Intel Core i3-4340 vs Intel Pentium Gold G5600 Comparison

The Intel Core i3-4340 and Intel Pentium Gold G5600 are two dual-core, four-thread desktop processors from different Intel generations. The benchmark data shows a remarkably close contest, with the older Haswell-based i3-4340 edging out the newer Coffee Lake-based Pentium Gold in every single Cinebench test. The i3-4340 wins all five head-to-head benchmarks, yet the margin in every case is under one percent, making this a comparison defined by fractions rather than fundamental performance gaps. Both chips occupy the 28th percentile among all CPUs tracked, and their average benchmark scores sit within four points of each other (1026 versus 1022). The practical performance difference is negligible, so the decision between them rests on platform features, memory support, and other architectural details rather than raw compute output.

Where Each One Wins

The data is unambiguous on raw compute: the Intel Core i3-4340 wins every benchmark in the comparison set. In Cinebench R15 multicore, it scores 300 against 299 for the Pentium Gold, a 0.3% lead. The pattern repeats in Cinebench R20 multicore (1252 versus 1247, a 0.4% margin) and in Cinebench R23 multicore (2983 versus 2971, also 0.4%). Single-core results follow the same trend, with the i3-4340 ahead by 0.6% in R20 single-core (176 versus 175) and by 0.5% in R23 single-core (421 versus 419). Across all five tests, the i3-4340 claims victory, but no win exceeds 0.6%.

The Pentium Gold G5600, despite losing every benchmark, has its own territory. It runs at a higher base clock of 3.90 GHz compared to the i3-4340’s 3.60 GHz, yet the i3 still produces slightly higher scores — an indication that the older architecture extracts more work per clock cycle in these workloads. The Pentium Gold’s real advantages are not in Cinebench but in platform compatibility: it supports DDR4 memory with a stated bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, while the i3-4340 is limited to DDR3. The Pentium Gold also includes ECC memory support, a feature entirely absent from the i3-4340. For users building a system with newer DDR4 modules or requiring ECC for data integrity, the Pentium Gold is the only choice, even if its benchmark scores trail by a hair.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural eras and manufacturing nodes. The i3-4340 is built on Intel’s 22 nm process with a Haswell architecture, featuring 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die. The Pentium Gold G5600 uses the 14 nm Coffee Lake architecture, with a smaller 126 mm² die and no transistor count listed in the data. Despite the generational gap, both chips have identical core configurations: 2 cores, 4 threads, 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The process shrink from 22 nm to 14 nm does not translate into a cache advantage for the newer chip here.

Memory support is a major dividing line. The i3-4340 uses dual-channel DDR3, while the Pentium Gold G5600 uses dual-channel DDR4 with a listed bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s (no bandwidth figure is provided for the i3). The Pentium Gold also supports ECC memory, whereas the i3 does not. Socket compatibility differs as well: the i3-4340 fits Intel Socket 1150, and the Pentium Gold G5600 fits Intel Socket 1151. Both use PCIe Gen 3, though the Pentium Gold’s data specifies 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i3-4340’s lane count is not listed.

Integrated graphics also separate the two. The i3-4340 carries Intel HD 4600, while the Pentium Gold G5600 includes UHD Graphics 630. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking is off the table for both. The release dates are far apart: the i3-4340 launched in August 2013, and the Pentium Gold G5600 arrived in April 2018. Production status also differs, with the Pentium Gold marked as end-of-life, while the i3-4340’s status is not specified.

The Verdict

From the benchmark data alone, the Intel Core i3-4340 is the faster processor. It wins all five head-to-head Cinebench tests, with the largest margin being a 0.6% lead in Cinebench R20 single-core. Its average benchmark score of 1026 edges out the Pentium Gold’s 1022, and both sit at the 28th percentile among all CPUs. The i3-4340’s nearest rival, the Intel Processor N150, scores 1025 with a 0.1% delta, while the Pentium Gold’s closest competitor, the Intel Core i7-975, scores 1023 with a -0.1% delta. These numbers place both chips in the same performance class, but the i3-4340 holds a consistent, if tiny, advantage.

