Intel Core i3-7100T vs Intel Core i5-4430S Comparison

The Intel Core i5-4430S and Intel Core i3-7100T represent two distinct approaches to low-power desktop computing, separated by nearly four years of architectural evolution. The i5-4430S is a 65W Haswell quad-core from mid-2013, while the i3-7100T is a 35W Kaby Lake dual-core with Hyper-Threading from early 2017. Benchmark data shows these processors land within 1.3% of each other in average score, yet their performance profiles are sharply different, with the older chip dominating multi-threaded workloads and the newer chip taking single-threaded honors.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking pattern in the head-to-head results is the i5-4430S’s consistent multi-core advantage. Across four different Cinebench versions, the Haswell part wins by nearly identical margins. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-4430S scores 373 against the i3-7100T’s 319, a 16.9% lead. That same 16.9% delta appears in Cinebench R20 multi-core (1558 vs 1333) and Cinebench R23 multi-core (3710 vs 3175). The uniformity of these margins suggests a fixed structural advantage—likely the two additional physical cores—rather than any workload-specific optimization. The Geekbench multi-core test shows an even larger gap: 2773 for the i5-4430S versus 2230 for the i3-7100T, a 24.3% difference. This is the single biggest win for either processor in the entire comparison.

Single-threaded results tell the opposite story, though with less magnitude. The i3-7100T wins Geekbench single-core with 1111 points against the i5-4430S’s 980, an 11.8% margin. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the i5-4430S actually wins 219 to 188, a 16.5% lead, and in Cinebench R23 single-core it extends that to 523 versus 448, a 16.7% margin. This is a curious inversion: the newer Kaby Lake part wins the Geekbench single-thread test decisively, yet loses both Cinebench single-thread tests by even larger margins. The data suggests the i3-7100T’s higher 3.40GHz base clock helps in certain lightly-threaded scenarios, but the i5-4430S’s 3.20GHz boost clock combined with its architecture delivers better peak single-core performance in Cinebench’s rendering workload.

The overall win tally is lopsided: the i5-4430S wins 6 of 7 head-to-head benchmarks. Looking at the average benchmark scores, the i5-4430S posts 1274 against the i3-7100T’s 1258, a difference of roughly 1.3%. Both processors sit in the same performance tier—the i5-4430S ranks at the 35th percentile of all CPUs, while the i3-7100T sits at the 34th percentile. The nearest rival for the i5-4430S is the Intel Atom x7425E at 1273 (0.1% behind), while the i3-7100T’s closest competitor is the Intel Core i7-3615QM at 1260 (0.2% ahead). Interestingly, both CPUs share a common rival in the Intel Xeon W-2102, which scores 1264 and sits within 0.8% of the i5-4430S and 0.5% of the i3-7100T.

The Verdict

The choice between these two processors depends entirely on workload type. For multi-threaded rendering, video encoding, or any task that scales across cores, the Intel Core i5-4430S is the clear pick. Its 16.9% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 24.3% advantage in Geekbench multi-core are substantial, consistent margins that reflect its four physical cores versus the i3-7100T’s two cores with four threads. The i5-4430S also edges ahead in average benchmark score at 1274 versus 1258, and it wins 6 of 7 direct comparisons.

The Intel Core i3-7100T wins only the Geekbench single-core test, with an 11.8% margin (1111 vs 980). This makes it the better option for lightly-threaded applications that favor raw clock speed or IPC improvements from the newer Kaby Lake architecture. However, its losses in Cinebench single-core tests—16.5% and 16.7% respectively—undermine its case as a general single-thread champion. The i3-7100T does offer a much lower 35W TDP compared to 65W, which could be decisive for compact or fanless builds, but that is a power consideration rather than a performance one.

Strictly from benchmark data, the i5-4430S is the superior processor in most scenarios. Its multi-core dominance is broad and consistent, and it even wins both Cinebench single-core tests. The i3-7100T’s sole victory in Geekbench single-core is notable but insufficient to overturn the overall performance picture. Users who prioritize multi-threaded throughput should choose the i5-4430S without hesitation. Users who need maximum single-thread performance in Geekbench-style workloads and value the lower power envelope may prefer the i3-7100T, but they should be aware that Cinebench single-thread results contradict that preference.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core i5-4430S wins all four multi-core benchmarks. It leads by 16.9% in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core, and by 24.3% in Geekbench multi-core.

