Intel Core i3-4350 vs Intel Core i5-6350HQ Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i5-6350HQ wins every recorded head-to-head comparison against the Intel Core i3-4350. Across five Cinebench tests, the mobile Skylake part leads by a consistent margin of approximately 15 percent in each discipline. The narrowest gap appears in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where the i5-6350HQ scores 364 against the i3-4350's 309, a delta of -15.1 percent from the perspective of the trailing chip. The widest margin, at -15.1 percent, is also in that same R15 test, though the other four results cluster tightly between -14.9 and -15 percent.

In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the i5-6350HQ posts 1518 points versus 1291 for the i3-4350, a 15 percent advantage. The single-core R20 result shows 214 for the i5-6350HQ against 182 for the i3-4350, again a 15 percent lead. Cinebench R23 repeats the pattern: multi-core scores of 3616 and 3076 respectively, and single-core scores of 510 and 434. Each of those four comparisons lands at -14.9 or -15 percent. The consistency of the margin across both single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads indicates the i5-6350HQ's advantage is not workload-specific; it reflects a fundamental performance gap in both scalar and parallel execution.

The average benchmark scores in the database reinforce this picture. The i3-4350 has an average benchmark score of 1058, while the i5-6350HQ sits at 1046. Despite the i5-6350HQ winning every direct comparison, its overall average is actually 12 points lower. That discrepancy arises because the i3-4350 sits in a slightly different peer group: its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 5 2500U at an identical 1058 average, the Intel Core i7-2760QM at 1057 (0.1 percent ahead), and the AMD FX-8320E at 1059 (0.1 percent behind). The i5-6350HQ, meanwhile, matches the AMD PRO A10-8770 at 1046, with the AMD Athlon X4 950 at 1047 (-0.1 percent) and the AMD PRO A10-9700 at 1045 (0.1 percent) flanking it. Both processors land in the 29th percentile of all CPUs in the database, meaning they outperform roughly 29 percent of the recorded population.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from different Intel microarchitectures, different process nodes, and different market segments. The Core i3-4350 is a Haswell desktop part built on Intel's 22 nm process, while the Core i5-6350HQ is a Skylake-H mobile part on 14 nm. That process shrink allowed Intel to pack 2,300 million transistors into a 171 mm² die for the i5-6350HQ, compared to 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die for the i3-4350. The newer node delivers more transistors in a smaller physical area, a density improvement that contributes to the i5-6350HQ's performance edge despite its lower clock speeds.

Core counts differ as well. The i3-4350 has 2 physical cores with 4 threads via Hyper-Threading, while the i5-6350HQ has 4 physical cores and 4 threads with no Hyper-Threading. The i5-6350HQ's extra physical cores explain its multi-core wins: Cinebench R23 multi-core shows 3616 versus 3076, a 540-point gap that scales with the additional execution resources. The i3-4350's base clock of 3.60 GHz is substantially higher than the i5-6350HQ's 2.30 GHz base, and the i5-6350HQ has a boost clock of 3.20 GHz while the i3-4350 has no boost capability at all. Yet the i5-6350HQ still wins single-core tests by 15 percent, which indicates the Skylake architecture's IPC advantage more than compensates for the 0.40 GHz deficit at peak clocks.

Cache hierarchies also differ. Both chips have 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, but the shared L3 cache is 4 MB on the i3-4350 versus 6 MB on the i5-6350HQ. The larger L3 cache on the i5-6350HQ gives it more room for frequently accessed data across its four cores. Memory support diverges as well: the i3-4350 supports only DDR3 in dual-channel configuration, while the i5-6350HQ supports both DDR3 and DDR4 and has a recorded memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s. The i5-6350HQ also carries a more capable integrated GPU, the Intel Iris Pro 580, versus the Intel HD 4600 on the i3-4350. Both chips are locked (multiplier not unlocked), and neither supports ECC memory.

The socket and form factor differences are significant. The i3-4350 uses Intel Socket 1150 for desktop builds, while the i5-6350HQ is soldered to Intel BGA 1440 for mobile systems. The i3-4350 has a TDP of 54 watts, higher than the i5-6350HQ's 45 watts, which reflects the desktop part's higher base clock and older process. The i5-6350HQ's part number is SR2QZ, and it has been marked end-of-life in the database. The i3-4350 launched on April 30, 2014, while the i5-6350HQ followed on January 23, 2016.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Core i5-6350HQ scores 3616 versus the i3-4350's 3076, a 14.9 percent advantage for the i5-6350HQ.

Q: Does the i3-4350's higher clock speed help it win any benchmark?

A: No. The i3-4350 has a 3.60 GHz base clock with no boost, while the i5-6350HQ has a 2.30 GHz base and 3.20 GHz boost. Despite the i3-4350's higher base frequency, the i5-6350HQ wins all five recorded direct comparisons.

