Intel Core i3-1115G4E vs Intel Core i5-7440HQ Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark record splits cleanly between these two mobile processors. The Intel Core i5-7440HQ wins seven of the eight recorded head-to-head tests, while the Intel Core i3-1115G4E takes a single, decisive victory. That lone win is not marginal: in Geekbench single-core, the i3-1115G4E scores 1702 against the i5-7440HQ's 1184, a 43.8% advantage. This is the largest delta in the entire comparison, and it defines the i3's use case.

For every other workload, the i5-7440HQ holds a narrow but consistent lead. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i5 scores 4603 versus the i3's 4493, a 2.4% edge. The pattern repeats across R20 and R15 multi-core tests, with deltas of 2.4% and 2.4%, respectively. Single-core Cinebench scores also favor the i5, but by smaller margins: 649 versus 634 in R23 (2.3%), 272 versus 266 in R20 (2.2%), and 65 versus 63 in R15 (3.1%). The Geekbench multi-core test shows a 2.3% lead for the i5 (3043 versus 2972).

The data suggests the i5-7440HQ is the steadier all-rounder, winning every multi-threaded workload and even most single-threaded Cinebench runs. The i3-1115G4E, however, demonstrates a clear specialty: its single-core performance in Geekbench is exceptional for its class, and it likely suits workloads that are heavily reliant on one or two threads with high IPC demands. The average benchmark scores reinforce this split: the i3 averages 1559 across all recorded tests, while the i5 averages 1527, a difference that places the i3 slightly higher in the overall database aggregate despite losing most head-to-heads.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel architecture generations and manufacturing nodes. The Core i3-1115G4E uses Tiger Lake-U, built on Intel's 10 nm process, with a die size of 144 mm². The Core i5-7440HQ uses Kaby Lake-H, on Intel's 14 nm process, with a smaller die at 126 mm². The node difference explains some of the efficiency and frequency behavior, but the core configurations are the more significant differentiator.

The i3-1115G4E has 2 physical cores and 4 threads, meaning it supports Hyper-Threading. Its base clock is 2.20 GHz with a boost clock of 3.90 GHz. The i5-7440HQ has 4 physical cores and 4 threads, with no Hyper-Threading, running at a base clock of 2.80 GHz and a boost clock of 3.80 GHz. The i5's higher base clock and extra cores give it a natural advantage in multi-threaded workloads, while the i3's higher boost clock and newer architecture help it in single-threaded scenarios.

Cache layouts also differ notably. The i3-1115G4E features 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The i5-7440HQ has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and the same 6 MB of shared L3. The i3's much larger L2 cache per core is a hallmarks of the Tiger Lake design, and it likely contributes to the large single-core Geekbench win.

Memory support and PCIe capabilities also separate the two. The i3 supports DDR4 and LPDDR4X, while the i5 supports DDR3 and DDR4, both in dual-channel configurations. PCIe connectivity differs: the i3 offers Gen 4 with 4 CPU lanes, while the i5 offers Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes. The integrated graphics differ as well: the i3 uses UHD Graphics G4 with 48 execution units, and the i5 uses Intel HD Graphics 630.

The i3 is an active production part with a launch MSRP of $285, while the i5 is end-of-life with a launch MSRP of $250. Neither has an unlocked multiplier. The i3's part number is SRK12, and the i5's is SR32R. The i3's Tiger Lake architecture is newer, and its process node is smaller, but the i5's older Kaby Lake design compensates with more cores and higher base clocks.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear choice for each scenario. If the workload is multi-threaded, the Intel Core i5-7440HQ is the better pick. It wins every Cinebench multi-core test and the Geekbench multi-core test, though the margins are modest: 2.4% in R23, 2.4% in R20, 2.4% in R15, and 2.3% in Geekbench. These are consistent, repeatable leads, and they come from a 4-core, 4-thread design with a 45 W TDP.

If the workload is single-threaded and heavily dependent on IPC, the Intel Core i3-1115G4E is the standout. Its Geekbench single-core score of 1702 is 43.8% higher than the i5's 1184, an enormous gap that no other test in the database shows between these two parts. The i3 also has a higher boost clock (3.90 GHz versus 3.80 GHz), a newer 10 nm node, and a larger per-core L2 cache, all of which support strong single-core behavior.

The database ranks the i3 at the 39th percentile of all CPUs and the i5 at the 38th percentile, so they sit essentially side by side in the overall performance distribution. The i3's average benchmark score is 1559, and the i5's is 1527, a 32-point difference that barely registers. Neither part is a dominant performer by modern standards, but each has a distinct role.

For users who need sustained multi-core throughput, the i5-7440HQ is the safer choice, even with its end-of-life status and higher TDP. For users who prioritize single-core responsiveness, the i3-1115G4E offers a dramatic advantage in one specific test, and its active production status suggests ongoing availability. The choice hinges entirely on the thread count and the nature of the software being run.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more head-to-head benchmark comparisons?

A: The Intel Core i5-7440HQ wins 7 of the 8 recorded head-to-head tests. The Intel Core i3-1115G4E wins only the Geekbench single-core test.

Q: What is the largest performance difference between the two?

A: The largest delta is in Geekbench single-core, where the i3-1115G4E scores 1702 versus the i5-7440HQ's 1184, a 43.8% advantage for the i3.

Q: How do the multi-core Cinebench scores compare?

A: The i5-7440HQ leads in all multi-core Cinebench tests: R23 (4603 vs 4493, 2.4%), R20 (1933 vs 1887, 2.4%), and R15 (463 vs 452, 2.4%).

Q: Do the processors have the same core and thread counts?

A: No. The i3-1115G4E has 2 cores and 4 threads, while the i5-7440HQ has 4 cores and 4 threads.

Q: What are the base and boost clock speeds for each?

A: The i3-1115G4E has a base clock of 2.20 GHz and a boost clock of 3.90 GHz. The i5-7440HQ has a base clock of 2.80 GHz and a boost clock of 3.80 GHz.

Q: Which processor has the larger L2 cache per core?

A: The i3-1115G4E has 1.25 MB of L2 per core, while the i5-7440HQ has 256 KB per core. Both share 6 MB of L3 cache.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result in the entire comparison is the Geekbench single-core test. The i3-1115G4E posts 1702, while the i5-7440HQ manages only 1184. That 43.8% lead is the single biggest win for either chip, and it is the only test where the i3 comes out ahead. This result likely reflects the i3's newer Tiger Lake architecture, its 3.90 GHz boost clock, and its larger L2 cache per core.

Every other benchmark falls into a narrow band of i5 victories. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i5 scores 4603 against the i3's 4493, a 2.4% edge. The single-core R23 test shows a similar pattern: 649 versus 634, a 2.3% lead for the i5. Cinebench R20 multi-core follows with 1933 versus 1887 (2.4%), and R20 single-core with 272 versus 266 (2.2%). Cinebench R15 multi-core shows 463 versus 452 (2.4%), and R15 single-core shows 65 versus 63 (3.1%). Geekbench multi-core rounds out the list: 3043 versus 2972, a 2.3% i5 advantage.

The consistency of the i5's multi-core wins is notable, but the margins are small enough that they might not translate to perceptible real-world differences in all applications. The i3's single-core Geekbench win, however, is so large that it would be immediately noticeable in any single-threaded workload that scales with IPC. The data shows a clear trade-off: the i5 offers uniform but modest superiority across most tests, while the i3 offers one massive victory that could matter more in specific software scenarios.