CPU Comparison

The Intel Pentium G4560 and Intel Core i3-4340 are two dual-core, four-thread desktop processors separated by three years of architecture, yet benchmark data shows they perform as near-identical equals. The G4560 wins all five head-to-head Cinebench comparisons, but the margins are razor-thin, ranging from 0.3% to 0.6%. The i3-4340’s higher base clock of 3.60 GHz versus the G4560’s 3.50 GHz is not enough to overcome the newer Kaby Lake design’s efficiency. Both CPUs sit at the 28th percentile of all CPUs, and their average benchmark scores differ by only 5 points (1031 vs 1026). In practice, these are interchangeable parts for single-threaded and lightly threaded workloads, with the G4560 holding a slight statistical edge in every measured test.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The data is unambiguous: the Pentium G4560 wins every single benchmark comparison, but the victories are the narrowest possible. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the G4560 scores 301 against the i3-4340’s 300, a 0.3% difference. That single-point margin is within any reasonable run-to-run variance, yet it appears consistently across all five tests. The pattern continues in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the G4560 posts 1258 versus 1252, a 0.5% lead. Single-core results tell the same story: the G4560 edges ahead by 0.6% in R20 single-core (177 vs 176) and by 0.5% in R23 single-core (423 vs 421).

The largest relative advantage for the G4560 comes in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where it scores 2996 against 2983, a 0.4% lead. Notably, the absolute performance gap in multi-core is larger than in single-core: a 13-point difference in R23 multi-core versus a 2-point difference in R23 single-core. This suggests the G4560’s newer architecture scales slightly better with sustained multi-threaded load, even though both chips have identical core and thread counts. The i3-4340’s 4 MB of shared L3 cache versus the G4560’s 3 MB does not translate into any benchmark win.

Looking at broader context, both processors occupy the same competitive tier. The G4560’s average benchmark score of 1031 places it 0.2% behind the AMD A12-9800E (1033) and 0.3% behind the AMD A10-9700 (1034), while edging out the Intel Xeon E5620 (1029) by 0.2% and the AMD Ryzen Embedded V1202B (1027) by 0.4%. The i3-4340’s average of 1026 puts it 0.1% ahead of the Intel Processor N150 (1025) and 0.2% ahead of the AMD Phenom II X6 1075T (1024), but 0.1% behind the Intel Core i7-5650U (1027) and the Ryzen Embedded V1202B (1027). Neither chip dominates its rivals; they sit in a dense cluster of similar-performance parts.

Where Each One Wins

The Pentium G4560 wins everywhere, but the practical significance is minimal. The largest margin, 0.6% in R20 single-core, translates to a single point on a 177-point scale. In real-world use, this means the G4560 holds a slight but consistent edge in both single-threaded applications (like older games or lightly threaded productivity tools) and multi-threaded workloads (like video encoding or 3D rendering in Cinebench). The G4560’s wins are uniform across all five tests, indicating that its architectural advantages, the 14 nm process node versus the i3-4340’s 22 nm node, provide a small but measurable IPC improvement that persists regardless of thread count.

The i3-4340’s only potential advantage is its larger 4 MB shared L3 cache, but the benchmark data shows no scenario where this yields a win. Its higher 3.60 GHz base clock also fails to overcome the G4560’s architectural efficiency. For any workload captured by Cinebench, which includes both short single-threaded bursts and sustained multi-core rendering, the i3-4340’s only "win" is in the specification sheet, not in the performance data. Users prioritizing DDR3 memory support (the i3-4340’s platform) might prefer it for platform continuity, but benchmark results alone give the G4560 the edge.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Pentium G4560 has an average benchmark score of 1031, while the Intel Core i3-4340 scores 1026. This 5-point gap places both at the 28th percentile of all CPUs.

Q: How large is the performance difference in the closest benchmark?

A: The closest result is in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where the G4560 scores 301 and the i3-4340 scores 300, a 0.3% difference. Even the largest margin, 0.6% in R20 single-core, is just 1 point.

Q: Does the i3-4340 win any benchmark?

A: No. The head-to-head data shows the G4560 winning all 5 tests, with 0 wins for the i3-4340. The i3-4340’s higher base clock and larger cache do not produce a single benchmark victory.

Q: What are the key cache differences between the two?

