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

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark record favors the Intel Core i3-1305U in 12 of 17 head-to-head tests, but the Intel Core i7-4790K claims the most decisive victories. The i7-4790K wins data compression by a massive 31.2% margin, scoring 121,722 against 92,767. It also dominates random string sorting with a 50.9% advantage, 16,431 versus 10,889, and extended instructions by 44.6%, 7,579 against 5,240. These are workload-specific strengths, not general computing leads.

The i3-1305U answers with a different set of wins. Its largest margin is in data encryption, where it scores 5,895 against 2,264, a 61.6% gap in its favor. Floating point math also goes to the i3-1305U, 19,687 versus 14,597, a 25.9% lead. Single-thread performance is another clear win, 3,115 versus 2,466, a 20.8% advantage. The i3-1305U also leads in every Cinebench test, though by narrower margins: R15 multi-core 723 vs 690, R15 single-core 102 vs 97, R20 multi-core 3,016 vs 2,879, R20 single-core 425 vs 406, R23 multi-core 7,183 vs 6,855, and R23 single-core 1,014 vs 967. Each of these Cinebench wins sits between 4.5% and 4.9%.

The remaining tests split closely. The i7-4790K edges out integer math, 29,163 versus 27,925, a 4.4% win. It also takes physics, 548 versus 523, a 4.8% margin. The i3-1305U wins prime number finding, 36 versus 34, a 5.6% lead, and multithread, 8,747 versus 8,062, a 7.8% advantage. The overall win count is lopsided, but the magnitude of the i7-4790K's wins in compression, sorting, and extended instructions suggests that specific legacy workloads still favor the older desktop part.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different eras and design philosophies. The i7-4790K is a Haswell desktop chip built on a 22 nm process, with 4 cores and 8 threads. It features 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die. The i3-1305U is a Raptor Lake-U mobile chip on a 10 nm process, with 5 cores and 6 threads. The i3-1305U uses a hybrid configuration, though the database does not specify performance versus efficiency core counts. Its transistor count and die size are not recorded.

Cache layouts differ substantially. The i7-4790K has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3. The i3-1305U has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 10 MB of shared L3. The newer part holds a larger L3 pool and significantly more L2 per core, which helps explain its single-thread and encryption advantages.

Memory support also diverges. The i7-4790K uses DDR3 with dual-channel memory and a recorded bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s. The i3-1305U supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also dual-channel, though its bandwidth figure is not recorded. PCIe connectivity differs as well: the i7-4790K offers Gen 3 with 16 lanes, while the i3-1305U offers Gen 4 with 8 lanes. The i7-4790K has an unlocked multiplier and is end-of-life; the i3-1305U has a locked multiplier and remains active in production.

Clock behavior is notable. The i7-4790K has a base clock of 4.00 GHz and a boost of 4.40 GHz. The i3-1305U has a base of 1.60 GHz and a boost of 4.50 GHz. The i3-1305U boosts higher, which aligns with its single-core benchmark wins. The i7-4790K's higher base clock reflects its desktop power envelope of 88 W, versus the i3-1305U's 15 W mobile TDP. Integrated graphics also differ: the i7-4790K carries Intel HD 4600, while the i3-1305U carries UHD Graphics 64EU.

Where Each One Wins

The i7-4790K is the choice for legacy compression and string-heavy workloads. Its 31.2% lead in data compression and 50.9% lead in random string sorting indicate that older software optimized for Haswell's execution resources still runs faster on this part. Extended instructions, with a 44.6% advantage, reinforces this pattern. Integer math and physics also favor the i7-4790K, though by smaller margins of 4.4% and 4.8%. Users dealing with archive extraction, sorting algorithms, or instruction-heavy legacy code will see the i7-4790K pull ahead.

The i3-1305U wins the broader set of modern tasks. Its 61.6% lead in data encryption is the largest single margin in the entire comparison, suggesting strong cryptographic performance. Floating point math, with a 25.9% advantage, points to better numerical throughput. Single-thread performance is 20.8% higher, which matters for everyday responsiveness and lightly threaded applications. The i3-1305U also wins every Cinebench render test, so content creation with current rendering engines will favor it.

