Intel Core i3-4330 vs Intel Pentium Gold G5600 Comparison

The Intel Pentium Gold G5600 and Intel Core i3-4330 are nearly identical in raw performance, separated by a single point in average benchmark score (1022 vs 1020). Both processors land in the 28th percentile of all CPUs, meaning they sit in the same performance tier despite being from different eras. The G5600 wins all five head-to-head Cinebench tests, but the margins are razor-thin — the largest delta is just 0.3% in Cinebench R15 multi-core. The data suggests these are effectively interchangeable in compute performance, so the choice comes down to platform and feature differences rather than speed.

The Verdict

The benchmark data shows a statistical tie. The Pentium Gold G5600 edges out the Core i3-4330 in every Cinebench test, but the differences are within noise: 0.3% in R15 multi-core (299 vs 298), 0.2% in R20 multi-core (1247 vs 1245), and 0.2% in R23 multi-core (2971 vs 2966). Single-core results are essentially identical, with R20 at 175 for both and R23 at 419 vs 418. If you are choosing purely on compute performance, the G5600 is technically ahead, but the real-world difference is imperceptible.

The G5600 is the better pick for builders targeting a modern platform. It uses the Intel Socket 1151 and supports DDR4 memory with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth, while the i3-4330 requires the older Intel Socket 1150 and DDR3. The G5600 also has a higher base clock at 3.90 GHz versus 3.50 GHz, which contributes to its small benchmark wins. Additionally, the G5600 supports ECC memory, a feature absent on the i3-4330. The i3-4330, however, offers a larger transistor count at 1,400 million and a bigger die at 177 mm², which are irrelevant to performance but indicate a different manufacturing era.

For a new build, the G5600 is the logical choice because of the modern socket and memory support. For an upgrade to an existing Haswell system, the i3-4330 could make sense, but the data shows no performance advantage to justify seeking it out. The G5600 is end-of-life, so availability is a consideration, but the platform benefits outweigh the negligible benchmark differences.

Where Each One Wins

The G5600 wins every benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, but the margins are minimal. Its largest victory is in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where it scores 299 against 298 — a 0.3% lead. In R20 multi-core, the G5600 scores 1247 versus 1245, a 0.2% edge. In R23 multi-core, the gap is 2971 to 2966, also 0.2%. Single-core results are even closer: R20 single-core is a dead tie at 175, and R23 single-core shows a 0.2% lead for the G5600 at 419 vs 418.

The i3-4330 does not win any of the five head-to-head tests. However, its average benchmark score of 1020 is only 0.2% behind the G5600’s 1022, which places it in the same performance bracket. The i3-4330 also matches the G5600’s nearest rival performance profile, with the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U sitting at 1024 and the Intel Core i7-975 at 1023 — all within a fraction of a percent of each other. The data indicates that neither chip has a meaningful use-case advantage in computation; the G5600’s wins are purely nominal.

The G5600’s advantage lies in platform features rather than raw speed. Its DDR4 support and 38.4 GB/s memory bandwidth are significant for memory-intensive workloads, even if the CPU cores themselves perform the same. The i3-4330’s lack of a memory bandwidth figure in the data suggests it is not a highlighted spec, and its DDR3 support is a generational limitation. For gaming, both CPUs will perform similarly since single-core scores are nearly identical, but the G5600’s UHD Graphics 630 may offer better integrated graphics than the i3-4330’s Intel HD 4600, though the data does not quantify this.

Architecture Differences

The G5600 is built on the Coffee Lake architecture using a 14 nm process, while the i3-4330 uses the Haswell architecture on a 22 nm node. The G5600’s smaller process node means it achieves its performance with a smaller die size of 126 mm², compared to the i3-4330’s 177 mm². The i3-4330 packs 1,400 million transistors, while the G5600’s transistor count is not listed in the data — a notable omission that suggests the newer chip uses fewer transistors for similar work.

Both processors have the same core and thread configuration: 2 cores and 4 threads. Cache layouts are identical as well, with 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3. The base clocks differ, with the G5600 running at 3.90 GHz versus the i3-4330’s 3.50 GHz, and neither chip has a boost clock. TDP is the same at 54 watts for both, making them equally power-efficient in that metric.

The biggest architectural divergence is the memory controller. The G5600 supports DDR4 with dual-channel memory and a listed bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, plus ECC memory support. The i3-4330 supports DDR3, also dual-channel, but no bandwidth figure is provided and ECC is not supported. The PCIe implementation differs too: the G5600 offers Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i3-4330 lists Gen 3 without a lane count. The G5600’s socket (1151) is incompatible with the i3-4330’s socket (1150), so there is no upgrade path between them on the same motherboard.

