Intel Core i3-4130T vs Intel Core i3-8130U Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i3-8130U and the Intel Core i3-4130T are both dual-core, four-thread processors, but they belong to different eras and serve different purposes. The benchmark data reveals a clear split: the 8130U dominates in Cinebench workloads, while the 4130T ekes out narrow wins in Geekbench.

The 8130U takes five of the seven recorded head-to-head benchmarks. Its largest advantages come in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where it scores 301 against 245, a 22.9% margin. The same pattern holds across Cinebench R20 multi-core (1257 vs 1024, 22.8% ahead), Cinebench R20 single-core (177 vs 144, 22.9% ahead), Cinebench R23 multi-core (2995 vs 2440, 22.7% ahead), and Cinebench R23 single-core (422 vs 344, 22.7% ahead). These are consistent, substantial wins across both single-threaded and multi-threaded rendering tests.

The 4130T counters in Geekbench. It scores 1787 in multi-core against 1762, a 1.4% edge, and 903 in single-core against 898, a 0.6% edge. These margins are small, but they are consistent across both Geekbench tests.

Looking at average benchmark scores, the 8130U averages 994 across all tests, while the 4130T averages 984. That is a 10-point gap, or roughly 1%, which aligns with the overall picture of a slight but real advantage for the mobile chip. Both processors sit at the 27th percentile of all CPUs in the database, meaning they occupy the same performance tier relative to everything else measured.

The use-case split is therefore straightforward. For rendering, video encoding, or any workload that exercises Cinebench-style integer and floating-point operations, the 8130U is the clear pick. For Geekbench-style workloads, which include a broader mix of memory, cryptography, and compression tests, the 4130T is marginally ahead, though the difference is within the range of measurement noise.

The Verdict

The data points to a simple conclusion: the Intel Core i3-8130U is the stronger processor overall. It wins five of seven benchmarks, holds an average score advantage of 994 to 984, and its Cinebench margins are large enough to be meaningful in real-world rendering tasks.

The 4130T is not without merit. Its Geekbench wins, while narrow, suggest that it handles certain mixed workloads slightly better. For users whose primary applications resemble Geekbench's test suite, the 4130T would not be a poor choice. But the magnitude of the 8130U's Cinebench wins, all around 22.7% to 22.9%, far outweighs the sub-1.5% Geekbench edges.

There is also the matter of production status. The 8130U is listed as active in the database, while the 4130T has no production status listed, implying it has been discontinued or superseded. For anyone building a system today, the 8130U is the more accessible and future-proof option.

The architectural gap explains the performance difference. The 8130U uses a 14 nm Kaby Lake-R design with a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 3.40 GHz. The 4130T uses a 22 nm Haswell design with a base clock of 2.90 GHz and no boost clock. The 8130U's ability to boost above its base clock, combined with a more efficient process node, gives it a decisive edge in bursty single-threaded workloads, as seen in the Cinebench single-core results.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single benchmark win for the 8130U is in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where it scores 301 against 245, a 22.9% delta. This is matched almost exactly by its Cinebench R20 single-core win, 177 against 144, also a 22.9% delta. The consistency of these margins across different Cinebench versions and thread counts is notable; it suggests the 8130U's advantage is structural, not workload-specific.

In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the 8130U scores 1257 against 1024, a 22.8% lead. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows 2995 against 2440, a 22.7% lead, and Cinebench R23 single-core shows 422 against 344, also 22.7%. These four tests tell the same story: the 8130U is roughly 23% faster in every Cinebench metric, whether testing one core or all cores.

The 4130T's wins are much smaller in percentage terms. In Geekbench multi-core, it scores 1787 against 1762, a 1.4% edge. In Geekbench single-core, it scores 903 against 898, a 0.6% edge. These margins are real but minimal; they would be imperceptible in most real-world applications.

