Intel Core i3-6320 vs Intel Core i5-4440S Comparison

The Intel Core i3-6320 and Intel Core i5-4440S occupy the same performance tier according to aggregate data, yet they achieve it through fundamentally different designs. The i3-6320 is a Skylake part with 2 cores and 4 threads, while the i5-4440S is a Haswell part with 4 physical cores and no hyper-threading. Their average benchmark scores are nearly identical, with the i3-6320 posting 1085 and the i5-4440S posting 1078, a difference of less than 1%. Both processors sit at the 30th percentile among all CPUs, placing them squarely in the same performance class despite their architectural divergence.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head benchmark data is remarkably consistent: the Intel Core i3-6320 wins all six comparisons, but by margins that are almost negligible. Across the Cinebench suite, the largest victory for the i3-6320 comes in the R15 single-core test, where it scores 53 against the i5-4440S’s 52, a 1.9% advantage. The smallest margin is a 0.6% lead in both the R20 multi-core and R23 multi-core tests, where the i3-6320 scores 1576 versus 1566 and 3753 versus 3729, respectively.

The single-core results consistently favor the i3-6320. In R15 single-core, the i3-6320 leads by 1.9%; in R20 single-core, it scores 222 against 220, a 0.9% edge; and in R23 single-core, it scores 529 against 526, a 0.6% margin. These wins align with the i3-6320’s higher base clock of 3.90 GHz compared to the i5-4440S’s 2.80 GHz base and 3.30 GHz boost.

Multi-core results show a tighter race, which is expected given the i5-4440S has twice the physical core count. In R15 multi-core, the i3-6320 scores 378 against 375, a 0.8% lead; in R20 multi-core, the margin shrinks to 0.6%; and in R23 multi-core, it remains at 0.6%. The i5-4440S’s four physical cores nearly compensate for the i3-6320’s higher clock speed and hyper-threading, but not quite enough to take a single win.

The overall win tally is 6-0 in favor of the i3-6320, yet the average benchmark margin across all tests is under 1%. This is not a decisive victory; it is a statistical tie broken by a slight but consistent edge for the newer architecture. The i3-6320’s nearest rivals, such as the Intel Core i5-2450P with an average score of 1086, are within 0.2% of its score, confirming that this performance level is crowded territory.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i3-6320 wins every single-core benchmark. It leads by 1.9% in Cinebench R15 single-core (53 vs 52), 0.9% in R20 single-core (222 vs 220), and 0.6% in R23 single-core (529 vs 526).

Q: Does the i5-4440S’s four-core design give it a multi-core advantage?

A: No. Despite having four physical cores versus the i3-6320’s two, the i5-4440S loses all three multi-core benchmarks. The i3-6320 leads by 0.8% in R15 multi-core (378 vs 375), 0.6% in R20 multi-core (1576 vs 1566), and 0.6% in R23 multi-core (3753 vs 3729).

Q: What are the average benchmark scores for each processor?

A: The i3-6320 has an average benchmark score of 1085, while the i5-4440S has an average of 1078. This puts the i3-6320 0.6% higher on aggregate.

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

A: The i3-6320’s closest rival is the Intel Core i5-3350P with an average score of 1088, a -0.2% difference. The i5-4440S’s nearest rival is the Intel Core i5-3335S with an average score of 1083, a -0.4% difference. Both are within a fraction of a percent of their competition.

Q: Which processor has the higher base clock speed?

A: The i3-6320 has a base clock of 3.90 GHz, which is significantly higher than the i5-4440S’s 2.80 GHz base clock. The i5-4440S does have a boost clock of 3.30 GHz, but the i3-6320 has no boost capability.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory type?

A: No. The i3-6320 supports DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus and 34.1 GB/s bandwidth, while the i5-4440S supports DDR3 memory with a dual-channel bus and no listed bandwidth figure.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations and manufacturing processes. The i3-6320 is built on Skylake architecture using a 14 nm process node, while the i5-4440S is built on Haswell architecture using a 22 nm process node. Both are manufactured by Intel and both have a transistor count of 1,400 million, but the die sizes differ: the i3-6320 has a die size of 150 mm², while the i5-4440S has a larger die at 177 mm². The smaller process node allows the i3-6320 to fit similar transistor counts into a smaller area.

Cache configurations differ notably. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, but the shared L3 cache is different: the i3-6320 has 4 MB shared L3, while the i5-4440S has 6 MB shared L3. The larger L3 cache on the i5-4440S partially compensates for its lower clock speeds and older architecture.

