Intel Core i3-4330T vs Intel Core i5-4258U Comparison

The Intel Core i3-4330T and Intel Core i5-4258U are both dual-core, four-thread Haswell parts from 2013, but they target opposite ends of the computing spectrum. The i3-4330T is a 35 W desktop processor on Socket 1150, while the i5-4258U is a 28 W mobile chip on BGA 1168. Benchmark data shows a consistent and decisive performance gap: the i3-4330T wins all five head-to-head Cinebench tests, with deltas ranging from 19.1% to 19.4%. Despite this, both processors sit at the 24th percentile among all CPUs, and their average benchmark scores are nearly identical (908 vs. 902). The difference lies in where those scores come from and what each chip is designed to do.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i3-4330T wins every single benchmark in the comparison set. The data is unambiguous across all five Cinebench iterations. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i3-4330T scores 265 against the i5-4258U's 222, a 19.4% advantage. That margin holds steady through Cinebench R20 multicore (1108 vs. 929, +19.3%), Cinebench R20 singlecore (156 vs. 131, +19.1%), Cinebench R23 multicore (2639 vs. 2213, +19.2%), and Cinebench R23 singlecore (372 vs. 312, +19.2%). The consistency of this delta across different workload generations suggests a fundamental clock-speed or architecture-implementation advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

The i3-4330T's wins are not marginal. A 19% lead in both single-core and multi-core tests means the desktop part is uniformly faster in rendering and compute tasks. The i5-4258U does have a boost clock of 2.90 GHz versus the i3-4330T's fixed 3.00 GHz base, but that 0.10 GHz gap in favor of the i3 appears to be amplified by other factors. The i3 also has 4 MB of shared L3 cache versus 3 MB on the i5, which could explain part of the consistent edge in single-threaded workloads.

The i5-4258U does not win any of the five head-to-head tests. However, it does have one benchmark category that the i3-4330T lacks entirely: Geekbench results. The i5-4258U scores 1664 in Geekbench multicore and 844 in Geekbench singlecore. Since the i3-4330T has no Geekbench entries in the data, there is no direct comparison available. This absence means the i5's mobile platform is the only one of the two with validated performance in that specific test suite, though it does not change the outcome of the head-to-head comparison.

The i5-4258U's advantage is not in raw CPU throughput but in its integrated graphics tier. It features Intel HD 5100, while the i3-4330T ships with Intel HD 4600. For users who rely on the integrated GPU, the i5's newer graphics architecture (within the same Haswell generation) is the differentiator, though the data pack provides no graphics benchmark scores to quantify this.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear choice for compute-heavy workloads: the Intel Core i3-4330T. It delivers a uniform 19% performance advantage across every Cinebench test, from single-core R20 to multi-core R23. Anyone running CPU-bound rendering, compilation, or scientific workloads on a desktop platform should select the i3-4330T without hesitation. Its 3.00 GHz base clock, 4 MB L3 cache, and 35 W TDP combine for a performance profile that the i5-4258U cannot match.

The i5-4258U is the pick only when the platform constraints force the decision. It is a mobile chip on BGA 1168, which means it is soldered into ultrathin laptops and compact all-in-ones. The i3-4330T requires a Socket 1150 motherboard, which is a desktop-only ecosystem. If the use case is a portable system where the 28 W TDP and integrated HD 5100 graphics matter more than raw Cinebench scores, the i5-4258U is the only option of the two. But the benchmark data gives no reason to prefer it on performance grounds.

The average benchmark scores tell a cautionary tale. The i3-4330T averages 908, and the i5-4258U averages 902. Their nearest rivals include the Intel Core i3-10110Y (908, 0% delta), AMD Ryzen 3 3250U (908, 0% delta), and AMD PRO A12-9800E (910, -0.3% delta for the i3). Both chips are firmly in the lower quartile of all CPUs at the 24th percentile. Neither is a performance leader; they are entry-level parts. The i3-4330T is simply the faster entry-level part.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest win for the Intel Core i3-4330T comes in Cinebench R15 multicore, where it scores 265 against the i5-4258U's 222. The 19.4% delta is the widest margin in the entire comparison set. This test stresses both cores and all four threads, and the i3's higher sustained clock and larger cache prove decisive.

Cinebench R20 multicore shows a nearly identical story: 1108 for the i3 versus 929 for the i5, a 19.3% difference. The absolute scores are higher than R15, but the relative gap remains stable. This consistency across benchmark generations indicates that the i3-4330T's advantage is structural, not a result of one test's scoring quirks.

