CPU Comparison

The Intel Core i7-875K and Intel Core i3-4130T end up as exact statistical twins in the aggregate benchmark database, with both posting an identical average score of 984 and a 0% delta between them. However, that parity masks a starkly divergent performance profile: the older i7-875K dominates all Cinebench workloads by roughly 12%, while the newer i3-4130T crushes the i7 in Geekbench, particularly in single-core tests where it leads by a massive 44.7%. This is not a case of one chip being simply faster; it is a case of two very different architectures trading blows depending on the workload and the benchmark methodology.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench suite tells a remarkably consistent story for the Intel Core i7-875K. Across all five Cinebench tests, the Lynnfield chip wins with nearly identical margins. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i7-875K scores 275 against the i3-4130T’s 245, a 12.2% advantage. That lead carries through Cinebench R20 multi-core (1146 vs 1024, an 11.9% delta) and Cinebench R23 multi-core (2729 vs 2440, an 11.8% delta). Even in single-threaded Cinebench workloads, where the newer Haswell architecture might be expected to shine, the i7-875K holds a consistent edge: 161 vs 144 in R20 single-core (11.8%) and 385 vs 344 in R23 single-core (11.9%). The pattern is unmistakable, the i7-875K’s four physical cores and eight threads provide a decisive throughput advantage in rendering workloads, and its higher 2.93 GHz base clock and 3.60 GHz boost clock outpace the i3-4130T’s 2.90 GHz fixed clock even on a per-thread basis in these tests.

The Geekbench results, however, flip the script entirely. The i3-4130T wins Geekbench multi-core with a score of 1787 against the i7-875K’s 1696, a 5.1% margin. That is notable because the i3 has only two physical cores and four threads, yet it still outpaces the four-core, eight-thread i7 in a multi-core test, a testament to the efficiency of the Haswell architecture and its 22 nm process node. The single-core gap is far more dramatic: the i3-4130T scores 903 versus the i7-875K’s 499, a 44.7% blowout. This is the single largest performance disparity between the two chips in any benchmark, and it suggests that Geekbench’s single-core workload is far more sensitive to architectural efficiency, IPC improvements, and newer instruction sets than Cinebench’s rendering tasks.

The overall win count favors the i7-875K at 5 wins to 2, but the magnitude of the i3’s Geekbench wins, particularly the 44.7% single-core margin, means the average scores converge perfectly. Both chips sit at the 27th percentile of all CPUs, and their nearest rival, the Intel Xeon X3470, sits just 0.1% away with an average score of 983. The Intel Core i3-4370T also matches at 983, while the Intel Xeon W5590 edges both out at 986, a -0.2% delta. In practical terms, these two processors are interchangeable in aggregate performance, but they achieve that parity through entirely different means.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear split decision. For multi-threaded rendering workloads, Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, the Intel Core i7-875K is the unequivocal choice. Its 11.8% to 12.2% lead across every Cinebench test is consistent and significant, and it is directly attributable to having twice the physical cores and twice the threads of the i3-4130T. Anyone running CPU-bound render jobs, video encodes, or other heavily threaded tasks should prefer the i7-875K, despite its older architecture.

For single-threaded performance and general responsiveness as measured by Geekbench, the Intel Core i3-4130T is the superior part. Its 44.7% single-core advantage is enormous and reflects the generational leap from 45 nm Nehalem to 22 nm Haswell. The i3 also wins Geekbench multi-core by 5.1%, proving that even its two cores can outperform the i7’s four when the workload is optimized for modern architectural features. Users whose primary applications are lightly threaded, such as everyday productivity, web browsing, or older games, will see better real-world responsiveness from the i3-4130T.

The tie in average benchmark score (984 for both) and identical 27th percentile ranking mean that neither chip can be declared a universal winner. The decision rests entirely on workload composition. The i7-875K is the rendering workhorse; the i3-4130T is the efficiency and single-thread specialist.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent a significant generational divide within Intel’s lineup. The Intel Core i7-875K is built on the Nehalem architecture, specifically the Lynnfield codename, using a 45 nm process node fabricated by Intel. It packs 774 million transistors into a 296 mm² die. In contrast, the Intel Core i3-4130T uses the Haswell architecture (codename Haswell) on a 22 nm process, also from Intel’s foundry, with 1,400 million transistors in a much smaller 177 mm² die. The transistor count more than doubles while the die shrinks by over 40%, a clear illustration of process technology advancement.

