 4 MB of L3 versus the Pentium’s 3 MB, and the i3 has 80 KB of L1 per core versus 64 KB on the Pentium. L2 cache is identical at 256 KB per core.

Where Each One Wins

The i3-1000NG4 wins every benchmark category recorded in the head-to-head data. It leads in all three Cinebench multicore tests (R15, R20, R23) and both single-core tests (R20, R23). The largest margin is in Cinebench R20 single-core, where the i3’s -15.3% delta represents its biggest relative advantage. The smallest margin is the -14.9% delta seen in R15 multicore, R20 multicore, and R23 multicore/single-core—a remarkably consistent spread.

Where the Pentium could claim an advantage is not in raw benchmark scores but in other dimensions. It has a higher base clock (2.90 GHz versus 1.10 GHz), which could translate to more predictable performance in workloads that do not benefit from boost behavior. It also has a larger PCIe lane allocation (16 lanes versus unspecified on the i3), which matters for desktop expansion. The Pentium’s Active production status means it remains available for new builds, while the i3 is end-of-life. And for desktop users, the Socket 1151 platform offers upgradeability that the soldered BGA 1044 i3 cannot provide.

For integrated graphics, the i3 is clearly superior with Iris Plus (48EU) versus the Pentium’s HD 610. This makes the i3 better suited for systems relying on integrated graphics for light gaming or GPU-accelerated tasks. The i3’s 9W TDP also makes it dramatically better for fanless or passively cooled designs, while the Pentium’s 35W TDP requires more substantial cooling.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i3-1000NG4 outperforms the Intel Pentium G4560T in every measured workload. Across five Cinebench tests, the i3’s advantage ranges from 14.9% to 15.3%, with no test showing the Pentium ahead. The i3’s newer Ice Lake architecture, smaller 10 nm process node, larger L3 cache, and higher boost clock all contribute to this consistent edge. For anyone choosing purely on benchmark performance, the i3-1000NG4 is the superior processor.

However, the verdict is not solely about raw scores. The Pentium G4560T remains an Active desktop part with a 35W TDP, a 2.90 GHz fixed clock, 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes, and a Socket 1151 platform. The i3-1000NG4 is an end-of-life mobile chip with a 9W TDP, a base clock of just 1.10 GHz, and a soldered BGA 1044 socket. These differences mean the two chips serve different use cases despite their similar core counts and benchmark averages.

The i3-1000NG4 is the right choice for mobile or ultra-compact systems where power efficiency is paramount, where integrated graphics performance matters, and where the boost clock can deliver bursts of high performance. The Pentium G4560T is the right choice for budget desktop builds where a fixed clock speed, a standard socket, and active availability are more important than peak performance. The data shows the i3 wins on performance, but the Pentium’s platform attributes remain relevant for desktop-oriented workloads. Benchmark results indicate that users prioritizing raw compute should pick the i3; users prioritizing desktop compatibility and upgradeability should consider the Pentium.