Intel Core i3-4330 vs Intel Core i7-5600U Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The recorded benchmark data produces an unusually one-sided picture. The Intel Core i3-4330 wins every single head-to-head benchmark in the database, taking all five recorded tests. The Intel Core i7-5600U does not win a single comparison in the head-to-head set. This is not a close contest by any measure.

The Core i3-4330 leads in both multi-core and single-core workloads. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i3-4330 scores 298 against 255 for the i7-5600U, a 14.4% advantage. That gap stays almost perfectly consistent across every other test. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the i3-4330 posts 1245 versus 1065, a 14.5% lead. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i3-4330 reaches 2966 while the i7-5600U manages 2537, again a 14.5% difference. The single-core tests follow the same pattern: R20 single-core shows 175 for the i3-4330 against 150 for the i7-5600U (14.3% lead), and R23 single-core shows 418 versus 358 (14.4% lead).

The consistency of the margin is notable. The delta hovers between 14.3% and 14.5% across all five workloads, suggesting a fixed performance ceiling rather than workload-specific variability. The i7-5600U, despite being a Core i7 part, cannot close the gap in any scenario.

Where the i7-5600U does hold an edge is in the broader database context. Its average benchmark score is 1005, while the i3-4330 averages 1020. That 15-point difference is small, roughly 1.5%. The i7-5600U also sits at the 27th percentile of all CPUs, versus the 28th percentile for the i3-4330. These are effectively equivalent positions in the overall distribution, despite the consistent head-to-head losses.

The i7-5600U has one additional benchmark listed in the database: Geekbench multi-core (1750) and single-core (917). The i3-4330 has no Geekbench records, so no direct comparison is possible there. These scores, however, place the i7-5600U in the same performance tier as its nearest rivals, including the Intel Core i7-2630QM (identical average score of 1005) and the AMD FX-9830P (1006, a 0.1% difference).

The Verdict

The data points to a clear conclusion: the Intel Core i3-4330 is the faster processor in every measured workload. Anyone prioritizing raw compute performance should choose the i3-4330. It delivers a consistent 14% to 15% advantage across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, in both multi-core and single-core tests.

The i7-5600U, however, is not without its own rationale. It is a mobile processor with a 15 W TDP, compared to the 54 W TDP of the desktop i3-4330. The i7-5600U uses a 14 nm process node versus the 22 nm node of the i3-4330, and it is built for the Intel BGA 1168 socket, indicating an embedded or laptop design. The i3-4330 uses the desktop Intel Socket 1150. For a system where power draw and form factor matter more than peak performance, the i7-5600U is the sensible pick. For a desktop build where the socket and cooling allow it, the i3-4330 leaves no performance on the table.

The i7-5600U also carries a launch MSRP of $393, but no pricing data exists for the i3-4330 in the database, so no cost comparison is possible. Both processors have 2 cores and 4 threads, share 4 MB of L3 cache, and use DDR3 memory in a dual-channel configuration. The i3-4330 has a higher base clock at 3.50 GHz, while the i7-5600U starts at 2.60 GHz with a boost clock of 3.20 GHz. The i3-4330 has no boost clock listed, so its 3.50 GHz base is effectively its maximum.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results in the database are unambiguous. The i3-4330 wins all five recorded comparisons, with deltas ranging from 14.3% to 14.5%. No test shows the i7-5600U ahead, even by a marginal amount.

Starting with Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i3-4330 scores 298 against 255 for the i7-5600U. The 43-point gap represents a 14.4% deficit for the i7-5600U. This is the oldest test in the set and the margin is already established.

Cinebench R20 multi-core shows the same story. The i3-4330 scores 1245, the i7-5600U scores 1065, a difference of 180 points and a 14.5% lead. This test typically scales with both core count and clock speed, and both chips have identical core and thread counts. The difference therefore comes down to clock speed and architecture efficiency. The i3-4330 runs at 3.50 GHz base, while the i7-5600U runs at 2.60 GHz base with a 3.20 GHz boost. In sustained workloads, the i7-5600U's boost may not hold, which would explain the consistent gap.

Cinebench R20 single-core narrows the delta slightly to 14.3%. The i3-4330 posts 175, the i7-5600U posts 150. This is a 25-point difference. Single-core performance is less dependent on power limits and thermal headroom, but the i3-4330's higher base clock still wins out.