The core configurations differ fundamentally. The i7-875K offers 4 cores and 8 threads, while the i3-4130T provides 2 cores and 4 threads. Cache hierarchies also diverge: both share the same per-core L1 (64 KB) and L2 (256 KB) allocations, but the i7-875K has a massive 8 MB shared L3 cache compared to just 3 MB on the i3-4130T. The i7’s larger cache is a direct consequence of having more cores that need to share data, while the i3’s smaller cache reflects its dual-core design.

The i7-875K features a 2.93 GHz base clock with a 3.60 GHz boost clock, while the i3-4130T runs at a fixed 2.90 GHz with no boost capability. The i7 also has an unlocked multiplier, enabling overclocking, whereas the i3-4130T is locked. The i7-875K uses the Intel Socket 1156 platform, while the i3-4130T uses Intel Socket 1150. Perhaps most importantly for power-sensitive builds, the i7-875K has a TDP of 95 watts, while the i3-4130T sips just 35 watts, a 60-watt difference that has major thermal and power-supply implications.

Specification Differences

The key specification differences between the two chips are stark. The i7-875K offers 4 cores and 8 threads versus the i3-4130T’s 2 cores and 4 threads. Base clocks are nearly identical (2.93 GHz vs 2.90 GHz), but the i7 adds a 3.60 GHz boost clock while the i3 has none. TDP is dramatically different at 95 watts for the i7 versus 35 watts for the i3. The process node advances from 45 nm to 22 nm, transistor count rises from 774 million to 1,400 million, and die size shrinks from 296 mm² to 177 mm². L3 cache drops from 8 MB to 3 MB. The i7 supports PCIe Gen 2 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i3 supports PCIe Gen 3. The i7-875K has no integrated graphics, but the i3-4130T includes Intel HD 4400. The i7 has an unlocked multiplier; the i3 does not. Memory support is DDR3 dual-channel for both, but the i7 lists a memory bandwidth of 21.3 GB/s while the i3 does not specify a figure. The i7 launched on 2010-05-29 with a launch MSRP of $353; the i3 launched on 2013-08-31 with no listed MSRP. The i7 is marked end-of-life, while the i3’s production status is unspecified.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has a higher average benchmark score?

A: They are exactly tied. Both the Intel Core i7-875K and Intel Core i3-4130T have an average benchmark score of 984, with a 0% delta between them.

Q: How much faster is the i7-875K in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The i7-875K scores 2729 versus the i3-4130T’s 2440, a 11.8% advantage for the i7 in that test.

Q: What is the biggest performance gap between the two chips?

A: The largest disparity is in Geekbench single-core, where the i3-4130T scores 903 against the i7-875K’s 499, giving the i3 a 44.7% lead.

Q: Does the i3-4130T ever win a multi-core benchmark?

A: Yes. In Geekbench multi-core, the i3-4130T scores 1787 versus the i7-875K’s 1696, a 5.1% win for the i3 despite having only half the physical cores.

Q: Which CPU supports overclocking?

A: The Intel Core i7-875K has an unlocked multiplier, making it overclockable. The Intel Core i3-4130T has a locked multiplier and does not support overclocking.

Q: What are the TDP ratings for each chip?

A: The i7-875K has a TDP of 95 watts, while the i3-4130T has a TDP of 35 watts.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-875K wins in all Cinebench workloads, both multi-core and single-core. This includes Cinebench R15 multi-core (275 vs 245), Cinebench R20 multi-core (1146 vs 1024), Cinebench R20 single-core (161 vs 144), Cinebench R23 multi-core (2729 vs 2440), and Cinebench R23 single-core (385 vs 344). The margins range from 11.8% to 12.2%, making this the i7’s home turf. Users running 3D rendering, video encoding, or any CPU-intensive batch processing that scales with cores and threads will see consistent gains with the i7-875K. Its 8 MB of L3 cache and 8 threads are the driving factors.

The Intel Core i3-4130T wins in both Geekbench tests. Its Geekbench single-core score of 903 versus 499 is a 44.7% victory, and its Geekbench multi-core score of 1787 versus 1696 is a 5.1% win. These results favor the i3 for single-threaded applications, general desktop responsiveness, and any workload that benefits from the Haswell architecture’s higher IPC and newer instruction set. The i3 also wins on efficiency, with a 35-watt TDP that is 60 watts lower than the i7, making it the clear choice for low-power builds, small form factor systems, or environments where heat and power draw are primary concerns. Its integrated Intel HD 4400 graphics provide a built-in display output, which the i7 lacks entirely.

The choice between these two is a choice between raw multi-threaded rendering power and modern architectural efficiency. The i7-875K is the rendering specialist; the i3-4130T is the all-around efficient performer with superior single-thread speed. Both are statistically identical in aggregate, so the correct pick depends entirely on which benchmark suite reflects your actual workload.