Intel Core i3-4330T vs Intel Core i7-870 Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data splits cleanly, with the Intel Core i7-870 taking every recorded win in the head-to-head comparison. Across all five Cinebench tests, the Core i7-870 is ahead in all five, leaving the Intel Core i3-4330T with zero wins in this matchup. The margins are consistent and narrow, ranging from 1.9% to 2.2%, which suggests a systematic advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

The Intel Core i3-4330T does not win any of the measured tests, but its positioning in the broader database reveals where it belongs. Its average benchmark score is 908, placing it at the 24th percentile of all CPUs. The Intel Core i7-870 posts an average benchmark score of 928, which puts it at the 25th percentile. These are adjacent performance tiers, with the Core i7-870 sitting just one percentile point higher. The practical takeaway: the Core i3-4330T is a capable entry-level desktop part, while the Core i7-870 is a slightly stronger option in the same general performance neighborhood.

The use-case split is therefore less about one chip winning specific applications and more about the nature of the workloads. The Core i7-870's four cores and eight threads give it an edge in multi-threaded rendering tasks, which is reflected in the Cinebench multicore results. The Core i3-4330T's two cores and four threads still handle single-threaded and lightly threaded work respectably, but the data does not show it beating the Core i7-870 in any recorded scenario. For users prioritizing raw rendering throughput, the Core i7-870 is the pick. For those who need a lower-power desktop part with integrated graphics, the Core i3-4330T has its own appeal, but not on the basis of benchmark wins.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different eras of Intel design. The Intel Core i3-4330T is built on the Haswell architecture, using a 22 nm process node with 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die. The Intel Core i7-870 uses the older Nehalem architecture (codename Lynnfield), fabricated on a 45 nm process with 774 million transistors and a larger 296 mm² die. The process node gap is substantial, with the Core i3-4330T using a much smaller manufacturing process that allows for higher density and lower power draw.

Core and thread counts differ significantly. The Core i3-4330T has 2 cores and 4 threads, while the Core i7-870 has 4 cores and 8 threads. This doubles the physical core count and the thread count on the older chip. Cache configurations also differ. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, but the L3 cache jumps from 4 MB shared on the Core i3-4330T to 8 MB shared on the Core i7-870. That is double the last-level cache, which can benefit workloads with larger working sets.

Clock behavior differs as well. The Core i3-4330T has a fixed base clock of 3.00 GHz with no boost clock listed. The Core i7-870 has a base clock of 2.93 GHz but can boost up to 3.60 GHz, giving it a higher maximum frequency under load. The Core i7-870's boost capability partially compensates for its lower base clock, and its higher ceiling helps explain its consistent lead in both single-core and multi-core tests.

Platform support diverges on several fronts. The Core i3-4330T uses Intel Socket 1150 and includes integrated graphics in the form of Intel HD 4600. The Core i7-870 uses Intel Socket 1156 and has no integrated graphics listed. The Core i3-4330T supports PCIe Gen 3, while the Core i7-870 is limited to PCIe Gen 2 with 16 lanes (CPU only). Both support DDR3 memory in a dual-channel configuration, and neither supports ECC memory. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking is not a feature of either part.

Power characteristics are markedly different. The Core i3-4330T has a TDP of 35 watts, while the Core i7-870 is rated at 95 watts. That is a 60-watt gap in thermal design power, which makes the Core i3-4330T far more efficient on paper. The Core i7-870 is also marked as end-of-life in the database, while no production status is listed for the Core i3-4330T. Release dates reflect the generational spread: the Core i7-870 launched on 2009-09-07, and the Core i3-4330T arrived on 2013-08-31.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded head-to-head results show a consistent, if modest, advantage for the Intel Core i7-870 across every Cinebench iteration. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Core i7-870 scores 271 against the Core i3-4330T's 265, a delta of 2.2% in favor of the older chip. Moving to Cinebench R20 multicore, the Core i7-870 scores 1132 versus 1108, a 2.1% lead. The pattern holds in Cinebench R23 multicore, where the Core i7-870 posts 2697 and the Core i3-4330T manages 2639, again a 2.2% advantage.

Single-core results tell the same story with slightly smaller margins. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the Core i7-870 scores 159 against 156 for the Core i3-4330T, a 1.9% lead. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Core i7-870 scores 380 versus 372, a 2.1% difference. The consistency of these deltas, all between 1.9% and 2.2%, indicates that the Core i7-870's advantage is uniform across both single-threaded and multi-threaded rendering workloads. The Core i3-4330T's higher base clock of 3.00 GHz versus 2.93 GHz is not enough to overcome the Core i7-870's boost clock of 3.60 GHz and its larger cache.

