Intel Core i3-1115G4E vs Intel Pentium Gold G7400E Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a remarkably one-sided picture. Across all six recorded Cinebench tests, the Intel Pentium Gold G7400E wins every single matchup. There are no exceptions, no close calls, and no tests where the Core i3-1115G4E manages to pull ahead. The consistency of the margin is striking: every delta falls between -14.7% and -14.9%, meaning the Pentium Gold outperforms the Core i3 by roughly 15% across the board.

Starting with the older Cinebench R15 suite, the Pentium Gold G7400E scores 531 in multicore against 452 for the Core i3-1115G4E, a -14.9% delta. The single-core R15 test shows the same pattern: 74 versus 63, again -14.9%. Moving to Cinebench R20, the Pentium Gold posts 2213 multicore and 312 single-core, while the Core i3 manages 1887 and 266 respectively, with deltas of -14.7% for both. The newest R23 suite repeats the story: 5270 versus 4493 in multicore and 744 versus 634 in single-core, with deltas of -14.7% and -14.8%.

What makes this interesting is that the two chips share the same core and thread counts, both being 2-core, 4-thread parts. Yet the Pentium Gold's advantage is uniform across rendering workloads that stress all cores and workloads that rely on a single thread. The data suggests a fundamental per-clock efficiency advantage for the Alder Lake architecture, not merely a matter of one chip having more resources to throw at a task.

The Geekbench results only appear for the Core i3-1115G4E, which scores 2972 multicore and 1702 single-core. The Pentium Gold G7400E has no recorded Geekbench scores in the database, so a direct comparison on that platform is not possible from the available measurements. Still, the Cinebench data alone establishes a clear hierarchy.

Where Each One Wins

Based strictly on the recorded benchmark results, the Intel Pentium Gold G7400E wins in every tested category. There are no benchmark wins for the Intel Core i3-1115G4E. The winsA count is 0, while winsB is 6. This is not a case where one chip excels at multi-threaded workloads and the other at single-threaded tasks; the Pentium Gold leads in both.

For users who prioritize rendering performance in Cinebench, the choice is unambiguous. The Pentium Gold G7400E delivers higher scores in R15, R20, and R23, across both multicore and single-core variants. The consistency of the ~15% margin across different generations of the Cinebench suite indicates that the advantage is not workload-specific or version-specific, but rather a general property of the two chips' relative performance.

The Core i3-1115G4E does retain one relevant distinction: it is a mobile part with a 15 W TDP, while the Pentium Gold G7400E is a desktop part with a 46 W TDP. The data does not include power consumption measurements, so a direct efficiency comparison is impossible. However, the benchmark results show that in raw performance, the desktop Pentium Gold holds a decisive lead.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations and target different market segments. The Intel Core i3-1115G4E is built on Tiger Lake, specifically the Tiger Lake-U codename, and belongs to the Willow Cove-U generation. It uses a 10 nm process node from Intel's own foundry and has a die size of 144 mm². The Intel Pentium Gold G7400E is based on Alder Lake, specifically the Alder Lake-S codename, and belongs to the Alder Lake-S generation. It also uses a 10 nm process node, though the die size is not recorded in the database.

Both chips share identical cache hierarchies. Each has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The core and thread counts are also identical at 2 cores and 4 threads. The fundamental architectural difference lies in the generation: Tiger Lake-U versus Alder Lake-S. The benchmark results suggest that the newer Alder Lake design delivers higher instructions per clock, which would explain the uniform performance advantage despite identical core counts and cache sizes.

Memory support differs significantly. The Core i3-1115G4E supports DDR4 and LPDDR4X, while the Pentium Gold G7400E supports DDR4 and DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory buses. PCIe support also differs: the Core i3 offers Gen 4 with 4 lanes from the CPU, while the Pentium Gold offers Gen 5, though the lane count is not specified in the database.

The integrated graphics are different as well. The Core i3-1115G4E features UHD Graphics G4 with 48 execution units, while the Pentium Gold G7400E has UHD Graphics 710. The database does not include graphics benchmark scores, so the practical impact of this difference cannot be quantified here.

