CPU Comparison

# Intel Core i3-4360 vs Intel Pentium G4600

The Intel Core i3-4360 and Intel Pentium G4600 are two dual-core, four-thread desktop processors from different eras of Intel's lineup, yet benchmark results show they are remarkably close in raw compute performance. The i3-4360, a Haswell part from the Core i3 generation, edges out the Kaby Lake-based Pentium G4600 in every single Cinebench test recorded, but by margins so slim, never exceeding 0.6%, that the two effectively trade blows in real-world scenarios. Both processors sit at the 29th percentile among all CPUs in the database, with average benchmark scores of 1061 for the i3-4360 and 1056 for the Pentium G4600, placing them in nearly identical performance tiers.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: The Intel Core i3-4360 wins all three multi-core Cinebench tests, but by tiny margins. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 310 versus 309 for the Pentium G4600 (a 0.3% difference). In R20 multi-core, the gap is 1294 versus 1289 (0.4%), and in R23 multi-core, the i3-4360 leads 3082 versus 3070 (0.4%).

Q: How do the two compare in single-core performance?

A: The i3-4360 also wins single-core tests, with scores of 182 in R20 single-core (versus 181, a 0.6% lead) and 435 in R23 single-core (versus 433, a 0.5% lead). These differences are within benchmark noise.

Q: Do both processors support hyper-threading?

A: Yes, both have 2 physical cores and 4 threads, meaning each core handles two threads simultaneously. This is confirmed by the threads field showing 4 for both.

Q: What memory types do they support?

A: The i3-4360 supports DDR3 memory, while the Pentium G4600 supports DDR4. The Pentium G4600 has a listed memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, whereas the i3-4360 does not have a bandwidth figure in the data.

Q: Are the integrated graphics different?

A: Yes. The i3-4360 features Intel HD 4600 graphics, while the Pentium G4600 comes with Intel HD 630. The newer Pentium part likely benefits from a more modern graphics architecture, though no graphics benchmarks are provided.

Q: Which processor is newer?

A: The Pentium G4600 was released on 2017-01-02, while the i3-4360 came earlier on 2014-04-30. The Pentium G4600 is also listed as "Active" in production status, whereas no production status is given for the i3-4360.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent different architectural generations and manufacturing nodes. The Intel Core i3-4360 is built on the Haswell architecture using a 22 nm process node, fabricated by Intel with 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die. In contrast, the Pentium G4600 uses the newer Kaby Lake architecture on a 14 nm process node, also fabricated by Intel, though its transistor count and die size are not listed in the data. The shrink from 22 nm to 14 nm typically implies better power efficiency, which is reflected in the TDP: 54 watts for the i3-4360 versus 51 watts for the Pentium G4600.

Cache configurations also differ. Both share the same per-core L1 (64 KB) and L2 (256 KB) cache, but the i3-4360 has 4 MB of shared L3 cache while the Pentium G4600 has only 3 MB. This additional 1 MB of L3 cache may contribute to the i3-4360's slight benchmark edge, though the newer architecture of the Pentium G4600 could compensate in other ways.

Socket compatibility is a major divergence: the i3-4360 uses Intel Socket 1150, while the Pentium G4600 uses Intel Socket 1151. This means they are not interchangeable on the same motherboard. The memory support differs correspondingly, DDR3 for the i3-4360 and DDR4 for the Pentium G4600, with the latter offering a listed memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. Both support PCIe Gen 3, though the Pentium's spec notes "16 Lanes (CPU only)." Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking is not a distinguishing factor. The integrated graphics differ as well: Intel HD 4600 on the i3-4360 versus Intel HD 630 on the Pentium G4600.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data spans five Cinebench tests, and the i3-4360 wins all five, but by margins so narrow they could easily be attributed to run-to-run variation. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i3-4360 scores 310 against 309 for the Pentium G4600, a 0.3% lead. The R20 multi-core test shows a similar story: 1294 versus 1289, a 0.4% difference. The largest relative gap appears in R20 single-core, where the i3-4360 leads 182 to 181, a 0.6% margin. The R23 multi-core test shows 3082 versus 3070 (0.4%), and R23 single-core shows 435 versus 433 (0.5%). In all cases, the winner is the i3-4360, with a total win tally of 5 for the i3-4360 and 0 for the Pentium G4600.

