Intel Core i3-1305U vs Intel Core i7-4790 Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i3-1305U has 5 cores and 6 threads, while the Intel Core i7-4790 has 4 cores and 8 threads. The i3 has one additional physical core, but the i7 has two additional threads.

Q: What is the difference in process node between the two?

A: The Intel Core i3-1305U is built on a 10 nm process, while the Intel Core i7-4790 uses a 22 nm process. This is a significant generational jump in manufacturing technology.

Q: Which processor supports faster memory standards?

A: The Intel Core i3-1305U supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory, whereas the Intel Core i7-4790 only supports DDR3. The i7 also has a listed memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s, while no bandwidth figure is recorded for the i3.

Q: How do the integrated graphics compare?

A: The Intel Core i3-1305U includes UHD Graphics 64EU, while the Intel Core i7-4790 includes Intel HD 4600. The i3's integrated graphics solution is the more modern of the two.

Q: What is the production status of each processor?

A: The Intel Core i3-1305U is listed as Active, while the Intel Core i7-4790 is End-of-life. The i3 is a current mobile part, and the i7 is a discontinued desktop part.

Q: Which CPU has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i3-1305U boosts up to 4.50 GHz, while the Intel Core i7-4790 boosts up to 4.00 GHz. The i3's boost clock is 0.50 GHz higher.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i3-1305U dominates the head-to-head comparison, winning 14 of the 17 recorded benchmarks. Its wins span nearly every category: Cinebench multi-core and single-core tests, PassMark multi-thread, single-thread, encryption, prime number finding, floating point math, integer math, and physics. The i3's lead in encryption is particularly striking, at 189.7% over the i7.

The Intel Core i7-4790 wins only three benchmarks, but they are notable. It takes data compression with a score of 109623 versus 92767, a 15.4% advantage. It also wins extended instructions (6835 versus 5240, a 23.3% lead) and random string sorting (14790 versus 10889, a 26.4% lead). These are all memory- and instruction-heavy workloads where the i7's older architecture still holds an edge.

The use-case split is clear. The i3-1305U is the general-purpose winner for compute-heavy tasks, rendering, encryption, and any workload that benefits from newer architecture and higher single-thread performance. The i7-4790 retains an advantage in specific data manipulation tasks: compression, sorting, and extended instruction workloads. For users whose primary work involves those three categories, the older chip is the better choice; for everything else, the i3 is ahead.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from very different eras of Intel design. The Core i3-1305U is a Raptor Lake-U mobile part built on a 10 nm process, while the Core i7-4790 is a Haswell desktop part built on a 22 nm process. The i3 is the newer design by roughly nine years, with a release date of 2023-01-03 versus 2014-04-30 for the i7.

The core layouts reflect their different design philosophies. The i3-1305U has 5 cores and 6 threads, an asymmetric configuration that pairs performance cores with efficiency cores, a hallmark of Raptor Lake. The i7-4790 has 4 cores and 8 threads, a symmetric quad-core with Hyper-Threading. This means the i7 has more threads than the i3 despite having fewer cores, an important distinction for highly threaded workloads that scale with thread count rather than core count.

Cache hierarchies differ substantially. The i3-1305U has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and 10 MB of shared L3 cache. The i7-4790 has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3. The i3's larger per-core L2 and larger total L3 give it a cache advantage, though the i7's larger L1 per core (64 KB versus 80 KB is actually a win for the i3) is worth noting: the i3 has more L1 per core.

The process node difference is one of the most important architectural gaps. A 10 nm process versus a 22 nm process means the i3 can pack more transistors in less space, run more efficiently, and achieve higher clock speeds at lower power. The i7's transistor count is listed at 1,400 million with a die size of 177 mm²; no transistor count or die size is recorded for the i3. The i3's TDP is 15 watts, while the i7's is 84 watts, a massive difference in power envelope that reflects both the process advantage and the mobile versus desktop design intent.

The integrated graphics also differ. The i3 has UHD Graphics 64EU, while the i7 has Intel HD 4600. The i3's graphics solution is from a newer generation with more execution units. The i3 uses the Intel BGA 1744 socket, and the i7 uses Intel Socket 1150. The i3 supports PCIe Gen 4 with 8 lanes (CPU only), while the i7 supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only).