The average benchmark scores reinforce the same conclusion. The Core i3-4330T has an average benchmark score of 908, while the Core i7-870 sits at 928. That 20-point difference in average score aligns with the individual test deltas. The Core i7-870's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-4288U (average score 927, 0.1% delta), the Intel Core i3-4350T (average score 926, 0.2% delta), and the Intel Celeron G6900TE (average score 925, 0.4% delta), all of which are extremely close. The Core i3-4330T's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i3-10110Y and AMD Ryzen 3 3250U, both with average scores of 908 and a 0% delta, plus the AMD PRO A12-9800E at 910 and the AMD A10-7860K at 904.

Neither chip posts a decisive blowout in any test. The largest margin in the head-to-head is 2.2%, which is a modest gap. But the direction of the result is unambiguous: the Core i7-870 wins every recorded benchmark, and the Core i3-4330T does not claim a single victory.

The Verdict

The data points to the Intel Core i7-870 as the stronger performer in this comparison. It wins all five head-to-head Cinebench tests, has a higher average benchmark score (928 versus 908), and sits one percentile point higher in the overall CPU distribution (25th versus 24th). For users who prioritize rendering performance and multi-threaded throughput, the Core i7-870 is the clear choice based on the recorded measurements.

The Intel Core i3-4330T, however, is not without its strengths. Its 35-watt TDP is dramatically lower than the Core i7-870's 95 watts, making it a much more power-efficient option for compact or thermally constrained builds. It also includes Intel HD 4600 integrated graphics, so a discrete GPU is not required for basic display output. Its 22 nm process node and newer Haswell architecture bring modern manufacturing advantages, and its 3.00 GHz base clock is slightly higher than the Core i7-870's 2.93 GHz base clock.

The choice depends on the use case. Users who need maximum compute performance in rendering workloads should pick the Core i7-870, as the benchmark results consistently favor it. Users who value lower power consumption, integrated graphics, and a more recent platform should consider the Core i3-4330T, accepting a small performance deficit that ranges from 1.9% to 2.2% across the tested workloads. Neither chip is a performance king, but the Core i7-870 is the faster part in every measured scenario, while the Core i3-4330T offers efficiency and platform conveniences that the older chip lacks.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core i7-870 wins all multicore tests. It scores 271 versus 265 in Cinebench R15 multicore, 1132 versus 1108 in Cinebench R20 multicore, and 2697 versus 2639 in Cinebench R23 multicore.

Q: Does the Intel Core i3-4330T beat the Core i7-870 in any benchmark?

A: No. The Core i3-4330T records zero wins in the head-to-head comparison, while the Core i7-870 wins all five tests with deltas between 1.9% and 2.2%.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The Intel Core i3-4330T has 2 cores and 4 threads. The Intel Core i7-870 has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: Which CPU has integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core i3-4330T includes Intel HD 4600 integrated graphics. The Intel Core i7-870 has no integrated graphics listed in the database.

Q: How do their power requirements compare?

A: The Intel Core i3-4330T has a TDP of 35 watts. The Intel Core i7-870 has a TDP of 95 watts, which is 60 watts higher.

Q: What is the average benchmark score difference between the two?

A: The Intel Core i3-4330T has an average benchmark score of 908, while the Intel Core i7-870 has an average benchmark score of 928, a 20-point gap.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i3-4330T | Intel Core i7-870 |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 2 | 4 |

| Threads | 4 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 3.00 GHz | 2.93 GHz |

| Boost Clock | None listed | 3.60 GHz |

| TDP | 35 W | 95 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1150 | Intel Socket 1156 |

| Architecture | Haswell | Nehalem |

| Codename | Haswell | Lynnfield |

| Process Node | 22 nm | 45 nm |

| Transistors | 1,400 million | 774 million |

| Die Size | 177 mm² | 296 mm² |

| L3 Cache | 4 MB (shared) | 8 MB (shared) |

| PCIe | Gen 3 | Gen 2, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 4600 | None listed |

| Production Status | Not listed | End-of-life |

| Release Date | 2013-08-31 | 2009-09-07 |

| Part Number | SR1NK | SLBJG |

Both processors share the same L1 cache (64 KB per core) and L2 cache (256 KB per core) configurations, dual-channel DDR3 memory support, and lack of ECC memory support. Neither has an unlocked multiplier.