These results suggest that the i3-4360's higher base clock (3.70 GHz versus 3.60 GHz for the Pentium G4600) and larger L3 cache provide a marginal advantage over the Pentium's newer architecture. The 0.1 GHz clock difference translates to roughly a 2.8% raw frequency advantage for the i3-4360, yet the actual benchmark deltas are far smaller, indicating that the Kaby Lake architecture of the Pentium G4600 is more efficient per clock. The Pentium's superior IPC likely narrows the gap created by the clock deficit, but it is not enough to overcome it in these tests.

When compared to their nearest rivals, both processors sit in a tight cluster. The i3-4360's average score of 1061 matches the AMD Opteron 4376 HE exactly (0% delta), while it is 0.1% behind the Intel Core i5-4570TE and 0.2% ahead of the AMD FX-8320E. The Pentium G4600's average of 1056 is 0.1% behind the Intel Core i7-2760QM, 0.2% behind the AMD Ryzen 5 2500U, and 0.2% behind the Intel Core i3-4350. Interestingly, the AMD FX-8320E appears as a rival for both, sitting 0.2% above the i3-4360 and 0.3% above the Pentium G4600, reinforcing that these two Intel parts are effectively peers.

The Verdict

The data paints a clear picture: the Intel Core i3-4360 and Intel Pentium G4600 are functionally equivalent in compute performance, with the i3-4360 holding a statistically insignificant lead across every benchmark. The i3-4360 wins by 0.3% to 0.6% depending on the test, but these margins are smaller than typical run-to-run variance in Cinebench. Neither processor has a meaningful performance advantage over the other.

The decision between them, therefore, comes down to platform-level factors rather than raw speed. The i3-4360 uses the older Socket 1150 with DDR3 memory, while the Pentium G4600 uses Socket 1151 with DDR4 and a higher memory bandwidth (38.4 GB/s). The Pentium G4600 is also newer (2017 release versus 2014) and is listed as active in production, which may affect availability. The i3-4360 has a slight cache advantage (4 MB versus 3 MB L3) and a 0.1 GHz higher base clock, but the Pentium's 14 nm process node offers better efficiency (51W TDP versus 54W). For a user choosing between these two, the Pentium G4600 offers a more modern platform with DDR4 support, while the i3-4360 holds a marginal performance edge that is unlikely to be perceptible in practice.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i3-4360 | Intel Pentium G4600 |

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

| Base Clock | 3.70 GHz | 3.60 GHz |

| TDP | 54 W | 51 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1150 | Intel Socket 1151 |

| Architecture | Haswell | Kaby Lake |

| Process Node | 22 nm | 14 nm |

| Transistors | 1,400 million | Not listed |

| Die Size | 177 mm² | Not listed |

| L3 Cache | 4 MB (shared) | 3 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR3 | DDR4 |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not listed | 38.4 GB/s |

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

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 4600 | Intel HD 630 |

| Release Date | 2014-04-30 | 2017-01-02 |

| Production Status | Not listed | Active |

| Part Number | Not listed | SR35F |

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i3-4360 wins in every benchmark category where data exists, making it the stronger choice for pure compute tasks as measured by Cinebench. Its 0.3% to 0.6% leads in multi-core and single-core tests, while small, are consistent across all five benchmarks. The i3-4360 also has a larger L3 cache (4 MB versus 3 MB), which could benefit workloads with larger working sets that fit in cache.

The Intel Pentium G4600 wins in platform-level features. It supports DDR4 memory with a documented 38.4 GB/s bandwidth, which is a more modern and faster memory standard than the DDR3 used by the i3-4360. Its 14 nm process node provides lower power consumption (51W versus 54W TDP), which could translate to lower system heat and potentially quieter operation. The Pentium G4600 also features the newer Intel HD 630 integrated graphics, which likely offers better media and display capabilities than the HD 4600 in the i3-4360, though no graphics benchmarks are provided to quantify this. Its newer release date (2017 versus 2014) and active production status suggest it may be easier to source for new builds, and the Socket 1151 platform offers a more contemporary upgrade path than the older Socket 1150. For users building a new system with DDR4 memory, the Pentium G4600 is the more forward-looking choice despite its slight benchmark deficit.