CPU Comparison

The Intel Core i5-3330 and Intel Core i3-4170 are two desktop processors from different Intel generations, and benchmark data shows a clear, consistent winner across all tested workloads. The i5-3330, despite being the older chip, outperforms the i3-4170 in every single Cinebench test, with margins hovering around 14-15%. This is a decisive result, driven by the i5’s four physical cores versus the i3’s two, even though the i3 counters with a much higher base clock speed.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The data is unambiguous: the i5-3330 wins all five head-to-head benchmark comparisons. The largest win comes in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the i5-3330 scores 1464 against the i3-4170’s 1275, a 14.8% advantage. This pattern repeats in Cinebench R23 multi-core, with the i5-3330 at 3486 and the i3-4170 at 3038, a 14.7% lead. Even in single-core tests, where the i3-4170’s higher 3.70 GHz base clock should theoretically help, the i5-3330 still prevails. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the i5-3330 scores 206 versus 180 for the i3-4170, a 14.4% margin. The same story unfolds in Cinebench R23 single-core: 492 for the i5-3330 versus 429 for the i3-4170, a 14.7% lead.

The consistency of these results is striking. The deltas are nearly identical across every test, regardless of whether the workload is single-threaded or multi-threaded. This suggests the i5-3330’s advantage is not workload-specific but rather a fundamental architectural edge. The i5-3330’s four cores, even at a lower 3.00 GHz base clock, deliver more usable performance than the i3-4170’s two cores with Hyper-Threading at 3.70 GHz. The older Ivy Bridge architecture, built on a 22 nm process, clearly holds its own against the newer Haswell design. The i3-4170’s 14.8% deficit in Cinebench R20 multi-core and 14.7% in R23 multi-core are not minor gaps; they represent a substantial performance tier difference.

Looking at the broader benchmark picture, the i5-3330’s average benchmark score is 1200, placing it in the 34th percentile of all CPUs. The i3-4170’s average score is 1193, landing in the 33rd percentile. These near-identical percentile positions confirm that the two processors are close overall, but the head-to-head data shows the i5-3330 consistently edges ahead. The i5-3330’s nearest rivals include the AMD Athlon PRO 200GE (matching at 1200) and the AMD Ryzen 3 2200G (at 1202, a 0.2% deficit). The i3-4170’s nearest rivals include the AMD Athlon PRO 300U (matching at 1193) and the Intel Core i7-8665UE (also at 1193). This positioning indicates both chips sit in a similar performance band, but the i5-3330 has the upper hand within that band.

Where Each One Wins

The data shows that the i5-3330 wins across every benchmark category tested. There are no tests where the i3-4170 comes out ahead. However, the nature of the wins differs. In multi-core workloads, the i5-3330’s four physical cores provide a clear advantage. For example, in Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-3330 scores 351 versus the i3-4170’s 306, a 14.7% lead. This is the kind of workload that scales with core count, and the i5-3330’s extra two cores make the difference.

In single-core workloads, the i3-4170’s higher clock speed of 3.70 GHz (versus 3.00 GHz for the i5-3330) should narrow the gap, but the data shows it does not. The i5-3330 still wins Cinebench R20 single-core by 14.4% and R23 single-core by 14.7%. This suggests that the i5-3330’s per-core performance, despite the lower clock, is superior. The Ivy Bridge architecture may have a more efficient execution pipeline, or the i5-3330’s larger 6 MB shared L3 cache (versus 3 MB on the i3-4170) helps feed the cores more effectively.

For a user focused on single-threaded responsiveness, the i3-4170’s clock speed advantage might seem appealing, but the benchmark data does not support that conclusion. The i5-3330 wins every single-core test, meaning it is the better choice for both lightly-threaded and heavily-threaded applications. The i3-4170’s only potential advantage lies in its lower 54 W TDP versus the i5-3330’s 77 W, which could matter in power-constrained systems, but this is not a performance win.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel architecture generations. The i5-3330 is based on Ivy Bridge, while the i3-4170 uses Haswell. Both are built on the same 22 nm process node, but the dies differ significantly. The i5-3330 has a die size of 133 mm², while the i3-4170’s die is larger at 177 mm². The i3-4170 also has a higher transistor count at 1,400 million, though the i5-3330’s transistor count is not listed in the data.