The integrated graphics also differ: the G5600 uses UHD Graphics 630, while the i3-4330 uses Intel HD 4600. The data does not provide graphics benchmarks, so any comparison there is speculative, but the architecture names indicate a generational gap. The G5600’s release date is April 2018, while the i3-4330’s is September 2013 — a gap of nearly five years that explains the process node and memory differences.

FAQ

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

A: The Pentium Gold G5600 wins all multi-core Cinebench tests, but by fractions of a percent. It scores 299 vs 298 in R15, 1247 vs 1245 in R20, and 2971 vs 2966 in R23. The differences are negligible in practice.

Q: Are these CPUs compatible with the same motherboards?

A: No. The G5600 uses Intel Socket 1151, while the i3-4330 uses Intel Socket 1150. They are not interchangeable.

Q: Do both CPUs support ECC memory?

A: No. The G5600 supports ECC memory, but the i3-4330 does not. This could matter for low-cost server or workstation builds that require ECC.

Q: What is the memory type difference?

A: The G5600 supports DDR4 with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth, while the i3-4330 supports DDR3 with no bandwidth figure listed. The G5600’s memory is newer and faster on paper.

Q: Which CPU has a higher clock speed?

A: The G5600 has a base clock of 3.90 GHz, compared to the i3-4330’s 3.50 GHz. Neither has a boost clock.

Q: Is the i3-4330 ever faster than the G5600?

A: No. The data shows the G5600 wins all five head-to-head benchmarks, and the i3-4330 wins zero. However, the average benchmark scores are only 0.2% apart, so the i3-4330 is not meaningfully slower.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single win for the G5600 is in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where it scores 299 against 298, a 0.3% delta. This is the only test where the margin exceeds 0.2%. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the G5600 scores 1247 versus 1245, a 0.2% lead. The R23 multi-core test shows a similar pattern: 2971 for the G5600 and 2966 for the i3-4330, also a 0.2% delta.

Single-core results are even tighter. In Cinebench R20 single-core, both chips score exactly 175, resulting in a 0% delta and an official win for the G5600 by tiebreak. In R23 single-core, the G5600 scores 419 and the i3-4330 scores 418, a 0.2% margin. These single-core numbers are crucial because they indicate that both CPUs will handle everyday tasks and lightly-threaded applications at nearly identical speeds.

The average benchmark scores reinforce the near-tie: the G5600 averages 1022 and the i3-4330 averages 1020, a 0.2% difference. In the nearest rival comparison, the G5600 is 0.1% behind the Intel Core i7-975 (1023) and 0.1% behind the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U (1024), while the i3-4330 is 0.3% behind the same AMD chip and 0.3% behind the i7-975. Both CPUs are effectively in a five-way tie with those rivals, as the deltaPct values range from -0.3% to +0.3%.

The data does not show any benchmark where the i3-4330 pulls ahead. Its best result is in R20 multi-core, where it scores 1245 — just 2 points behind the G5600. The pattern is consistent across every test: the G5600 wins by a hair, but the i3-4330 is never outclassed. For a builder, this means the choice should be based on platform needs, not benchmark scores.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs differ in several key specifications, all of which favor the G5600 except where noted. The base clock is 3.90 GHz for the G5600 versus 3.50 GHz for the i3-4330. The process node is 14 nm for the G5600 and 22 nm for the i3-4330. The die size is 126 mm² for the G5600 and 177 mm² for the i3-4330. The i3-4330 lists 1,400 million transistors, while the G5600’s transistor count is not provided.

The socket is different: Intel Socket 1151 for the G5600 and Intel Socket 1150 for the i3-4330. Memory support is DDR4 for the G5600 and DDR3 for the i3-4330. The G5600 has a listed memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, while the i3-4330 has none listed. ECC memory is supported on the G5600 but not on the i3-4330. The PCIe specification is Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only) for the G5600, while the i3-4330 lists only Gen 3 with no lane count.

Integrated graphics differ: UHD Graphics 630 on the G5600 versus Intel HD 4600 on the i3-4330. The G5600 has a launch MSRP of $86, while the i3-4330 has no launch MSRP listed in the data. The G5600’s part number is SR3YB, and the i3-4330’s is SR1NM. The G5600 is marked as end-of-life, while the i3-4330’s production status is not specified. The release dates are April 2018 for the G5600 and September 2013 for the i3-4330. Both CPUs have 2 cores, 4 threads, 54 watts TDP, dual-channel memory, 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 4 MB shared L3. Neither has a boost clock or an unlocked multiplier.