Intel Core i3-4160 vs Intel Pentium Gold G5600 Comparison

The Intel Pentium Gold G5600 and Intel Core i3-4160 are both dual-core, four-thread desktop processors, but they represent different eras of Intel’s design philosophy. The data shows a consistent, though narrow, victory for the Pentium Gold G5600 across every benchmark recorded. However, the margins are so slim—often less than one percent—that the choice between them hinges more on platform-level features than on raw compute performance. The Pentium Gold G5600 edges ahead in all five Cinebench tests, but the Core i3-4160 remains a capable contender, especially for users already invested in the older DDR3/Socket 1150 ecosystem.

The Verdict

From the benchmark data alone, the Intel Pentium Gold G5600 is the superior processor. It wins all five head-to-head Cinebench tests, with its largest advantage being a 0.7% lead in Cinebench R15 multi-core (299 vs. 297). In single-core R20, the two are exactly tied at 175, and in R23 single-core, the G5600 leads by just 0.5% (419 vs. 417). The average benchmark score reinforces this: the G5600 sits at 1022, while the i3-4160 is at 1017, placing both in the 28th percentile of all CPUs. Given these numbers, the G5600 is the pick for anyone building fresh or upgrading to a modern platform. The i3-4160’s only argument is its active production status and compatibility with older, cheaper DDR3 motherboards, but the performance data does not favor it. If you must choose based strictly on compute, take the Pentium Gold G5600.

Where Each One Wins

The Pentium Gold G5600 wins everywhere in terms of raw scores. It takes the multi-core tests in R15 (299 vs. 297), R20 (1247 vs. 1241), and R23 (2971 vs. 2955). It also wins single-core in R23 (419 vs. 417), while tying in R20 single-core at 175. The largest delta is a mere 0.7% in R15 multi-core, meaning the G5600’s advantage is consistent but not transformative. The Core i3-4160 does not win a single benchmark in this comparison. However, the i3-4160 has its own qualitative strengths: it is listed as "Active" in production status, whereas the G5600 is "End-of-life." For a user seeking a replacement part for an existing Socket 1150 motherboard, the i3-4160’s availability is a practical win, even if the performance data lags slightly. The G5600’s wins are all in the compute domain; the i3-4160’s wins are in platform continuity.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from different fabrication nodes and architectures. The Pentium Gold G5600 uses Intel’s 14 nm process with a die size of 126 mm², while the Core i3-4160 uses a 22 nm process with a larger 177 mm² die and 1,400 million transistors. The G5600 is based on the Coffee Lake architecture and fits the Intel Socket 1151, whereas the i3-4160 uses the older Haswell design on Socket 1150. Both have 2 cores and 4 threads, but the G5600 runs at a 3.90 GHz base clock, compared to 3.60 GHz on the i3-4160. Cache differs: the G5600 has 4 MB of shared L3, while the i3-4160 has 3 MB. The G5600 supports DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus and 38.4 GB/s bandwidth, while the i3-4160 uses DDR3 with no bandwidth figure listed. The G5600 also supports ECC memory, a feature absent on the i3-4160. Integrated graphics differ as well: the G5600 has UHD Graphics 630, while the i3-4160 has Intel HD 4400. PCIe support is Gen 3 for both, but the G5600 specifies 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i3-4160 lists only "Gen 3" without lane details.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher base clock speed?

A: The Intel Pentium Gold G5600 runs at 3.90 GHz, while the Intel Core i3-4160 runs at 3.60 GHz.

Q: Does the Pentium Gold G5600 support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the G5600 lists ECC memory support as true, whereas the Core i3-4160 does not support ECC.

Q: What is the average benchmark score difference between the two?

A: The G5600 has an average benchmark score of 1022, while the i3-4160 scores 1017, a difference of 5 points.

Q: Are both processors still in production?

A: No. The G5600 is marked as "End-of-life," while the i3-4160 is listed as "Active" in production status.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: The G5600 has 4 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i3-4160 has 3 MB.

Q: In which benchmark did the two processors tie exactly?

A: They tied in Cinebench R20 single-core, with both scoring 175.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data is remarkably consistent: the Pentium Gold G5600 wins every test, but the margins are thin. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the G5600 scores 299 against the i3-4160’s 297, a 0.7% lead—the largest gap in the entire comparison. That lead narrows to 0.5% in R20 multi-core, where the G5600 posts 1247 versus 1241. The R23 multi-core test shows a similar 0.5% delta, with scores of 2971 and 2955. In single-core tests, the G5600’s advantage shrinks further: R20 single-core is an exact tie at 175, and R23 single-core gives the G5600 a 0.5% edge (419 vs. 417). The average benchmark scores reflect these head-to-head results: the G5600’s 1022 average sits just 0.5% above the i3-4160’s 1017. The nearest rival data for the G5600 includes the Intel Core i7-975 at 1023 (-0.1%) and the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U at 1024 (-0.1%), showing the G5600 is essentially neck-and-neck with those parts. For the i3-4160, its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-2300 at 1014 (+0.3%) and the Intel Xeon W5580 at 1012 (+0.5%), placing it in the same performance tier. These numbers indicate that while the G5600 is the clear winner in this pair, both chips are firmly mid-pack, with neither offering a dramatic performance advantage over the other.

Specification Differences

The key specification differences between the two processors are clear. The G5600 has a higher base clock (3.90 GHz vs. 3.60 GHz) and a newer architecture (Coffee Lake vs. Haswell). The process node differs significantly: 14 nm for the G5600 versus 22 nm for the i3-4160, with corresponding die sizes of 126 mm² and 177 mm². The i3-4160 lists 1,400 million transistors, while the G5600 does not provide a transistor count. L3 cache is larger on the G5600 (4 MB vs. 3 MB). Memory support is a major split: the G5600 uses DDR4 with a listed bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, while the i3-4160 uses DDR3 with no bandwidth figure. ECC memory is supported only on the G5600. The integrated graphics differ, with the G5600 featuring UHD Graphics 630 and the i3-4160 featuring Intel HD 4400. Sockets are incompatible: the G5600 uses Socket 1151, while the i3-4160 uses Socket 1150. PCIe specifications show the G5600 with Gen 3, 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i3-4160 lists just Gen 3. The G5600 has a launch MSRP of $86, while the i3-4160 has no launch MSRP listed. Both have a TDP of 54 watts and neither has an unlocked multiplier. Production status separates them: the G5600 is end-of-life, while the i3-4160 remains active. The G5600 was released in 2018, while the i3-4160 was released earlier, in 2014. The part number for the G5600 is SR3YB, while the i3-4160 lists no part number.