Intel Core i3-4160T vs Intel Pentium G4560 Comparison

The Intel Core i3-4160T and the Intel Pentium G4560 are both dual-core, four-thread desktop processors from Intel, but they come from different eras and design philosophies. The i3-4160T is a low-power Haswell part from 2014, while the Pentium G4560 is a Kaby Lake chip from 2017. Benchmark data from the database shows a clear and consistent performance advantage for the newer Pentium across every recorded test. The Pentium G4560 wins all five head-to-head comparisons, with the Core i3-4160T trailing by roughly 12% in each workload. This is not a marginal difference; it is a uniform gap that appears in both single-core and multi-core tests, indicating a fundamental advantage in per-clock performance and clock speed rather than a workload-specific quirk.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most direct comparison comes from the Cinebench suite, which measures real-world rendering performance. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Pentium G4560 scores 301 points against 265 points for the Core i3-4160T. That is a 12% deficit for the older chip. The pattern repeats in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the Pentium G4560 posts 1258 points and the Core i3-4160T manages 1106 points, again a 12.1% gap. The consistency of the margin is striking. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Pentium G4560 scores 2996 points, while the Core i3-4160T scores 2635 points, a 12% difference. These multi-core results reflect both processors having the same core and thread configuration, so the entire gap is attributable to architectural efficiency and clock speed.

Single-core performance tells the same story. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the Pentium G4560 records 177 points, while the Core i3-4160T records 156 points, a difference of 11.9%. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Pentium G4560 achieves 423 points versus 372 points for the Core i3-4160T, a 12.1% advantage. The single-core results are particularly telling because they isolate the raw processing capability of each core without any multi-threading benefits. The Pentium G4560 is faster per core, and since both chips have only two cores and four threads, that per-core advantage translates directly into the multi-core results. There is no test in the database where the Core i3-4160T beats the Pentium G4560. The wins tally is five for the Pentium G4560 and zero for the Core i3-4160T.

The average benchmark score in the database places the Core i3-4160T at 1043 points and the Pentium G4560 at 1031 points. This puts the Pentium G4560 slightly behind the Core i3-4160T in the aggregate average, which seems to contradict the head-to-head results. However, the average benchmark score is calculated across a broader set of tests and includes different workload types, while the head-to-head comparisons are limited to the Cinebench suite. The Core i3-4160T also has a Geekbench multi-core score of 1840 and a Geekbench single-core score of 926, but the Pentium G4560 has no Geekbench results recorded in the database, so those tests cannot be compared directly. The percentile rankings are close as well, with the Core i3-4160T at the 29th percentile of all CPUs and the Pentium G4560 at the 28th percentile.

Where Each One Wins

Looking strictly at the recorded data, the Pentium G4560 wins every benchmark where both processors have results. The five Cinebench tests cover both single-core and multi-core rendering, and the Pentium G4560 is ahead in all of them. If the workload involves Cinebench rendering, whether single-threaded or multi-threaded, the Pentium G4560 is the faster processor. The margins are consistent at approximately 12%, so the advantage is not dependent on the specific test version. The newer R20 and R23 tests show the same gap as the older R15 test, which suggests the performance difference is stable across generations of the benchmark software.

The Core i3-4160T does not win any of the direct comparisons. Its only recorded advantages are in the average benchmark score and the percentile ranking, both of which are marginal. The Core i3-4160T has an average score of 1043 points, which is 1.2% higher than the Pentium G4560's 1031 points. Its nearest rival, the Intel Pentium Gold G5620, scores 1045 points, which is 0.2% higher than the Core i3-4160T. The Pentium G4560's nearest rival, the AMD A12-9800E, scores 1033 points, which is 0.2% higher than the Pentium G4560. These averages include tests that are not in the head-to-head set, so they do not change the outcome of the direct comparisons.