The single-core tests reveal that the i3's lead is not dependent on multi-threading efficiency. In Cinebench R20 singlecore, the i3 scores 156 and the i5 scores 131, a 19.1% delta. In Cinebench R23 singlecore, the scores are 372 and 312 respectively, again a 19.2% delta. The i3-4330T's 3.00 GHz base clock versus the i5-4258U's 2.40 GHz base (2.90 GHz boost) explains part of this, but the 0.10-0.60 GHz clock gap does not fully account for a 19% performance difference. The i3's 4 MB L3 cache versus the i5's 3 MB likely contributes additional single-thread headroom.

Cinebench R23 multicore provides the largest absolute score gap: 2639 for the i3 versus 2213 for the i5. The 426-point difference represents a 19.2% improvement. This is the most modern test in the set, and the i3 still holds its ground. The i5-4258U's only other benchmark data comes from Geekbench, where it posts 1664 multicore and 844 singlecore. Without a matching Geekbench score for the i3-4330T, these numbers stand alone and cannot be used to close the gap.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core i3-4330T wins all multi-core Cinebench tests. It scores 265 in R15, 1108 in R20, and 2639 in R23, versus the i5-4258U's 222, 929, and 2213 respectively. The margin is consistently around 19.2-19.4%.

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-4258U have any benchmark wins?

A: No. In the five head-to-head Cinebench tests, the i5-4258U loses all of them. The i3-4330T has 5 wins and the i5-4258U has 0 wins. The i5 does have Geekbench scores (1664 multicore, 844 singlecore), but the i3-4330T has no Geekbench data for comparison.

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

A: The i3-4330T has an average score of 908, matching the Intel Core i3-10110Y and AMD Ryzen 3 3250U exactly (0% delta). It trails the AMD PRO A12-9800E by 0.3% and beats the AMD A10-7860K by 0.4%. The i5-4258U averages 902, sitting 0.1% behind the Intel Core i5-5350U and 0.2% behind the Intel Core i7-940.

Q: What are the clock speed differences?

A: The i3-4330T has a fixed base clock of 3.00 GHz with no boost clock. The i5-4258U has a 2.40 GHz base clock and a 2.90 GHz boost clock. The i3's base clock is 0.60 GHz higher than the i5's base, and 0.10 GHz higher than the i5's boost.

Q: Which processor has more cache?

A: The i3-4330T has 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The i5-4258U has 3 MB of shared L3 cache. Both have identical L1 (64 KB per core) and L2 (256 KB per core) configurations.

Q: Are these processors from the same architecture generation?

A: Yes. Both are Haswell architecture parts on a 22 nm process node with 1,400 million transistors. However, the i3-4330T has a 177 mm² die size, while the i5-4258U has a smaller 118 mm² die.

Architecture Differences

The two processors share the same Haswell microarchitecture, 22 nm process node, and Intel foundry. Both integrate 1,400 million transistors, though the die sizes differ significantly: the i3-4330T measures 177 mm², while the i5-4258U is 118 mm². This 59 mm² difference reflects the distinct packaging and power-delivery requirements of desktop versus mobile platforms.

The core configuration is identical: 2 cores and 4 threads on both parts. Cache hierarchies match at the L1 and L2 levels, with 64 KB and 256 KB per core respectively. The divergence appears at the L3 level, where the i3-4330T offers 4 MB shared versus 3 MB on the i5-4258U. This extra 1 MB of cache is a likely contributor to the i3's consistent 19% performance lead in both single-core and multi-core tests.

Clock behavior is a major differentiator. The i3-4330T runs at a fixed 3.00 GHz with no boost capability. The i5-4258U has a 2.40 GHz base clock that can boost to 2.90 GHz. Despite the i5's boost mechanism, the i3's higher sustained clock and larger cache win out in every benchmark. The i3's 35 W TDP versus the i5's 28 W TDP also reflects the desktop part's allowance for higher sustained power draw.

Platform support differs completely. The i3-4330T uses Intel Socket 1150 and supports PCIe Gen 3, while the i5-4258U uses BGA 1168 and has no PCIe version listed. The i3 is a desktop part with a replaceable socket, whereas the i5 is soldered mobile silicon. Both support DDR3 memory with dual-channel on the i3; the i5's memory bus configuration is not listed in the data. Neither supports ECC memory, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

Integrated graphics separate the two further. The i3-4330T includes Intel HD 4600, while the i5-4258U features Intel HD 5100. The i5's higher-tier graphics are a nod to its mobile role, where discrete GPUs are rare. The i3's desktop positioning assumes a discrete GPU is more likely. The i5-4258U also has a later release date of June 2013 versus August 2013 for the i3, though both are firmly in the Haswell generation. Their part numbers are SR1NK for the i3 and SR18A for the i5.