Intel Core i3-8109U vs Intel Core i5-4430S Comparison

The Intel Core i5-4430S and the Intel Core i3-8109U occupy different positions in the processor landscape, and the benchmark data reflects this clearly. The i5-4430S, a desktop part from the Haswell generation, holds a decisive advantage in multi-threaded workloads, while the i3-8109U, a mobile chip from the Kaby Lake era, excels in single-threaded performance. Across eight head-to-head benchmarks, the i5-4430S wins six, with the i3-8109U taking two. The overall average benchmark score for the i5-4430S is 1274, placing it in the 35th percentile of all CPUs, while the i3-8109U averages 1235 and sits in the 34th percentile. These are close overall positions, but the distribution of wins tells a more specific story.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-4430S is the clear winner in multi-core and multi-threaded tasks. Its four physical cores and four threads give it a structural advantage over the i3-8109U, which has two cores and four threads. The data shows this advantage across every multi-core benchmark recorded. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i5-4430S scores 373 against 357 for the i3-8109U, a 4.5% lead. In Cinebench R20 multicore, the margin is 1558 versus 1488, a 4.7% difference. The Cinebench R23 multicore test shows the same pattern: 3710 for the i5-4430S and 3544 for the i3-8109U, again a 4.7% gap. The Geekbench multicore result is the largest win for the i5-4430S, with a score of 2773 compared to 2454, a 13% advantage. These results indicate that the i5-4430S is the better choice for rendering, video encoding, compilation, and any workload that scales with core count.

The Intel Core i3-8109U wins decisively in single-threaded performance. Its base clock of 3.00 GHz and boost clock of 3.60 GHz, combined with the newer Kaby Lake architecture, produce significantly higher single-core scores. In Cinebench R15 singlecore, the i3-8109U scores 138.65 against just 52 for the i5-4430S, a 62.5% advantage. This is the largest delta in the entire head-to-head comparison. The Geekbench singlecore test also favors the i3-8109U, with a score of 1188 versus 980, a 17.5% lead. However, the Cinebench R20 and R23 singlecore tests tell a different story, with the i5-4430S winning by narrow margins: 219 versus 210 in R20 (4.3%) and 523 versus 500 in R23 (4.6%). This inconsistency suggests that the i3-8109U's single-thread lead is most pronounced in older or differently weighted workloads, while newer Cinebench versions show a slight edge for the i5-4430S.

The i3-8109U also has a major efficiency advantage. Its thermal design power is 28 watts, compared to 65 watts for the i5-4430S. This makes the i3-8109U far more suitable for compact, thermally constrained systems, while the i5-4430S requires a more robust cooling solution and power delivery.

The Verdict

For users prioritizing multi-threaded throughput, the Intel Core i5-4430S is the clear choice. It wins every multicore benchmark in the comparison, with margins ranging from 4.5% to 13%. Its four cores and 6 MB of shared L3 cache provide a solid foundation for parallel workloads, and its average benchmark score of 1274 is 3.2% higher than the i3-8109U's 1235. The i5-4430S is also in the 35th percentile of all CPUs, one point above the i3-8109U's 34th percentile. Anyone running rendering tasks, batch processing, or other multi-threaded applications should favor the i5-4430S based on this data.

For users who need strong single-threaded performance and low power consumption, the Intel Core i3-8109U is the better option. Its 138.65 score in Cinebench R15 singlecore is more than double the i5-4430S's 52, and its Geekbench singlecore score of 1188 is 17.5% higher. The 28 watt TDP makes it suitable for thin-and-light laptops or mini PCs where the 65 watt i5-4430S would be impractical. The i3-8109U's production status is listed as Active, while the i5-4430S has no production status listed, indicating the i3-8109U is more readily available for new designs.

There is no universal winner. The i5-4430S is the superior processor for multi-core workloads, while the i3-8109U offers better single-thread performance in older tests, a newer architecture, and dramatically lower power consumption. The choice depends entirely on the workload and the platform.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single victory belongs to the i3-8109U in Cinebench R15 singlecore. The i3-8109U scores 138.65, while the i5-4430S manages only 52, a 62.5% deficit for the i5. This is an enormous gap and indicates that the i3-8109U's higher clock speeds and newer microarchitecture deliver far better performance in this particular test. The i3-8109U also wins Geekbench singlecore by 17.5%, scoring 1188 against 980.

The i5-4430S dominates everywhere else. In Geekbench multicore, it scores 2773 versus 2454, a 13% lead. This is its largest margin of victory. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the i5-4430S wins 3710 to 3544, a 4.7% margin. Cinebench R20 multicore shows 1558 versus 1488, also 4.7%. Cinebench R15 multicore is closer, 373 versus 357, a 4.5% lead. Surprisingly, the i5-4430S also wins the newer single-core tests: Cinebench R20 singlecore 219 versus 210 (4.3%) and Cinebench R23 singlecore 523 versus 500 (4.6%). This means the i3-8109U's single-thread advantage is not universal across all benchmark versions.

The overall win count is 6 for the i5-4430S and 2 for the i3-8109U. The i5-4430S wins all four Cinebench multicore tests, both Cinebench R20 and R23 singlecore tests, and Geekbench multicore. The i3-8109U wins Cinebench R15 singlecore and Geekbench singlecore. The pattern is clear: the i5-4430S is more consistent and wins the majority of tests, while the i3-8109U has two standout single-thread results.

