Intel Core i3-4150 vs Intel Core i5-3330S Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a split decision between these two Intel desktop processors. In the Cinebench suite, the Intel Core i5-3330S consistently outperforms the Intel Core i3-4150 by a narrow but uniform margin. Across five Cinebench tests, the i5-3330S wins by margins of 15.2% to 15.5%. Specifically, in Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-3330S scores 335 against 290 for the i3-4150, a 15.5% advantage. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the gap is 1396 to 1212, or 15.2%. The single-core Cinebench results tell the same story: R20 single-core shows 196 versus 170, a 15.3% lead, and R23 single-core shows 469 versus 407, a 15.2% lead. The R23 multi-core test mirrors this at 3326 versus 2888, another 15.2% edge.

The picture flips dramatically in Geekbench. The i3-4150 wins Geekbench multi-core with a score of 1896 against 1625, a 14.3% advantage. The single-core Geekbench result is even more lopsided: the i3-4150 posts 968 while the i5-3330S manages only 549, a 43.3% deficit for the older chip. This is the largest delta in the entire head-to-head comparison.

Overall, the i5-3330S wins five of the seven benchmark tests, while the i3-4150 wins two. The average benchmark score for the i5-3330S is 1128, placing it at the 32nd percentile of all CPUs. The i3-4150 averages 1119, also at the 32nd percentile. In terms of nearest rivals, the i5-3330S sits exactly level with the Intel Core i7-2720QM (0% delta), 0.1% ahead of the Intel Core i3-1115GRE, and 0.1% behind both the Intel Core i7-3612QM and the Intel Core i5-4690T. The i3-4150 is 0.1% behind the Intel Core i7-2860QM, 0.1% ahead of the Intel Core i5-3550S, 0.1% behind the AMD Athlon 240GE, and 0.2% behind the Intel Xeon D-1518.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmark tests overall?

A: The Intel Core i5-3330S wins five of the seven head-to-head tests, while the Intel Core i3-4150 wins two. The i5-3330S takes all five Cinebench tests, and the i3-4150 takes both Geekbench tests.

Q: How large is the Cinebench advantage for the i5-3330S?

A: The i5-3330S leads by 15.2% to 15.5% across all five Cinebench tests. The narrowest margin is 15.2% in R20 multi-core and R23 single-core, while the widest is 15.5% in R15 multi-core.

Q: Why does the i3-4150 win Geekbench single-core by such a large margin?

A: The i3-4150 scores 968 in Geekbench single-core versus 549 for the i5-3330S. This represents a 43.3% advantage, which is the largest delta recorded in the head-to-head comparison.

Q: What are the average benchmark scores for each processor?

A: The i5-3330S has an average benchmark score of 1128, and the i3-4150 averages 1119. Both processors sit at the 32nd percentile of all CPUs.

Q: How do these processors compare to their nearest rivals?

A: The i5-3330S matches the Intel Core i7-2720QM exactly (0% delta) and is within 0.1% of the Intel Core i3-1115GRE, Intel Core i7-3612QM, and Intel Core i5-4690T. The i3-4150 is within 0.2% of the Intel Core i7-2860QM, Intel Core i5-3550S, AMD Athlon 240GE, and Intel Xeon D-1518.

Q: What is the Geekbench multi-core delta between the two?

A: The i3-4150 wins Geekbench multi-core with 1896 versus 1625, a 14.3% advantage for the newer chip.

Where Each One Wins

The i5-3330S is the clear winner in Cinebench workloads. Every Cinebench test, from R15 multi-core to R23 single-core, shows the i5-3330S ahead by roughly 15%. This consistency suggests that the i5-3330S has a structural advantage in render-style tasks, likely stemming from its four physical cores versus the i3-4150's two. For applications that scale with core count, such as video rendering or 3D scene creation, the data points firmly to the i5-3330S.

The i3-4150 dominates in Geekbench, particularly in single-core performance. The 43.3% single-core lead and 14.3% multi-core lead in Geekbench indicate that the i3-4150 handles tasks that rely on per-thread efficiency substantially better. Geekbench-style workloads, which often include cryptography, image processing, and compression, favor the i3-4150's newer architecture and higher base clock.

