Intel Core i3-4370 vs Intel Pentium Gold G5500 Comparison

The Intel Pentium Gold G5500 and Intel Core i3-4370 are two desktop processors from different eras, yet benchmark results place them in a dead heat. Both CPUs achieve an average benchmark score of 1130, and their nearest rival lists are nearly identical, with the Core i5-4690T at 1129 (0.1% delta) and the Core i3-10110U at 1131 (-0.1% delta). The data shows that in every recorded test, the G5500 wins by a margin of 0% or a single point, making the performance difference statistically negligible.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark suite reveals a remarkably consistent picture. In Cinebench R15 multicore, both processors score exactly 330, a perfect tie. The same pattern holds in Cinebench R20 multicore, where both hit 1379, and in Cinebench R20 singlecore, where both register 194. These identical scores indicate that for multi-threaded workloads at the R15 and R20 levels, the two chips are functionally interchangeable.

The only divergence appears in Cinebench R23 multicore, where the Pentium Gold G5500 scores 3285 against the Core i3-4370’s 3284. This 1-point difference yields a deltaPct of 0, meaning the margin is within rounding error. In Cinebench R23 singlecore, both processors again record 463. Across all five benchmark tests, the G5500 is listed as the winner, but the deltas are uniformly 0%, which is not a meaningful performance advantage.

Looking at the broader context, both processors sit at the 32nd percentile among all CPUs. Their nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-4690T (avg score 1129, deltaPct 0.1) and the Intel Core i7-3612QM (avg score 1129, deltaPct 0.1). The Pentium Gold G5500 also matches the Core i3-10110U (avg score 1131, deltaPct -0.1) within a single point. This clustering suggests that the G5500 and i3-4370 are not just similar to each other, but occupy a tight performance band alongside several other four-thread desktop and mobile chips.

Architecture Differences

The underlying architectures could hardly be more different. The Pentium Gold G5500 is built on Coffee Lake, a 14 nm process, with a die size of 126 mm². The Core i3-4370 uses Haswell, fabricated on a 22 nm node, with a die size of 177 mm² and 1,400 million transistors. Despite the older process, the i3-4370’s larger die and higher transistor count do not translate into better performance in the tested workloads.

Both CPUs feature 2 cores and 4 threads, with a base clock of 3.80 GHz and no boost clock. The cache hierarchy is identical: 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3. The thermal design power is also the same at 54 watts. The key differences lie in platform support and integrated graphics. The G5500 uses the Intel Socket 1151, supports DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus and 38.4 GB/s bandwidth, and includes UHD Graphics 630. The i3-4370 uses the Intel Socket 1150, supports DDR3 memory (with no bandwidth figure listed), and includes Intel HD 4600 graphics.

ECC memory support is another differentiator: the Pentium Gold G5500 supports ECC, while the Core i3-4370 does not. PCIe connectivity also differs slightly, with the G5500 listing Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i3-4370 lists simply Gen 3 without specifying lane count. The G5500’s 14 nm process node gives it a manufacturing advantage, but the measured performance does not reflect this, as both chips are locked to the same clock speed and thread count.

The Verdict

From a pure performance standpoint, there is no winner. Both processors deliver an average benchmark score of 1130, and the head-to-head results show deltas of 0% across the board. The Pentium Gold G5500 wins all five individual benchmark comparisons, but the largest margin is a single point in Cinebench R23 multicore. Any user choosing between these two based on raw compute would see no practical difference in Cinebench workloads.

The decision then falls to platform features. The G5500 offers newer memory support (DDR4), a higher memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, ECC capability, and a more modern integrated GPU (UHD Graphics 630). The i3-4370 counters with the older but larger Haswell architecture, DDR3 support, and HD 4600 graphics. The G5500 also has a listed launch MSRP of $75, while the i3-4370 has no launch MSRP in the data. For a new build, the G5500’s platform advantages in memory and ECC support make it the more forward-looking choice, despite the performance parity.

FAQ

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

A: Both processors score exactly 463 in Cinebench R23 singlecore and 194 in Cinebench R20 singlecore. The head-to-head data lists the Pentium Gold G5500 as the winner, but the deltaPct is 0%, indicating identical performance.

Q: Do these CPUs support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the Intel Pentium Gold G5500 supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i3-4370 does not support ECC memory.

Q: What memory types do the two processors use?

A: The Pentium Gold G5500 supports DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus and 38.4 GB/s bandwidth. The Core i3-4370 supports DDR3 memory, also dual-channel, with no bandwidth figure listed.

Q: How many cores and threads does each CPU have?

A: Both the Pentium Gold G5500 and the Core i3-4370 have 2 cores and 4 threads.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each processor?

A: Both the Pentium Gold G5500 and the Core i3-4370 have an average benchmark score of 1130. They also both sit at the 32nd percentile among all CPUs.

Q: Which processor has a smaller manufacturing process?

A: The Pentium Gold G5500 is built on a 14 nm process, while the Core i3-4370 uses a 22 nm process. The G5500 also has a smaller die size of 126 mm² compared to the i3-4370’s 177 mm².

Where Each One Wins

The Pentium Gold G5500 wins in every recorded benchmark, but only by a margin of 0% except for a single point in Cinebench R23 multicore. Its practical wins come from platform features rather than compute. It supports DDR4 memory with a stated bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, which is a newer standard than the i3-4370’s DDR3. It also offers ECC memory support, which the i3-4370 lacks, making it the only choice for systems requiring error-correcting memory. The integrated UHD Graphics 630 is a newer generation than the HD 4600, though no benchmark scores are provided for either GPU.

The Core i3-4370’s wins are less about performance and more about historical context. It is built on the Haswell architecture with a larger die (177 mm²) and 1,400 million transistors, which may appeal to users with existing Socket 1150 motherboards and DDR3 memory. However, the data does not show any benchmark where the i3-4370 outperforms the G5500. Its only advantage is the lack of a requirement to upgrade the platform for those already on Haswell, but this is a compatibility consideration, not a performance one.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several specification fields. The G5500 uses the Intel Socket 1151, while the i3-4370 uses the Intel Socket 1150. The architecture is Coffee Lake for the G5500 versus Haswell for the i3-4370. The process node is 14 nm for the G5500 and 22 nm for the i3-4370. The G5500 has a die size of 126 mm², while the i3-4370 has a die size of 177 mm² and 1,400 million transistors; the G5500 has no listed transistor count.

Memory support is a major difference: the G5500 supports DDR4 with a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, while the i3-4370 supports DDR3 with no listed bandwidth. ECC memory is supported on the G5500 but not on the i3-4370. PCIe is listed as Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only) for the G5500, and simply Gen 3 for the i3-4370. The integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 630 on the G5500 versus Intel HD 4600 on the i3-4370. The G5500 has a launch MSRP of $75 and a release date of 2018-04-01, while the i3-4370 has no launch MSRP and a release date of 2014-07-20. Both have identical cache sizes (L1 64 KB per core, L2 256 KB per core, L3 4 MB shared), base clocks (3.80 GHz), TDPs (54 W), core counts (2), and thread counts (4). The G5500 has a part number of SR3YD, while the i3-4370 has no listed part number.