Core and thread counts are the most significant difference. The i5-3330 has four cores and four threads, while the i3-4170 has two cores and four threads (via Hyper-Threading). This explains the multi-core performance gap. Cache configuration also differs: the i5-3330 has 6 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i3-4170 has only 3 MB. Both have 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core.

Clock speeds tell a different story. The i5-3330 runs at a base clock of 3.00 GHz with a boost clock of 3.20 GHz. The i3-4170 has a higher base clock of 3.70 GHz and no boost clock, meaning it runs at a fixed speed. Despite this clock disadvantage, the i5-3330 wins in all benchmarks, indicating that its extra cores and larger cache more than compensate.

Memory support is identical in type: both use DDR3 memory with a dual-channel bus. The i3-4170 has a listed memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s, while the i5-3330’s bandwidth is not specified. Both support PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. Integrated graphics differ: the i5-3330 has Intel HD 2500, while the i3-4170 has the newer Intel HD 4400. Neither supports ECC memory, and both have locked multipliers.

The sockets are different as well. The i5-3330 uses Intel Socket 1155, while the i3-4170 uses Intel Socket 1150. This means they are not interchangeable in a motherboard. The i3-4170 is marked as end-of-life, while the i5-3330’s production status is not specified. The i3-4170 has a launch MSRP of $117, while the i5-3330’s launch MSRP is not listed.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core i5-3330 wins all multi-core tests. It scores 351 in Cinebench R15 multi-core versus 306 for the i3-4170, and 1464 in Cinebench R20 multi-core versus 1275. The i5-3330’s lead is consistently around 14.7-14.8%.

Q: Does the i3-4170’s higher clock speed help in single-core tasks?

A: No. Despite a 3.70 GHz base clock versus 3.00 GHz for the i5-3330, the i3-4170 loses single-core tests. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the i5-3330 scores 206 versus 180, a 14.4% win.

Q: What is the main architectural difference between these two CPUs?

A: The i5-3330 has four physical cores and four threads, while the i3-4170 has two physical cores and four threads. The i5-3330 also has 6 MB of shared L3 cache versus 3 MB on the i3-4170.

Q: Are these processors compatible with the same motherboards?

A: No. The i5-3330 uses Intel Socket 1155, while the i3-4170 uses Intel Socket 1150. They are not interchangeable.

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

A: The i5-3330’s average benchmark score of 1200 matches the AMD Athlon PRO 200GE and is 0.2% behind the AMD Ryzen 3 2200G. The i3-4170’s score of 1193 matches the AMD Athlon PRO 300U and Intel Core i7-8665UE.

Q: Which processor has better integrated graphics?

A: The i3-4170 has Intel HD 4400, while the i5-3330 has Intel HD 2500. The data does not include graphics benchmarks, so no performance comparison is possible.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is clear: the Intel Core i5-3330 is the superior processor in every tested workload. It wins all five head-to-head comparisons, with margins between 14.4% and 14.8%. The i5-3330’s four physical cores provide a decisive advantage over the i3-4170’s two cores, even when the i3-4170’s higher clock speed and newer Haswell architecture are taken into account.

The i5-3330 is the better choice for any user prioritizing raw performance, whether in single-threaded or multi-threaded applications. Its 6 MB L3 cache and additional cores make it more capable for demanding tasks. The i3-4170, despite its lower 54 W TDP and newer integrated graphics, cannot overcome the core count deficit. The i3-4170’s only advantages are its lower power consumption and its launch MSRP of $117, but neither of these factors changes the performance outcome.

For a system builder choosing between these two, the data strongly favors the i5-3330. The 14.7% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core is a substantial gap that will be noticeable in real-world applications. The i5-3330’s 34th percentile ranking versus the i3-4170’s 33rd percentile further confirms its slight overall edge. Unless power efficiency is the absolute priority, the i5-3330 is the clear winner based on benchmark results.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-3330 | Intel Core i3-4170 |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 4 | 2 |

| Threads | 4 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 3.00 GHz | 3.70 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.20 GHz | None |

| TDP | 77 W | 54 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1155 | Intel Socket 1150 |

| Architecture | Ivy Bridge | Haswell |

| Die Size | 133 mm² | 177 mm² |

| Transistors | Not specified | 1,400 million |

| L3 Cache | 6 MB (shared) | 3 MB (shared) |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not specified | 25.6 GB/s |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 2500 | Intel HD 4400 |

| Release Date | 2012-09-02 | 2014-04-30 |

| Launch MSRP | Not specified | $117 |

| Production Status | Not specified | End-of-life |