The overall win tally (5 for the i5-3330S, 2 for the i3-4150) might suggest a clear overall winner, but the magnitude of the Geekbench single-core loss for the i5-3330S is severe. A 43.3% deficit in any workload category is a major red flag for legacy software that depends heavily on single-thread performance. Conversely, the i5-3330S's Cinebench wins are all within a tight 15.2% to 15.5% band, showing a consistent but not overwhelming advantage in multithreaded rendering.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several fundamental specifications. The i5-3330S has four cores and four threads, while the i3-4150 has two cores and four threads. Base clocks differ significantly: the i5-3330S runs at 2.70 GHz, while the i3-4150 runs at 3.50 GHz. The i5-3330S has a boost clock of 3.20 GHz, but the i3-4150 has no boost clock listed.

Thermal design power (TDP) also separates them: the i5-3330S is rated at 77 watts, the i3-4150 at 54 watts. The sockets are different: the i5-3330S uses Intel Socket 1155, and the i3-4150 uses Intel Socket 1150. The i5-3330S has 6 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i3-4150 has 3 MB of shared L3 cache. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core.

The integrated graphics differ: the i5-3330S ships with Intel HD 2500, and the i3-4150 with Intel HD 4400. Memory bandwidth is listed only for the i3-4150 at 25.6 GB/s; no figure is recorded for the i5-3330S. The i3-4150 has a transistor count of 1,400 million and a die size of 177 mm², while the i5-3330S has a die size of 133 mm² with no transistor count listed. The i3-4150 has a production status of "End-of-life," while the i5-3330S has no production status recorded. The i3-4150 has a launch MSRP of $117, stated once here, while the i5-3330S has no launch MSRP in the data.

Architecture Differences

The i5-3330S is built on the Ivy Bridge architecture, while the i3-4150 uses the Haswell architecture. Both are manufactured by Intel on a 22 nm process node, and both use the same foundry. The codenames match the architectures: Ivy Bridge for the i5-3330S, Haswell for the i3-4150.

The core count difference is the most impactful architectural distinction. The i5-3330S provides four physical cores without hyper-threading (four threads total), while the i3-4150 provides two physical cores with hyper-threading (four threads total). This means the i5-3330S has twice the physical core count, but the i3-4150 achieves the same thread count through simultaneous multithreading.

Cache architecture also differs. The i5-3330S has a 6 MB shared L3 cache, double the 3 MB shared L3 cache of the i3-4150. Both processors have identical per-core L1 (64 KB) and L2 (256 KB) caches. The i3-4150 has a larger die at 177 mm² compared to the i5-3330S's 133 mm², and the i3-4150's transistor count is listed at 1,400 million, while no transistor count is listed for the i5-3330S.

Memory support is identical in type (DDR3) and bus width (dual-channel), but the i3-4150 has a recorded memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s. Neither processor supports ECC memory. Both use PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), and both have locked multipliers. The i5-3330S has a part number of SR0RR, and the i3-4150 has SR1PJ. The release dates differ: the i5-3330S came out in September 2012, and the i3-4150 in April 2014.

The Verdict

The benchmark data supports a clear use-case split. For multi-threaded rendering workloads as measured by Cinebench, the Intel Core i5-3330S is the superior choice. Its consistent 15% lead across all Cinebench tests, combined with four physical cores and double the L3 cache, makes it the better option for render farms or batch rendering tasks. The i5-3330S also wins the overall benchmark count (5 to 2) and has a slightly higher average score (1128 versus 1119).

For single-threaded and Geekbench-style workloads, the Intel Core i3-4150 is decisively better. The 43.3% single-core Geekbench lead is not a marginal difference; it is a dominant gap. The i3-4150's higher base clock (3.50 GHz versus 2.70 GHz) and newer Haswell architecture likely drive this advantage. Users running legacy applications, spreadsheets, or lightly threaded software would see far better responsiveness from the i3-4150.

The i3-4150 also offers better energy efficiency, with a TDP of 54 watts versus 77 watts for the i5-3330S. This makes it a better fit for compact or thermally constrained systems. The i5-3330S, however, offers more raw compute capacity for parallel tasks despite its older architecture.

The data does not crown a single winner. It describes two different tools. The i5-3330S is a four-core workhorse for parallel rendering, while the i3-4150 is a high-clock dual-core for responsive single-threaded work. Given the i3-4150's end-of-life production status and the i5-3330S's lack of a recorded production status, availability may factor into real-world purchasing, but the benchmark results themselves point to a workload-based decision. Choose the i5-3330S if Cinebench-style rendering dominates the workload; choose the i3-4150 if Geekbench-style single-thread performance is the priority.