Memory support is a major architectural split. The i3-6320 supports DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus and a memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s. The i5-4440S supports DDR3 memory with a dual-channel bus and no memory bandwidth figure specified. Neither processor supports ECC memory. PCIe support also differs: the i3-6320 offers Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i5-4440S offers Gen 3 without specifying lane count.

The integrated graphics differ as well. The i3-6320 includes Intel HD 530, while the i5-4440S includes Intel HD 4600. Both are desktop processors with locked multipliers, meaning neither can be overclocked. The i3-6320 uses the Intel Socket 1151, while the i5-4440S uses the Intel Socket 1150, making them incompatible with the same motherboards.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts are the most obvious difference. The i3-6320 has 2 cores and 4 threads, while the i5-4440S has 4 cores and 4 threads. This means the i3-6320 relies on hyper-threading to reach 4 threads, while the i5-4440S has four physical cores with no hyper-threading.

Clock speeds diverge substantially. The i3-6320 has a base clock of 3.90 GHz with no boost clock, while the i5-4440S has a base clock of 2.80 GHz and a boost clock of 3.30 GHz. The i3-6320’s base clock is 1.10 GHz higher than the i5-4440S’s base clock, and it remains higher than the i5-4440S’s boost clock by 0.60 GHz.

Thermal design power differs by 14 watts. The i3-6320 has a TDP of 51 watts, while the i5-4440S has a TDP of 65 watts. Socket compatibility is exclusive: the i3-6320 uses Socket 1151, and the i5-4440S uses Socket 1150. The L3 cache differs as noted, with the i3-6320 at 4 MB and the i5-4440S at 6 MB.

Memory support is exclusive per processor: DDR4 for the i3-6320 and DDR3 for the i5-4440S. The i3-6320 lists a memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s, while the i5-4440S has no bandwidth figure. The process node and die size also differ, with the i3-6320 at 14 nm and 150 mm², and the i5-4440S at 22 nm and 177 mm².

Release dates are two years apart. The i3-6320 was released on 2015-08-31, while the i5-4440S was released on 2013-08-31. The i3-6320 has a production status of Active, while the i5-4440S has no production status listed. Their part numbers are SR2H9 for the i3-6320 and SR14L for the i5-4440S.

Where Each One Wins

The i3-6320 wins every benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, so it claims all six victories. Its strengths lie in single-core performance, where it leads by margins ranging from 0.6% to 1.9%. The higher base clock of 3.90 GHz gives it a clear advantage in lightly-threaded workloads, as evidenced by its consistent wins in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 single-core tests. It also holds a slight edge in multi-core tests despite having fewer physical cores, which suggests that its newer Skylake architecture and higher clock speed offset the i5-4440S’s core count advantage.

The i5-4440S does not win a single benchmark, but its performance is close enough to be considered competitive. In multi-core tests, the i5-4440S trails by only 0.6% to 0.8%, which is within the margin of run-to-run variation. Its four physical cores and larger 6 MB L3 cache keep it competitive in multi-threaded scenarios, even though it ultimately falls short. The i5-4440S’s lower base clock of 2.80 GHz is a handicap in single-core tests, but its boost clock of 3.30 GHz helps narrow the gap.

For use cases, the i3-6320 is better suited to applications that favor single-core performance, such as older games or lightly-threaded productivity tasks. The i5-4440S would be more appropriate for workloads that scale with physical cores, though the data shows it does not outperform the i3-6320 in any tested scenario. Neither processor is unlocked, so overclocking is not an option for either.

The Verdict

The data paints a clear picture: the Intel Core i3-6320 is the superior processor in this comparison, winning all six head-to-head benchmarks and posting a higher average score of 1085 versus 1078. The margins are slim, almost uniformly under 1%, but they are consistent across every test. The i3-6320’s advantages in clock speed (3.90 GHz base vs 2.80 GHz base) and newer 14 nm Skylake architecture overcome the i5-4440S’s advantages in core count (4 vs 2) and L3 cache size (6 MB vs 4 MB).

Buyers should choose the i3-6320 if they prioritize single-core performance, lower power consumption (51 watts vs 65 watts), or DDR4 memory support. The i5-4440S is only the right choice if the platform matters more than performance: it requires Socket 1150 and DDR3, which may be available at lower cost in existing systems. However, on pure benchmark data, the i3-6320 wins every test. The i5-4440S’s four physical cores do not translate into a single benchmark victory, making the i3-6320 the default pick from a performance standpoint. Both processors are at the 30th percentile of all CPUs, so neither is a high-performance part, but within this matchup, the i3-6320 is decisively ahead.