Q: Does the i3-7100T win any benchmark?

A: Yes, it wins Geekbench single-core with a score of 1111 versus 980 for the i5-4430S, an 11.8% margin. This is its only victory in seven head-to-head tests.

Q: How do the two processors compare in average benchmark score?

A: The i5-4430S averages 1274 points, while the i3-7100T averages 1258 points. The i5-4430S is approximately 1.3% higher.

Q: What is the core and thread configuration of each?

A: The i5-4430S has 4 cores and 4 threads. The i3-7100T has 2 cores and 4 threads, using Hyper-Threading to reach the same thread count.

Q: Which processor has the higher clock speed?

A: The i3-7100T has a base clock of 3.40GHz with no boost clock listed. The i5-4430S has a base clock of 2.70GHz and a boost clock of 3.20GHz.

Q: How does the i5-4430S compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The i5-4430S’s closest rival is the Intel Atom x7425E at 1273 points, which is 0.1% behind. It also sits 0.2% ahead of the Intel Core i5-4670T and 0.7% ahead of the Intel Core i3-1005G1.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every fundamental specification. Core count is the most obvious difference: the i5-4430S has 4 cores, while the i3-7100T has 2 cores. Both have 4 threads. Base clocks differ significantly, with the i3-7100T running at 3.40GHz compared to the i5-4430S’s 2.70GHz. The i5-4430S has a boost clock of 3.20GHz; the i3-7100T has no boost clock listed. TDP is another major split: 65W for the i5-4430S versus 35W for the i3-7100T.

The socket and memory platform are entirely different generations. The i5-4430S uses Intel Socket 1150, while the i3-7100T uses Intel Socket 1151. Memory support follows the platform: the i5-4430S supports DDR3, and the i3-7100T supports DDR4. Both have dual-channel memory buses, but the i3-7100T lists a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, while the i5-4430S has no bandwidth figure. Cache sizes also differ: the i5-4430S has 6 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i3-7100T has 3 MB. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core.

Integrated graphics differ as well, with the i5-4430S featuring Intel HD 4600 and the i3-7100T featuring Intel HD 630. PCIe support is Gen 3 for both, though the i3-7100T specifies 16 lanes (CPU only). The i5-4430S has a part number of SR14M, and the i3-7100T is SR35P. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, and neither supports ECC memory.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these processors spans two generations of Intel design. The i5-4430S is built on the Haswell architecture, while the i3-7100T uses Kaby Lake. This is reflected in their process nodes: 22 nm for the i5-4430S versus 14 nm for the i3-7100T. The i5-4430S has a die size of 177 mm² and contains 1,400 million transistors; the i3-7100T has no listed die size or transistor count. The i5-4430S’s generation is listed as "Core i5 (Haswell)," while the i3-7100T is "Core i3 (Kaby Lake)."

Release dates are separated by roughly three and a half years, with the i5-4430S launching on 2013-06-01 and the i3-7100T on 2017-01-02. The i3-7100T is marked as "Active" in production status, while the i5-4430S has no production status listed. Manufacturing is by Intel for both, and both target the desktop market segment.

The core-level architecture is similar in per-core cache structure—both have 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core—but the shared L3 cache is halved on the i3-7100T at 3 MB versus 6 MB. This reduction is consistent with the i3-7100T having only two physical cores. The i3-7100T’s memory bandwidth advantage of 38.4 GB/s reflects its DDR4 support, whereas the i5-4430S’s DDR3 support has no bandwidth figure listed. The integrated graphics difference (HD 4600 vs HD 630) also points to the newer iGPU generation in the Kaby Lake part. These architectural changes explain the i3-7100T’s single-thread Geekbench win, but they do not compensate for the two-core deficit in multi-threaded workloads.