Intel Core i3-4330 vs Intel Core i7-4558U Comparison

The Verdict

The data separates these two Haswell-era parts cleanly. The Intel Core i3-4330 wins all five head-to-head benchmark comparisons, with a consistent advantage of roughly 14.4% to 14.9% across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 in both single-core and multi-core tests. It is the faster processor in every recorded workload.

The Intel Core i7-4558U is the mobile-oriented part. It trades performance for a lower 28 W TDP, a BGA package, and a socket that belongs in a laptop. Its benchmark scores are lower across the board, and it does not win a single head-to-head test in the database.

So the verdict is straightforward: if you are building or upgrading a desktop and need the stronger CPU, the i3-4330 is the choice based on recorded data. If you are servicing a laptop or need a low-power mobile chip, the i7-4558U is the only one of the two that fits that use case. The i3-4330 is a desktop Socket 1150 part; the i7-4558U is a mobile BGA 1168 part. They are not interchangeable, and the performance gap favors the desktop chip.

Where Each One Wins

The i3-4330 wins everywhere in raw compute. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 298 versus 255 for the i7-4558U, a 14.4% lead. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, it scores 1245 versus 1063, a 14.6% lead. In R23 multi-core, it scores 2966 versus 2532, another 14.6% lead. Single-core tests tell the same story: R20 single-core is 175 versus 149 (14.9% lead), and R23 single-core is 418 versus 357 (14.6% lead).

The i7-4558U has no benchmark wins in the recorded data. Its only advantage is contextual: it is the mobile chip. It has a 28 W TDP versus the i3-4330's 54 W TDP, and it uses the BGA 1168 socket, which is designed for laptops. The i3-4330 uses Socket 1150, which is a desktop platform. So the i7-4558U wins on power draw and platform compatibility for mobile systems, but that is not reflected in any compute benchmark.

For a user building a desktop, the i3-4330 is the clear winner. For a user repairing a laptop, the i7-4558U is the only option that fits the motherboard. There is no scenario in the data where the i7-4558U outperforms the i3-4330 in a CPU benchmark.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on Intel's Haswell architecture and use the same 22 nm process node from Intel. They share the same core and thread count: 2 cores and 4 threads. L1 cache is 64 KB per core on both, L2 is 256 KB per core on both, and L3 is 4 MB shared on both. Memory support is DDR3 for both, and neither supports ECC memory.

The differences are in packaging, clock speed, transistor count, die size, and integrated graphics. The i7-4558U is Haswell-ULT, a low-power ultra-low TDP variant. Its base clock is 2.80 GHz with a boost clock of 3.30 GHz. The i3-4330 is standard Haswell with a base clock of 3.50 GHz and no boost clock, meaning it runs at a fixed frequency. That higher base clock is a major reason for the i3-4330's consistent benchmark lead.

The i7-4558U has 1,300 million transistors on a 118 mm² die. The i3-4330 has 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die. So the desktop chip is physically larger and has more transistors. The i3-4330 also has dual-channel memory support and PCIe Gen 3, while the i7-4558U does not list memory bus or PCIe details in the database.

Integrated graphics differ: the i7-4558U has Intel HD 5100, the i3-4330 has Intel HD 4600. The i7-4558U is marked as a Mobile market segment part, while the i3-4330 is Desktop. Their release dates are close, the i7-4558U on June 3, 2013, and the i3-4330 on August 31, 2013.

FAQ

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

A: The i3-4330 wins all multi-core tests. In Cinebench R15, it scores 298 versus 255. In R20, it scores 1245 versus 1063. In R23, it scores 2966 versus 2532. The lead is about 14.4% to 14.6% depending on the test.

Q: Does the i7-4558U have any advantage in single-core performance?

A: No. The i3-4330 wins single-core tests as well. In Cinebench R20 single-core, it scores 175 versus 149, a 14.9% lead. In R23 single-core, it scores 418 versus 357, a 14.6% lead.

Q: Can I use the i3-4330 in a laptop?

A: No. The i3-4330 uses the Intel Socket 1150, which is a desktop socket. The i7-4558U uses Intel BGA 1168, which is a mobile socket. They are not compatible with each other's platforms.

Q: Do both CPUs have the same number of cores and threads?

A: Yes. Both have 2 cores and 4 threads. They also share the same cache layout: 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 4 MB shared L3.

Q: Is the i7-4558U a lower power chip?

A: Yes. The i7-4558U has a 28 W TDP, while the i3-4330 has a 54 W TDP. This is why the i7-4558U is used in mobile systems despite its lower benchmark scores.

Q: Which CPU has better integrated graphics?

A: The i7-4558U has Intel HD 5100, while the i3-4330 has Intel HD 4600. The database does not provide graphics benchmarks, so a performance comparison cannot be made from recorded data.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data is unambiguous. The i3-4330 wins all five recorded comparisons, and the margins are tight and consistent.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i3-4330 scores 298 against the i7-4558U's 255. That is a 14.4% difference. This is the oldest test in the set, but the pattern holds across newer versions.

In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the i3-4330 scores 1245 versus 1063, a 14.6% lead. Single-core in R20 shows 175 versus 149, a 14.9% lead. That single-core gap is the largest in the dataset, reflecting the i3-4330's higher fixed clock speed of 3.50 GHz versus the i7-4558U's 2.80 GHz base and 3.30 GHz boost.

In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i3-4330 scores 2966 versus 2532, a 14.6% lead. Single-core in R23 shows 418 versus 357, also a 14.6% lead.

The i7-4558U does have other benchmark entries in the broader database: Geekbench multi-core of 1967 and single-core of 941, plus an average benchmark score of 1038. The i3-4330 does not have Geekbench entries recorded, but its average benchmark score is 1020. The i7-4558U's average is slightly higher than the i3-4330's average, but this is driven by the inclusion of Geekbench results for the mobile chip. In the head-to-head Cinebench tests, the i3-4330 is consistently ahead.

Both CPUs sit at the 28th percentile compared to all CPUs in the database. Their nearest rivals also cluster tightly. The i7-4558U is within 0.2% to 0.4% of AMD A8-7680, AMD A10-7890K, AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U, and AMD A10-9700. The i3-4330 is within 0.2% to 0.3% of Intel Pentium Gold G5600, Intel Core i3-4160, Intel Core i7-975, and AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U. This shows both chips are near the median of recorded CPUs, but the i3-4330 is the stronger of the two in direct comparison.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications. The most consequential is clock speed: the i7-4558U has a 2.80 GHz base and 3.30 GHz boost, while the i3-4330 has a 3.50 GHz base and no boost clock. This explains the benchmark gap.

TDP differs significantly: 28 W for the i7-4558U, 54 W for the i3-4330. The socket is also different: Intel BGA 1168 for the mobile chip, Intel Socket 1150 for the desktop chip.

Transistor count and die size differ. The i7-4558U has 1,300 million transistors on a 118 mm² die. The i3-4330 has 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die.

Integrated graphics differ: Intel HD 5100 on the i7-4558U, Intel HD 4600 on the i3-4330.

Memory bus and PCIe are only listed for the i3-4330: dual-channel memory and PCIe Gen 3. The i7-4558U does not list memory bus or PCIe details in the database.

Market segment differs: Mobile for the i7-4558U, Desktop for the i3-4330. Their part numbers are SR188 and SR1NM, respectively. Both are locked multipliers, so neither supports overclocking. Both are from Intel, both use 22 nm process, both support DDR3 memory, and both have no ECC support. The codenames differ: Haswell-ULT for the mobile chip, Haswell for the desktop chip. Their release dates are June 3, 2013 and August 31, 2013, respectively.