The sockets are entirely different: the Core i3 uses Intel BGA 1449, which is a soldered mobile socket, while the Pentium Gold uses Intel Socket 1700, a desktop socket. This reflects their respective market segments: mobile for the Core i3, desktop for the Pentium Gold. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher base clock?

A: The Intel Pentium Gold G7400E has a base clock of 3.60 GHz, while the Intel Core i3-1115G4E has a base clock of 2.20 GHz.

Q: Does the Intel Core i3-1115G4E have a boost clock?

A: Yes, the Core i3-1115G4E has a boost clock of 3.90 GHz. The Pentium Gold G7400E has no recorded boost clock in the database.

Q: Which chip wins in Cinebench R23 multicore performance?

A: The Intel Pentium Gold G7400E wins with a score of 5270, compared to 4493 for the Intel Core i3-1115G4E, a -14.7% delta.

Q: Are both processors 2-core, 4-thread parts?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core i3-1115G4E and the Intel Pentium Gold G7400E have 2 cores and 4 threads.

Q: What process node are both chips built on?

A: Both processors are built on a 10 nm process node by Intel.

Q: Which chip supports DDR5 memory?

A: The Intel Pentium Gold G7400E supports DDR4 and DDR5, while the Intel Core i3-1115G4E supports DDR4 and LPDDR4X.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications. The Intel Core i3-1115G4E has a base clock of 2.20 GHz and a boost clock of 3.90 GHz, while the Pentium Gold G7400E has a base clock of 3.60 GHz and no recorded boost clock. The TDP differs substantially: 15 W for the Core i3 versus 46 W for the Pentium Gold.

The sockets are different, with the Core i3 using Intel BGA 1449 and the Pentium Gold using Intel Socket 1700. The architecture generation also differs: Tiger Lake-U for the Core i3, Alder Lake-S for the Pentium Gold. The die size is recorded only for the Core i3 at 144 mm², with no die size data for the Pentium Gold.

Memory support diverges: the Core i3 supports DDR4 and LPDDR4X, while the Pentium Gold supports DDR4 and DDR5. PCIe capabilities also differ, with the Core i3 offering Gen 4 with 4 CPU lanes and the Pentium Gold offering Gen 5. The integrated graphics differ as well: UHD Graphics G4 with 48 EU on the Core i3, versus UHD Graphics 710 on the Pentium Gold.

The market segments are different, with the Core i3 classified as Mobile and the Pentium Gold as Desktop. The release dates differ, with the Core i3 releasing in September 2020 and the Pentium Gold in January 2022. The Core i3 has a recorded launch MSRP of $285, while the Pentium Gold has no recorded MSRP. The Core i3 has a part number of SRK12, while the Pentium Gold has none recorded. Both are active in production, neither has an unlocked multiplier, and neither supports ECC memory.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear performance winner: the Intel Pentium Gold G7400E. It wins all six recorded Cinebench benchmarks, with a consistent margin of roughly 15% over the Intel Core i3-1115G4E in both multicore and single-core tests. Its higher base clock of 3.60 GHz, newer Alder Lake architecture, and support for DDR5 memory all align with its benchmark dominance.

The Core i3-1115G4E is not without its own advantages. It is a mobile part with a 15 W TDP, making it suited for power-constrained environments where the 46 W Pentium Gold would be impractical. It also has a recorded boost clock of 3.90 GHz, a defined die size, and a documented launch MSRP of $285. Its UHD Graphics G4 with 48 execution units may offer different integrated graphics capabilities than the Pentium Gold's UHD Graphics 710, though the database provides no graphics benchmarks to confirm this.

For users building a desktop system and prioritizing raw CPU performance in rendering workloads, the Pentium Gold G7400E is the choice supported by the measurements. For mobile applications or scenarios where the 15 W TDP is a hard constraint, the Core i3-1115G4E remains the only viable option of the two, despite its lower benchmark scores. The average benchmark score in the database reflects this split: the Core i3-1115G4E sits at 1559 with a 39th percentile ranking, while the Pentium Gold G7400E sits at 1524 with a 38th percentile ranking. The Pentium Gold's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-4670S and Core i5-7440HQ, while the Core i3's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 3 1300X and AMD FX-8350, placing both chips in similar overall performance strata despite the Pentium Gold's head-to-head wins.