The Pentium Gold G5600 is the pick for platform reasons, not performance. Its DDR4 memory support with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth and ECC capability are decisive features for certain builds. The newer 14 nm process and UHD Graphics 630 also give it a more modern feature set. However, the data shows it is not faster in compute workloads — it loses every benchmark by less than one percent. For pure processing power, the i3-4340 wins. For memory flexibility, ECC support, and a newer platform, the Pentium Gold is the only option. Neither chip offers headroom for overclocking, and both are locked to their respective sockets.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i3-4340 has an average benchmark score of 1026, compared to 1022 for the Intel Pentium Gold G5600.

Q: Does the Pentium Gold G5600 win any benchmarks against the i3-4340?

A: No. The head-to-head data shows the i3-4340 winning all five Cinebench tests, with the Pentium Gold’s best result being a 0.3% loss in Cinebench R15 multicore.

Q: What memory types do these processors support?

A: The i3-4340 supports DDR3, while the Pentium Gold G5600 supports DDR4 with a listed bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The Pentium Gold also supports ECC memory; the i3-4340 does not.

Q: Are both processors dual-core with four threads?

A: Yes, both the i3-4340 and the Pentium Gold G5600 have 2 cores and 4 threads, with identical L1 and L2 cache sizes per core.

Q: What is the release date difference between the two?

A: The i3-4340 was released in August 2013, and the Pentium Gold G5600 was released in April 2018.

Q: Do either of these processors allow overclocking?

A: No. Both the i3-4340 and the Pentium Gold G5600 have locked multipliers.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest win for the i3-4340 comes in Cinebench R20 single-core, where it scores 176 against 175 for the Pentium Gold, a 0.6% delta. This is the only test where the margin reaches 0.6%; every other test is tighter. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i3 scores 300 versus 299, a 0.3% lead. Cinebench R20 multicore shows 1252 versus 1247, a 0.4% gap. Cinebench R23 multicore repeats the 0.4% pattern with 2983 against 2971. Finally, Cinebench R23 single-core gives 421 versus 419, a 0.5% margin.

The consistency of these results is notable. The i3-4340 leads in both single-core and multicore workloads, across three different Cinebench versions (R15, R20, R23). The Pentium Gold’s higher base clock of 3.90 GHz does not overcome the i3-4340’s architectural efficiency at 3.60 GHz. The data suggests that for Cinebench rendering tasks, the i3-4340 is uniformly slightly faster, but the differences are so small that they would be imperceptible in real-world use. The Pentium Gold’s nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-975, scores 1023 with a -0.1% delta relative to the Pentium Gold, while the i3-4340’s nearest rival, the Intel Processor N150, scores 1025 with a 0.1% delta. Both chips cluster near the same performance tier, surrounded by older and newer parts alike.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts are identical: 2 cores and 4 threads for both. Cache hierarchies match as well, with 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 4 MB shared L3. The base clock differs, with the i3-4340 at 3.60 GHz and the Pentium Gold at 3.90 GHz. Neither has a boost clock. Both have a TDP of 54 watts.

The sockets are different: Intel Socket 1150 for the i3-4340 versus Intel Socket 1151 for the Pentium Gold. Architecture and process node separate them — Haswell on 22 nm versus Coffee Lake on 14 nm. The i3-4340 has 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die, while the Pentium Gold’s transistor count is not listed and its die size is 126 mm². Memory support diverges: the i3 uses DDR3, the Pentium Gold uses DDR4 with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth. ECC memory is supported only on the Pentium Gold. Both use PCIe Gen 3, but the Pentium Gold’s specification notes 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i3’s lane count is not given. Integrated graphics differ: Intel HD 4600 on the i3-4340 versus UHD Graphics 630 on the Pentium Gold. The Pentium Gold has a launch MSRP of $86, while the i3-4340 has no listed launch MSRP. Release dates are August 2013 for the i3 and April 2018 for the Pentium Gold. The Pentium Gold is marked as end-of-life, while the i3’s production status is not specified. Both chips have locked multipliers.