Intel Core i3-4370 vs Intel Core i7-2600S Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data presents a clear picture: the Intel Core i7-2600S wins every recorded head-to-head test against the Intel Core i3-4370. Across five Cinebench comparisons, the older Sandy Bridge chip outperforms the newer Haswell part by margins between 19.7% and 20.1%. For multi-threaded workloads, the i7-2600S holds a substantial advantage, scoring 396 versus 330 in Cinebench R15 multi-core, a 20% lead. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i7-2600S posts 3933 against 3284, a 19.8% gap.

The i7-2600S is the pick for users running heavily threaded applications, rendering tasks, or any workload that can exploit its 8 threads. Its 4 cores and 8 threads give it a structural edge over the i3-4370's 2 cores and 4 threads. Even in single-core tests, the i7-2600S leads, scoring 555 in Cinebench R23 single-core versus 463 for the i3-4370, a 19.9% difference. This suggests the i7-2600S's boost clock of 3.80 GHz, despite its older architecture, delivers strong per-thread performance.

The i3-4370, while losing every benchmark, is not without merit. It operates at a 54W TDP versus 65W for the i7-2600S, making it a more power-efficient choice for compact or thermally constrained systems. It also features Intel HD 4600 integrated graphics, a more capable iGPU than the i7-2600S's Intel HD 2000. Users prioritizing lower power draw or better integrated graphics over raw compute should consider the i3-4370.

However, for pure processing performance, the data is unambiguous: the i7-2600S wins all five head-to-head benchmarks, and its average benchmark score of 1146 exceeds the i3-4370's 1130. The i7-2600S also commands a higher percentile rank relative to all CPUs, though both sit at the 32nd percentile. The verdict is straightforward: the i7-2600S is the faster processor in every measured test, while the i3-4370 offers a lower TDP and superior integrated graphics.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations and manufacturing nodes. The Intel Core i7-2600S is built on Sandy Bridge, a 32 nm process, while the Intel Core i3-4370 uses Haswell, a 22 nm process. This node difference matters: the i3-4370 packs 1,400 million transistors onto a 177 mm² die, whereas the i7-2600S has 1,160 million transistors on a larger 216 mm² die. The newer 22 nm process allows the i3-4370 to achieve higher transistor density despite fewer cores.

Core and thread counts differ significantly. The i7-2600S has 4 physical cores with 8 threads, enabling simultaneous multithreading. The i3-4370 has 2 physical cores with 4 threads, also supporting hyper-threading but with half the physical core count. Cache configurations mirror this disparity: the i7-2600S has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i3-4370 has 4 MB. Both share identical L1 and L2 cache sizes of 64 KB and 256 KB per core, respectively.

Clock speeds present a nuanced picture. The i7-2600S runs at a base clock of 2.80 GHz with a boost clock of 3.80 GHz. The i3-4370 has a higher base clock of 3.80 GHz but no boost clock, meaning it runs at a fixed frequency. The i7-2600S's dynamic boost allows it to reach the same 3.80 GHz as the i3-4370's static clock, but the i7-2600S can lower its clock when idle to save power.

Memory support is similar: both use DDR3 with a dual-channel memory bus, and neither supports ECC memory. PCIe connectivity differs slightly: the i7-2600S lists "Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only)" while the i3-4370 simply lists "Gen 3" without lane specifics. Integrated graphics are a clear differentiator: the i7-2600S has Intel HD 2000, while the i3-4370 has Intel HD 4600, a more advanced GPU.

Sockets and platforms are incompatible. The i7-2600S uses Intel Socket 1155, while the i3-4370 uses Intel Socket 1150. This means they cannot be swapped in the same motherboard. The i7-2600S was released earlier, on 2011-01-08, and is marked end-of-life, whereas the i3-4370 launched on 2014-07-20 and has no production status listed. Both are desktop processors, neither has an unlocked multiplier, and neither has a launch MSRP in the database.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core i7-2600S wins every multi-core test. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 396 against 330 for the i3-4370, a 20% lead. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i7-2600S scores 3933 versus 3284, a 19.8% advantage.

Q: Does the i3-4370 win any benchmark?

A: No. The head-to-head data shows 5 wins for the i7-2600S and 0 wins for the i3-4370 across all recorded Cinebench tests, including both multi-core and single-core variants.

