Intel Core i3-4170 vs Intel Core i7-8665UE Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i7-8665UE wins every single head-to-head benchmark in the comparison, taking all five tests with a consistent margin of roughly 26%. The i3-4170 does not win a single test. For anyone choosing between these two, the i7-8665UE is the superior performer in every measured workload, despite being a mobile part with a much lower TDP. The i3-4170, a desktop chip from 2014, is outclassed across the board.

However, the data also reveals a crucial nuance: both processors sit at the 33rd percentile among all CPUs, and their average benchmark scores are identical at 1193. The nearestRivals data shows a 0% delta between them on average score, meaning that when averaging all their respective benchmarks (which include different test sets), they land at exactly the same point. The i7-8665UE pulls ahead decisively in the head-to-head Cinebench tests, but the overall average score parity suggests the i3-4170 holds its own in some other workloads not covered in the head-to-head set. The i7-8665UE is the pick for multi-threaded rendering and single-thread responsiveness as measured by Cinebench; the i3-4170 remains a viable option only if you are locked into a Socket 1150 platform and need a cheap, functional desktop CPU. Given the i7's 4 cores and 8 threads versus the i3's 2 cores and 4 threads, the i7 is the clear recommendation for any modern workload.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different eras and design philosophies. The i3-4170 is built on Intel's 22 nm Haswell architecture, featuring 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die. It is a desktop part with a 54 W TDP and uses the Intel Socket 1150. The i7-8665UE, by contrast, is a 14 nm Whiskey Lake-U mobile chip, soldered to Intel BGA 1528, and sips power at just 15 W TDP. The process node shrink from 22 nm to 14 nm is a major generational leap, enabling the i7 to pack more capability into a fraction of the power envelope.

Core and thread counts differ starkly: the i3 offers 2 cores and 4 threads, while the i7 doubles that to 4 cores and 8 threads. The i3's base clock is 3.70 GHz with no boost clock listed; the i7 has a base clock of 1700.00 MHz (1.70 GHz) but boosts up to 4.40 GHz. This is a classic trade-off: the i3 runs at a high fixed frequency, while the i7 uses a low base clock with a massive boost ceiling. Cache configurations also differ: both have 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, but the i3 has 3 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i7 has 8 MB shared L3. That larger cache, combined with more cores, gives the i7 a significant architectural advantage in workloads that benefit from data locality and parallel execution.

Integrated graphics differ as well: the i3 carries Intel HD 4400, while the i7 features UHD Graphics 620. Memory support is another differentiator: the i3 supports only DDR3, while the i7 supports both DDR3 and DDR4. Memory bandwidth reflects this: the i3 is rated at 25.6 GB/s, the i7 at 38.4 GB/s. Both use dual-channel memory buses and PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only). Neither CPU has an unlocked multiplier, and neither supports ECC memory. The i3 is end-of-life, as is the i7, but the i3 launched in April 2014 at $117, while the i7 launched in September 2018 at $409. The part numbers are SR1PL and SRF9W, respectively.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head benchmark data tells a remarkably consistent story. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i7-8665UE scores 415 against the i3-4170's 306, a delta of -26.3% (meaning the i3 is 26.3% behind). That is a substantial margin, roughly equivalent to the i7 outperforming the i3 by more than a quarter in a single-threaded rendering test. Moving to Cinebench R20 multicore, the i7 scores 1732 versus 1275, with the same 26.4% delta. The i7's advantage persists in Cinebench R20 single-core: 244 versus 180, a 26.2% delta. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the i7 posts 4124 versus 3038, again a 26.3% delta. Finally, in Cinebench R23 single-core, the i7 scores 582 versus 429, a 26.3% delta.

The consistency of the delta—hovering between 26.2% and 26.4% across all five tests—is striking. It suggests that the i7's advantage is not workload-specific but rather a uniform performance lead across both single-threaded and multi-threaded Cinebench workloads. The i7 wins all five tests, with a winsB count of 5 and winsA count of 0. The largest single margin is in Cinebench R20 multicore at 26.4%, while the smallest is in Cinebench R20 single-core at 26.2%, but these differences are negligible. Every test shows the i7 delivering roughly a quarter more performance than the i3.

The biggest win for the i7 is in the multicore tests, where its 4 cores and 8 threads leverage the extra parallelism to pull ahead. The single-core wins are more surprising given the i3's high 3.70 GHz base clock versus the i7's 1.70 GHz base, but the i7's boost to 4.40 GHz clearly overcomes the i3's static frequency. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the i7's 582 score is 153 points higher than the i3's 429, a gap of 35.7% in raw points. The i3's only consolation is that it does not lose by a wider margin in single-core tests, but it still loses decisively.

Specification Differences

The specification table highlights several key differences between the two processors. The most obvious is core count: 2 cores on the i3 versus 4 cores on the i7, with threads at 4 versus 8 respectively. Base clocks are dramatically different: the i3 runs at 3.70 GHz, while the i7 has a 1700.00 MHz base clock, though the i7 adds a 4.40 GHz boost clock that the i3 lacks entirely. TDP is a major differentiator: 54 W for the i3 versus 15 W for the i7, making the i7 far more power-efficient on paper. Sockets differ: Intel Socket 1150 for the i3, Intel BGA 1528 for the i7.

The process node is 22 nm for the i3 and 14 nm for the i7. Transistor count and die size are listed only for the i3 (1,400 million and 177 mm²); those figures are null for the i7. L3 cache is 3 MB shared on the i3 versus 8 MB shared on the i7. Memory support is DDR3-only on the i3, while the i7 supports DDR3 and DDR4. Memory bandwidth is 25.6 GB/s on the i3 versus 38.4 GB/s on the i7. Integrated graphics are Intel HD 4400 on the i3 and UHD Graphics 620 on the i7. Market segment is Desktop for the i3 and Mobile for the i7. Release dates are April 2014 for the i3 and September 2018 for the i7. Launch MSRP is $117 for the i3 and $409 for the i7. Both are end-of-life, both have locked multipliers, and both lack ECC memory support. PCIe configuration is identical: Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only).

FAQ

Q: Which CPU wins more benchmarks in the head-to-head comparison?

A: The Intel Core i7-8665UE wins all five head-to-head benchmarks. The Intel Core i3-4170 wins zero. The i7's wins span Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 in both multicore and single-core tests.

Q: How much faster is the i7-8665UE in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The i7-8665UE scores 4124 in Cinebench R23 multicore, while the i3-4170 scores 3038. That is a 26.3% delta, meaning the i3 trails by over a quarter in this test.

Q: Do the two CPUs have the same average benchmark score?

A: Yes. Both the Intel Core i3-4170 and the Intel Core i7-8665UE have an average benchmark score of 1193. The nearestRivals data shows a 0% delta between them, and both sit at the 33rd percentile among all CPUs.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The i3-4170 has 2 cores and 4 threads. The i7-8665UE has 4 cores and 8 threads. This gives the i7 a 2x advantage in both core and thread counts.

Q: How do the TDPs compare between the two chips?

A: The i3-4170 has a TDP of 54 W, while the i7-8665UE has a TDP of 15 W. The i7 is a mobile part with a much lower power envelope despite delivering higher benchmark scores.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: The i7-8665UE has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i3-4170 has only 3 MB shared. Both have 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core.