For users who prioritize the Cinebench rendering workloads, the Pentium G4560 is the clear choice. The Core i3-4160T offers no recorded performance advantage in any test where the two are directly compared. It does have a lower thermal design power of 35 watts against 51 watts for the Pentium G4560, which makes it more suitable for low-power or compact systems. The Core i3-4160T also has a higher integrated graphics tier, the Intel HD 4400, compared to the Intel HD 610 in the Pentium G4560, but the database does not include graphics benchmarks for either chip.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on different architectures and manufacturing processes. The Core i3-4160T uses the Haswell architecture on a 22 nm process node, with 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die. The Pentium G4560 uses the Kaby Lake architecture on a 14 nm process node, with no transistor count or die size recorded in the database. The newer 14 nm process allows for higher clock speeds at lower power draw per transistor, which contributes to the Pentium G4560's performance advantage. The Core i3-4160T has a base clock of 3.10 GHz, while the Pentium G4560 runs at 3.50 GHz. Neither processor has a boost clock, so these are the maximum frequencies.

Both chips have 2 cores and 4 threads, and both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core. The shared L3 cache is 3 MB for both processors. The memory support differs, with the Core i3-4160T using DDR3 memory and the Pentium G4560 using DDR4. The Pentium G4560 has a recorded memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, while the Core i3-4160T has no memory bandwidth figure in the database. Both support dual-channel memory, and neither supports ECC memory. The sockets are different as well: the Core i3-4160T uses Intel Socket 1150, while the Pentium G4560 uses Intel Socket 1151.

The integrated graphics differ in tier. The Core i3-4160T includes Intel HD 4400, while the Pentium G4560 includes Intel HD 610. The database does not provide graphics performance numbers, so this comparison is limited to the tier designation. Both processors support PCIe Gen 3, though the Pentium G4560's PCIe support is specified as 16 lanes for the CPU only. The release dates are also different, with the Core i3-4160T released in July 2014 and the Pentium G4560 released in January 2017. The production status for both is listed as Active, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous. The Intel Pentium G4560 is faster than the Intel Core i3-4160T in every benchmark test where both are measured. The performance advantage is consistent at approximately 12% across all five Cinebench tests, covering both single-core and multi-core workloads. Users who need the fastest possible rendering performance in these tests should choose the Pentium G4560. The Core i3-4160T cannot match the Pentium G4560 in any direct comparison, and its only recorded wins are in the aggregate average score and percentile ranking, both by a slim margin.

The Core i3-4160T does have its place. Its 35 watt thermal design power is significantly lower than the Pentium G4560's 51 watts, which makes it a better fit for systems with limited cooling or power budgets. It also uses the older Haswell architecture on a 22 nm process, which means it belongs to the Socket 1150 platform, while the Pentium G4560 requires the Socket 1151 platform. The memory type differs as well, with DDR3 for the Core i3-4160T and DDR4 for the Pentium G4560, so the choice of platform is a deciding factor.

For most users, the Pentium G4560 is the better processor based on the recorded benchmarks. The 12% performance advantage in rendering workloads is significant for a dual-core chip, and the newer Kaby Lake architecture provides better per-clock efficiency. The Core i3-4160T is only preferable in scenarios where its lower power draw and older platform are required. The database does not record any test where the Core i3-4160T outperforms the Pentium G4560, so the verdict is straightforward: the Pentium G4560 is the faster CPU, while the Core i3-4160T is the lower-power alternative.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core rendering?

A: The Intel Pentium G4560 is faster. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 2996 points against 2635 points for the Intel Core i3-4160T, a 12% advantage.

Q: How do the two chips compare in single-core performance?

A: The Pentium G4560 wins all single-core tests. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 423 points versus 372 points for the Core i3-4160T, a 12.1% difference.

Q: Do both processors have the same core and thread count?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core i3-4160T and the Intel Pentium G4560 have 2 cores and 4 threads, with 3 MB of shared L3 cache each.

Q: What are the thermal design power ratings for each?

A: The Intel Core i3-4160T has a thermal design power of 35 watts, while the Intel Pentium G4560 has a thermal design power of 51 watts.

Q: Which processor uses DDR4 memory?

A: The Intel Pentium G4560 supports DDR4 memory with a recorded bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The Intel Core i3-4160T uses DDR3 memory with no recorded bandwidth figure.

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i3-4160T has an average benchmark score of 1043 points, while the Intel Pentium G4560 has an average benchmark score of 1031 points.