Intel Core i3-1110G4 vs Intel Core i7-4600U Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The head-to-head data for these two 15 W mobile processors is one-sided. The Intel Core i3-1110G4 wins all five recorded benchmark comparisons, with no test going to the older Intel Core i7-4600U. That means the newer Tiger Lake part dominates every workload the database tracks: multi-threaded rendering, single-threaded rendering, and mixed production tasks.

The i3-1110G4's largest advantage appears in single-core Cinebench R23, where it scores 452 versus 325 for the i7-4600U, a 39.1% gap. This is the kind of result that matters for everyday responsiveness, application launches, and lightly threaded workflows. The multi-core Cinebench R23 result tells a similar story: 3202 versus 2306, a 38.9% difference. So the i3-1110G4 does not merely win on one metric; it wins across the board with consistent margins near 39%.

Where the i7-4600U does not win anything in the recorded benchmarks, its only statistical strength is proximity in the average score. The i3-1110G4 averages 945 points across all recorded tests, while the i7-4600U averages 931. That 14-point difference is small in absolute terms, but it reflects the fact that the i7-4600U's scores are dragged down by its much weaker single-core results. The i7-4600U does have a Geekbench single-core score of 889 and a multi-core score of 1664, but the i3-1110G4 has no Geekbench entries in the database, so no direct comparison is possible there. In every Cinebench test where both chips appear, the i3-1110G4 is ahead.

For a user deciding between these two, the practical split is simple: the i3-1110G4 wins on all measured performance. The i7-4600U's only claim to relevance is that it still runs at the same 15 W TDP, so power draw is not a differentiator. But in terms of what the benchmarks actually measure, there is no workload where the older chip comes out ahead. The recommendation is therefore straightforward: if raw performance matters, the i3-1110G4 is the only choice among these two.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different eras of Intel mobile design. The i3-1110G4 uses the Tiger Lake architecture, specifically the Tiger Lake-U codename, built on Intel's 10 nm process node. The i7-4600U uses the Haswell architecture, codename Haswell-ULT, on Intel's 22 nm process. This node difference explains much of the performance gap. The 10 nm process allows for denser transistors and better power efficiency at the same TDP, which translates directly into the higher clock speeds and better benchmark scores.

Both chips have 2 cores and 4 threads, and both run at a 15 W TDP. The base clock differs: the i7-4600U starts at 2.10 GHz, while the i3-1110G4 starts at 1.80 GHz. However, the boost clock tells the real story: the i3-1110G4 boosts to 3.90 GHz, whereas the i7-4600U only reaches 3.30 GHz. That 600 MHz boost advantage is a major factor in the single-core performance gap.

Cache layouts also differ significantly. The i3-1110G4 has 96 KB of L1 per core and 1.25 MB of L2 per core, with 6 MB of shared L3. The i7-4600U has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and only 4 MB of shared L3. The smaller caches on the Haswell part mean more frequent trips to memory, which hurts in cache-sensitive workloads. The i3-1110G4 also lists a memory bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s with DDR4 support, while the i7-4600U's memory bandwidth is not recorded in the database and it uses DDR3. The newer chip's faster memory interface is another reason for its higher scores.

The integrated graphics differ as well. The i3-1110G4 carries Iris Xe Graphics G4, while the i7-4600U has Intel HD 5000. The database does not record graphics benchmark scores, but the architectural jump from Haswell to Tiger Lake is substantial. The i3-1110G4 also supports PCIe Gen 4 with 16 lanes from the CPU, whereas the i7-4600U has no PCIe details recorded. The i7-4600U does have a recorded transistor count of 1,300 million and a die size of 118 mm², while the i3-1110G4 lacks those figures. Neither chip supports ECC memory, and both are locked (multiplier unlocked: false).

The socket differs: the i3-1110G4 uses Intel BGA 1598, while the i7-4600U uses Intel BGA 1168. This means they are not interchangeable in a motherboard, so a system upgrade would require a new board in most cases. The release dates are far apart: the i7-4600U launched in August 2013, while the i3-1110G4 launched in September 2020. That seven-year gap explains why the newer chip is so much faster per clock and per watt.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench tests provide a complete picture of where each chip stands. Starting with Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i3-1110G4 scores 322 against the i7-4600U's 232. That is a 38.8% advantage for the newer chip. The single-core R15 test is not recorded for the i7-4600U, but the i3-1110G4 scores 160.4 there. Moving to Cinebench R20, the multi-core result shows 1344 for the i3-1110G4 versus 968 for the i7-4600U, again a 38.8% delta. The R20 single-core test shows 189 versus 136, a 39% gap.