In terms of average benchmark score, the i5-4430S scores 1274, which is 39 points higher than the i3-8109U's 1235, a 3.2% difference. The nearest rivals for the i5-4430S include the Intel Atom x7425E at 1273 (0.1% behind), the Intel Core i5-4670T at 1271 (0.2% behind), and the Intel Core i3-1005G1 at 1265 (0.7% behind). The i3-8109U's nearest rivals include the Intel Pentium Gold G6600 at 1235 (0% difference) and the Intel Xeon E3-1235L v5 at 1232 (0.2% behind). These reference points show both processors are in a similar performance tier, but the i5-4430S has a slight edge in aggregate.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i5-4430S has an average benchmark score of 1274, compared to 1235 for the Intel Core i3-8109U. This represents a 3.2% difference.

Q: How many benchmarks does each processor win in the head-to-head comparison?

A: The Intel Core i5-4430S wins 6 benchmarks, while the Intel Core i3-8109U wins 2. The i5-4430S wins all multicore tests and the newer single-core Cinebench tests, while the i3-8109U wins Cinebench R15 singlecore and Geekbench singlecore.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two processors?

A: The largest gap is in Cinebench R15 singlecore, where the Intel Core i3-8109U scores 138.65 against 52 for the Intel Core i5-4430S, a 62.5% advantage for the i3-8109U.

Q: Which processor consumes less power?

A: The Intel Core i3-8109U has a thermal design power of 28 watts, while the Intel Core i5-4430S has a TDP of 65 watts. The i3-8109U is the lower-power part.

Q: How do the two processors compare in Geekbench multicore?

A: The Intel Core i5-4430S scores 2773 in Geekbench multicore, while the Intel Core i3-8109U scores 2454, giving the i5-4430S a 13% lead. This is the i5-4430S's largest margin of victory in any benchmark.

Q: Are these processors in the same performance percentile?

A: They are very close. The Intel Core i5-4430S is in the 35th percentile of all CPUs, while the Intel Core i3-8109U is in the 34th percentile.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations. The Intel Core i5-4430S is built on the Haswell architecture with a codename of Haswell, representing the Core i5 (Haswell) generation. It uses a 22 nm process node and has a die size of 177 mm². The transistor count is listed at 1,400 million. The Intel Core i3-8109U uses the Kaby Lake architecture with the codename Kaby Lake-R, representing the Core i3 (Kaby Lake-U Refresh) generation. It is built on a 14 nm process node with a die size of 123 mm². The i3-8109U does not have a transistor count listed in the data.

The core configurations differ significantly. The i5-4430S has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the i3-8109U has 2 cores and 4 threads. Both processors have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core. The L3 cache differs: the i5-4430S has 6 MB shared, while the i3-8109U has 4 MB shared. The i5-4430S has a base clock of 2.70 GHz and a boost clock of 3.20 GHz. The i3-8109U has a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 3.60 GHz.

The integrated graphics also differ. The i5-4430S features Intel HD 4600, while the i3-8109U features Iris Pro Plus. Memory support is different as well: the i5-4430S supports DDR3 with a dual-channel memory bus, while the i3-8109U supports DDR4 with no memory bus details listed. The i5-4430S uses PCIe Gen 3, while the i3-8109U has no PCIe information listed. Neither processor supports ECC memory, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

The release dates are separated by nearly five years. The i5-4430S was released on 2013-06-01, while the i3-8109U was released on 2018-04-04. The i3-8109U has an Active production status, while the i5-4430S has no production status listed. The i3-8109U is a mobile part, while the i5-4430S is a desktop part.

Specification Differences

The key specification differences between the Intel Core i5-4430S and the Intel Core i3-8109U are as follows. The core count is 4 for the i5-4430S and 2 for the i3-8109U. The thread count is 4 for both. The base clock is 2.70 GHz for the i5-4430S and 3.00 GHz for the i3-8109U. The boost clock is 3.20 GHz for the i5-4430S and 3.60 GHz for the i3-8109U. The thermal design power is 65 watts for the i5-4430S and 28 watts for the i3-8109U.

The socket types are incompatible: the i5-4430S uses Intel Socket 1150, while the i3-8109U uses Intel BGA 1356. The architecture is Haswell for the i5-4430S and Kaby Lake for the i3-8109U. The process node is 22 nm for the i5-4430S and 14 nm for the i3-8109U. The die size is 177 mm² for the i5-4430S and 123 mm² for the i3-8109U. The transistor count is 1,400 million for the i5-4430S, with no figure listed for the i3-8109U.

The L3 cache is 6 MB shared for the i5-4430S and 4 MB shared for the i3-8109U. Memory support is DDR3 for the i5-4430S and DDR4 for the i3-8109U. The memory bus is dual-channel for the i5-4430S, with no memory bus data for the i3-8109U. PCIe support is Gen 3 for the i5-4430S, with no PCIe data for the i3-8109U. The integrated graphics are Intel HD 4600 for the i5-4430S and Iris Pro Plus for the i3-8109U. The market segment is Desktop for the i5-4430S and Mobile for the i3-8109U. The production status is Active for the i3-8109U, with no production status listed for the i5-4430S. The release dates are 2013-06-01 for the i5-4430S and 2018-04-04 for the i3-8109U. The part number is SR14M for the i5-4430S, with no part number listed for the i3-8109U. Neither processor has a listed launch MSRP, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.