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

A: The i3-4350 has an average benchmark score of 1058, while the i5-6350HQ has 1046. The i3-4350's average is 12 points higher, even though it loses every head-to-head test.

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

A: The i3-4350 matches the AMD Ryzen 5 2500U at 1058, sits 0.1 percent behind the Intel Core i7-2760QM at 1057, and is 0.1 percent ahead of the AMD FX-8320E at 1059. The i5-6350HQ matches the AMD PRO A10-8770 at 1046, is 0.1 percent ahead of the AMD PRO A10-9700 at 1045, and 0.1 percent behind the AMD Athlon X4 950 at 1047.

Q: What are the core and thread configurations?

A: The i3-4350 has 2 cores and 4 threads. The i5-6350HQ has 4 cores and 4 threads. The i5-6350HQ does not use Hyper-Threading, while the i3-4350 does.

Q: Which chip has the larger L3 cache?

A: The i5-6350HQ has 6 MB of shared L3 cache, compared to 4 MB on the i3-4350.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear winner for raw performance: the Intel Core i5-6350HQ is faster in every recorded benchmark. A 15 percent lead in both single-core and multi-core Cinebench tests, combined with four physical cores, a newer 14 nm Skylake architecture, and a larger 6 MB L3 cache, makes it the stronger processor on paper and in measured workloads. The i3-4350 counters with a higher base clock of 3.60 GHz, a lower 54 watt TDP relative to its class, and a much earlier release date of April 2014, but none of those advantages translate into a single benchmark win.

However, the market segments are entirely different. The i3-4350 is a desktop part for Socket 1150, while the i5-6350HQ is a mobile part on BGA 1440. A buyer cannot choose between them for the same system; the socket dictates the platform. For anyone building a desktop around Intel Socket 1150, the i3-4350 is the only option of the two. For anyone purchasing a laptop or mobile system that integrates a BGA 1440 chip, the i5-6350HQ is the relevant part. The i5-6350HQ also carries a launch MSRP of $306, which the database records, but the i3-4350 has no recorded launch price.

The percentile ranking offers a broader context: both chips sit at the 29th percentile of all CPUs, meaning they occupy similar tiers in the overall performance distribution. The i3-4350's average benchmark score of 1058 is actually higher than the i5-6350HQ's 1046, which suggests that in the wider database, the i3-4350 benefits from comparisons against slower desktop parts, while the i5-6350HQ is measured against a mix that includes more capable mobile processors. The head-to-head results remain the more reliable indicator for a direct comparison, and they favor the i5-6350HQ in every case.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification category. Core count: 2 versus 4. Thread count: 4 versus 4, so the i3-4350 relies on Hyper-Threading while the i5-6350HQ uses pure physical cores. Base clock: 3.60 GHz versus 2.30 GHz. Boost clock: none versus 3.20 GHz. TDP: 54 watts versus 45 watts. Socket: Intel Socket 1150 versus Intel BGA 1440. Architecture and codename: Haswell versus Skylake-H. Process node: 22 nm versus 14 nm. Transistor count: 1,400 million versus 2,300 million. Die size: 177 mm² versus 171 mm². L3 cache: 4 MB versus 6 MB. Memory support: DDR3 only versus DDR3 and DDR4. Memory bandwidth: not recorded versus 34.1 GB/s. Integrated graphics: Intel HD 4600 versus Intel Iris Pro 580. Market segment: Desktop versus Mobile. Release date: April 30, 2014 versus January 23, 2016. Production status: not recorded versus end-of-life. Part number: not recorded versus SR2QZ. Launch MSRP: not recorded versus $306. PCIe support: Gen 3 on both, with the i5-6350HQ specifying 16 lanes CPU-only.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-6350HQ wins in all measured performance categories. In multi-core workloads, its four physical cores deliver 15 percent more Cinebench R23 performance than the i3-4350's two cores with Hyper-Threading. In single-core workloads, its Skylake architecture and 3.20 GHz boost clock produce 15 percent higher Cinebench R23 single-core scores. It also offers more L3 cache, a newer process node, dual memory type support, a faster integrated GPU, and a lower TDP of 45 watts. The i5-6350HQ is the superior choice for any application where raw compute throughput matters, as long as the platform is a mobile system with BGA 1440.

The Intel Core i3-4350 has no benchmark wins in the recorded data, but it retains specific advantages that matter in context. Its 3.60 GHz base clock is the highest frequency between the two, which can benefit workloads that are sensitive to clock rate rather than IPC. It is a desktop part, which means it can be paired with a wide range of Socket 1150 motherboards and standard desktop cooling solutions. Its 54 watt TDP is higher than the i5-6350HQ's 45 watts, but that is typical for a desktop chip with a higher base frequency. The i3-4350 also has an earlier release date, which may make it easier to find in legacy systems or on the used market. For a desktop build where the platform is already Socket 1150, the i3-4350 is the only viable choice of these two, and its average benchmark score of 1058 places it in the same percentile rank as the i5-6350HQ.