Cinebench R23 multi-core repeats the multi-core pattern. The i3-4330 scores 2966, the i7-5600U scores 2537, a 429-point gap and again a 14.5% difference. This is the largest absolute margin in the set, but the percentage stays flat, reinforcing the idea of a fixed performance ratio between these two parts.

Cinebench R23 single-core completes the sweep. The i3-4330 scores 418, the i7-5600U scores 358, a 60-point gap and a 14.4% lead. The single-core results are remarkably consistent with the multi-core results, which means the i3-4330's advantage is not dependent on thread scaling. It is simply faster per clock and has a higher clock to begin with.

Looking at the broader database context, the i3-4330's average benchmark score of 1020 places it just above the i7-5600U's 1005. The i3-4330's nearest rivals include the Intel Pentium Gold G5600 (1022, a 0.2% gap) and the Intel Core i3-4160 (1017, a 0.3% gap). The i7-5600U's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-2630QM (identical 1005) and the AMD FX-9830P (1006, a 0.1% gap). Both chips sit at the same performance tier in the global rankings, but the head-to-head tests show the i3-4330 is consistently faster.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core i3-4330 wins every multi-core test. In Cinebench R15 it scores 298 versus 255 (14.4% ahead), in R20 it scores 1245 versus 1065 (14.5% ahead), and in R23 it scores 2966 versus 2537 (14.5% ahead).

Q: Does the Intel Core i7-5600U win any benchmark in the head-to-head set?

A: No. The i7-5600U has zero wins across the five recorded head-to-head benchmarks. The i3-4330 wins all five.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The i3-4330 has an average benchmark score of 1020, while the i7-5600U averages 1005. That is a 15-point difference, roughly 1.5%, which is much smaller than the head-to-head deltas of about 14.4%.

Q: What is the difference in power consumption?

A: The i7-5600U has a TDP of 15 W, while the i3-4330 has a TDP of 54 W. The i7-5600U draws significantly less power, reflecting its mobile design.

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

A: Yes. Both have 2 cores and 4 threads. They also share the same L3 cache size of 4 MB and use DDR3 memory in a dual-channel configuration.

Q: What are the clock speed differences?

A: The i3-4330 has a base clock of 3.50 GHz with no boost clock listed. The i7-5600U has a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 3.20 GHz.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel generations and process nodes. The i7-5600U is built on Broadwell, specifically the Broadwell-U codename, using a 14 nm process node. It integrates 1,300 million transistors on a die size of 82 mm². The i3-4330 is a Haswell part, using a 22 nm process node, with 1,400 million transistors on a much larger 177 mm² die. The smaller process node of the i7-5600U allows for lower power consumption, reflected in its 15 W TDP, while the i3-4330's larger die and older node contribute to its 54 W TDP.

Both chips have identical cache hierarchies: 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3. Neither supports ECC memory. Memory support is DDR3 for both, with dual-channel buses. The i7-5600U lists a memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s, while the i3-4330 has no bandwidth figure recorded.

The integrated graphics differ. The i7-5600U uses Intel HD 5500, while the i3-4330 uses Intel HD 4600. The database does not include graphics benchmarks, so no performance comparison is possible, but the part numbers indicate different GPU generations.

The socket and platform are fundamentally different. The i7-5600U uses Intel BGA 1168, a soldered mobile socket, and has PCIe Gen 2 with 12 lanes from the CPU. The i3-4330 uses Intel Socket 1150, a desktop socket, and has PCIe Gen 3. The i3-4330's newer PCIe generation is notable for desktop expansion.

Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier. The i7-5600U is marked as end-of-life, while the i3-4330 has no production status listed. The i7-5600U was released in early 2015, the i3-4330 in late 2013, so the i7-5600U is the newer part by roughly a year and a half.

The i7-5600U is a mobile part with a 15 W TDP, a boost clock, and a smaller die. The i3-4330 is a desktop part with a 54 W TDP, a higher base clock, and no boost functionality. The architectural differences explain the benchmark results: the i3-4330 trades power efficiency for raw clock speed, and that trade pays off in every measured workload.