Specification Differences

The two CPUs differ across nearly every specification field. The i3-1305U has 5 cores and 6 threads; the i7-4790 has 4 cores and 8 threads. The i3 has a base clock of 1600.00 MHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz; the i7 has a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.00 GHz. The i3's base clock is much lower, but its boost clock is higher.

TDP is a major differentiator: the i3 is rated at 15 watts, the i7 at 84 watts. The i3 uses the Intel BGA 1744 socket; the i7 uses Intel Socket 1150. The i3 is a Raptor Lake-U mobile part; the i7 is a Haswell desktop part. The i3 is built on a 10 nm process; the i7 on 22 nm. The i3 has no recorded transistor count or die size; the i7 has 1,400 million transistors and a die size of 177 mm².

Cache differences are pronounced. The i3 has 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 10 MB shared L3. The i7 has 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 8 MB shared L3. Memory support differs: the i3 supports DDR4 and DDR5, the i7 supports DDR3. Both are dual-channel. The i7 has a listed memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s; the i3 has none recorded. PCIe support differs: the i3 has Gen 4 with 8 lanes, the i7 has Gen 3 with 16 lanes. Integrated graphics differ: UHD Graphics 64EU versus Intel HD 4600. The i3 is Active, the i7 is End-of-life. The i3 was released 2023-01-03, the i7 2014-04-30. Neither has an unlocked multiplier. The i3's part number is SRMLT, the i7's is SR1QF.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data shows a consistent pattern: the i3-1305U wins the vast majority of tests, often by double-digit margins, while the i7-4790 wins a few specialized workloads.

In Cinebench, the i3 wins every test. Cinebench R15 multi-core: 723 versus 621, a 16.4% lead. R15 single-core: 102 versus 87, a 17.2% lead. R20 multi-core: 3016 versus 2591, a 16.4% lead. R20 single-core: 425 versus 365, a 16.4% lead. R23 multi-core: 7183 versus 6171, a 16.4% lead. R23 single-core: 1014 versus 871, a 16.4% lead. The i3 outperforms the i7 consistently across all three Cinebench generations, in both single and multi-core tests.

PassMark tests show a mixed but mostly i3-favorable picture. The i3 wins data encryption by a massive margin: 5895 versus 2035, a 189.7% lead. It also wins floating point math (19687 versus 13104, a 50.2% lead), single-thread (3115 versus 2228, a 39.8% lead), multi-thread (8747 versus 7264, a 20.4% lead), prime number finding (36 versus 32, a 12.5% lead), integer math (27925 versus 26129, a 6.9% lead), and physics (523 versus 498, a 5% lead).

The i7-4790 wins three PassMark tests. Random string sorting: 14790 versus 10889, a 26.4% lead. Extended instructions: 6835 versus 5240, a 23.3% lead. Data compression: 109623 versus 92767, a 15.4% lead. These wins are not trivial; they show the i7 still has strengths in specific data manipulation workloads. The i7's data compression score is particularly strong, exceeding the i3 by over 16,000 points.

The overall average benchmark score reinforces the i3's position. The i3 has an average benchmark score of 11200, while the i7 has 10556. Both CPUs sit at the 66th percentile among all CPUs in the database, meaning they are statistically in the same performance tier overall, despite the i3 winning most head-to-head tests.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear overall winner: the Intel Core i3-1305U. It wins 14 of 17 head-to-head benchmarks, including every Cinebench test and the majority of PassMark tests. Its single-thread performance is particularly strong, with a 39.8% lead in PassMark single-thread and a 16.4% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core. For rendering, encryption, floating point math, and general compute, the i3 is the better choice.

The Intel Core i7-4790 still has a place. Its wins in data compression, extended instructions, and random string sorting show that older architectures can still excel in specific workloads. Users who primarily work with compression, sorting, or instruction-heavy data manipulation may find the i7's performance sufficient. Its 8 threads versus the i3's 6 threads also provide a theoretical advantage in highly threaded scenarios, though the benchmark data shows the i3 still wins the multi-threaded tests.

The i3-1305U is the modern, efficient option with a 15 watt TDP, 10 nm process, DDR4/DDR5 support, and active production status. The i7-4790 is an end-of-life desktop part with an 84 watt TDP and DDR3 support. The i3 is the recommended pick for new builds or upgrades, based on the recorded data. The i7 remains viable only for the specific workloads where it holds a measured advantage. The launch MSRP of the i3 is $309, and the launch MSRP of the i7 is $312.