A: Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core. The G4560 has 3 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i3-4340 has 4 MB of shared L3 cache.

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

A: The G4560 is 0.2% behind the AMD A12-9800E and 0.3% behind the AMD A10-9700, but 0.2% ahead of the Intel Xeon E5620. The i3-4340 is 0.1% ahead of the Intel Processor N150 and 0.2% ahead of the AMD Phenom II X6 1075T, but 0.1% behind the Intel Core i7-5650U.

Q: What memory types do these CPUs support?

A: The G4560 supports DDR4 memory with dual-channel configuration and a bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The i3-4340 supports DDR3 memory in dual-channel configuration, but its memory bandwidth is not listed in the data.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs differ across nearly every physical and platform specification. The G4560 uses the Intel Socket 1151, while the i3-4340 uses the older Intel Socket 1150. The G4560 has a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a TDP of 51 watts; the i3-4340 has a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a TDP of 54 watts. Both lack boost clocks and unlocked multipliers. The G4560 is built on a 14 nm process node, whereas the i3-4340 uses a 22 nm node. The i3-4340 has 1,400 million transistors and a die size of 177 mm²; the G4560’s transistor count and die size are not provided.

Memory support diverges sharply: the G4560 uses DDR4 with a rated bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, while the i3-4340 uses DDR3 with no bandwidth figure listed. Both are dual-channel and neither supports ECC. PCIe configuration also differs: the G4560 specifies Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i3-4340 lists only "Gen 3" without lane details. Integrated graphics differ, with the G4560 featuring Intel HD 610 and the i3-4340 featuring Intel HD 4600. The G4560 is listed as "Active" in production status; the i3-4340’s production status is null. Release dates are January 2, 2017 for the G4560 and August 31, 2013 for the i3-4340. Neither has a launch MSRP listed.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap is generational. The G4560 uses the Kaby Lake architecture (14 nm process) with the codename "Kaby Lake," while the i3-4340 uses the Haswell architecture (22 nm process) with the codename "Haswell." The G4560’s generation is listed as "Pentium (Kaby Lake)" and the i3-4340’s as "Core i3 (Haswell)." Both have 2 cores and 4 threads, with identical L1 (64 KB per core) and L2 (256 KB per core) cache layouts. The L3 cache differs: 3 MB shared on the G4560 versus 4 MB shared on the i3-4340. The i3-4340’s newer 22 nm node does not appear in this data to offset the G4560’s 14 nm node advantages in power efficiency and IPC.

Foundry is Intel for both, but the i3-4340’s 1,400 million transistors and 177 mm² die size are physical characteristics that the G4560’s entry lacks, making direct comparisons of transistor density impossible. The G4560’s memory architecture supports DDR4 with a 38.4 GB/s bandwidth, while the i3-4340’s DDR3 support has no bandwidth figure. Both CPUs have dual-channel memory buses and no ECC support. The G4560’s PCIe implementation is explicitly "Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only)," whereas the i3-4340’s is simply "Gen 3," suggesting a possible lane count difference that is not quantified.

The Verdict

From the benchmark data alone, the Intel Pentium G4560 is the superior processor. It wins all five head-to-head comparisons, has a higher average benchmark score (1031 vs 1026), and holds a slight edge in both single-core and multi-core workloads. The margins are small, never exceeding 0.6%, but they are consistent. Anyone choosing between these two strictly on performance should pick the G4560, which also offers a more modern platform (Socket 1151, DDR4, 14 nm process) and an active production status. The i3-4340’s only advantages are a higher base clock (3.60 GHz vs 3.50 GHz) and a larger L3 cache (4 MB vs 3 MB), but neither translates into a benchmark victory.

However, the i3-4340 remains a viable option for users on a legacy Socket 1150 platform with DDR3 memory already installed, as the data shows its performance is statistically indistinguishable from the G4560 in most real-world tasks. The 0.3% to 0.6% deltas are far smaller than typical generation-to-generation improvements, meaning both CPUs will feel identical in everyday use. For a new build, the G4560’s newer architecture and DDR4 support make it the rational choice. For an upgrade within an existing Haswell system, the i3-4340 offers comparable performance without a platform change. The verdict is clear: the G4560 wins on the merits of the data, but the i3-4340 is not a meaningful downgrade.