Looking at the nearest rivals in the database provides additional context. The 8130U's average score of 994 places it alongside the AMD Phenom II X6 1065T (993, 0.1% slower), the Intel Xeon W3565 (993, 0.1% slower), the AMD Opteron 4226 (995, 0.1% faster), and the Intel Core i7-2635QM (995, 0.1% faster). The 4130T's average score of 984 sits near the Intel Core i7-875K (984, 0% delta), the Intel Xeon X3470 (983, 0.1% slower), the Intel Core i3-4370T (983, 0.1% slower), and the Intel Xeon W5590 (986, 0.2% faster). Both chips are clustered tightly with their peers, but the 8130U's cluster sits slightly higher.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher clock speed?

A: The Intel Core i3-4130T has a higher base clock at 2.90 GHz, while the Intel Core i3-8130U has a base clock of 2.40 GHz. However, the 8130U has a boost clock of 3.40 GHz, which the 4130T lacks entirely.

Q: How do the cache sizes compare?

A: Both processors have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core. The 8130U has 4 MB of shared L3 cache, while the 4130T has 3 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: Which processor wins in Geekbench multi-core?

A: The Intel Core i3-4130T wins in Geekbench multi-core with a score of 1787, compared to 1762 for the 8130U, a 1.4% difference.

Q: What are the biggest Cinebench wins for the 8130U?

A: The 8130U wins all five Cinebench tests (R15 multi-core, R20 multi-core, R20 single-core, R23 multi-core, and R23 single-core), with margins between 22.7% and 22.9%.

Q: What process nodes do these processors use?

A: The 8130U uses a 14 nm process, while the 4130T uses a 22 nm process. The 8130U also has a smaller die size at 123 mm², compared to 177 mm² for the 4130T.

Q: What memory types do they support?

A: The 8130U supports DDR4 memory, while the 4130T supports DDR3 memory with a dual-channel bus. The 4130T also lists PCIe Gen 3 support, while the 8130U does not list PCIe information in the database.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i3-8130U and the Intel Core i3-4130T come from different architectural generations and target different market segments. The 8130U is a mobile processor in the Kaby Lake-R family, built on a 14 nm process with a die size of 123 mm². The 4130T is a desktop processor in the Haswell family, built on a 22 nm process with a die size of 177 mm² and 1,400 million transistors.

The 8130U has a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 3.40 GHz, giving it dynamic frequency scaling that the 4130T lacks. The 4130T has a fixed base clock of 2.90 GHz, which is higher than the 8130U's base but lower than its boost. This explains why the 8130U wins single-threaded Cinebench tests despite its lower base clock: it can ramp up to 3.40 GHz under load.

Cache configurations differ as well. Both chips have 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, but the 8130U has 4 MB of shared L3, while the 4130T has 3 MB. The extra 1 MB of L3 likely contributes to the 8130U's multi-core advantage.

Memory support is another differentiator. The 8130U supports DDR4, while the 4130T supports DDR3 with a dual-channel bus. This reflects the generational shift in platform memory standards. The 4130T also supports PCIe Gen 3, while the database does not list PCIe information for the 8130U.

Integrated graphics differ: the 8130U uses UHD 620, while the 4130T uses Intel HD 4400. Both processors are locked, with no unlocked multiplier, and neither supports ECC memory.

The sockets are incompatible. The 8130U uses Intel BGA 1356, a soldered mobile socket, while the 4130T uses Intel Socket 1150, a desktop LGA socket. This means they cannot be swapped between systems.

The 8130U has a significantly lower TDP at 15 watts, compared to 35 watts for the 4130T. Despite this 20-watt difference, the 8130U delivers superior Cinebench performance, underscoring the efficiency gains from the newer 14 nm process and Kaby Lake architecture.

The 4130T has a part number of SR1NN and was released in 2013, while the 8130U was released in 2018 and remains in active production. The 4130T's production status is not listed in the database, suggesting it has been phased out. For any new system build, the 8130U is the more viable option based on availability alone.