Intel Core i3-4330T vs Intel Core i5-4288U Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data paints a clear picture for this comparison: the Intel Core i3-4330T takes every recorded benchmark win. Across five head-to-head tests, the desktop chip leads in both single-core and multi-core workloads, with a consistent advantage of roughly 15% in every discipline. The i5-4288U, despite its Core i5 branding and mobile positioning, does not secure a single victory in the recorded tests.

This makes the use-case split straightforward. The i3-4330T is the stronger choice for sustained compute tasks, whether that means rendering, compilation, or any workload that scales across threads. Its multicore results are uniformly higher: 265 versus 225 in Cinebench R15 multicore, 1108 versus 939 in R20 multicore, and 2639 versus 2237 in R23 multicore. The desktop chip also wins on single-threaded responsiveness, posting 156 versus 132 in Cinebench R20 single-core and 372 versus 315 in R23 single-core.

The i5-4288U, however, occupies a different role. Its 28 W thermal envelope, as recorded in the database, is lower than the 35 W of the i3-4330T, and it uses the mobile BGA 1168 socket rather than the desktop Socket 1150. For systems where space and thermals are the priority, the i5-4288U is the only one of the two that fits. It is not faster in any measured test, but it is the chip designed for compact, power-conscious platforms. The data does not show where the i5 wins on performance, so its case rests entirely on platform fit and power characteristics.

The overall averages reflect the same hierarchy. The i5-4288U records an average benchmark score of 927, while the i3-4330T sits at 908. That difference is curious given the head-to-head results, but it stems from the fact that the i5 has a broader benchmark suite in the database, including Geekbench results, whereas the i3 does not. In the tests the two share, the i3 wins every time. The percentile placement is nearly identical: the i5 sits at the 25th percentile of all CPUs, the i3 at the 24th. In practical terms, both are entry-level performers by modern standards, but the i3 is the faster part in direct competition.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on Intel's Haswell architecture, fabricated on a 22 nm process at Intel's own foundry. Both use 1,400 million transistors, though the die sizes differ substantially. The i5-4288U has a die size of 118 mm², while the i3-4330T is larger at 177 mm². That difference is notable because the i5 is the mobile part with lower power consumption, yet it packs the same transistor count into a smaller area.

The two chips share the same core and thread configuration: 2 cores and 4 threads. The per-core cache hierarchy is identical as well, with 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core. The L3 cache is where they part ways. The i5-4288U has 3 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i3-4330T has 4 MB. That extra megabyte on the desktop chip likely contributes to its consistent lead in the recorded benchmarks.

Clock speeds tell a similar story. The i5-4288U has a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 3.10 GHz, relying on Turbo Boost to reach higher frequencies when thermals allow. The i3-4330T has a higher base clock of 3.00 GHz and no boost clock recorded, which is typical for the Core i3 lineup: fixed clocks, no turbo. In single-threaded tests, the i3's higher base clock gives it an edge that the i5's boost cannot overcome in the recorded data.

The integrated graphics differ as well. The i5-4288U carries Intel HD 5100, while the i3-4330T has Intel HD 4600. The database does not include graphics benchmarks for either chip, so any assessment of iGPU performance is outside the scope of this analysis. The memory support is DDR3 for both, and neither supports ECC memory. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking is not an option for either.

The sockets are entirely different, which matters for platform planning. The i5-4288U is soldered to Intel BGA 1168, meaning it is not upgradeable or replaceable in a standard desktop sense. The i3-4330T uses Intel Socket 1150, a conventional desktop socket. The i3 also supports PCIe Gen 3 and dual-channel memory, fields that are not recorded for the i5.

Release timing is close but not identical. The i5-4288U launched on June 3, 2013, while the i3-4330T arrived on August 31, 2013. Both parts are from the Haswell generation, and both are now well outside their production window.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher clock speed?

A: The Intel Core i3-4330T has a base clock of 3.00 GHz and no boost clock, while the Intel Core i5-4288U has a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 3.10 GHz.

Q: Does the i5-4288U outperform the i3-4330T in any benchmark?

A: No. In the recorded head-to-head benchmarks, the i3-4330T wins all five tests. The i5-4288U records zero wins across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 in both single-core and multicore tests.

Q: Are these CPUs compatible with the same motherboard?

A: No. The i5-4288U uses Intel BGA 1168, a mobile socket, while the i3-4330T uses Intel Socket 1150 for desktop motherboards.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core i3-4330T has 4 MB of shared L3 cache, whereas the Intel Core i5-4288U has 3 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: Do both CPUs support ECC memory?

A: No. ECC memory support is false for both the i5-4288U and the i3-4330T.

Q: How large is the performance gap in the shared benchmarks?

A: The i3-4330T leads by roughly 15% in every shared test. The deltas are 15.1% in Cinebench R15 multicore, 15.3% in R20 multicore, 15.4% in R20 single-core, 15.2% in R23 multicore, and 15.3% in R23 single-core.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications. The i5-4288U has a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 3.10 GHz, while the i3-4330T has a base clock of 3.00 GHz and no boost clock. The thermal design power is 28 W for the i5 and 35 W for the i3. The i5 uses Intel BGA 1168, while the i3 uses Intel Socket 1150. The i5 has a die size of 118 mm², while the i3 is larger at 177 mm². The L3 cache is 3 MB on the i5 and 4 MB on the i3. The integrated graphics are Intel HD 5100 on the i5 and Intel HD 4600 on the i3. The market segment is Mobile for the i5 and Desktop for the i3. The i3 records PCIe Gen 3 and dual-channel memory support, fields that are not listed for the i5. The part numbers also differ: SR189 for the i5, SR1NK for the i3.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are one-sided. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i3-4330T scores 265 against the i5-4288U's 225, a 15.1% advantage. That pattern repeats in Cinebench R20 multicore, where the i3 hits 1108 and the i5 reaches 939, a 15.3% lead. The single-core tests show the same margin. Cinebench R20 single-core has the i3 at 156 and the i5 at 132, a 15.4% gap. Cinebench R23 single-core gives the i3 372 and the i5 315, a 15.3% delta. Finally, Cinebench R23 multicore shows the i3 at 2639 and the i5 at 2237, a 15.2% lead.

The consistency of the delta is remarkable. Every recorded test lands within a 15.1% to 15.4% range, suggesting a fixed performance differential rooted in clock speed and cache rather than workload-specific behavior. The i3's 3.00 GHz base clock and 4 MB L3 cache give it a structural advantage in both single-threaded and multi-threaded scenarios.

The i5 does have additional benchmark data in the database that the i3 lacks. Geekbench results for the i5 show a multicore score of 1745 and a single-core score of 896. Those numbers are not part of the shared test suite, so they do not factor into the head-to-head comparison, but they do contribute to the i5's average benchmark score of 927, which is slightly higher than the i3's 908. The average score is an artifact of the test suite composition, not an indication that the i5 is faster in shared workloads.

The nearest rivals for each chip put their performance in context. The i5-4288U's closest competitor is the Intel Core i7-4600U, which scores 931 and trails by 0.5%. The i3-4330T's nearest rival is tied with the Intel Core i3-10110Y at 908, with a 0% delta, alongside the AMD Ryzen 3 3250U at 908. The i5 sits at the 25th percentile of all CPUs, while the i3 sits at the 24th. Both are firmly in the lower quartile, which aligns with their modest core counts and Haswell-era architecture. The data shows a desktop chip that is meaningfully faster in every shared test, and a mobile chip that is competitive in none of them, but occupies a different platform entirely.