Q: How do their power requirements compare?

A: The i3-4370 has a lower TDP of 54W, while the i7-2600S has a TDP of 65W. This makes the i3-4370 more power-efficient, which could benefit systems with limited cooling or power budgets.

Q: Are these processors compatible with the same motherboard?

A: No. The i7-2600S uses Intel Socket 1155, while the i3-4370 uses Intel Socket 1150. They are not interchangeable.

Q: Which has better integrated graphics?

A: The i3-4370 features Intel HD 4600, which is a more capable integrated GPU than the Intel HD 2000 found in the i7-2600S. Users relying on iGPU output would prefer the i3-4370.

Q: How do their single-core scores compare?

A: The i7-2600S leads in single-core tests as well. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 555 against 463 for the i3-4370, a 19.9% difference. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the i7-2600S scores 233 versus 194, a 20.1% lead.

Specification Differences

The table below highlights only the fields where the two processors differ.

| Field | Intel Core i7-2600S | Intel Core i3-4370 |

| :--- | :--- | :--- |

| Cores | 4 | 2 |

| Threads | 8 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 2.80 GHz | 3.80 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.80 GHz | None |

| TDP | 65W | 54W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1155 | Intel Socket 1150 |

| Architecture | Sandy Bridge | Haswell |

| Codename | Sandy Bridge | Haswell |

| Generation | Core i7 (Sandy Bridge) | Core i3 (Haswell) |

| Process Node | 32 nm | 22 nm |

| Transistors | 1,160 million | 1,400 million |

| Die Size | 216 mm² | 177 mm² |

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

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

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 2000 | Intel HD 4600 |

| Release Date | 2011-01-08 | 2014-07-20 |

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

| Part Number | SR00E | Not listed |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded head-to-head data covers five Cinebench tests, and the Intel Core i7-2600S wins all of them. The largest margin comes in Cinebench R20 single-core, where the i7-2600S scores 233 against 194 for the i3-4370, a 20.1% difference. This result is notable because the i3-4370 has a higher base clock of 3.80 GHz with no boost, while the i7-2600S starts at 2.80 GHz and boosts to 3.80 GHz. The i7-2600S's older Sandy Bridge architecture still manages to outpace the Haswell chip in per-thread performance.

Multi-core tests show similarly consistent leads. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i7-2600S scores 396 versus 330, a 20% advantage. This margin reflects the i7-2600S's double core count: 4 cores and 8 threads versus 2 cores and 4 threads. The i3-4370's higher base clock cannot compensate for having half the physical cores. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the i7-2600S scores 1651 against 1379, a 19.7% lead, and in Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i7-2600S scores 3933 versus 3284, a 19.8% margin.

The single-core results are tighter in absolute terms but still favor the i7-2600S. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the i7-2600S scores 555 against 463, a 19.9% lead. The i7-2600S's boost clock of 3.80 GHz matches the i3-4370's fixed 3.80 GHz clock, yet the i7-2600S still pulls ahead, suggesting architectural efficiency in Sandy Bridge's single-thread execution.

Average benchmark scores reinforce the pattern. The i7-2600S has an average benchmark score of 1146, while the i3-4370 averages 1130. Both processors sit at the 32nd percentile among all CPUs, but the i7-2600S's nearest rivals include the AMD Opteron 4284 at an identical 1146 score, and the Intel Core i5-4430 at 1149, a 0.3% difference. The i3-4370's nearest rival is the Intel Pentium Gold G5500 at 1130, with the Intel Core i5-4690T at 1129, a 0.1% gap. These proximity scores show that while the i7-2600S edges out the i3-4370 in average performance, both occupy a similar performance tier relative to the broader CPU market.

The data shows no scenario where the i3-4370 overtakes the i7-2600S in compute performance. The i7-2600S's advantages in core count, thread count, and shared cache size (8 MB versus 4 MB) provide a structural performance lead that the i3-4370's newer process node and higher base clock cannot overcome. The i3-4370's only clear advantages are its lower 54W TDP and superior Intel HD 4600 integrated graphics, neither of which appears in the benchmark scores. For users who prioritize raw processing power, the i7-2600S is the definitive choice based on the recorded data.