The multithread result is closer than the core count suggests. The i7-4790K has 8 threads against the i3-1305U's 6, but the i3-1305U still wins multithread by 7.8%, 8,747 versus 8,062. This indicates that Raptor Lake's core efficiency offsets the thread deficit. Prime number finding also goes to the i3-1305U, 36 versus 34, a 5.6% edge. The i7-4790K's wins are concentrated in a narrow set of legacy workloads, while the i3-1305U claims the majority of both modern and multithreaded tests.

The Verdict

The data points to the Intel Core i3-1305U as the stronger overall processor for most users. It wins 12 of 17 head-to-head tests, including all Cinebench versions, single-thread performance, encryption, and floating point math. Its average benchmark score of 11,200 places it at the 66th percentile of all CPUs, slightly behind the i7-4790K's 67th percentile and average score of 11,745. The i7-4790K's percentile is higher, but its wins are fewer and narrower in scope.

The i7-4790K retains a role for specific legacy tasks. If the workload involves data compression, random string sorting, or extended instruction sets, the i7-4790K is measurably faster, by margins from 31.2% up to 50.9%. It also holds a small edge in integer math and physics. For users running older software that relies on Haswell-era execution paths, the i7-4790K remains competitive despite being end-of-life.

For anyone buying new hardware today, the i3-1305U is the rational pick from the benchmark record. It is an active product, uses a smaller process node, supports newer memory standards, and wins the broad majority of tests. The i7-4790K's launch MSRP is $350, and the i3-1305U's launch MSRP is $309. The i3-1305U is also a mobile part with a 15 W TDP, making it suitable for laptops, while the i7-4790K is a desktop chip at 88 W. The verdict from the data: the i3-1305U for general and modern workloads, the i7-4790K only when legacy compression or sorting dominates the use case.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more head-to-head benchmarks?

A: The Intel Core i3-1305U wins 12 of 17 tests, while the Intel Core i7-4790K wins 5.

Q: What is the largest single benchmark margin between the two?

A: The i3-1305U leads in data encryption by 61.6%, scoring 5,895 against the i7-4790K's 2,264.

Q: Does the i7-4790K win any test by a large margin?

A: Yes, it wins random string sorting by 50.9% (16,431 vs 10,889) and extended instructions by 44.6% (7,579 vs 5,240).

Q: How do they compare in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The i3-1305U scores 7,183 versus the i7-4790K's 6,855, a 4.6% lead for the i3-1305U.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The i3-1305U boosts to 4.50 GHz, while the i7-4790K boosts to 4.40 GHz.

Q: Are both processors unlocked for overclocking?

A: No, the i7-4790K has an unlocked multiplier, while the i3-1305U is locked.

Specification Differences

• Cores: i7-4790K has 4, i3-1305U has 5
• Threads: i7-4790K has 8, i3-1305U has 6
• Base Clock: i7-4790K at 4.00 GHz, i3-1305U at 1.60 GHz
• Boost Clock: i7-4790K at 4.40 GHz, i3-1305U at 4.50 GHz
• TDP: i7-4790K at 88 W, i3-1305U at 15 W
• Socket: i7-4790K uses Intel Socket 1150, i3-1305U uses Intel BGA 1744
• Architecture: i7-4790K is Haswell, i3-1305U is Raptor Lake
• Process Node: i7-4790K at 22 nm, i3-1305U at 10 nm
• L1 Cache: i7-4790K has 64 KB per core, i3-1305U has 80 KB per core
• L2 Cache: i7-4790K has 256 KB per core, i3-1305U has 1.25 MB per core
• L3 Cache: i7-4790K has 8 MB shared, i3-1305U has 10 MB shared
• Memory Support: i7-4790K supports DDR3, i3-1305U supports DDR4 and DDR5
• Memory Bandwidth: i7-4790K has 25.6 GB/s, i3-1305U has no recorded value
• PCIe: i7-4790K has Gen 3, 16 lanes; i3-1305U has Gen 4, 8 lanes
• Integrated Graphics: i7-4790K has Intel HD 4600, i3-1305U has UHD Graphics 64EU
• Market Segment: i7-4790K is Desktop, i3-1305U is Mobile
• Production Status: i7-4790K is End-of-life, i3-1305U is Active
• Release Date: i7-4790K on 2014-04-30, i3-1305U on 2023-01-03
• Launch MSRP: i7-4790K at $350, i3-1305U at $309
• Multiplier Unlocked: i7-4790K is true, i3-1305U is false
• Part Number: i7-4790K is SR219, i3-1305U is SRMLT