Cinebench R23, which is the most demanding of the three, reinforces the pattern. In multi-core, the i3-1110G4 scores 3202, while the i7-4600U scores 2306, a 38.9% difference. In single-core, the i3-1110G4 scores 452 against 325, a 39.1% difference. Every single recorded head-to-head test goes to the i3-1110G4, and the margins are remarkably consistent, all clustering in the 38.8% to 39.1% range. This consistency suggests that the performance gap is not workload-specific but rather a fundamental architectural advantage.

The i7-4600U does have additional Geekbench scores that are not part of the head-to-head set: 1664 multi-core and 889 single-core. But since the i3-1110G4 does not have equivalent Geekbench entries, those numbers cannot be compared directly. For the tests where both chips have results, the i3-1110G4 wins all five, and the wins are not narrow. A 39% lead in single-core performance is large enough to be felt in daily use, not just in synthetic benchmarks. The i3-1110G4's average benchmark score of 945 is also higher than the i7-4600U's 931, though both sit at the 25th percentile among all CPUs in the database.

The nearest rivals for the i3-1110G4 include the AMD A8-7670K (average score 944, delta 0.1%), the AMD Phenom II X6 1045T (946, delta -0.1%), the Intel Xeon X5560 (946, delta -0.1%), and the Intel Pentium Gold G5400T (946, delta -0.1%). The i7-4600U's nearest rivals are the Intel Core i7-870 (928, delta 0.3%), the Intel Core i5-4288U (927, delta 0.4%), the Intel Core i3-4350T (926, delta 0.5%), and the Intel Celeron G6900TE (925, delta 0.7%). So the i7-4600U is clustered with older desktop and low-power parts, while the i3-1110G4 sits among a mix of AMD and Intel chips of varying ages.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i3-1110G4 boosts to 3.90 GHz, while the Intel Core i7-4600U boosts to 3.30 GHz.

Q: Are these two chips compatible with the same motherboard?

A: No. The i3-1110G4 uses Intel BGA 1598, while the i7-4600U uses Intel BGA 1168, so they require different sockets.

Q: Which chip has more L3 cache?

A: The i3-1110G4 has 6 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i7-4600U has 4 MB of shared L3.

Q: Do both processors have the same number of cores and threads?

A: Yes, both have 2 cores and 4 threads.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two in any recorded test?

A: The largest gap is in Cinebench R23 single-core, where the i3-1110G4 scores 452 versus 325, a 39.1% difference.

Q: Which chip supports faster memory?

A: The i3-1110G4 supports DDR4 with a recorded memory bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s, while the i7-4600U supports DDR3 and has no memory bandwidth figure recorded.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous. The Intel Core i3-1110G4 outperforms the Intel Core i7-4600U in every benchmark where both have recorded results. The margins are consistently around 39%, which is a generational leap rather than a minor refresh. The i3-1110G4's newer 10 nm Tiger Lake architecture, higher boost clock, larger caches, and faster memory support all contribute to this outcome.

For a user building a compact or low-power system, the i3-1110G4 is the clear pick. It delivers significantly better single-threaded performance, which matters for everyday tasks, and its multi-threaded scores are equally strong. The i7-4600U, despite its older i7 branding, falls behind in every measured category. The only scenario where the i7-4600U might be considered is if a system already has a BGA 1168 board and the user cannot change platforms, but even then, the performance difference is large enough to justify a platform change if possible.

The i7-4600U's average benchmark score of 931 is close to the i3-1110G4's 945, but that average masks the single-core deficit. The i7-4600U's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-4288U and the Intel Core i3-4350T, which are older or lower-tier parts. The i3-1110G4, by contrast, sits near the AMD A8-7670K and the Intel Xeon X5560 in average score, but its single-core results are far stronger than those older chips. For anyone choosing between these two specific processors, the i3-1110G4 is the only reasonable choice based on the recorded performance data.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i3-1110G4 | Intel Core i7-4600U |

|----------------|----------------------|---------------------|

| Base clock | 1.80 GHz | 2.10 GHz |

| Boost clock | 3.90 GHz | 3.30 GHz |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1598 | Intel BGA 1168 |

| Architecture | Tiger Lake | Haswell |

| Codename | Tiger Lake-U | Haswell-ULT |

| Generation | Core i3 (Willow Cove-U) | Core i7 (Haswell) |

| Process node | 10 nm | 22 nm |

| Transistors | Not recorded | 1,300 million |

| Die size | Not recorded | 118 mm² |

| L1 cache | 96 KB (per core) | 64 KB (per core) |

| L2 cache | 1.25 MB (per core) | 256 KB (per core) |

| L3 cache | 6 MB (shared) | 4 MB (shared) |

| Memory support | DDR4 | DDR3 |

| Memory bandwidth | 59.7 GB/s | Not recorded |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Not recorded |

| Integrated graphics | Iris Xe Graphics G4 | Intel HD 5000 |

| Release date | 2020-09-01 | 2013-08-31 |